What was Paul teaching in early Acts ?

Look, the purpose of the law was to be our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. The book of Acts is not confusing if you understand that all the apostles preached the same gospel, that of grace. If you understand that in Christ there is no respect of persons. Whether you are Jew or Greek, male or female, wealthy or servant, doesn't matter. In God's sight we are all wretched sinners needing salvation. That which was preached to the Jews is the same as that which was preached to the Gentiles.

Saying Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, is saying He is the one promised, the fulfillment of prophecy. Jesus is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. That isn't the law, that is the gospel of grace. You've obviously been influenced by erroneous teachings and that has led you into much confusion. My suggestion is to simply read the scriptures for what they say and you will be brought out of your state of confusion.

 

HP: Hi Dan. I have a question for you. Am I right in assuming that you must not believe that salvation in the OT was by grace?

 

Dan, how do you define grace?

 

If grace was to be defined as unmerited favor, would you agree or differ?

 

I would humbly submit that if any man is saved, from Adam to the last one saved in this world, all have been, are, and will be saved by the grace of God.

 

It would also be well to note that a Sovereign God can attach whatsoever conditions to the grace He bestows on man. As we see in Scripture, clearly the conditions have changed greatly from the OT to the NT but all still are saved by grace. Some conditions have been the same and in force in the OT as well as the NT while other conditions have certainly changed. The fulfillment of the OT by the sacrifice and death of Christ had a profound impact on some conditions, while others remain constant. Sacrificial elements of the OT which were stated conditions of salvation in the OT clearly have been fulfilled once for all by Christ under the new covenant, while repentance is one condition set forth by God that remains constant throughout the OT and the NT.

 

Galatians 3 clearly proves that the Mosaic Law was never used to get anyone to heaven.

 

Heb 4:1-2 "The Gospel was preached to THEM just as it was to us also".

The Gospels are not claiming "this is not the Gospel just ignore the life of Christ".

The Gospels were written decades AFTER the ascension of Christ and are written in compliance with Christ's command in Matt 28 "go into all the world - Make disciples... teach them all that I commanded you".

Christ said in Matt 24 "THIS Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world and THEN shall the end come".

The idea that the Gospel accounts are "not the Gospel" is foreign to the NT authors.

in Christ,

Bob

 

The Law of God was never a "savior" in the OT or the NT.

The Law of God for the lost pointed out sin (Gal 3, Romans 3).

The Law of God for the lost is written on the heart (Jeremiah 31, Hebrews 8)

in Christ,

Bob

 

The Law of God, whether written upon the conscience in essential principle or expanded in Mosaic law reveals the knowledge of GOOD and EVIL in God's sight. NO FLESH, whether Gentile or Jew can be justified "by the law of works" (Rom. 2:27) which law for justification is spelled out in Romans 2:6 in the words "according to his deeds."

The only flesh that is justified by God is justified "by the law...of faith" (Rom. 3:27) and that law is spelled out in Romans 3:24-26 which is faith "IN" the propitiation of Christ as the complete satisfaction of God's righteous demands and is the "good news" wherein the righteousness of God is revealed to man (Rom. 1:17). This is the standard of righteousness that is "revealed" in the Gospel in the Person of Jesus Christ that will judge those who come to God "by the law of works" or "according to his deeds." Their righteousness will have to measure up to the personal righteousness of Jesus Christ as revealed in the gospel and to all who attempt to be justified "by the law of works" they will hear these words "depart from me ye WORKERS of iniquity, for I NEVER knew you."

Justification "by the law...of faith" (Rom. 3:27) is not by the ACT of faith but by the OBJECT of faith which is the propiatory Person and work of Jesus Christ revealed in the gospel (Rom. 1:17; 3:24-26).