Israel was Provided a “One Year Extension of Mercy” (WIP)

After the rejection and crucifixion of Christ, Israel was provided a “one year extension of mercy,” per the parable in Lk 13:6-9, and a second offer of the kingdom (Acts 3:19-21) was made by Peter to the nation Israel:

1. The one-year extension of mercy occurred between the crucifixion of Christ and the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7). (That takes you to Romans 11:11)
2. Acts 7 and the stoning of Stephen was the official rejection of Christ the Messiah and the offer of the kingdom.
3. Acts 8 indicates that the kingdom message of Mt, Mk, Lk, Jn, and Acts 1 through 7 was continuing until the conversion of Saul in Acts 9:
   1. This included the gospel of the kingdom, Jesus as the Son of God, Jesus the Messiah, and water baptism for the remission of sins:
      1. Acts 8:5 – “preached Christ” (not death, burial, and resurrection).
      2. Acts 8:6 – “hearing and seeing the miracles” – the Jews require a sign… (1 Cor 1:22).
      3. Acts 8:7 – healings:
         1. Physical healing is always associated with the gospel of the kingdom, as Israel would soon be the “chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people” (1 Pet 2:9).
            1. Israel was promised to be a kingdom of priests (Ex 19:6, Is 61:1-11).
         2. To be a priest in the holy nation of Israel requires that a person be physically whole (Lev 21:17-23), and that is why physical healing is always associated with Israel’s gospel of the kingdom.
            1. Notice how every time the kingdom is offered in Mt, Mk, Lk, Jn, healings accompany that offer (Mt 4:23, etc.).
         3. Water baptism was a ceremonial washing that was for the cleansing of animals, people, and priests (Ezek 36:25).
            1. Without water baptism there was no cleansing under the Law.
      4. Acts 8:12 – “kingdom of God,” “name of Jesus Christ,” “they were baptized”.
      5. Acts 8:13 – baptized, miracles, signs…
      6. Acts 8:14 – “received the word of God” NOT the gospel of the grace of God.
      7. Acts 8:15-17 – “prayed that they might receive the Holy Ghost…”
         1. The Christian is indwelt with the Holy Spirit at the time of belief (1 Cor 2:12, Gal 3:2) – one does not need to pray for it as a member of the Church, the body of Christ.
      8. Acts 8:28-35 – the resurrection of Jesus Christ is nowhere mentioned in Isaiah 53. (see 1 Cor 15:1-4, Rom 10:9).
      9. Acts 8:36 – water baptism;  just as it was preached in Mt 3:1-6 and throughout the four gospels.
      10. Acts 8:37 – “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” – this is NOT the content of 1 Cor 15:1-4 (death, burial, and resurrection).
4. Once one accurately understands the series of events that took place in the book of Acts and particularly what events took place during the “one year extension of mercy,” they are then able to clearly identify that the Church, the body of Christ, did not start in Acts 2, but in Acts 9 with the conversion of Saul of Tarsus.
   1. Paul was the first member of the body of Christ and he preached a different gospel – a gospel that we are to believe during this current dispensation.