Acts 10 - Cornelius (pt.3)

Acts 10:34-43

Why did God accept the uncircumcised Gentile household of Cornelius? Because of how he blessed the seed of Abrham (vs.2, 22, 34-35; Matt. 25:31-46). This is not out of line with the kingdom program of Israel (Isa. 56:3-8). Is this how Gentiles are accepted by God in the dispensation of the grace of God (contrast Acts 10:35 with Titus 3:5)? Our salvation has nothing to do with blessing the seed of Abraham (Eph. 2:11-18). 

Peter briefly rehearsed what God had been doing in Israel beginning with the baptism of John. He does not preach anything to the household of Cornelius that he had not already been preaching. There is nothing new in this message. 

What Peter states in v.43 is in harmony with what the prophets had spoken. Salvation is only to be found in the Messiah (Isa. 45:20-25). This can't be the same gospel that Paul received by revelation of Christ (Gal. 1:11-12). People read Paul's gospel into this passage because Peter said, "whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins." But he also said, "he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him." They were to believe that Jesus is the risen Christ and coming Judge. Notice that Peter does not say "Christ died for your sins." 

Acts 10:44-48

This baptism with the Holy Ghost is the same baptism that the apostles experienced in Acts 2 which is not the same spiritual baptism that Paul writes about in his epistles (1 Cor. 12:13).

Baptism with the Holy Ghost                Baptism by the Spirit 

Christ is the Baptizer                                The Spirit is the Baptizer

Spoken by the prophets                            A mystery revealed thru Paul

Supernatural manifestations                     No supernatural manifestations

For power                                                  For salvation 

This astonished the Jews that were present because the Holy Ghost was poured out for the first time before water baptism. The Lord interrupted Peter's message before he could say, "Repent, and be baptized for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). The Gentiles receiving the Holy Ghost before the salvation of Israel was not in line with the order of how things are going to happen according to prophecy, but it did not contradict prophecy ("all flesh" could include Gentiles, Joel 2:28-32). 

Peter immediately commanded them to be baptized with water because he had been sent to baptize (Matt. 28:19; Mk. 16:15-16). Water baptism was part of the gospel of the kingdom, but it is not part of the gospel of the grace of God (1 Cor. 1:17). There is no record of Paul ever commanding water baptism. In light of the fact that Paul only baptized a few and could not even remember for sure who all he baptized (1 Cor. 1:14-16), I don't see how anybody who recognizes Paul's distinct ministry can say that water baptism is an ordinance in this age. 

Acts 10 - Cornelius (pt.2)

Acts 10:1-8 

Cornelius was no "run-of-the-mill" idol worshipping Gentile. He was not a proselyte (a Gentile that submitted to circumcision and kept the law, Acts 2:10) because he was uncircumcised (Acts 11:3). But he was:

• devout (religious- he was fasting, v.30)

• feared God with all his house (implies he taught his house about the God of Israel)

• gave alms to the Jews (v.22)

• prayed to God alway (observed the Jewish hours of prayer, Acts 3:1)

He is the same kind of Gentile that the Lord Jesus was willing to minister to during His earthly ministry even though He was not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Rom. 15:8; Lk. 7:1-10; Gen. 12:1-3). Under the kingdom program of Israel, no Gentiles could be blessed without Israel (Mk. 7:24-30). 

Cornelius was sincerely religious, but lost (Acts 11:14). Why would God hear this lost man's prayers, take knowledge of his good deeds towards the Jews, and send an apostle to preach to him about salvation? The salvation of Cornelius is an example of how God will save Gentiles in the tribulation period and Kingdom Age (Matt. 8:5-13; 25:31-46).

Acts 10:9-33

The vessel contained unclean animals. According to the law of Moses there were certain meats that God pronounced as unclean and that the Israelites were forbidden to eat (Lev. 11; 20:25-26). In spite of being very hungry Peter does not want to obey the voice and eat of the unclean animals because he still under the law. In light of what Paul wrote to the Body of Christ, we now know that Christ took the law out of the way for us by nailing it to His cross (Col. 2:14). But there is no record that at this point God had revealed to the believing Jews that they did not have to observe the law. In Acts we see that they obeyed the law for years after the cross (Acts 21:20). Many do not understand how Peter could say, "Not so, Lord". I think that Peter said that in confusion, not rebellion. That was his initial reaction, but he did follow through and obey the Lord. 

What did this vision mean? We need to be careful not to read more into the vision than what the scripture reveals. Many claim that unclean and clean animals in one vessel was a revelation of the Body of Christ (the text does not actually say there were clean animals in the vessel). At first, Peter is doubtful about what the vision meant, but after talking to the men sent from Cornelius and then seeing many Gentiles gathered in the house of Cornelius,  he understood that the unclean animals were symbolic of uncircumcised Gentiles. 

The uncircumcised were considered unclean (Isa. 52:1). As a law-abiding Jew, Peter would not have gone into the house of an uncircumcised Gentile without this special revelation from God. Peter also learned from the vision that he could now eat what had been called unclean without becoming defiled because God now pronounced it as clean. This was a singular issue and we should not take this to mean that God revealed to Peter that the believing Jews were to no longer keep the law. The law has been taken out of the way for the Body of Christ, but not for the nation of Israel (Isa. 2:1-5; Jer. 31:31-34). 

The main purpose of the vision was to reveal that God would now accept as clean those that had been previously called unclean. In other words, uncircumcision would no longer keep a Gentile separated from God and His people. That is not the same thing as believing Jews and Gentiles being spiritually baptized into one body (which was the revelation that Christ gave through the apostle Paul).  
 

Acts 10 - Cornelius (pt.1)

Many Bible teachers use the conversion of Cornelius in Acts 10 as an example of how sinners are saved in this age. They believe that Cornelius was baptized into the Body of Christ as a result of hearing and believing  Peter's message. Let's work through Acts 10 and see whether these things are so. 

Acts 9:32 through 10:48 records events in the ministry of the apostle Peter that took place outside of Jerusalem, but still within the land of Israel. As far as the record is concerned, at this point Peter is still operating under the kingdom program of Israel and does not yet know about the new revelations that Christ gave to Paul concerning the Body of Christ. 

It is possible that when Saul of Tarsus met with Peter in Jerusalem three years after his conversion that he told him Christ had sent him to the Gentiles. The Lord had already told Ananias (a devout man according to the law) that Saul was a chosen vessel to bear His name before the Gentiles (Acts 9:15). But I do not believe that Saul told him about the revelations that Christ had given him in Arabia because:

1. He did not have time to discuss such major revelations during a brief (15 days) and busy visit ("coming in and going out," Acts 9:28)?

2. The record does not say that he discussed such matters.  

3. It seems clear that it is not until Acts 15 that the apostles in Jerusalem begin to understand some things about Paul's ministry among the Gentiles (Gal. 2:1-2, 9). 

During the meeting that is recorded in Acts 15 God used the salvation of the Gentile household of Cornelius in Acts 10 to convince the Jewish apostles that Paul's ministry among the Gentiles was according to the will of God. Although there are some new things that take place in Acts 10 that had not taken place before, there is no indication that Peter understood that a new dispensation had begun.

In Acts 10 (ten is the # for Gentiles, e.g. Gen. 10 contains genealogy of Gentile nations) the Lord sends Peter to preach to the Gentile household of Cornelius. This is a big deal because up to this point the Jewish apostles had not been preaching to uncircumcised Gentiles. Their ministry has been to "the Jews only" (Acts 11:19). In light of Matt. 28:19, why would it take a special vision from God to get Peter to go preach to some Gentiles?

The issue with Peter was not so much about preaching to Gentiles as it was about keeping company and eating with uncircumcised Gentiles (Acts 11:1-4, 17b). Circumcision was a token of the covenant between God and Abraham. To be uncircumcised was to be unclean and cut off from the blessings of the covenant. If Peter had understood the revelation of the mystery concerning the Body of Christ he would not have had a problem going to the house of an uncircumcised Gentile (Col. 3:11)! It is important to understand that Gentile salvation is not exclusive to the Grace Age. Gentiles could be saved in the OT, but only through and in connection with Israel (Gen. 12:1-3). Many Gentiles will be saved in the tribulation period and Kingdom Age. According to the kingdom program of Israel, Gentiles are to be saved through the rise and instrumentality of Israel (Isa. 60:1-5; Zech. 8:22-23). 

The reason that the Jewish apostles had not yet preached to the Gentiles was not due to stubborn prejudice (they were filled with Holy Ghost and obedient despite persecution), but because Jerusalem had not yet repented (Lk. 24:47; Acts 1:8). The Jewish church did not have any problem with Gentiles getting saved (Acts 11:18). 

The distinct thing about Gentiles being saved in this present age is that they are being saved and blessed WITHOUT Israel (Rom. 11:11-15, 25). Under Paul's ministry, idol-worshipping and uncircumcised Gentiles who could care less about the Jews can be saved by grace without works required and baptized into the spiritual Body of Christ. 

Outline of Acts 10

I. The vision of Cornelius (vs.1-8)

II. The vision of Peter (vs.9-18)

III. Peter goes to the house of Cornelius in Caesarea (vs.19-33)

IV. Peter's message (vs.34-43) 

V. The Gentiles baptized with the Holy Ghost and water (vs.44-48)  

It is interesting to see how God worked separately with Cornelius and Peter and then in perfect timing brought them together. This chapter contains visions, the appearance of an angel, and sign gift of tongues- all of which was common during the Acts period but are not things we will experience today.

What Did God Promise to Preserve in Ps. 12?

Psalm 12

1  Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

2  They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.

3  The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:

4  Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

5  For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set himin safety from him that puffeth at him.

6  The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

7  Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

8  The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.

In the past month I have had two different people try to convince me that God's promise in Ps. 12:7 is not to preserve His pure words (v.6), but to preserve the poor and needy (v.5). One of those men is the editor of the Berean Searchlight (magazine published by Berean Bible Society). He uses the King James Bible, but he does not believe that it is the inspired and perfectly preserved word of God. 

He wrote the following in an email:

"I know these verses are often quoted to say that God has preserved His Word in the KJV, but I would invite you to consider that this is not what that verse is talking about.  If you just read Verses 6,7, it is easy to conclude that it is speaking about preserving the words of God (although it doesn't say that the words would be preserved in the KJV).  But these verses have a context, and I believe that when it comes to interpreting Scripture, context is king.  Verse 5 says: "For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord: I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him." This verse says that God will keep believers safe from those who would harm them.  And it is in this context that Verses 6,7 then go on to speak about God keeping "them" and "preserving them from this generation for ever."  You see, it is a verse about eternal security, a verse about the preservation of believers, and not about the preservation of the Scriptures."

The following is a portion of my response to his email: 

I agree that context is king in understanding any passage of scripture. The theme of Psalm 12 is words. There are 12 references to words in just 8 verses (speak, lips, tongue, etc...). It contrasts the corrupt words of men with the pure words of God. If v.7 was referring back to v.5 instead of v.6, it would say "him" as it does in v.5. Simple grammar tells us that the antecedent to v.7 is "words" in the previous verse. Why are you skipping a verse to find the antecedent? The whole psalm contrasts the words of the wicked (vs.1-4) with the words of God (vs.5-8). Their proud words will come to nought. God's pure words are preserved forever. His promise to protect people wouldn't mean anything if He can't even keep His words. By the way, in light of how many of God's people have suffered martyrdom, v.5 specifically concerns the deliverance of the godly remnant of Israel at the second coming of Christ ("I will arise"). They certainly will be poor and needy after rejecting the mark of the beast. I do believe God keeps His promises, even His promise that His words will never pass away (Matt. 24:35). The doctrine of the preservation of scripture is based on many passages. For example, the word of God "liveth and abideth forever" (1 Pet. 1:23). It liveth = inspiration; it abideth = preservation (and BOTH are true forever). If the OT was still inspired scripture in the first century (e.g. Lk. 4:21; Jn. 5:39; 2 Tim. 3:15), why can't we have inspired scripture today? 

... By the way, you said that v.6 is about eternal security. Do you believe those under the law in times past and in the future tribulation have eternal security? 

Unmoveable, Always Abounding

1Cor. 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

In this verse the apostle Paul exhorts us to be both unmovable and on the move in our service for the Lord. How can we be both at the same time? We are to be unmovable in our stand for the truth of the gospel, but at the same time we must be on the move taking the gospel to the lost. The problem with many Christians and churches today is that they focus on one aspect of this and neglect or ignore the other. In other words, some stand for the gospel, but do nothing to take it to the lost while others focus on trying to reach people but compromise truth and water down the gospel in their effort to reach more people. 

The church at Corinth allowed false teachers to come in and move them away from sound doctrine and as a result they were failing in their work for the Lord. In the context Paul rebukes the church at Corinth for listening to those false teachers deny the doctrine of bodily resurrection and provides correction and instruction concerning the matter. The exhortation of v.58 is based on that correction and instruction (“Therefore”). He is saying, “If you have really believed on the risen Christ who died for your sins (vs. 1-18) and you really believe that because He lives we will also be raised up when He comes for us (vs.19-57), then you should be… (v.58). Right doctrine believed in the heart will produce right behavior, but wrong doctrine believed in the heart will produce wrong behavior (v.19, 29-34). Other passages present this same truth (2 Tim. 2:16; Titus 1:1). 

It is God’s will for all believers to be stablished in the faith (Col. 2:7) and then we must be stedfast and unmovable in our stand for the faith (16:13; Phil. 1:27). The faith is the body of truth God has revealed to us in His word. The church is to be the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15). We must stand for all scripture given by inspiration of God (2 Tim. 3:13-17). More particularly, we must stand for the inspired scripture rightly divided (2:15). Failure to rightly divide the Bible is at the root of all false doctrine in the professing church today. Let’s not just tote a KJB, let’s believe it, study it, practice it, and preach it. 

The gospel of Christ excludes any and all works of man (1 Cor. 15:1-4). The apostle Paul was unmovable in his stand for the gospel of the grace of God (Gal. 1:6-12; 2:5; Phil. 1:17). Paul was always on the move with the gospel (1 Cor. 15:10)! We are not saved by works, but those who are saved should work for the Lord who saved them by his grace (Eph. 2:8-10). Salvation by grace produces fruit (Col. 1:3-6; Titus 2:11-14). False teachers slander the gospel of the grace of God by calling it a "license to sin" (Rom. 6:1-2). 

We who have believed the gospel have a heavenly hope (Col. 1:5; 1 Cor. 15:42-52). Christ coming secretly at any moment (BEFORE the Trib.) to rapture us up to heaven to be glorified with Him is our hope. We must not allow anything to move us away from this hope (Col. 1:20-29). Many fundamentalists are being moved away from this hope. They are no longer looking for Christ from heaven, but the antichrist from earth. Being unmovable in this hope should cause us always abound in the work of the Lord! 

The world, the flesh, and the devil are always seeking to move us away from truth and our service for Christ and in these last days of apostasy many are being moved (1 Tim. 4:1). If Paul could keep the faith (2 Tim. 4:7), we can too by the grace of God (Acts 20:17-24; 2 Tim. 1:7-15). How can we stand in this evil day? We must put on the whole armor of God  (Eph. 6:10-20). 

The key to right movement is right motivation. Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines the word motive as “That which incites to action; that which determines the choice, or moves the will.” In 2 Cor. 5 the apostle Paul revealed his motives for ministry: the coming of Christ (vs.1-8); the judgment seat of Christ (vs.9-11); the love of Christ (vs.12-15); the commission of Christ (vs.16-21). It was these motives that caused Paul to be unmovable and yet always on the move. 

Guiding Principles to Live By

1 Corinthians is a letter of reproof and correction in which Paul plainly and directly addresses problems that he had heard about in this church. He also answers questions they had written to him about. Apparently they did not bring up the problems in their letter because Paul heard about them from others (1:11; 5:1). Before he answers their questions he deals with the problems and gets to the root of it all (3:1-3). 

There are basically 3 kinds of people:

1. The natural (2:14) – those without the Spirit

2. The spiritual (2:15-16) – those in the Spirit that also walk in the Spirit

3. The carnal (3:1-3) – those in the Spirit that walk after the flesh

Notice that Paul calls the carnal “babes in Christ." One of the identifying marks of a carnal person is spiritual immaturity. One of the ways this immaturity shows up is in the inability to judge (6:1-5). It also shows up in making self the #1 issue (8:1). On the other hand, one of the identifying marks of a spiritual person is spiritual maturity. One of the ways this maturity shows up is in the ability to judge (5:3). It also shows up in putting Christ and others before yourself (8:13). In chapter 9 Paul explains why he so often DENIED himself! 

All believers have the position of adopted sons (Gal. 4:1-7). The Spirit within our hearts makes this position in Christ real to us as we grow in the faith. Children must have many regulations to guide them because they do not have the ability to make proper decisions on their own. Mature people are discerning and do not need everything spelled out for them. Compare the detailed rules of the law with the spiritual principles of Paul’s epistles. 

In chapters 6-10 Paul gives key principles that will guide the believer in always making the best decision (Phil. 1:9-11). It is apparent that the church at Corinth was making poor choices. For example, there was dispute over doubtful things like eating meat offered to idols. Some thought it was sinful just to eat the meat. Others knew it was not a sin but did not care about their weaker brothers. Spirituality is to have knowledge WITH charity! Paul shows that though it is not a sin to eat that meat it may not be the best thing to do (8:8-9). It is possible to do something that in and of itself is not sinful but if it is done with the wrong attitude is becomes sinful (8:12). 

1. Is it expedient? (6:12a)

Expedient - Literally, hastening; urging forward. Hence, tending to promote the object proposed; fit or suitable for the purpose; proper under the circumstances. Many things may be lawful, which are not expedient. The word expedient is similar to expedite. Will it be profitable for us on our journey in Christian growth (Phil. 3:12-14)? Anything that hinders your Christian growth needs to be laid aside, whether it is a sin or not (Heb. 12:1). 

2. Can it bring me under bondage? (6:12b)

We must not mess with anything that has the potential to enslave us in the flesh. How can we serve Christ if we are serving something else (Rom. 6:12-23)?     

3. Will it be a stumblingblock to others? (8:9) 

What about the weaker brethren (Rom. 14:13-23)? Will it hinder the gospel (9:12, 23)?

4. Is it spiritually edifying? (10:23)

To edify is to build up. Will it help build up the new man (Acts 20:32)?

5. Does it glorify God? (10:31)

If you know the scriptures, you will know what glorifies God. Can you do it as to the Lord and in His name (Col. 3:17, 23)?

If we will honestly ask ourselves these five questions when making a decision, we will know what to do. 

Christ is ALL

Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond norfree: but Christ is all, and in all. (Col. 3:11)

In the modern day preaching of a watered down gospel we hear clichés preached more than scriptural truth. One such cliché that we often hear is, “Let Jesus come into your life”. The unscriptural idea behind this cliché is that the Lord Jesus Christ desires to blend in to your identity and assist you in the life that you want to lead. In other words, He just wants to make your life better so that you can have, “Your best life now." That is the title of a book written by the popular motivational speaker Joel Osteen. In that book he wrote, “God wants to make your life easier. He wants to assist you, to promote you, to give you advantages. He wants you to receive preferential treatment.” I am sure that he has the bumper sticker that says, “God is my co-pilot” on his Rolls Royce. 

Many will let Jesus be a part of their life if it means He will help them accomplish their dreams and then take them to heaven when they die. Modern evangelism is man-centered instead of Christ-centered. It appeals to the selfish and religious nature of man. Everybody in their right mind wants to go to heaven when they die and they will gladly say a prayer to receive that ticket to heaven. But not everybody wants to be saved from sin and reconciled to God, nor are they willingly to trust Christ alone for salvation. False preachers claim that Jesus wants to come into your life and become your servant. The Bible declares that salvation is regeneration (new life) and that believers are God’s servants. 

Nowhere does the Bible teach that Jesus wants to become part of our life! The teaching of scripture is that when Christ saves us, He becomes our life (Col. 3:1-4; Phil. 1:21; Gal. 2:20)! Immediately upon salvation we are all baptized by one Spirit into one body of which Christ is the Head. We are in Him and He is in us by the Spirit. He is our identity (1 Cor. 12:12-13). 

In v.11, the apostle Paul is saying that earthly distinctions mean NOTHING when it comes to our standing before God. Under the Law dispensation being a law-keeping Jew gave you an advantage over the Gentiles and a standing before God that they did not have. BUT NOW, in this present dispensation of GRACE, that is all done away with. Nothing we are or can do gives us any standing before God because our standing is IN CHRIST alone (2 Cor. 5:16-17; Gal. 3:27-28). ALL members of the body of Christ have the same complete and perfect standing before God. 

Christ is ALL! The name “Christ” is used 26 times and the word “all” is used 32 times in this short epistle (15 are direct references to Christ, e.g., 1:19; 2:3, 9). Colossians was written to correct false doctrine that detracts from the supremacy and all-sufficiency of Christ as the Head of the Church and the blessed truth that all believers are complete in Him. For example, Paul warns against a mystical philosophy that claims superior knowledge, denies the incarnation of Christ, and teaches works-based salvation. In the first main passage of this epistle he declares the preeminence of Christ (1:18, not first among other competing things but superiority over all things). Christ is more than first in the body, He is everything! Without Him, we are nothing. If you take Christ out of the true church it does not and cannot exist! That’s why in the church Christ alone must receive all the glory (Eph. 3:21). There is NO true wisdom and knowledge that is found outside of Him (2:3). 

Let's consider some specific things mentioned in this epistle in which Christ is all.

I. Christ is ALL in Creation (Col. 1:16) 

If you take Christ out of creation, nothing would exist! This is a vital truth because it means that Christ is the Creator and not a creature. Jesus Christ is God and this truth is constantly under attack. False teachers try to use Col. 1:15 to prove that Christ was created, but it actually proves the opposite! He is the visible image of the invisible God. This means that He is God in a visible body. The title of “firstborn” is one of rank and authority (Ps. 89:27). He was not the firstborn AMONG every creature but ABOVE every creature, i.e. He has superiority over every creature because He is the Creator (also firstborn of the Spirit and from the dead). 

“Firstborn of every creature” – (v.16-17 explains v.15) He is the Head over creation because:

A. By Him were all things created (Gen. 1:26; John 1:1-3; Eph. 3:9)

B. All things were made for Him (Rev. 4:10-11)

C. He is before all things (Rev. 1:8; Isa. 44:6)  

D. By Him all things consist (Psalm 75:3; Heb. 1:1-3)

All this proves the deity of Christ. He is all-powerful. In creation we know something of God’s power (Rom. 1:20). 

II. Christ is ALL in Revelation (Col. 1:28; 2:8-10)

We don’t preach dead philosophy but a living PERSON! To take Christ out of the Bible would leave you with no Bible at all! He is central in the Bible and is found in every one of its 66 books. He is found in the first verse of the Bible (Gen.1:1 has 44 letters, 17 vowels, and 27 consonants) and in the last verse (Rev. 22:21 has 44 letters, 17 vowels, and 27 consonants). We see God’s power in creation, but we can only know His truth through the divine revelation of His word. To know Christ is to know truth, it is to know God (1 Jn. 5:20). Creation is a partial revelation of God, but the word of God is His perfect revelation (Ps. 19). 

The Bible presents many different personalities, but its purpose is to reveal one main person, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible is God's perfect revelation of Himself to man. Bullinger wrote, “The one great subject which runs through the whole Word of God is Christ: the promised seed of Gen. 3:15. This verse marks the depth of the ruin into which man had descended in the fall; and it becomes the foundation of the rest of the Bible. All hope for man and for creation is centered in Christ; who in due time should be born into the world, should suffer and die; and, in resurrection, should become the head of a new creation, and should finally crush the head of the Old Serpent, who had brought in all the ruin. Christ, therefore, the King, and the Kingdom which He should eventually set up become the one great subject which occupies the whole of the Word of God. Hence, He is the key to the Divine revelation in the Word; and apart from Him it cannot be understood. The contents of the Bible must therefore be seen and arranged with reference to Him. The counsels and purposes of God are all centered in Christ.” 

The Son of God is called the Word of God (Rev. 19:13) because He reveals and declares the Father (Jn. 1:1-3, 14, 18). Yet, what would we know of the Son of God apart from the written word of God? The written word of God reveals and declares both the Father and the Son and it was given by the Spirit's inspiration and only understood by His illumination. God has revealed Himself through the incarnate Word and the inspired word. Both are given the same titles and attributes. 

 

Jesus Christ is CENTRAL in the Scripture (OT - Lk. 24:27, 44; NT - Jn. 14:26; 16:12-14):

• OT - Preparation - promises, prophecies, and pictures of the coming Christ

• Gospels - Manifestation - Fourfold presentation of the person and work of Christ    

• Acts - Propagation - "they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ" 

• Epistles - Explanation - doctrine and application concerning what Christ accomplished 

• Revelation - Consummation - purposes of God in and through Christ consummated 

  

Jesus Christ is the King and God purposes to establish His Kingdom on the earth:

•   OT - The King and His Kingdom promised and prophesied

•   Gospels - The King and His Kingdom presented and rejected

•  Acts - The King and His Kingdom offered and rejected (transition away from kingdom)

•   Pauline Epistles - The King in royal exile, Head of one new spiritual man, Kingdom postponed

•   Hebrew Epistles - The King and His Kingdom once again anticipated

•   Revelation - The King returns and His Kingdom is established 

Revelation is progressive. God gave the scripture over a 1,500 year period and it covers God’s dealings with man for all of human history. In this age there is only one gospel, but in different ages God has given man different messages of good news. How can a holy and righteous God offer ANY good news to unholy and unrighteous sinners? The answer is the “mystery of the gospel” (Eph. 6:19, i.e. secret). The full meaning of what Christ accomplished through His death, burial, and resurrection was purposed and planned by the Godhead before the world began, but was kept secret until Christ from Heaven revealed it through His chosen instrument, the apostle Paul. This demonstrates God’s great wisdom (Col. 1:25-2:3). 

III. Christ is ALL in Salvation (Col. 2:10)

Take Christ out of salvation and there is no salvation available to sinners! We know of God’s power through creation. We know of His truth and wisdom through revelation. We can know His love and grace through salvation! Either your salvation is all of Christ or you are not saved at all. We are saved by grace through faith plus NOTHING (Eph. 2:8-9). There is NOTHING more to it! To add ANYTHING to the finished work of Christ is to pervert the gospel of grace!

The apostle Paul called the message that He received by revelation of Christ the gospel of the grace of God. What is the BASIS for this grace? It is God’s riches at Christ’s expense (preaching of the cross). 

Col. 1:14; 20-22:

A. Redemption – to buy back with a price (sin, death, hell, Satan)

B. Forgiveness – all sins removed from God’s sight (2:13)

C. Peace – were enemies, now members of His body (Rom. 5:1)

D. Reconciliation – made right with God

E. Justification – declared righteous (holy, unblameable, unreproveable) 

How do we receive salvation (Col. 1:4)? How do we live the Christian life (2:6)? By faith we depend fully on Him. 

Christ is all, but is this truth real in our HEARTS?