Lesson # 7

The Gospel of the Uncircumcision

In Lesson # 6 we should have learned:
  1. The 12 disciples were sent "to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
  2. They were not to minister to Gentiles.
  3. They were to minister to Jews in this order: 1) Jerusalem, 2) Judea, 3) Samaria, and 4) those Jews scattered in all regions of the known world.
  4. That the gospel of the circumcision was committed to Peter, James and John, etc. (Gal. 2: 7-9)
  5. That the gospel of the Uncircumcision was committed to Paul

Go to the time chart and look at the area in red, which is labeled Mystery, the Age of Grace and the Church the Body of Christ. The books of the Bible that correspond to this period are Acts 9-28 and Romans through Philemon.

It is from these books that we find the message for all that are living today. These books are written specifically TO us now living in the 21st Century.

The ministry of Paul begins in Acts chapter nine. At this point in time his name was Saul. In verses 1-2 we are given information that Saul had been to the high priest and asked for permission to go to Damascus to arrest all the followers of the Lord. As he was nearing Damascus he was met by a bright shinning light, fell to the ground and the Lord spoke to him. (Vs. 3-4) Saul immediately knew whose voice it was and asked the Lord what He wanted him to do. (Vs. 5-6)

The men traveling with Saul were scared out of their wits, having heard a voice but seeing no one. (V. 7) When Paul open his eyes he could not see and had to be led into Damascus. He was unable to see for three days, as he waited for the man God had prepared to see him. Ananias was reluctant to go because he knew that Saul had persecuted many followers of the Lord, but he was faithful and went, (Vs. 8-12) but not until one last rebuttal. (Vs. 13-14)

Then in Acts 9: 15-16 we see what God had in store for Saul. "But the Lord said unto him (Ananias) Go thy way: for he (Saul) is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake."

After receiving his sight by the "laying on of" the hands of Ananias, Saul immediately went to the synagogues and preached that Jesus was the Son of God. (Acts 9: 20) This is a significant point. The very first thing Saul did was to present himself in the synagogues and tell Jewish leaders and laymen something that had to baffle them: "This man Jesus, who we have denounced as a fraud, is the Son of God." From that moment forward the Words of the Lord rang true: "For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake." And suffer is what Paul did.

It was at Antioch that God called Barnabus and Saul to proceed with the work He had called them to do. (Acts 13: 1-2) From Antioch they begin a long an arduous journey to preach a message to Gentiles and Jews alike that a Savior had come, receive Him as Lord and live eternally. We first see Saul changed to Paul in Acts 13: 9, 13.

Now Paul and Barnabus go about preaching that Jesus is the Son of God, plus they begin preaching something new: "Christ's blood was shed to atone for sins." Things once were done under the law for remission of sins were to be discarded and be replaced by the faith of Christ

We are about to enter into an area that is very controversial. I must caution you to be a Berean. If you truly want to learn what the Bible says and not what some denomination says then act like the Bereans: search the Scriptures God has provided for you before you believe any man – present party included. "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so." Acts 17: 11

Remember, we looked at Galatians 2: 7-9 in an earlier lesson. It was there that Peter and the twelve apostles had realized they were to go to the circumcision with the gospel of the circumcision.

What was the message?
  1. The Messiah, the Son of God, has come, Matthew 3:13-17 ""And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (V.17)
  2. Prepare for the kingdom and the King, "… O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance." Matthew 3: 7-8
  3. Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins; the kingdom of heaven is at hand (This is called the gospel of the kingdom.) Read Matthew 4: 17, 23; Matthew 9:35; Matthew 10: 5-10; Matthew 15:21-28
4]         Hold out until the end and you will be saved. Matthew 24:13-23
  1. Give all your cash and goods to the apostles for equal distribution Acts 2:44-45; 4: 31-21
  2. They were looking to be restored to the land of promise when the king would be established. Acts 1: 6-8, 11; 2:14-21 (This is a quote from Joel 2: 28-32)

In those same verse (Galatians 2: 7-9) we found that unto Paul was committed the gospel of the uncircumcision.

What was that message?

  1. You do not have to be baptized for the remission of sins for: "For by grace are ye saved through faith (the faith of Christ); and that not of yourselves (your faith or your works): it is the gift of God: Not of works, least any man should boast." (Ephesians 2: 7-8)
  2. You are a part of Christ's body, "For by one Spirit are we baptized into one body…" 1 Corinthians 12: 13
  3. He is in heaven so that is where you are, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." Ephesians 1: 3
  4. You do not have to be baptized for remission of sins; Christ shed His blood for your sins. The baptism that is of any consequence to us is spiritual. "One Lord, one faith, one baptism" and we have already seen that baptism is spiritual. Paul was not called to preach baptism. (1 Corinthians 1: 17)
5]         Your inheritance is in heaven, as seen in # 3.

Let me ask you a simple question, Are the two messages the same? Mull this over for awhile and we'll talk more in the next lesson.

Review Questions:

  1. Who was converted on the road to Damascus?
  2. What was the purpose of his going there?
  3. Who went with Paul on his first journey?
  4. What was the message Paul preached?
  5. Was it the same as the message that Peter preached?
  6. Explain the difference, if any.


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