The BIG Picture (Q&A)

First, consider that the word gospel originates from the Old English gōdspel, which combines gōd (meaning “good”) with spel (meaning “news” or “a story”). So, at its core, gospel signifies good tidings, truth, and the message of salvation in the Christian faith. With this in mind, we should ask, “where in the Bible do we encounter the very first occurrence of good news that tells us that God would save us from eternal death?” Many people would say that it is in the gospels of the New Testament, but this is incorrect. To find the very FIRST occurrence of the gospel, we must go way back to the very beginning of the Bible. Read this scripture, Gen 3:15  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. This scripture is known as the proto-gospel. This label is not important, but what is, is the message it tells. What this scripture is saying is that in the aftermath of Adam and Eve'...

In one of my posts I mentioned the following, Peter and the 11 preached that physical circumcision was necessary for salvation —God clearly stated that He wanted nothing to do with a physically-uncircumcised Jew in Israel's program, for physical circumcision was the sign of the Abrahamic Covenant, Gen 17:7-14. The following question/statement came in as comment on the post, Where did Peter and the 11 preach that circumcision was necessary for salvation? Read Acts 15:4-20 and you won't find anything regarding this. Nothing here from Peter and the 11 says one must be circumcised. I thought it a great opportunity to write a reply to provide clarity. MY REPLY: Of course there is nothing in this passage. This passage concerns the Jerusalem council meeting where decisions were made on how to manage the new Gentile converts that were in the assemblies. Some concessions were made to limit the friction between the law-abiding Jewish members and the ‘free-range’ Gentiles. So, this passag...

The following is a reaction to this post:  https://thebigpicturelink.blogspot.com/2024/02/why-were-baptisms-required-for-israel.html POST REACTION: I don’t think you can connect the ministry of John the Baptist to the Old Testament priesthood. Only the priests needed to be washed, not every Israelite. And John the Baptist’s imagery had nothing to do whatsoever with priestly cleansing. Just read the accounts in the four Gospels. It was a sign of repentance. And Israelites before John were not baptized. It was a ritual that started with him. And Christian baptism has a totally different symbolic meaning and was done for both Jews and Gentiles alike. In your article, your thoughts on priestly rituals are interesting, but there’s no biblical evidence that John’s baptism has anything whatsoever to do with that. ANSWER: One cannot just isolate John’s ministry as something that just appeared out of the blue. In the Bible EVERYTHING has meaning and purpose. The entire bible interprets itse...

SOCIAL MEDIA STATEMENT: I’ve read some of Martin Zenders books and one of them, called, ‘The First Idiot in Heaven’ speaks of the differences of these two ministries. Martin is a Bible scholar and is well learned. He teaches that the gospel of the circumcision (given to Peter) v the gospel of the uncircumcision (given to Paul) was both separate and quite different. The Bible seems to distinguish between these two gospels. interesting as I’ve never been able to understand the book of James against the pure grace spoken of by the Apostle Paul. I'm unsure about all of Martin’s teachings but I do enjoy reading some of his literature. MY REPLY: When one studies the scriptures, rightly divides between these two programs, it is plain and clear to see in the scriptures for oneself that Peters ministry and gospel to the circumcision was very different to Paul’s ministry and gospel to the uncircumcised. The bible, and all characters and the things they did and taught become clear and simple....

  In order to understand this statement, one must first understand that the Bible deals with two programs throughout its pages. The first is prophecy by means of Israel in order to restore earth, and the second is mystery by means of Paul, and the Body of Christ, in order to restore the heavens. Now, keep this in mind as we now tackle the question. In Matthew 6, Jesus had just finished teaching the Olivet sermon. The whole sermon has its context in the Millennial Kingdom. In actual fact, it can be seen as the constitution of the Kingdom and how Jesus will eventually execute His rule, according to these precepts and principles revealed in His sermon. After this teaching the disciples ask Him how they should pray. The content of the prayer concerns the period of time known as the Tribulation. If you recite the prayer in the context of a Jew living through the Tribulation, it will make a lot of sense; asking for ‘daily’ bread, for strength to forgive, for protection from evil and for ...

Paul was indeed a Jew and devout Pharisee, but when God converted him on the Damascus road, God gave him a completely new gospel and doctrine. Have you ever considered why Paul never references anything of Jesus in his epistles? No teachings, no parables, no miracles. This is often a surprise to people! The ONLY thing Paul brings across into his epistles and into the grace gospel is the CROSS, which for the Kingdom gospel was a contentious issue according to Peter. Gal 6:14  But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 2Co 5:16-17 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. (17) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.