(Rom. 15:16) That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
A simple comparison and contrast of these two verses will help us immensely in understanding the Bible if we will believe what they clearly say.
It’s imperative to understand that the earthly ministry of Christ was one of CONFIRMATION (to confirm what was already promised) and not INAUGURATION (to reveal His secret purpose, Eph. 3:1-12)! Israel is God’s earthly people and He promised them a land and world-wide kingdom over the nations. Christ plainly said that He was “not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt. 15:24). It was not that He didn’t care about the Gentiles but just that according to His prophetic plan, the Gentiles were to be blessed through Israel’s RISE and glory (Isa. 62).
In this present age, as revealed through Paul’s ministry, the Gentiles are blessed through the FALL and diminishing of Israel (Rom. 11:12) and believing Jews and Gentiles are baptized by one Spirit into one spiritual body wherein there are no earthly distinctions (Gal. 3:27-28).
When did Israel fall? Many think it was when they crucified Christ but after that they were given an opportunity to repent as recorded in the first part of the book of Acts (Lk. 23:34; Acts 3:17-21). Between His resurrection and public ascension forty days later, Christ opened the scriptures to the apostles (explaining and reconciling the suffering and glory prophecies, 1 Pet. 1:10-11) and instructed them concerning the kingdom (Acts 1:1-6). That's why they asked Him if He was going to restore again the kingdom to Israel at that time. In accordance with prophecy, ten days later on the Jewish feast day of Pentecost when Jews of the dispersion were in Jerusalem, Christ baptized the apostles with the Holy Ghost for power (Acts 2) and they preached the gospel of the kingdom to Israel with great signs and wonders (what took place in Acts 2 is different from 1 Cor. 12:13). Peter was preaching about things spoken of the prophets since the world began (Acts 3:21). The leaders in Jerusalem stubbornly continued to reject Christ and in Acts 7 they stoned a man they knew was filled with the Holy Ghost. Strike three! They had rejected the Father, the Son, and now the Holy Spirit! According to prophecy, the tribulation could have begun (that's why Stephen saw Christ standing, Ps. 110:1; Jam. 5:9).
But instead of pouring out wrath, He poured out exceeding abundant grace (1 Tim. 1:11-16)by saving the leader of the rebellion (Saul of Tarsus who becomes the apostle Paul) and began to reveal the mysteries (i.e. secrets, not things too hard to be understood) of this present age of grace to him (1 Cor. 4:1). In this age God is building one spiritual body with a heavenly position (Eph. 2:6). We are blessed with "all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Eph. 1:3). Paul’s ministry was actually the ministry of Christ from heaven and concerns things that were kept secret since the world began (Rom. 16:25; Col. 1:21-29). After this parenthetical age ends with the mystery of the rapture (1 Cor. 15:51) God will resume His dealings with Israel, bring them through the tribulation, come again in glory to set up His kingdom, save Israel, and put her under a new covenant. He will literally fulfill all that He promised her (Rom. 11:25-29).
But instead of pouring out wrath, He poured out exceeding abundant grace (1 Tim. 1:11-16)by saving the leader of the rebellion (Saul of Tarsus who becomes the apostle Paul) and began to reveal the mysteries (i.e. secrets, not things too hard to be understood) of this present age of grace to him (1 Cor. 4:1). In this age God is building one spiritual body with a heavenly position (Eph. 2:6). We are blessed with "all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Eph. 1:3). Paul’s ministry was actually the ministry of Christ from heaven and concerns things that were kept secret since the world began (Rom. 16:25; Col. 1:21-29). After this parenthetical age ends with the mystery of the rapture (1 Cor. 15:51) God will resume His dealings with Israel, bring them through the tribulation, come again in glory to set up His kingdom, save Israel, and put her under a new covenant. He will literally fulfill all that He promised her (Rom. 11:25-29).
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