RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF GOD

There are two groups of people on earth:  Jews, and Gentiles (everybody else).  Jesus came to Israel as their Messiah, their Christ, their King, and they rejected Him (Jn. 1:11).  And yet, after His Crucifixion, His Resurrection, and His Ascension, the Gospel of the Kingdom was still being proclaimed as God's message to the Jews (Acts Chapters 2 - 9).  There is no mention of the Gospel of the Kingdom being proclaimed to the Gentiles; our Gospel is the Gospel of Grace.

Note:  (Mt. 4:23; 9:35; 24:14; Mk. 1:14) are the only times the phrase "Gospel of the Kingdom" is found in the Bible, and it will be fulfilled by the Jews, on earth, during Christ's Millennial Reign (Rev. 20:1-7).  Christians will be there as well, but the Church will have been taken up in the Rapture prior to the beginning of His Kingdom, and will rule with Him at that time in our glorified bodies (Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 50-53; 1 Th. 4:16-17; Rev. 20:6).

Peter's message was that the Jews repent and be baptized, and then they would receive the Holy Ghost.  Luke states, "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost"  (Acts 2:38).  And yet later, while Peter was preaching to the Gentiles in Acts 10, something changed:  baptism followed the filling by the Holy Spirit!  Luke wrote:

"While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the Word.  And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.  For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.  Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.  Then prayed they him to tarry certain days" (Acts 10:44-48).

What changed?  Simply put, "For the Law was given by Moses (to the Jews), but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ" (Jn. 1:17 - to whomsoever will believe - Jew or Gentile - Rom. 10:9-10; Eph. 2:8-9; etc.).  The Law involves repentance and obedience; it points to one's continuous need of a Savior (Gal. 3:24-25).  Grace teaches us to simply have faith in the finished work of our Savior:  Jesus!  Trusting Him, we are sealed as children of God (Eph. 1:10; 4:30), and God, indwelling us with the Holy Spirit, begins the job of changing us into the likeness of His Son (Rom. 8:28-29; Phil. 1:6; 1 Jn. 3:2; etc.)!

The Jews try; born again believers trust!