Bible Discussion Replies PAGE 97

2 Peter 2:20

"For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning."

2 Peter 2:21

"For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them."

2 Peter 2:22

"But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire."

Blessings

Romans 3:31

"Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law."

James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

James 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Blessings

"Home is where the heart is" (2 of 2)

Heart of a believer is blessed because he abides the shadow of the Almighty and his transgressions are covered.(Ps.32.1) So how shall we compute the volume by the word of God or by bio-mass according to science or according the eternal word. For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us."( 2 Cor. 1.19-20) Thus we walk not by sight but by faith. We are at home, a world itself framed by the word of God. Thus when Jesus scolds Peter,"But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." Jesus could sense Satan was stalking Peter since he was speaking from the playbook of Satan. (Mt.16.22-24)

In short we are to compare the spiritual with spiritual God has numbered every believer in his book and it Jesus Christ who shall judge. Acording to the book of the Lamb and not according to some manmade fables.

" But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way./ But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also." (Mt.13.25-26) God formed all hearts alike and the wickked let the enemy slip in heresies, and he looks and sees nothing but Israel. Not knowing the significance of the terms, swallows line,hook and sink what false shepherds dangle before them.

What rapture are we talking when God has planted his wheat in his Son and my fruits shall prove, and wheat is gathered into his barn at the appointed time?

Mt.13.39-43 " The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels./ As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world./The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;/ And shall cast them into a furnace of fire'

"Home is where the heart is" (1 of 2)

"For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God."(Heb.3.4). Body of man as fashioned by God similarly holds significance for us. heart holds a spiritual space and when we let in his Son by faith we make it a home. The door has door posts and lintel so God commanding Israelites were required to follow His commandments for deliverance from Egypt and the same blood applies in our case as well. Our heart is secure by the Lamb of God.

"For theLordwill pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, theLordwill pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you."(Exod.12.23). Sin lies outside the door and its desire is towards you. His counsel to Cain has not changed its force since He framed heaven and the earth by the Word.

So the seven pillars of the house that Wisdom built is considered as built to specifications by the Law of the Spirit. Jesus promised to us, they are 'my Father's mansions' and broadly can be called as eternal habitations. It is thus we need to understand the two worlds framed by the word.(Heb.11.3)

Parable of Jesus refers to the dragnet.(Mt.13.47-50) The net serves as a word-wide web to separate the good from the bad. There is a time and place appointed. The same separation as at the beginning. "And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good."(Ge.1.10) The sea refers to nations, ungodly and stirred up by devil and his angels. God created man 'in our image' but it is not enough, it has to be Ozempic face' or instagram look. The Word of God makes it clear,"But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt./There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked."((Isa.57.20-21)

There is a natural world wherein we are like the good seed among the tares.

Heart of the Matter

The Bible Has only one focus: Jesus Christ:'For it pleased the Father that in him should all his fulness dwell."The Holy Spirit narrates, consequently, from beginning to this end so a believer will diligently abide in him so that God may be all in all.

Jesus Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:/7And he is before all things, and by him all things consist". Thus for a believer there is only one mode of instruction: to put on Christ. "And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith."(Phi.3.9)

There is one Law which is Person specific and he came to fulfill it. The Law of the Spirit having set forth the Covenant on the basis of Seven days, which is the basis for fellowship of God with Man enjoins a believer to enter into the rest of God by faith with which God framed the worlds, diving one from the other. God judged the devil who sins from the beginning. The ten horns is a visual clue for us to be wary of his wiles. Similarly He gave the nation of Israel Ten commandments since their heart was not right before them. The golden calf while Moses was away, is a clue to their reprobate mind. God sent them their redeemer and having rejected him what awits but judgment. Despite of several instances to persist in placing Israel as a nation what else for imposter churches left but to be cast off as sons of perdition?"here is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit./For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."

Thank you again and God bless you

Hello again Forgiven forever. May you be encouraged from what has been shared with you here to truly wait upon the Lord, for His Spirit Who has touched your heart to seek Him earnestly after the long spell away from Him. There is nothing more wonderful than to be resting with great assurance in the joy & blessing of God, and knowing His ministry in your life when things don't always go the way you would like or when feelings of anxiousness or fear arise. Our LORD is indeed the great Healer & Sustainer, Who promises to never leave us - wherever we go & in all we do, He is with us & in us. Stay close to Him by faith, reading His precious Word and talking to Him at any time (both in praise & prayer).

Just a short note to your question, whether Romans 2:13 "would be considered works?" To understand what the apostle Paul was writing about, one would need to at least read all of chapters 2 & 3 of Romans. In chapter 2, Paul was addressing both Jew and Gentile believers in Rome, but turns his attention to the Jews in the Church ( Romans 2:17). There were some there that maintained adherence to the Old Testament Laws given to Israel, to which Paul asked 'if you preach adherence to the Law, then how well do you keep that Law, for only those who can keep it perfectly will be accepted by God'. Of course, the expected response would be, 'we can't keep the Law perfectly'; even as James 2:10 states, "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."

So Paul goes on in Romans chap 3 to give the answer. Romans 3:19,20: the Law applies to those under it and by keeping the Law (even imperfectly), no one, Jew nor Gentile, can be justified before God. So Paul's conclusion ( Romans 3:28: "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law). So, not only keeping the Law, but doing any good that tries to supplement Faith in God through Jesus, would be Works - and Works & Faith don't mix ( Galatians 3:19-26).

You're welcome Forgiven Forever.

You're seeking spiritual growth and practical Sanctification.

You're remedy of studying God's word is the way to do that!

Prayer is also very important.

May the Lord bless you in your studies!

John 5:14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

Matthew 19:16

"And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?"

Matthew 19:17

"And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments."

Blessings

Thank you for replying. Yes, the verse in question was "he that endureth to the end shall be saved". Just by reading it I took it as "saved" meant born again. I've believed in the death, burial, and resurrection for a long time and have never lost faith in Jesus Christ but have stopped living like I should for a while. I now feel the need to have a closer walk with the Lord by studding his word and going to Church. I know I can't earn my way into heaven by doing these things, but I just want a closer walk and study the word of God. I have been saved a long time now, but I have never really studied the word for myself. Thanks for your help.

Hi Forgiven Forever.

Welcome to the site!

I concur with Brother Chris and what you were taught.

Once a person is born again ( Born of God's Spirit) he can never be unborn!

We're in the Father and the Son's hand!

Our salvation is in their hands!!

Jude 1:24 reads "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

If salvation depends on you and I to present our righteousness we would lose our salvation every minute.

As for the verse you mentioned Matthew 10:22 I'm not sure the quote in question "but he that endureth to the end shall be saved" is talking about just salvation.

So saved from what?

Look at the previous verses.

5-7, "These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

10:17-18, "But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;

And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.

Look at verse 23 "But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the "CITIES OF ISRAEL", TILL THE SON OF MAN BE COME.

I believe this deals with their local present mission and on into the far future where it may have salvation implications.

It started out with the twelve apostles on their present commission and on into the future after the Rapture of the Church!

The Apostles made it alive through their mission as will those ministering post Church will make it in the tribulation.

Either way it's stating that they WILL ENDURE to the end!

God bless.

Would this be considered "works"?

Thank you

Thank you

thank you for your reply.

Romans 2:13

"For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified."

Blessings

Hi, Forgiven forever.

Chris has given you a good reply. However, if we examine the saying, "once saved, always saved," it can be true or false; we can use Scripture to support or refute it. So where does that leave us?

In John 3:16, it says that if we believe in Jesus, we will be saved. Jesus promises never to fail. Salvation is based on the grace of God, through faith, not by our efforts, Ephesians 2:8-9. Our salvation depends on the righteousness of Christ and God's mercy, Titus 3:5.

We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23-24. We are justified not by works of the law but by faith, Galatians 2:16. We are called not because of our works but because of God's purpose and grace given to us through Jesus, 2 Timothy 1:9.

Our salvation is founded on our faith in Jesus Christ. In John 10:27-29, we are His sheep, hear His voice, follow Him, and are granted eternal life, which no one can take from His hand. Our salvation is secure because it relies on Jesus' work. As Hebrews 10:23 states, we are to hold fast to our faith without wavering because He is faithful.

Conversely, there is the risk of apostasy or falling away. Luke 8:4-15 illustrates this. In verse 13, it describes someone who received the word with joy and believed for a while but fell away when tempted. This person was a believer who later turned away; individuals can walk away on their own.

We must live by faith and be led by the Spirit. Paul says in Colossians 1:23, "If ye continue in the faith." We also see in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 about the great falling away when the beast rises, along with many other verses too numerous to list that emphasize we must endure to the end, like Revelation 2:10, also we are told to hold fast. If we remain strong in our faith, nothing can take our salvation away.

I understand that some say those who fall away were never truly saved, but I do not see that supported by Scripture, and it may be false hope for one who is weak.

God bless,

RLW

Romans 2:13

"For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified."

Blessings

Hello Forgiven forever. Even as your pen name correctly states, that those who have been forgiven & have received new birth in Christ, are truly saved & secured forever. There is, and always will be, different opinions on this subject, as you have shared Matthew 10:22. Without getting into the matter of whether a true believer in Christ is eternally saved or not, the verse you gave is to be read in context. Jesus was speaking to His disciples, and from verses 17-22, Jesus tells them what lay before them (i.e. arrests, beatings, trials in courts, family rebellion).

After these words to them, Jesus tells them, "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved." Now this sounds to us like Jesus was telling them that only if they put up with all this suffering in their ministries, then God would accept them & bring them into His Kingdom - if they don't they would be rejected. A brother on these pages recently gave the Greek rendering of this verse (as you know that Greek was the written language of the New Testament). The meaning is not as I have given above (i.e. what we think it means), but Jesus was telling His disciples, that 'having endured these trials', or 'after you have endured these things & your end has come, you will see God's Salvation'. And of course, these Words of Jesus were not just to warn them or cause fear of impending suffering, but to show them that when they (or even ourselves) are put to the test and by the help of God's Spirit we remain strong in suffering, we can be encouraged that we will conquer fear & pain, being received by God. So, "shall be saved" does not refer to what Jesus would do later by laying down His Life for our redemption and salvation, but refers to God's intervention by receiving that faithful servant of His into His Glory, when suffering, pains & trials will be over.

Page 2.

c. Paul's baptism. I mentioned this earlier with Scriptures that Paul continued to baptize, at least accepted its relevancy, during his ministry. I quoted, Acts 18:7,8 (Jews and Gentiles in Corinth); Acts 19:1-5 (disciples at Ephesus); Romans 6:3,4 (the meaning & relevance of water baptism); 1 Corinthians 1:14-17 (Paul's ministry was to preach the Gospel, but he still baptized); Colossians 2:11,12 (baptism as identification with Christ). So baptism in water was still very much practised during Paul's ministry. I can't think of any Scripture showing that Paul "later taught that baptism was not part of the gospel of grace revealed to him."

Thank you again for your time & input. Blessings.

Page 1.

Thanks you Lbooth1955 for your posts to me. I've had to collate them so that I'm reading the pertinent ones, since they now appear quite scattered in this long thread. To the points you raised:

a. Romans 16:25, "..according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began". When I read Paul writing of "my gospel", I don't believe he is suggesting that the Gospel he preached was different to anyone else's Gospel & understanding, rather, that it was the Gospel that was placed upon him to preach which may have had various emphases that others didn't bring up: as when one shares the Gospel to those of another religion - that presentation would be different in parts.

You quoted Ephesians 3:1-9. In verse 5, Paul writes: "Which (the mystery in Christ) in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit". Not just to Paul, but his claim that the other apostles and prophets (those given the gift by the Spirit) were also aware of this mystery, "that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel". So, Peter, as the other apostles, may have spoken about this mystery, but we aren't told about this.

b. 2 Peter 3:15,16. If some things that Paul wrote were hard to understand, Peter couldn't be referring to this mystery in Christ, as Peter himself preached to the Gentiles ( Acts 15:7), which I hope we can assume that he at least had some understanding that Gentiles, along with believing Jews, would be saved the same way, viz. the Cross. "And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith" (v9): a clear declaration by Peter that he believed that not only were Jews & Gentiles now fully in God's Salvation Plan, but that it was by faith alone that they would be saved, having their hearts purified. Onto Page 2.

Lbooth1955.

I just realized I left out one important Scripture, Acts 1:8 where Jesus tells the apostles that when the Holy Spirit comes they will receive power and that they would be witness unto Jesus in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and even unto the uttermost parts of the world. Then Jesus ascended up to heaven.

This verse is one that shows that what Jesus commanded in Matt. 28:19-20 would indeed happen in the apostles lives and ministries. This verse is not a command, but a statement of decreed fact according to Jesus' authority that the apostles He was speaking with would indeed take the gospel to all parts of the world (which also included Paul who was saved a few years later.)

I believe in the power and authority of Jesus to carry out every aspect of this decree as He stated it. Through the working of the Holy Spirit and the power they will receive from God, the apostles did exactly what Jesus had said they would do.

If anyone would argue that this did not happen then I would say that they do not believe what Jesus said directly to the apostles and that they disbelieve that Jesus is sovereign and can bring about His will perfectly in this mission He places upon the apostles.

1 Thessalonians 5:3

"For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape."

Bleesings

I've always been taught and believe that once saved, always saved or that it is impossible to lose your salvation. Having said that I just read Matthew 10 22 and where Jesus says, "but he that endureth to the end shall be saved". Is it meant to be taken literal or does it have another meaning? Thanks

How to respond to the current world events

First of all; I'd be a fool to think that I have all the answers; or that I have any confidence whatsoever without the Lord.

We can be assured that God is with us; and that when His wrath is poured out ultimately we are out of here.

I'd be negligent in my duty as a watchman not to address what appears to be impending peril; and that within a matter of weeks at this point. We should prepare as He speaks to us and pray and fast when we can to seek His will. Notwithstanding all the media misinformation and such it seems clear there is going to be at least a limited shutdown of society through internal if not the external very real threat of sudden war. I pray that some of us can help others at that time and we are wise in our own endeavours. Whatever we do we can't glibly expect not to be touched before the Rapture; it would seem at least some of every nation will make it until the Rapture but since other countries face war and famine we can't assume it isn't coming; and that very soon by all indications.

I wish I could even know how to pray; it seems rhetoric is getting more intense by the day and there is no way things can settle down. Maybe someone else is more qualified than I on that subject. Of course we see daily now shootings; stabbings and such in large public places including churches. We have to expect things to continue to get worse. Let us put on the full armor of God. We have to be honest; most in the church will stop fellowshipping once push comes to shove; and will only be out for themselves; a few will try to help others and have alreadly prepared their hearts for what is to come.

At this point I'm grateful for every decent night's rest; and a meal on the table.

We need to ready ourselves for media blackout that is likely to happen again in very short order; days or weeks-I can't see it any other way. Some things may be temporary but let us stay vigilent.

I love you all.

Lbooth1955

It is known from historical information that John discipled people at Ephesus, appointed both Polycarp of Smyrna (I believe, and Ignateus at Antioch as bishops. So it seems that he did evangelize beyond Jerusalem.

Since the Scriptures that were canonized to be included in the NT do not tell us much about the apostles in Acts we really cannot say positively that they stayed in Jerusalem or if they did travel beyond Jerusalem to preach the gospel of Jesus as He commanded. What you or I believe are assumptions ad I think we should both admit this as fact.

As for me, I do believe that each of the apostles, along with those that were present at Pentecost in the Upper Room all obeyed the command of Jesus to take the gospel beyond Jerusalem after His resurrection. And I believe that since Jesus prefaced the command with stating that He has all power and authority, I believe that that He was ensuring them that they will indeed accomplish whatever He had commanded them to do because of who they then knew who He was and worshipped him. Since I believe that Jesus is God as well as human, I understand that He had the same sovereignty as the Father and the Spirit and thus, whatever He willed to occur with the disciples after His ascension would come to pass according to what He commanded them to go and do.

Lbooth. I have read all of your posts and have heard your doctrine before and I do not adhere to it. I do not wish to engage in a prolonged back and forth with you as I will not be convinced of your way of thinking, and I don't think you will change your view either from what is stated in response to your presentation of your views.

For the record, I just encourage each reader to go to Scripture and learn, praying for a mindset that truly seeks the truth from God and asks for help in how one approaches Scripture and understand sections of Scripture in light of all the other Scriptures that teach us what God is truly like in all that He is. may all be blessed.

Romans 13:10

"Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."

1 Thessalonians 5:11

"Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do."

Blessings

Acts 8:5 "Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them."

Acts 8:14 "Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:"

Acts 8:25 "And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans."

Acts 8:34 "And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?"

Acts 8:35 "Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus."

Acts 8:38 "And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him."

Acts 10:32 "Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee."

Acts 10:46 "For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,"

Acts 10:47 "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?"

Acts 11:20 "And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus."

Acts 11:21 "And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord."

Blessings

Thank you very much for your study; it made me realize how the apostles' timeline is organized. If you allow me, I will briefly summarize your post as follows:

Peter's foundation of salvation in the beginning:

Faith + works of the Law.

Paul's foundation of salvation:

Faith alone, by grace.

Role of the Mosaic Law:

Peter still observed it in the beginning (until Acts 10);

Paul considered it fulfilled in Christ.

Gentiles:

Peter - initially hesitant;

Paul - fully included by faith.

Repentance:

Peter adjusts according to God's revelation;

Paul emphasizes inner transformation by the Spirit.

Is faith without works sufficient for salvation? Peter - No (in the beginning);

Paul - Yes, works are the result, not the cause.

Reference: Acts 10:9-15

Peter is confronted with a vision from God, where he is invited to eat animals considered "unclean" by the Law.

Peter replies:

"I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean."

The divine voice responds:

"Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."

At this point, Peter begins to understand that spiritual purity no longer depends on ceremonial Law.

Change of mindset:

Peter repents from his legalistic thinking.

He obeys God's instruction and goes to the house of Cornelius, a Gentile.

Reference: Acts 10:44-48

The Holy Spirit falls upon Cornelius and his household - even before baptism.

Peter is surprised:

"Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"

Peter baptizes them in the name of Jesus.

Peter acknowledges that God shows no partiality.

Peter's conclusion: Salvation is also available to the Gentiles - by faith - yet still accompanied by obedience and baptism.

Dear Dgjot

Oh, I hope you were not banned.

There were some changes to the website that require one to sign in in order to post.

I am glad you are back here with us and willing to contribute your thoughts to discussions and to request prayer.

I often think of those who used to post often and then we no longer hear from them, but some do return, like you, and I am thankful for that.

In Scripture, Jesus Christ initially sent His twelve disciples only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. In Matthew 10:5-6, Jesus commanded them, "Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." This directive limited their early ministry strictly to the circumcision, the Jewish people. Even after Christ's resurrection, Peter and the other apostles continued ministering primarily to the Jews in Jerusalem and surrounding regions ( Acts 1-7). Their ministry was rooted in the hope of Israel and the promised earthly kingdom.

Although the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 and Mark 16:15 includes the phrase "go ye into all the world," there is no biblical record of Peter, James, John, or the other original apostles ever launching widespread missions to the Gentile nations. Their continued presence in Jerusalem and their focus on the Jewish believers is affirmed in Galatians 2:7-9, where Paul writes that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed to him, while the gospel of the circumcision was committed to Peter. The Jerusalem apostles gave Paul and Barnabas the "right hands of fellowship," agreeing that Paul should go to the Gentiles while they remained with the circumcision.

Only Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles ( Romans 11:13), is recorded in Scripture as taking multiple missionary journeys to distant lands-Asia Minor, Macedonia, Greece, and Rome. These travels are thoroughly documented in the Book of Acts (chapters 13-28). Paul uniquely preached the gospel of the grace of God ( Acts 20:24), revealing the mystery of the Body of Christ and salvation by grace through faith alone ( Ephesians 3:1-9), distinct from the kingdom gospel preached to Israel.

Thus, Scripture consistently shows that the twelve apostles remained focused on Israel and never carried out global missionary work, while Paul alone fulfilled the calling to take the gospel to the nations.