Kingdom Come

“Now to him that is of power to stablish you…God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.” (Romans 16:25-17)

Once we get the main point of this verse clearly in focus, the middle part also comes into focus.

“according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ,”

“My gospel” is not something new, but equated with / and / i.e. the preaching of Jesus Christ / the son of David. ” (Romans 16:25).

The preaching of Jesus Christ was the one sect of Judaism true to scripture in a medley of heretic Jewish sects following man-made traditions instead. The preaching of Jesus Christ is what Paul converted to.

“For ye have heard of my [Paul’s] conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I…profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.” (Galatians 1:13-14)

• Pharisees –  Conservatives obsessively creating increasingly detailed laws to achieve salvation by works.
  • the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat…do not ye after their works…For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.” (Matthew 23:1-4)
  • “the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?…And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him. But he knew their thoughts…unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it? And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other. And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.” (Luke 6:2-11)
  • they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For…going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”(Romans 10:1-3)
• Herodians, whose religious affiliation was with, and for, political power
• • the Herodians, to catch him in his words…say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it. And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar’s. And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.” Mark 12:13-17)
• Sadducees / Social Liberals, who had become too broad-minded to believe in sin and resurrection.
  • “the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection…asked him, saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man’s brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. Now there were seven brethren…And the seven had her, and left no seed…In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them?…And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven. And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.” (Mark 12:18-27)
• Zealots were…founded by Judas of Galilee (also called Judas of Gamala) in the year 6 CE…shortly after the Roman Empire declared what had most recently been the tetrarchy of Herod Archelaus to be a Roman province. According to Josephus, they “agree in all other things with the Pharisaic notions; but they have an inviolable attachment to liberty, and say that God is to be their only Ruler and Lord.” (18.1.6)”
  • he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; Simon, (whom he also named Peter,)…and Simon called Zelotes…” (Luke 6:13-15)

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God…For Christ / The Messiah / Anointed Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world…is the end of the law for [establishing God’s] righteousness requiring a substitute animal blood sacrifice]  to every one that believeth. (Romans 10:1-13)

“My time is at hand; I will keep the passover And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of MEinstead of the Passover of EgyptAnd he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26, Luke 22)

Nothing changed from the preaching of Jesus Christ before Pentecost and the apostle’s doctrine of the New Testament Church after Pentecost.

The Jerusalem church was so grounded in the Old Testament prophets from Genesis onward confirmed by the preaching of Jesus Christ and his witnessed resurrection proof of that its members could immediately accept the religion of YHVH’s Savior’s redemptive death so concisely reported in Isaiah 53, and were saved by the thousands.

Gentiles, however, needed to start with the Old Testament background leading up to Jesus’ death and resurrection. This is obviously why God chose a Pharisaical Jew obsessed with details of scripture to lead the conversion of Gentiles.

Paul spearheaded all his new Gentile mission fields at the synagogues because this is where he would find Old Testament literate Gentile proselytes or at least interested observers capable of understanding the essential concept of Jesus as the prophesied Savior.

“So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed

• And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews:
• they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day…many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas…the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.” (Acts 13)
• in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed….Long time therefore abode they. (Acts 14)

“And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.” (Acts 17:2-3)

Sound familiar? This is exactly what Jesus preached to all the apostles – from the “Old Testament”.

Paul’s statement that knowledge of “holy scripture” is able to make one wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus can only be referring to what is now called the “Old Testament”, since the “New Testament” hadn’t been written when Timothy was a child.

“from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” (II Timothy 3:15-17)

What is called Christian doctrine was not expounded until Paul follows up with his first Gentile converts to reinforce his preaching and teaching from the Old Testament, recognizable in that Paul pervasively cites Old Testament scripture to prove his arguments. 

“Now when Paul and his company…came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day…And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on…Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience. The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers…he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:” (Acts 13)

When Paul is arrested and brought before a judge to determine if he has violated Jewish religious law, he denies these charges.

“My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee…saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: That the Anointed One should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto 1) the [chosen] people / the Jews, 2) and to the Gentiles” (Acts 26, Galatians 3:15-23)