Appendix.. Problems of Acts 2 Dispensationalism

[Christine]

Doctrinal Problems of Acts 2 Dispensationalism

APPENDIX A

THE BEGINNING OF THE BODY OF CHRIST, THE CHURCH


It is very easy to be negative with this subject, that it did not begin in Acts 2 on a Jewish Feast day - the Day of Pentecost. But there are some excellent positive Scriptural reasons why the Church began in Acts 9 with the salvation of Saul/Paul. Please consider the following facts:

1. Our Father God has placed tremendous importance on Paul's salvation by mentioning it in detail FOUR TIMES in the New Testament (Acts 9:3-6; 22:6-11; 26:12-18; 1 Tim. 1:14-16).

This strong testimony to his salvation is not accidental; we are to learn from it. The three references to his salvation in Acts deal with Paul's experience and what the risen Lord said to him; the passage in 1 Tim. 1:14-16 deals with the doctrine it is supposed to teach.

The special wording of it as set forth in 1 Tim. 1:14-16, especially verses 15-16, is so emphatic that translators don't know how to handle it. The easiest way out is to cover up the truth by changing 'first' to 'chief' in verse 15, which gives it a whole new meaning, so making it unimportant. Briefly, verse 15 has the Apostle saying that 'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the first;' that is, 'the first' into the Body of Christ, God's new creation. 'First' is used twice in these two verses. This passage is a faithful declaration worthy to be accepted by all believers.

2. The 'light' from heaven that shone around Paul was a great manifestation of the GLORY OF GOD (Acts 22:6,11). It was powerful enough to knock him to the ground. This is at the BEGINNING of the Church, the Body of Christ.

When the last soul is saved and added to the Body, which will then complete the Church, the Rapture will take place. This is another great manifestation of the GLORY OF GOD (Titus 2:13). This is at the END of this Age of grace.

The Dispensation of the grace of God, given to Paul (Eph. 3:2), runs concurrently with the Church. Both begin in Acts 9 as a part of God's new purpose for the Gentiles.

3. Paul was saved in Gentile country OUTSIDE of the land of Israel, in the land of Syria where Damascus was its chief city.

When the Rapture takes place, we will be transported OUTSIDE the realm of the third dimension and into the spiritual realm where our Father God lives, the Fourth Dimension.

4. When Paul was saved in Acts 9, the Holy Spirit placed him into the Body of Christ. This is called the baptism by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13). This is a major doctrine of Pauline theology and of Fundamentalism in the 20th century. All believers are put into the Body of Christ at the time of salvation. In respect to Paul, there was no waiting on God's part in putting him into the Body of Christ, as some believers assert. Someone had to be 'first.'

5. Saul/Paul is the perfect example of the Body being composed of Jew and Gentile. He was a Jew (Acts 22:3) who also had Gentile citizenship (he was a Roman citizen - Acts 22:25-28).

6. The VOICE of the risen Lord spoke to Paul in Acts 9 at the beginning of this present Dispensation of grace. At the end of our Age, the VOICE of the same Lord - a SHOUT - will be directed to the living members of the Body of Christ at the time of the Rapture (1 Thess. 4:16).

By Robert C. Brock

[Rich Augustus]

Quoting from this site, "When Paul was saved in Acts 9, the Holy Spirit placed him into the Body of Christ. This is called the baptism by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13). This is a major doctrine of Pauline theology and of Fundamentalism in the 20th century. All believers are put into the Body of Christ at the time of salvation. In respect to Paul, there was no waiting on God's part in putting him into the Body of Christ, as some believers assert. Someone had to be 'first.'"

But SAUL began to DESTROY the CHURCH (Acts 8:3).

If the Church is the Body of Christ,
And Paul began to destroy the CHURCH,
Then Paul began to destroy the Body of Christ.

You wrote, "Acts 9, however, is. This is when Paul was saved and the church the Body of Christ began. He was its first member."

Therefore, how can Paul be the first member of what he is destroying?

[Christine]

Quoting from this site, "When Paul was saved in Acts 9, the Holy Spirit placed him into the Body of Christ. This is called the baptism by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13). This is a major doctrine of Pauline theology and of Fundamentalism in the 20th century. All believers are put into the Body of Christ at the time of salvation. In respect to Paul, there was no waiting on God's part in putting him into the Body of Christ, as some believers assert. Someone had to be 'first.'"

But SAUL began to DESTROY the CHURCH (Acts 8:3).

If the Church is the Body of Christ,
And Paul began to destroy the CHURCH,
Then Paul began to destroy the Body of Christ.

You wrote, "Acts 9, however, is. This is when Paul was saved and the church the Body of Christ began. He was its first member."

Therefore, how can Paul be the first member of what he is destroying?

Good question, Rich.

If Paul wasn't saved until Acts 9, and the church which is His BODY didn't begin until he was saved, then we need to look at what "church" is being referred to in Acts 8. The word church simply means "a group of people called out for a specific purpose." There are three "churches" mentioned in Scripture, but that is covered under another topic.

The ONLY church that was functioning BEFORE God brought into being "the church which is His BODY", was the KINGDOM CHURCH. This church was comprised of JEWS who followed the law of Moses, circumcision, water baptism for the the NATION of Priests and who were awaiting their promised MESSIAH.

Therefore, the only "church" that Paul could have been persecuting and destroying was the only one in existance; ergo, the KINGDOM church which was totally JEWISH.


Here is something that will help in your study of Acts, which actually shows the replacing of ONE program with another, or, to put in plainly, the phasing OUT of Judaism, and the Phasing IN of Christianity. The two are NOT the same.

The Book of Acts...showing God changing programs.


The Acts of the Apostles

The opening 8 chapters of Acts record the "stumbling" and "fall" of Israel during the extension of mercy and forbearance God gave to them following their rejection of Christ. God gave "repentance to Israel" during this time, before Christ would actually begin to have His day and make His enemies His footstool. This "stumbling" and "fall" was prophesied about, taking place even in view of the increased signs that began on the day of Pentecost, which confirmed the arrival of Israel's "last days."

Three honest, open opportunities were given to Israel's rulers to repent, but they spurned each one. Upon their rejection of the third opportunity, Stephen was given to see that the extension of mercy was over and the Lord was ready to begin His day of wrath. The Fifth and final Installment to the Fifth Course of Punishment was ready to begin.

However, instead of beginning His day of wrath, the Lord did something completely unexpected and not prophesised about.

The Lord Jesus Christ came back from heaven, as related in Acts 9, and raised up Paul to be a brand new apostle. He commissioned him to go out and preach the astounding message that God was holding back the day of wrath, suspending His program with Israel, and was bringing in a new and different dispensation. In view of this, the Lord's day of wrath has yet to occur and the kingdom of heaven has yet to be established on this earth.

Following the raising up of Paul, the book of Acts records what God did to inform His 12 apostles of the change in programs He had made. It also goes on to describe the "diminishing" of Israel, as God made sure that even those of Israel outside the land knew about the rejection of Christ. In so doing He left them without excuse, but also provoked them to jealousy by His new program with the Gentiles.

[Christine]

This entire section of whats wrong with Acts 2 theology is worth printing out and studying. If you have not taken advantage of the wisdom found in these articles, I highly recommend that you do so. Good discussion material tooooooo!

[Christine]

This entire section should be read and studied by EVERY believer. It would clear up so many misconceptions  and help myriads of people to actually UNDERSTAND their bibles.