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D W
Supporter
Matthew was written entirely to Jews. Mark was written entirely to Romans in Rome. Luke was written entirely to Greeks and Hellenistic Jews. Matthew tells us the story of the birth, life, ministry, arrest, trial, crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. His ministry in Matthew is entirely to Jews concerning His identity as their promised Messiah. Mark and Luke explain that to non-Jews. John stands alone as the bridge between the three mentioned and the Acts of the Apostles, including the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith, first revealed by the Apostle Paul. See Acts 9. Carefully note Acts 10 and Acts 13 for transition from the Covenant for Jews and the NEW Covenant for non-Jews and those Jews who would convert to Christianity. The right division of the Word for the Jews and the Word for Christians opens up one's understanding of the entire Bible. Covenant theology, or the belief that there is no division, or that the church totally replaced Israel, leads to confusion. Right division leads to celebrations of God's Amazing Grace.
S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
We must keep in mind that the Bible is intended to be taken as a whole. The books preceding the Four Gospels are anticipatory, and the books which follow are explanatory. Throughout the whole Bible...
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Mark Vestal
Supporter
The reason is simple. They DO present a different message. For instance, what was required for the rich young ruler to be saved based on the underlying theme of the four gospels? Matt 19:16-22 "And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions." What is the requirement for salvation found in the thirteen epistles of Paul? Eph 2:4-9 "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast." Rom 4:4-6 "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works," Rom 3:28 "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." As you can see, the four gospels indeed required faith from Israel, but also required works such as; keeping the commandments, selling ALL possessions, giving to the poor, and following Jesus Christ in His EARTHLY ministry. 2 Cor 5:16 "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." The salvation requirement found in Paul's epistles is of faith ALONE and following Christ from His HEAVENLY ministry (no longer earthly) as given to Paul to give to us. Works are important, but they now come AFTER salvation and out of the desire to please God BECAUSE OF our salvation, not out of NECESSITY to EARN it (like the rich young ruler had to do). Col 1:25 "Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;" Eph 3:2 "If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:" The age of God's abounding grace came at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and because of Israel's rejection of their Messiah. Salvation then became the free unmerited gift for all who will believe. Rom 11:11 "I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy." The rich young ruler could actually still find salvation if he happened to hear of Paul's gospel of God's grace and trusted in what Jesus Christ did for him on the cross by BELIEF! Eph 1:13 "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," Rom 3:22 "Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:" Rom 10:12 "For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him." Christ completed all of the required work on our behalf, and the blood that He shed on the cross was the sufficient payment to God for our sins (1 Cor 15:1-4 KJV). If we must still work for salvation, why did Jesus Christ have to die?
Jeffery Byler
Supporter
Each book and author of the New Testament may have a slightly different emphasis; however they all agree on one point, that love is the most important and essential aspect of being a Christian. Paul says that if any man loves not the Lord Jesus, let him be accursed; and that though we have all faith or give everything to the poor, we are nothing. John says that if we know God we will love our brother. The Gospels and epistles testify to the importance of this greatest commandment. Faith working in love is what pleases God. (Gal 5:6) Jesus is coming for those that love His appearing.
Dave Larsen
Supporter
That isn’t entirely correct. The letters of John, Peter and James all hold to the same message of salvation that Yoshua taught. He said: John 18:37: “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Yoshua answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” John 17:17 -19 says truth is the WORD of GOD. And our sanctification depends on the WORD of GOD. John 17:17-19: Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. Yoshua also said all on the side of truth listen to His WORD (are obedient to His WORD). Just as GOD said it must be through Moses. Deuteronomy 18:15-19: The LORD your GOD will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. 16 For this is what you asked of the LORD your GOD at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our GOD nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.” 17 The LORD said to me: “What they say is good. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my WORDS in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. 19 I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my WORDS that the prophet speaks in my name." Yoshua's gospel was: Truth is the WORD of the Father and that WORD has the power to set captives free from sin. John 8:31-36: To the Jews who had believed him, Yoshua said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” 34 Yoshua replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." Yoshua is the Son and He is the WORD that came to testify to the WORD to set the captives free. The following are quotes from His disciples in the New Testament saying the same thing: 1 Peter 1:22-23: Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring WORD of GOD. James 1:18: He chose to give us birth through the WORD of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created. 1 John 3:7-9: Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of GOD appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. 9 No one who is born of GOD will continue to sin, because GOD’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of GOD. Peter, James and John’s letters all align with what Yoshua taught. Matthew 5:17-18: 17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. All will be accomplished when the bride is with the groom on the new earth.
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