Section 2 - The Promise of Holy Spirit
                  Mankind in Need of God
 

The Promise of Holy Spirit

While Christ was on earth, He was the channel of revelation from God to the apostles. They could refer to him for understanding and clarification (Mt.13:10,11; 24:3). He promised them that the Father, God, would be sending 'the spirit of truth' to be with them and to guide them in the truth concerning Himself in the operation of salvation. This would come after His ascension. In the meantime, there were certain prophecies of Scripture that had to be fulfilled.

Jn.14:16,17  And I shall be asking the Father, 
and He will be giving you another consoler, 
that it, indeed, may be with you for the eon—
the spirit of truth, which the world can not get, 
for it is not beholding it, neither is knowing it. 
Yet you know it, for it is remaining with you and will be in you. 

Jn.14:26  Now the consoler, the holy spirit, 
which the Father will be sending in My name, 
that will be teaching you all, and reminding you of all that I said to you. 

Jn.15:26,27  Now, whenever the consoler 
which I shall be sending you from the Father may be coming, 
the spirit of truth which is going out from the Father, 
that will be testifying concerning Me.
Now you also are testifying, seeing that, from the beginning, you are with Me. 

Jn.16:7-11  But I am telling you the truth. 
It is expedient for you that I may be coming away, 
for if I should not be coming away, the consoler will not be coming to you.
Now if I should be gone, I will send him to you. 
And, coming, that will be exposing the world 
concerning sin and concerning righteousness and concerning judging: 
concerning sin, indeed, seeing that they are not believing in Me; 
yet concerning righteousness, seeing that I am going away to My Father, 
and no longer are you beholding Me; 
yet concerning judging, seeing that the Chief of this world has been judged. 

Jn.16:12-15  Still much have I to say to you, but you are not able to bear it at present.
Yet whenever that may be coming--the spirit of truth—
it will be guiding you into all the truth, for it will not be speaking from itself, 
but whatsoever it should be hearing will it be speaking, 
and of what is coming will it be informing you. 
That will be glorifying Me, seeing that of Mine will it be getting, and informing you. 
All, whatever the Father has, is Mine. 
Therefore I said to you that of Mine is it getting, and will be informing you. 

Jn.20:21-23  Jesus, then, said to them again, "Peace to you! 
According as the Father has commissioned Me, I also am sending you."
And saying this, He exhales and is saying to them, "Get holy spirit! 
If you should be forgiving anyone's sins, they have been forgiven them.
If anyone's you should be holding, they are held." 

Lk.24:25-27  And He said to them, 
"O foolish and tardy of heart to be believing on all which the prophets speak! 
Must not the Christ be suffering these things, and be entering into His glory?" 
And, beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, 
He interprets to them, in all the scriptures, that which concerns Himself. 

Lk.24:44-49  Now He said to them, 
"These are My words, which I speak to you, still being with you, 
for all must be fulfilled that is written
in the law of Moses and the prophets and psalms concerning Me."
Then He opens up their mind to understand the scriptures, 
and said to them that "Thus it is written, 
and thus must the Christ be suffering and rise from among the dead the third day, 
and there is to be heralded in His name repentance for the pardon of sins, 
to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
Now you shall be witnesses of these things.
And lo! I am delegating the promise of My Father on you. 
Now you be seated in the city of Jerusalem 
till you should be putting on power from on high." 
 

For forty days after His resurrection, Jesus had moved among the disciples. It was now time for Him to go to the Father and to be in heaven until the times of restoration (Act.3:21). But, first, He had some final instructions to give them.

Act.1:4,5 And, being foregathered, 
He charges them not to be departing from Jerusalem, 
but to be remaining about for the promise of the Father, which you hear of Me, 
seeing that John, indeed, baptizes in water, 
yet you shall be baptized in holy spirit after not many of these days 

Act.1:6-9  Those, indeed, then, who are coming together, asked Him, saying, 
"Lord, art Thou at this time restoring the kingdom to Israel?" 
Yet He said to them, "Not yours is it to know times or eras 
which the Father placed in His own jurisdiction. 
But you shall be obtaining power at the coming of the holy spirit on you, 
and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in entire Judea and Samaria, 
as far as the limits of the earth." 
And saying these things, while they are looking, He was lifted up, 
and a cloud took Him up from their eyes. 

Peter Supervises

It was necessary for someone with certain qualifications to take the place left vacant by Judas. Peter, in keeping with his responsibility given by his Lord, assumed charge and initiated the selection proceedings among the apostles and disciples. The lot fell to Matthias and the circle of the twelve was, once again, complete. This is what we gather from Act.1:13-28.
 

The Coming On Of Holy Spirit

The day of Pentecost came. It was also called the feast of weeks (Deut.16:10) and the feast of harvest, or firstfruits (Ex.23:16). It was a day of rejoicing and thanksgiving for the first harvest. According to some calculations, it was also the day of the year on which the law was given through Moses on Mt.Sinai. It was one of three days in the year when it was compulsory for all Israelite males in the land to convene at Jerusalem (Ex.23:14-17). Jerusalem would have been busy and bursting with the influx of pilgrims from all over Israel, as well as those from foreign lands.

Act.2:1-4  …at the fulfillment of the day of Pentecost
they were all alike in the same place. 
And suddenly there came out of heaven a blare, even as of a violent, carrying blast, 
and it fills the whole house where they were sitting. 
And seen by them were dividing tongues as if of fire, 
and one is seated on each one of them. 
And they are all filled with holy spirit, and they begin to speak in different languages, 
according as the spirit gave them to declaim. 

The effects of this empowerment were dramatic and electrifying. Where, just a short while back they had been cowering behind closed doors for fear of the Jews (Jn.20:19) who had openly murdered their Master, these recipients of holy spirit were now able to fearlessly take centre stage.

Peter connects this phenomenon of the disciples speaking in various languages to a foretaste of what the prophet Joel said would take place in the last days! 

Act.2:17-21 `And it shall be in the last days,'  (God is saying) 
`I shall be pouring out from My spirit on all flesh, 
And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, 
And your youths visions shall be seeing,  And your elders dreams shall be dreaming, 
And surely on My men slaves and on My women slaves in those days 
shall I be pouring out from My spirit,'  and they shall be prophesying.
`And I will give miracles in heaven above, 
And signs on the earth below, blood and fire and vapor pillars of smoke,
The sun shall be converted into darkness And the moon into blood 
Ere the coming of the day of the Lord,  The great and advent day. And it shall be 
that everyone, whosoever should be invoking the name of the Lord, shall be saved.' 

In the same vein, in his first letter to the faithful in the dispersion, he also anticipates the actual fulfilment of prophecy when he quotes from the prophets (Ex.19:6; Deut.10:15; Isa.61:6; Hos.1:9,10 and 2:23)

1Pet.2:9-12  Yet you are a chosen race, 
a "royal priesthood," 
a "holy nation," 
a procured people, 
so that you should be recounting the virtues of Him 
Who calls you out of darkness into His marvelous light,
who once were "not a people" yet now are the people of God, 
who "have not enjoyed mercy," yet now are "being shown mercy."
Beloved, I am entreating you, as sojourners and expatriates, 
to be abstaining from the fleshly lusts which are warring against the soul,
having your behavior among the nations ideal, 
that in that in which they are speaking against you as of evildoers, 
by being spectators of ideal acts they should be glorifying God in the day of visitation. 

Act.2:14  Now Peter, standing with the eleven, 
lifts up his voice and declaims to them: 
"Men! Jews! and all who are dwelling at Jerusalem! 
Let this be known to you, and give ear to my declarations, 

Act.2:22-24  Men! Israelites! Hear these words: 
Jesus, the Nazarene, a Man demonstrated to be from God for you 
by powerful deeds and miracles and signs, which God does through Him 
in the midst of you, according as you yourselves are aware--
This One, given up in the specific counsel and foreknowledge of God, 
you, gibbeting by the hand of the lawless, assassinate, 
Whom God raises, loosing the pangs of death,
forasmuch as it was not possible for Him to be held by it. 

Act.2:36  "Let all the house of Israel know certainly, then, 
that God makes Him Lord as well as Christ--this Jesus Whom you crucify!" 

Act.2:37-42 Now, hearing this, their heart was pricked with compunction. 
Besides, they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 
"What should we be doing, men, brethren?" 
Now Peter is averring to them, 
"Repent and be baptized each of you 
in the name of Jesus Christ for the pardon of your sins, 
and you shall be obtaining the gratuity of the holy spirit.
For to you is the promise and to your children, 
and to all those afar, whosoever the Lord our God should be calling to Him." 
Besides, with more and different words, he conjures and entreated them, 
saying, "Be saved from this crooked generation!" 
Those indeed, then, who welcome his word, are baptized, 
and there were added in that day about three thousand souls.
Now they were persevering in the teaching of the apostles, 
and in fellowship, and in the breaking of bread, and in prayers 

Peter’s Ministry to the Circumcision

Under Peter’s ministry, believers enjoyed exceptional privileges which put them at an advantage over the orthodox Jews and, of course, those of the nations. The days when Judaism provided the avenue to a relationship with God were over. Those of Israel who did not submit to the teachings of Jesus were cut off from access to God as Moses had warned (Act.3:22-26; Deut.18:15,18,19).

Rom.9:4,5  who are Israelites, 
whose is the sonship
and the glory
and the covenants 
and the legislation 
and the divine service 
and the promises;
whose are the fathers, 
and out of whom is the Christ according to the flesh,… 

Jn.3:27  John answered and said, 
A man can not get anything if it should not be given him out of heaven. 

Jn.6:44,45  No one can come to Me 
if ever the Father Who sends Me should not be drawing him. 
And I shall be raising him in the last day.
It is written in the prophets: And they shall all be taught of God. 
Everyone, then, who hears from the Father and is learning the truth, 
is coming to Me. 

Jn.6:65,66  And He said, "Therefore have I declared to you that 
no one can be coming to Me if it should not be given him of the Father."
At this, then, many of His disciples came away, 
dropping behind, and walked no longer with Him. 

Jn.6:67-69  Jesus, then, said to the twelve, "Not you also are wanting to go away!"
Simon Peter answered Him, 
"Lord, to whom shall we come away? Declarations of life eonian hast Thou! 
And we believe and know that Thou art the Holy One of God." 

Mt.16:15-17  He is saying to them, "Now you, who are you saying that I am?"
Now answering, Simon Peter said, 
"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Now, answering, Jesus said to him, "Happy are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, 
for flesh and blood does not reveal it to you, 
but My Father Who is in the heavens.

Mt.11:27  All was given up to Me by My Father. 
And no one is recognizing the Son except the Father; 
neither is anyone recognizing the Father except the Son
and he to whom the Son should be intending to unveil Him. 

Jn.14:6  Jesus is saying to him, "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. 
No one is coming to the Father except through Me. 

Jn.6:28,29  They said, then, to Him, 
"What may we be doing that we may be working the works of God?"
Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, 
that you may be believing in that One Whom He commissions." 

Mt.19:21,22  Jesus averred to him, "If you are wanting to be perfect, 
go, sell your possessions and be giving to the poor, 
and you will be having treasure in the heavens. And hither! Follow Me."
Now, hearing this word, the youth came away sorrowing, for he had many acquisitions. 

Mt.22:8-14  Then he is saying to his slaves, 
`The wedding, indeed, is ready, yet those invited were not worthy. 
Go, then, to the exits of the roads and whosoever you may be finding, 
call to the wedding festivities.' 
And, coming out into the roads, those slaves gathered all whom they found, 
both wicked and good, and filled is the wedding with those lying back at table. 
Now the king, entering to gaze at those lying back at table, 
perceived there a man who has not put on wedding apparel. And he is saying to him, `Comrade, how did you enter here having no wedding apparel?' Yet he was still.
Then the king said to the servants, `Binding his feet and hands, 
cast him out into outer darkness.' There shall be lamentation and gnashing of teeth. 
For many are the called, yet few are the chosen." 

A Suspended Operation

This non-delegation of authority is fully in keeping with Scripture which tells us that God has since suspended operations with the nation of Israel (Act.28:25-28). He has given that nation a ‘spirit of stupor’ (Rom.11:7,8) and has caused their apprehension to become calloused (2Cor.3:14) so that they cannot see the truth until the time comes for a turning back unto the Lord (2Cor.3:16). In time then, through the demise of the apostles and the Circumcision believers, the numbers of believers in Israel dwindled to nothing. 

But God has not discarded them completely. For, in His wise counsels,

Mt.22:8-14  …God locks up all together in stubbornness, 
that He should be merciful to all. 

Rom.11:25-27  For I am not willing for you to be ignorant of this secret, brethren, 
lest you may be passing for prudent among yourselves, 
that callousness, in part, on Israel has come, 
until the complement of the nations may be entering. 
And thus all Israel shall be saved, according as it is written, 
Arriving out of Zion shall be the Rescuer. 
He will be turning away irreverence from Jacob. 
And this is My covenant with them 
Whenever I should be eliminating their sins. 

Rom.11:29  For unregretted are the graces and the calling of God. 

Though the Jews had a number of sects within their ranks, these coexisted wherever possible. For example, the Pharisees believed in a resurrection whereas the Sadducees flatly denied the teaching (Mt.22:23; Act.23:8). But, both could teach Moses to the people without getting into controversies over the doctrine of resurrection. Those who were more radical, such as the Essenes, gravitated to religious communes away from the ‘contamination’ of orthodox influence.

Having been commissioned by their Lord to minister to those of the house of Israel, the apostles concentrated on spreading the evangel that was dedicated to the people of the Circumcision. And, inevitably (Jn.15:18-25), their belief in the Lord Jesus led to a number of serious confrontations with the religious leaders of Israel (Act.4:2-22; 5:33-41) who had earlier vehemently rejected His claims and had put Him to death!

On the death of Stephen by stoning (Act.6:8 to 7:60), a great persecution arose in Jerusalem which scattered the believers onto the outlying districts and even into Samaria (Act.8:1). These believers even fled to areas such as Phoenicia and Cyprus as well as to centres such as Antioch. Wherever they were driven to they spread the evangel to no one except Jews only, including those Israelites who had adopted Greek culture (Act.11:19-21).

As Jesus had confirmed that He Himself had come to fulfil the law and that every detail of the law would be fulfilled in time (Mt.5:17,18), that law and its system was essential to their belief. It was observed without compromise and vehemently defended (Act.11:3). They would insist that those of the nations coming in to the faith first submit to the rite of circumcision (Act.15:1) which symbolised an acceptance of the whole law. Many, many, years later they still observed it with strictness and with unabated zeal (Act.21:18-25).

After God had shown His acceptance of Cornelius (Act.10:1-48), it was made evident that God was not barring even uncircumcised proselytes, those of the nations who worshipped God through the Temple system but had not as yet submitted to that rite, from His blessings (Act.11:1-18). By working through Peter, God was showing that all such believing proselytes came under his ministry.

Gal.5:3  Now I am attesting again to every man who is circumcising, 
that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 

Jas.2:8,10  Howbeit, if you are discharging the royal law, according to the scripture, 
"You shall be loving your associate as yourself," you are doing ideally….
For anyone who should be keeping the whole law, 
yet should be tripping in one thing, has become liable for all.

Heb.3:12-14  Beware, brethren, lest at some time there shall be in any one of you 
a wicked heart of unbelief, in withdrawing from the living God.
But entreat yourselves each day, until what is called "today," 
lest anyone of you may be hardened by the seduction of sin.
For we have become partners of Christ, that is, 
if we should be retaining the beginning of the assumption 
confirmed unto the consummation, 

Jas.2:14  What is the benefit, my brethren, 
if anyone should be saying he has faith, yet may have no works? 
That faith can not save him. 

Not all the Jews from the Babylonian and Assyrian exiles returned to the land of Israel in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. History records that there was a thriving community of Israelites who had settled permanently in those areas. It seems most likely that the ‘wise men [Gk. magos or magi, magicians] from the east’ (Mt.2:1) were from this community of Jews. How would non-Israelite ‘magi’ (traditionally from Europe [east?], India, and China) know about a new-born King of the Jews in their astrology? Why would non-Israelite people make an arduous journey over deserts and harsh terrain to honour and worship a Jewish king? 

Paul, imprisoned in Rome, met with Jewish leaders there who had not yet heard of the evangel of the kingdom (Act.28:21-31). And he continued with this kingdom evangel among them for two years. What had Peter been doing all this time in Rome, if he had actually been there at all, when these people of the house of Israel, to whom he was commissioned, had to hear the evangel of the kingdom from Paul? 

Meanwhile, however, God was preparing the scene for a very radical departure from His usual, exclusive, operation (which began from His appointment of Moses) with the chosen people of Israel! It was now the time for what had been planned even before the eons were created to be put into effect.
 

Mankind in Need of God

God is love. Because of this He creates all. And His love will only be satisfied when every one of His creatures appreciates Him and reciprocates that love. 

God’s operation among the people of Israel began with His calling of Abraham and had stretched for hundreds of years right through Christ’s ministry and into that of the twelve apostles. All this time it was evident that God was working in a special relationship with only one line of humanity, His chosen people, Israel. The few people out of the other nations who would have any access to God had to approach Him as proselytes through the intermediary rites and ceremonies of Israel. Never was it even hinted at, during all that time, that He had any separate programme for the rest of humanity. 

Those 'of the nations' were outside the sphere of special blessings from God. They had never known the One True God and their own concepts of Him led them to idolatry and false religions. Their gods were what they thought a god should be and they worshipped these in ways they thought would please or appease them. Having been grounded in such systems and traditions for thousands of years, it would have been impossible for them to become free from this quagmire of religion. Except for divine intervention there was no way they could recognise truths of God even if they came across them.

Gal.4:8  But then, indeed, having no perception of God, 
you were slaves of those who, by nature, are not gods.

1Cor.12:2  You are aware that when you were of the nations, 
you were led away to the voiceless idols, as ever you were led. 

Eph.2:2  …in accord with the eon of this world, 
in accord with the chief of the jurisdiction of the air, 
the spirit now operating in the sons of stubbornness 

Eph.2:12  … apart from Christ, 
being alienated from the citizenship of Israel, 
and guests of the promise covenants, 
having no expectation, 
and without God in the world. 

Eph.4:17-19  walking according as those of the nations also are walking, 
in the vanity of their mind, their comprehension being darkened, 
being estranged from the life of God 
because of the ignorance that is in them, 
because of the callousness of their hearts, 
who, being past feeling, in greed give themselves up with wantonness 
to all uncleanness as a vocation. 

Rom.8:20-22  For to vanity was the creation subjected, 
not voluntarily, but because of Him Who subjects it, 
in expectation that the creation itself, also, 
shall be freed from the slavery of corruption 
into the glorious freedom of the children of God. 
For we are aware that the entire creation is groaning and travailing together until now. 

Rom.5:12  …through one man sin entered into the world, 
and through sin death, 
and thus death passed through into all mankind, 
on which all sinned—

Rom.3:23    for all sinned and are wanting of the glory of God. 

1Cor.15:21  …in fact, through a man came death,… 

1Cor.15:22  … in Adam, all are dying,… 

Rom.5:18  …it was through one offense for all mankind for condemnation,… 

Rom.5:19  …through the disobedience of the one man, 
the many were constituted sinners, … 

1Jn.5:19  We are aware that … the whole world is lying in the wicked one. 

2Cor.4:3,4  …the god of this eon blinds the apprehensions of the unbelieving 
so that the illumination of the evangel of the glory of Christ,
Who is the Image of the invisible God, does not irradiate them. 

Rom.1:21-23  because, knowing God, not as God do they glorify or thank Him, 
but vain were they made in their reasonings, 
and darkened is their unintelligent heart.
Alleging themselves to be wise, they are made stupid, 
and they change the glory of the incorruptible God 
into the likeness of an image of a corruptible human being 
and flying creatures and quadrupeds and reptiles. 

Rom.1:24,25  Wherefore God gives them over, in the lusts of their hearts, 
to the uncleanness of dishonoring their bodies among themselves,
those who alter the truth of God into the lie, and are venerated, 
and offer divine service to the creature rather than the Creator, 
Who is blessed for the eons! Amen! 

Rom.1:26,27  Therefore God gives them over to dishonorable passions. 
For their females, besides, alter the natural use into that which is beside nature. 
Likewise also the males, besides, leaving the natural use of the female, 
were inflamed in their craving for one another, males with males effecting indecency, 
and getting back in themselves the retribution of their deception which must be. 
[see Lev.18:22,23; 20:13-16]

Rom.1:28-32  And according as they do not test God, to have Him in recognition, 
God gives them over to a disqualified mind, to do that which is not befitting, 
filled with all injustice, wickedness, evil, greed, distended with envy, murder, strife, guile, depravity, whisperers, vilifiers, detesters of God, outragers, proud, ostentatious, 
inventors of evil things, stubborn to parents, unintelligent, perfidious, 
without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 
those who, recognizing the just statute of God, 
that those committing such things are deserving of death, not only are doing them, 
but are endorsing, also, those who are committing them. 

Jn.3:19,20  Now this is the judging: that the light has come into the world, 
and men love the darkness rather than the light, for their acts were wicked.
For everyone who is committing bad things 
is hating the light and is not coming to the light, lest his acts may be exposed. 

Rom.3:29,30  Or is He the god of the Jews only? Is He not of the nations also?
Yes, of the nations also, if so be that God is One,… 

Jn.4:22  You are worshiping that of which you are not aware; 
we are worshiping that of which we are aware, 
for salvation is of the Jews.

Saul of Tarsus

When Stephen was being stoned on the charge of blaspheming God and Moses (Act.6:11), there was a young man present who had endorsed the assassination and at whose feet those who were doing the stoning placed their garments. His name was Saul (Act.7:58-60; 8:1)

Saul was an exceptionally qualified Jew by race and by choice. He was an adept in traditional Judaism and had studied under Gamaliel, one of the most respected rabbinical experts of his time. He was proud of being a Jew and proud of his heritage. And, of course, Paul was a fanatic over his beliefs.

Rom.3:1,2  What, then, is the prerogative of the Jew, 
or what the benefit of circumcision? 
Much in every manner. 
For first, indeed, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God. 

Rom.9:4,5  who are Israelites, 
whose is the sonship
and the glory 
and the covenants
and the legislation
and the divine service 
and the promises;
whose are the fathers, 
and out of whom is the Christ according to the flesh, Who is over all,… 

Phil.3:4-6  If any other one is presuming to have confidence in flesh, I rather: 
in circumcision the eighth day, 
of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, 
in relation to law, a Pharisee, 
in relation to zeal, persecuting the ecclesia, 
in relation to the righteousness which is in law, becoming blameless. 

Gal.1:13,14  For you hear of my behavior once, in Judaism, 
that I inordinately persecuted the ecclesia of God and ravaged it. 
And I progressed in Judaism above many contemporaries in my race, 
being inherently exceedingly more zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 

Act.22:3-5  "I am a man, a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, 
yet reared in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, 
trained according to the strictness of the hereditary law, 
being inherently zealous for God according as all of you are today, 
I, who persecute this way to death, 
binding and giving over both men and women to jail, 
as the chief priest also was testifying to me, and the entire eldership, 
from whom, receiving letters also to the brethren, I went into Damascus, 
to be leading also those being there, bound, to Jerusalem, that they may be punished. 

Act.26:9-11  I, indeed, then, suppose myself bound to commit much 
contrary to the name of Jesus the Nazarene, which I do also in Jerusalem. And besides, many of the saints I lock up in jails, obtaining authority from the chief priests. 
Besides, I deposit a ballot to despatch them. And at all the synagogues, 
often punishing them, I compelled them to blaspheme. 
Besides, being exceedingly maddened against them, 
I persecuted them as far as the outside cities also.

But this was the very person God had pre-determined to be His chief agent in the expanding sphere of influence of His operations. It was to involve much more than just the Jews and proselytes. It was to take into account the whole creation itself.

Paul, just like the rest of Israel, had developed a tremendous religious ego and a misplaced zeal.

Rom.10:2,3  For I am testifying to them that they have a zeal of God, 
but not in accord with recognition.
For they, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, 
and seeking to establish their own righteousness, 
were not subjected to the righteousness of God. 

An Enemy is Turned

Paul had been blind to the truth, in ignorance of it (1Tim.1:13), so God struck him blind until it was time to use him in His service. It symbolised that God had kept him blind to the truth from birth until it suited His purpose.

Gal.1:15,16  Now, when it delights God, 
Who severs me from my mother's womb and calls me through His grace, 
to unveil His Son in me that I may be evangelizing Him among the nations,… 

Act.9:15,16  Yet the Lord said to him 
"Go, for he is a choice instrument of Mine, to bear My name before 
both the nations and kings, 
besides the sons of Israel,     [see 2Pet.3:16]
for I shall be intimating to him how much he must be suffering for My name's sake." 

Rom.15:8  For I am saying that Christ has become the Servant of the Circumcision, 
for the sake of the truth of God, to confirm the patriarchal promises. 

Rom.15:15,16  Yet more daringly do I write to you, in part, as prompting you, 
because of the grace being given to me from God, 
for me to be the minister of Christ Jesus for the nations,… 

Rom.11:13  Now to you am I saying, to the nations, in as much as, indeed, then, 
I am the apostle of the nations,… 

Eph.3:8-12  To me, less than the least of all saints, was granted this grace: 
to bring the evangel of the untraceable riches of Christ to the nations, 
and to enlighten all as to what is the administration of the secret, 
which has been concealed from the eons in God, Who creates all, 
that now may be made known 
to the sovereignties and the authorities among the celestials, 
through the ecclesia, the multifarious wisdom of God, 
in accord with the purpose of the eons, which He makes in Christ Jesus, our Lord; 
in Whom we have boldness and access with confidence, through His faith. 

1Tim.1:12-14  Grateful am I to Him Who invigorates me, Christ Jesus, our Lord, 
for He deems me faithful, assigning me a service, 
I, who formerly was a calumniator and a persecutor and an outrager: 
but I was shown mercy, seeing that I do it being ignorant, in unbelief. 
Yet the grace of our Lord overwhelms, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 

1Tim.2:7  for which I was appointed a herald and an apostle
(I am telling the truth, I am not lying), 
a teacher of the nations in knowledge and truth. 

Back to:
....Main menu of articles

....Section 1   -    Introduction
..........................The Advent of Jesus Christ

Proceed to: 
....Section 3   -   A New Operation 
....................... . The Law 
....Section 4   -   God's Operation
....Section 5a   -   The Body of Christ
....Section 5b   -   The Body of Christ
....Section 6   -   Conclusion