오늘의 단상_베드로복음과 바올복음

 

안녕하세요, 여러분! 오늘은 성경에서 매우 중요하지만 종종 오해받는 주제에 대해 이야기해보려고 합니다. 바로 베드로의 복음과 바울의 복음의 차이점입니다. 이 두 가지 복음은 어떻게 다르며, 왜 이해하는 것이 중요할까요? 함께 알아보겠습니다.

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1. Introduction to the Gospels:

 

[Matthew 4:23 (KJV): "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people."]

 

"예수께서 갈릴리의 모든 고을에 다니시며 그들의 회당에서 가르치시고 천국의 복음을 전파하시며 백성 중에 모든 병과 모든 약한 것을 고치시니라."

 

[Romans 1:16 (KJV): "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."]

 

"내가 복음에 대하여 부끄러워하지 아니하노니 이는 모든 믿는 자에게 구원을 주시는 하나님의 능력이 됨이라 먼저는 유대인에게요 그리고 헬라인에게라."

 

[Galatians 1:6-7 (KJV): "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ."]

 

"너희가 그리스도의 은혜로 너희를 부르신 이를 이리 빨리 떠나 다른 복음으로 옮겨간 것을 내가 이상히 여기노니 그 다른 복음은 없나니 다만 어떤 사람들이 너희를 교란하여 그리스도의 복음을 변하게 하려 함이라."

 

[Galatians 2:7 (KJV): "But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;"]

 

"오히려 그들이 무할례의 복음이 내게 맡겨진 것을 보고 할례의 복음이 베드로에게 맡겨진 것과 같음을 알았으니."

 

2. Context of Peter's Message:

 

[Acts 2:14 (KJV): "But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:"]

 

"베드로가 열한 사도와 함께 일어나 소리 높여 그들에게 말하되 유대인들과 예루살렘에 사는 모든 사람들아 이 일을 너희에게 알리노니 내 말을 들으라."

 

[Acts 2:22 (KJV): "Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:"]

 

"이스라엘 사람들아 이 말을 들으라. 나사렛 예수는 하나님이 너희 가운데서 기적과 기사와 표적으로 증명하신 사람이라. 이는 너희가 아는 바와 같으니라."

 

[Acts 2:36 (KJV): "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."]

 

"그러므로 이스라엘 온 집은 확실히 알지니 너희가 십자가에 못 박은 예수를 하나님이 주와 그리스도로 삼으셨느니라."

 

[Acts 2:38 (KJV): "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."]

 

"베드로가 그들에게 이르되 회개하고 각각 예수 그리스도의 이름으로 세례를 받고 죄 사함을 받으라. 그리하면 성령의 선물을 받으리니."

 

3. Covenant Grounds:

 

[Genesis 17:7 (KJV): "And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee."]

 

"내가 나와 너와 너의 후손 사이에 영원한 언약을 세우고 너와 네 후손의 하나님이 되리라."

 

[Acts 3:25 (KJV): "Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed."]

 

"너희는 선지자들의 자손이며 하나님이 우리 조상들과 세운 언약의 자손이라. 아브라함에게 이르시기를 네 자손으로 말미암아 땅의 모든 족속이 복을 받으리라 하셨느니라."

 

[Galatians 3:17 (KJV): "And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect."]

 

"내가 이것을 말하노니 하나님께서 그리스도 안에서 미리 확정하신 언약은 율법이 생긴 후 사백삼십 년 후에 생긴 것이 아니요 그것으로 약속을 무효하게 할 수 없느니라."

 

[Hebrews 8:8 (KJV): "For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:"]

 

"그들이 잘못함을 찾으시므로 주께서 말씀하시기를 보라 날이 이르리니 내가 이스라엘 집과 유다 집과 새 언약을 세우리라 하셨느니라."

 

4. Peter's Accusation:

 

[Acts 2:23 (KJV): "Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:"]

 

"그를 하나님께서 정하신 뜻과 미리 아신 대로 넘겨주셨거늘 너희가 법 없는 자들의 손으로 못 박아 죽였느니라."

 

[Acts 3:14-15 (KJV): "But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses."]

 

"너희가 거룩하고 의로운 이를 부인하고 살인자를 놓아 달라고 구하며 생명의 주를 죽였으나 하나님이 그를 죽은 자 가운데서 살리셨고 우리는 이에 증인이로다."

 

[Acts 4:10 (KJV): "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole."]

 

"너희와 이스라엘 모든 백성에게 알게 하노니 너희가 십자가에 못 박고 하나님이 죽은 자 가운데서 살리신 나사렛 예수 그리스도의 이름으로 이 사람이 건강하게 되었느니라."

 

[Acts 5:30 (KJV): "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree."]

 

"우리 조상의 하나님이 너희가 나무에 달아 죽인 예수를 살리셨느니라."

 

5. Response of the People:

 

[Acts 2:37 (KJV): "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?"]

 

"그들이 이 말을 듣고 마음에 찔려 베드로와 다른 사도들에게 말하되 형제들아 우리가 어찌할꼬 하니."

 

[Acts 16:30 (KJV): "And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"]

 

"그들을 데리고 나가 이르되 선생들이여 내가 어떻게 해야 구원을 얻겠습니까?"

 

[Acts 2:41 (KJV): "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."]

 

"그 말을 기쁘게 받은 사람들은 세례를 받으며 이날에 제자 수가 삼천이나 더하였더라."

 

[Acts 4:4 (KJV): "Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand."]

 

"그러나 말씀을 들은 사람 중에 믿는 자가 많으니 남자의 수가 오천이나 되었더라."

 

6. Contrast with Paul's Gospel:

 

[Romans 1:1 (KJV): "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God," ]

 

"예수 그리스도의 종 바울은 하나님의 복음을 위하여 부르심을 입은 사도라."

 

[1 Corinthians 15:1-2 (KJV): "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you unless ye have believed in vain."]

 

"형제들아 내가 너희에게 전한 복음을 너희에게 알리노니 이는 너희가 받은 것이요 또한 그 안에 서 있는 것이요 내가 전한 대로 믿으면 구원을 얻으려 함이라 그렇지 않으면 헛되이 믿었느니라."

 

[Galatians 1:11-12 (KJV): "But I certify you brethren that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man neither was I taught it but by revelation of Jesus Christ."]

 

"형제들아 내가 너희에게 전한 복음은 사람에게서 난 것이 아니요 나는 사람에게서 받은 것도 아니요 오직 예수 그리스도의 계시로 말미암았느니라."

 

[Ephesians 3:6 (KJV): "That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs and of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:" ]

 

"이것은 이방인들이 복음으로 말미암아 함께 상속자가 되고 함께 지체가 되고 함께 약속에 참여하는 것이라."

 

7. Salvation Criteria:

 

[Acts 2:38 (KJV): "Then Peter said unto them Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for remission of sins and ye shall receive gift of Holy Ghost."]

 

"베드로가 그들에게 이르되 회개하고 각각 예수 그리스도의 이름으로 세례를 받고 죄 사함을 받으라 그러면 성령의 선물을 받으리니."

 

[Acts 16:31 (KJV): "And they said Believe on The Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house."]

 

"그들이 이르되 주 예수를 믿으라 그리하면 너와 네 집이 구원을 얻으리라 하더라."

 

[Romans 10:9 (KJV): "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth The Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from dead thou shalt be saved." ]

 

"네가 만일 네 입으로 주 예수를 시인하고 또 하나님께서 그를 죽은 자 가운데서 살리신 것을 네 마음에 믿으면 구원을 얻으리라."

 

[Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV): "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves it is gift of God Not works lest any man should boast." ]

 

"너희는 은혜로 인하여 믿음으로 구원을 얻었나니 이것은 너희에게서 난 것이 아니요 하나님의 선물이라 행위에서 난 것이 아니니 이는 누구든지 자랑하지 못하게 함이라."

 

8. Role of Baptism:

 

[Mark 16:16 (KJV): "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."]

 

"믿고 세례를 받는 사람은 구원을 얻겠지만 믿지 않는 사람은 정죄를 받으리라."

 

[Acts 2:38 (KJV): "Then Peter said unto them Repent and be baptized every one of you in name Jesus Christ for remission sins ye shall receive gift Holy Ghost."]

 

(Repeated verse)

[Romans 6:3-4 (KJV): "Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from dead by glory Father even so we also should walk in newness life." ]

 

"고백하노니 예수 그리스도께 세례를 받은 우리는 그의 죽음과 합하여 장사된 줄 알지 못하느냐 그러므로 우리는 그의 죽음과 합하여 세례받음으로써 그의 부활과 같이 새 생명 가운데 행하게 하려 함이라."

 

[1 Corinthians 12:13 (KJV): "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body whether we be Jews or Gentiles whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." ]

 

"고백하노니 우리가 모두 한 성령으로 한 몸에 세례를 받아 유대인이나 헬라인이나 종이나 자유인이 다 한 성령을 마시게 하셨느니라."

 

9. The Holy Spirit's Gift:

 

[Acts 2:38 (KJV): "Then Peter said unto them Repent and be baptized every one of you in name Jesus Christ for remission sins ye shall receive gift Holy Ghost." ]

 

(Repeated verse)

 

[Acts 10:44-45 (KJV): "While Peter yet spake these words Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard word And they circumcision which believed were astonished as many as came Peter because on Gentiles also was poured out gift Holy Ghost." ]

 

"베드로가 이 말을 할 때 성령이 말씀을 듣는 모든 사람에게 임하시매 할례 받은 자 중에서 베드로와 함께 온 사람들이 놀랐으니 이는 성령이 이방인들에게도 부어주심을 인함이라."

 

[Romans 8:9 (KJV): "But ye are not in flesh but in Spirit if so be that Spirit God dwell in you Now if any man have not Spirit Christ he is none his." ]

 

"고백하노니 너희는 육체에 있지 않고 영에 있나니 만일 하나님의 영이 너희 속에 거하면 그는 그의 것이 아니라"

 

[Ephesians 1:13 (KJV): "In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard word truth gospel salvation in whom also after that believed were sealed with holy Spirit promise," ]

 

"고백하노니 여러분도 진리를 아는 말씀 곧 여러분의 구원의 복음을 듣고 믿은 후 성령의 약속으로 인치심을 받았느니라"

 

10. Transition in God's Plan:

 

[Acts 13:46 (KJV): "Then Paul Barnabas waxed bold said It was necessary word God should first have been spoken to you but seeing put it from judge yourselves unworthy everlasting life lo we turn Gentiles." ]

 

"바울과 바나바가 담대히 말하여 이르되 하나님의 말씀을 먼저 너희에게 전하는 것이 마땅하거늘 너희가 이를 배척하고 영생을 얻기에 합당치 않다 스스로 판단하였으니 보라 우리가 이방인에게로 돌아가노라"

 

[Romans 11:11 (KJV): "I say then Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid but rather through their fall salvation is come unto Gentiles for provoke them jealousy." ]

 

"고백하노니 그러면 저들이 넘어져서 망했느냐? 결코 아니라 도리어 저들의 넘어짐으로 인하여 구원이 이방인에게 임하게 된 것이라"

 

[Ephesians 2:14-15 (KJV): "For he is our peace who hath made both one hath broken down middle wall partition between us Having abolished flesh enmity even law commandments contained ordinances for make himself twain one new man so making peace;" ]

 

"고백하노니 그는 우리의 화평이시며 둘을 하나로 만드사 중간막힌 담을 허물어 주신 분이라"

 

[Colossians 1:26-27 (KJV): "Even mystery which hath been hid from ages from generations but now is made manifest to his saints To whom God would make known what is riches glory this mystery among Gentiles which is Christ you hope glory:" ]

 

"고백하노니 이제까지 감추었던 비밀인데 이제 그의 성도들에게 나타내셨고 하나님께서는 이 비밀이 이방인 가운데 있는 것이며 이는 여러분 안에 계신 그리스도 곧 영광의 소망이라고 하셨습니다."

 

 

마무리

 

이상으로 베드로의 복음과 바울의 복음의 차이점에 대해 알아보았습니다. 이 두 가지 복음을 이해하는 것은 성경을 올바르게 해석하고 우리의 구원에 대한 확신을 갖는 데 매우 중요합니다.

 

왕국복음과 은혜복음은 여러가지 면에서 본질적인 차이가 있습니다. 이 본질적인 차이는 진리의 말씀을 바르게 나누어 하나님앞에 부끄럽지 않도록 공부하라는 말씀앞에 크게 나가오는 주제라 할 수 있습니다.

 

베드로의 표현에 의하면 성경구절을 억지로 풀다가 패망에 이른 경우가 있었다는 것을 새기면서 하나님의 인도하심을 구하고 하나님뜻을 바르게 나누어 제대로 이해할 수 있기를 소망합니다. 여러분도 이 내용을 깊이 묵상하고 성경을 더욱 자세히 공부해보시기 바랍니다.

 

 

 

< Transcript >

 

(2b) What is the difference between the Peter's gospel and Paul's gospel ?

Book 17 LESSON TWO * PART III

We are getting close to a portion of Scripture that I think has been totally confused by almost all groups, and we’re just going to take it for what it says. We’re not going to spiritualize it, or allegorize, it we are going leave it right where it is. Verse 36:

Acts 2:36a

"Therefore (because of all that has just taken place. Israel has had The Messiah for three years, performing signs and miracles, they crucified Him, God raised Him from the dead, and sent the Holy Spirit, and everything is falling into place) let all the house of Israel..."

Now you can’t put us Gentiles in this verse, unless you force it. Peter is speaking to Jews on Covenant grounds. It’s the fulfilling of the Covenant which God made with Abraham. Let’s pause for a moment and go to Chapter 3, so you’ll know what I’m talking about. And again Peter is preaching to a Jew-only crowd.

Acts 3:24,25

"Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days." What days? Everything that has just taken place. According to Peter, the Crucifixion, Resurrection, ascension and coming of the Holy Spirit was prophesied. Look at verse 25:

"Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant (only the Nation of Israel. All prophecy is directed to the Nation of Israel, they are the ones that will be at the core of these prophetic events. Even the horrible events in Revelation will be directed primarily at the Jew. But the whole world will also reap the fallout from these events. Jeremiah 30 tells us it’s the time of Jacob’s trouble) which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, ‘And in thy seed (through the Nation of Israel) shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.’"

So Peter is on Covenant ground. He’s still on the basis that everything that has been since Abraham, that is: the Nation of Israel was to receive the Redeemer, The Messiah, The King and the Kingdom, and it would be through Israel that God would gather the Gentiles. I never like to leave people with the idea that God had cast off the Gentiles. Oh, not at all. But He was going to use the Nation of Israel on Covenant grounds to bring them to Salvation. Even right here God has never said a word to anybody that He’s setting the Covenant promises aside for awhile. He hasn’t told anybody yet that they don’t have to keep Temple worship, or keep the Law. He hasn’t told people they must believe in His death, burial and Resurrection for their Salvation. Not a word about that as of yet. You can’t find it here. And that is what I try to tell people to understand. Don’t take my word for it. Search the Scriptures, but be sure you understand that the Scripture is putting Salvation on His death, burial, and Resurrection. Remember, there is never any reason to force anything into Scripture. Just leave them where they are. You can’t put a square peg in a round hole without doing a lot of damage. So here Peter is still on Covenant ground. Back to Acts 2:36:

Acts 2:36

"Therefore let all the house of Israel (He’s talking to Jew only) know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."

Now we have to compare Scripture with Scripture. Come to the Book of Galatians, and just look at the difference in the language. We just saw Peter accusing the Nation of Israel of killing their Messiah, and now look what Paul tells us here in the Church Age.

Galatians 1:3,4a

"Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins,..."

And that’s Paul’s theme all through his writings. It’s as different as day from night with Peter’s message. Peter’s sermon just doesn’t fit Paul’s doctrine at all. And it wasn’t supposed to. God hadn’t revealed Paul’s message yet. It’s still a secret kept in the mind of God. Now back to Acts verse 37:

Acts 2:37

"Now when they heard this (heard what? That they were guilty of crucifying their Messiah. And remember, Peter isn’t just talking to 40 or 50 people. He’s got thousands out in front of him listening out there in that Temple complex. This is the feast of Pentecost and they have come from everywhere as we seen in verses 9-11) they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren what shall (what’s the pronoun?) we do?’"

Remember Peter is addressing this great crowd of Jews on Covenant ground. He has accused them of killing their Messiah, and now they are so convicted that I suppose in one way or another word gets up to Peter as he is speaking. And they say, "Well, Peter, what in the world are we (and remember that pronoun) supposed to do?" Now that is the question coming from the Nation of Israel.

Book 17 LESSON TWO * PART IV

Let’s pick up again in the Book of Acts and for a short review we will start at Chapter 2 verse 36. Remember this is a Jewish feast day that is being celebrated. Jews from the then-known world have come to celebrate the feast of Pentecost. This is one of the seven feasts listed in Leviticus 23. Now it’s on this day of Pentecost that this huge crowd of Jews are out there in the Temple area and Peter, through the power of the Holy Spirit, is addressing this great gathering. And regardless what nations these Jews have come from, they are hearing it in their own language. And this is the miracle of it all. Peter is speaking to Jew only (with an occasional proselyte). There is no Gentile ground here. God doesn’t put Gentiles in this group and neither should we. It’s a Jewish feast day, a Jewish crowd, a Jewish speaker, and a Jewish message. And now verse 36:

Acts 2:36,37

"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly (this is all twelve tribes that are represented here, and God knows who they are), that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." Peter is accusing these Jews of killing Christ their Messiah. "Now when they heard this they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren what shall we do?" And before we look at Peter’s answer, I want to take you back to Acts Chapter 16.

In Chapter 16, Paul has begun his missionary journey throughout western Turkey. Earlier in this chapter the Holy Spirit directed him over into Greece. One of the first cities he approached there was Philippi. And that is where he met Lydia, who was the first European convert. After the conversion of Lydia, he is arrested and beaten along with Silas, and cast into the lower dungeon of the jail, as in verse 25. The setting is completely different than in Acts 2. This is all Gentile ground, a Gentile prison, a Gentile jailer, This Gentile jailer may have witnessed Paul and Silas preaching, and saw their arrest and beating. Now he was given charge over these two men along with the rest of the prisoners.

Acts 16:25-29

"And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God; and the prisoners heard them."

"And suddenly there was a great earthquake (we still haven’t left the economy of signs and miracles, and wonders. These will pass off the scene in Paul’s ministry at a little later time. But at this time we have a miraculous earthquake with a distinct purpose), so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed."

"And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled." The Roman authority would have killed him if prisoners had escaped.

"But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.’" Although they could have fled they didn’t, because this is a Sovereign God at work.

"Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,"

Why did this pagan Gentile jailer pick Paul and Silas out of all his prisoners? Somehow, God let him know that here was the answer to his dilemma. He’s got all these prisoners loose, ready to flee, but they are staying there. God lets that jailer know the answer to his problem, but it’s going to be a lot more than a bunch of prisoners, it’s going to be the man’s own soul.

Acts 16:30

"And brought them (Paul and Silas) out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Now look at the comparison.

Peter, preaching in Acts Chapter 2, is dealing with the Covenant Nation of Israel. And they say in verse 37, "What must we do?" But God doesn’t deal with Gentiles on Covenant ground. He deals with us as individuals. Every individual has to ask that same question. "What must I do...?" Let’s compare the answers each were given. In Acts Chapter 2, it is very clear, anyone can understand it. I’m leaving every word the way it’s in your Bible and mine. I’m not changing a thing. Israel says, "What must we do?" Look at Peter’s answer.

Acts 2:38

"Then Peter said unto them, ‘Repent, and be baptized (the next two words are crucial) every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost,’"

Everyone of them would have to be converted and accept Christ as their Messiah for God to pick up where He had left off. He would have sent back The King and set up the Kingdom. Peter also tells them this in Acts 3:26. Look at the message. Peter says, "Repent and be baptized." Who began that message? John the Baptist. John was the herald of The King, and his message was, "Repent and be baptized." That was for the Nation of Israel. Now compare this with Paul’s answer to the Gentile in Acts Chapter 16. Paul is not talking to the Nation of Israel, he’s talking to a Gentile. And when this Gentile asks what he must do to be saved, what does Paul tell him?

Acts 16:31

"And they (Paul and Silas) said, ‘Believe on The Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.’"

Does it say Repent and be baptized? No, and if that was the criteria it would have been in here. That was the Jewish program, and by this time it has fallen through the cracks because Israel is rejecting it again. God has now turned to the Gentiles through the Apostle Paul, without Israel. So the jailer said, "What must I do?" The answer is simple: "Only Believe on The Lord Jesus Christ." Now when you know the rest of Paul’s message, he only had one Gospel to believe: "That Christ died for your sins, was buried and rose from the dead." You can find that message in many places in Paul’s letters, for example I Corinthians 15:1-4. Believe the Gospel. And it’s no different for Gentiles today, and the Jew as well. That is the criteria tonight. We have to believe the Gospel and nothing else. You search Paul’s letters from Romans through Hebrews (and Hebrews is more Jewish than the rest and there is a reason for that), and show me one place where Paul teaches repentance and baptism for Salvation. You won’t find it. Paul doesn’t teach it. Paul’s message is a different economy and you can’t mix them. A lot of people try to. Our Lord didn’t mix them and neither should we. The verses in Galatians 2:7-9 exist because they were two different messages. That’s why Peter says Paul’s message of Salvation is hard for him to understand in II Peter 3:15-16. To the Jew it was repent and be baptized. To the Gentile it is believe the Gospel. See how simple that is. Now let’s come back to Acts 2 and make another tremendous comparison. Read verse 38 again:

Acts 2:38

"Then Peter said unto them, ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,...’" The whole Nation of Israel had to repent and be baptized.

Winning the whole world has never been implied with Paul. In Acts 15, when even James had to agree that God is using Paul to go to the Gentiles, what was the expression that James used? Calling out a people for His name. That doesn’t imply 99 or 100%. Christianity has always been just a small percentage. But we should always be ready to share the Gospel that Paul presents to everyone we come in contact with when the opportunity presents itself. I get a kick out of the Gallop polls, the last one I saw was 60% of Americans were professing Christians. That’s a joke because 60% of the Bible belt aren’t Bible believing Christians, let alone other vast areas of our country. But it’s always been that very small percentage, and it hasn’t changed that much. Another comparison here in verse 38:

Acts 2:38

"...and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost,"

I’ve had questions asked of me about this for many years, and let me ask you a question. What was the prerequisite in this verse for receiving the Holy Spirit? Repentance and baptism. That is the first part of the verse. Look at it again:

Acts 2:38

"...Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Is there any mention of the death, burial, and Resurrection? Any mention of the shed blood for atonement? Not a word. But only the name. When you talk about the name of someone, what does that imply? Who he is. If I say the name of one of our Presidents, what do you associate that with? The White House. You speak the name and immediately it’s the position that you’re tied to. So, Peter doesn’t mention death, burial, and Resurrection. But what were they to put their faith in? Who Jesus was. He was The Christ their Messiah, and they had killed Him. But God had raised Him from the dead. They were to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins and then they would receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. In Acts Chapter 10, we have Peter at the house of Cornelius, a Gentile. This is seven years after the Cross. Not a Gentile has been saved. Back in Acts 2, the Jews had to repent and be baptized, then they could receive the Holy Spirit. Now look at what it says here:

Acts 10:44

"While Peter yet spake (he hadn’t come to the end of his message) these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. "

And we know they all believed. Have they been baptized yet? No, these are Gentiles who haven’t heard anything of the Law. But the moment they believed Peter’s message the Holy Spirit came down, and the amazing thing is God had to prove to Peter and these six other Jews that God was doing something totally new, and that was saving Gentiles! Not on the basis of repentance and baptism, but the moment they heard the word and believed. Peter is still tied to that Jewish economy, so when he sees what is happening he commands these Gentile believers to be baptized after the fact instead of before as we saw in Acts 2:38:

Acts 10:47

"Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have (past tense) received the Holy Ghost as well as we?"

This isn’t a contradiction, this is not Chapter 10 contradicting Chapter 2, but rather a change of events. Ten is Gentile and Two is still Jew. Acts is a transitional book, so always be aware that what was good for the Jew under that Jewish economy seems like a contradiction, but it’s not, it’s only God changing the program. The moment we believe for our Salvation the Gospel of Grace, that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, the Holy Spirit baptizes us and we are saved. Don’t put the message that Peter preached and the message that Paul preached in a blender and mix it all up and expect to understand it. That will give you heartburn, and you will never be able to see what you should clearly believe for your Salvation. But if you will realize that God is changing the program when He goes to the Gentiles, and leave the Scriptures right where they are, I believe the Scriptures will be opened to you. So many people come into my classes and almost immediately have their eyes opened. I don’t do that, the Holy Spirit does that when you search the Scriptures.

Editor's Note: Peter's gospel, called the gospel of the kingdom or the gospel of the circumcision, was preached to the nation of Israel under the law of Moses. Paul's gospel, called the gospel of grace or the gospel of the uncircumcision, was preached to the Gentiles under grace. Whether we are Jew or Gentile, Paul's gospel is the way of salvation for us in this present age of grace.