The BIG Picture (Q&A)

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...

QUESTION: As for Eph. 3:1-3,5,6 how can we claim that we will be fellow heirs of the same body, if we then claim that “WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST” and then there is the nation ISRAEL? Did Jesus not die for all of us? Are we not all Children of God partaking in the PROMISE OF CHRIST? How then can we claim that we are different? ANSWER: There are a whole lot of individual questions in your paragraph above. I will attempt to deal with each question individually. To all those who have turned their hearts to God by believing in His Son, they become the children of God and will partake in a promised inheritance. This is the guaranteed outcome for all who have responded in faith to Jesus Christ. However, this promised inheritance is detailed, and in order to understand the correct context of the promises of God, regarding heirship and inheritance within His full redemption plan, it is very important that we understand the details. In the great redemption plan of God, there are differ...

The content below discusses what happens AFTER salvation. One must first experience salvation before the rest of this post becomes applicable. In order to understand salvation and what it entails, please read the following,  About Salvation . Now, back to the question: What really happens when you accepted Jesus Christ? What happens AFTER the salvation experience? There are a few things that happen IMMEDIATELY after salvation. I cannot confirm any specific order to these happenings, but I'll arrange them in an order I perceive as logical. At salvation, one is instantaneously sealed into the family of God The word  sealed  in the New Testament comes from a Greek word that means  "to stamp with a private mark"  in the interest of keeping something secret or protecting or preserving the sealed object. Being sealed is a permanent mark of verification of ownership. Ephesians below says, " When you believed , you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Hol...

In contrast to the Jewish church, Paul was given new truth concerning the establishment of grace church. The Body of Christ is an entity that one will not find anywhere in the Old Testament, in prophecy, or in the Gospels. It is unique revelation introduced for the heavenly program. Matt 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  The Jewish assembly is built upon the rock. It is not built upon Peter as the character, but rather, the Jewish church is built upon the 'confession' of Peter, the faith confession that Jesus is the Son of God. This confession is the primary requirement of ...

Information about our heavenly inheritance cannot be found in the Old Testament or in the Gospels. It is revealed only by revelation through the apostle Paul. Our inheritance is the part of our salvation that happens in the future, either when we die or are raptured up.  Eph.1:13-14 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest [guarantee] of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.  Col.3:23-24 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.  Now this is important, don't confuse your inheritance as a child of God today in heaven with Israel's inheritance on earth when they enter into the Millennial Kingdom. They are not the same. We w...