Jehoshua is on the throne of David in New Jerusalem and He is the King of a New Israel
Part 5 of my study of the gospel in Acts
Acts 5:42 "And every day, in the temple and at home, they ceased not to teach and to preach Jehoshua as the Messiah." The apostles continually preached Jehoshua as the Messiah. Messiah means "anointed one" of God. Notice that they did not preach that Jehoshua was the second member of some trinity god or God Himself but they preached that He was the Davidic Messianic King i.e. the fufillment of the Davidic covenant as mentioned in Acts 2:29-36. They preached in the temple and in houses. There was no such thing in the apostolic church as a once a week service. Church was every day for the apostles and their disciples. The KJV renders the above verse as such: "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ" Not only did they preach Jehoshua as Messiah but preached His doctrine as He commanded in Matthew 28:19-20: 19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in my name:20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. This is exactly what the apostles were doing in the temple and homes of the believers, they were preaching the things Jehoshua commanded that they (the apostles) were taught by Him (Jehoshua). The sermon on the mount was the central message of Jehoshua's Kingdom and it was referred to as His doctrine (Matthew 7:28). To preach Jehoshua is not to just preach His death, burial and resurrection, although those are central essentials, but also to preach what He taught. Infact, we are told to reject anyone who comes not with His (Jehoshua's) doctrine (2 John 9-11). Let's now go to the next sermon recorded in the book of Acts. Acts 7:55-56 55But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jehoshua standing on the right hand of God,56And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. This is actually after Stephen's long sermon basically covering the history of Israel. This passage above alludes to the common theme of the new testament which is that Jehoshua in His resurrected state is on the right hand of God in the holy of holies. This again alludes to Psalm 110 which is about the fufillment of the Davidic covenant where Jehoshua is enthroned as the King of Israel: Psalm 110:1 "Jehovah saith unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, Until I make thine enemies thy footstool" Acts 8:5 "And Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed unto them the Messiah" Phillip preached the Messiah to the Samaritans and certainly this means that the things Peter had preached about Jehoshua is exactly what Phillip preached. Peter preached that Jehoshua was a man approved of God and that He was of the fruit of David's loins and the fufillment of the Davidic covenant. Peter preached that God raised up Jehoshua from the dead and exalted Him to heaven on the throne of David and made Him King and Messiah. Acts 8:12 "But when they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women" After Simon had been bewitching the Samaritans, Phiilp arrived preaching the good tidings of the Kingdom. We have to remember that ultimately the gospel is good news as stated by Jehoshua when He quoted Isaiah 61 on the Sabbath day. The good news of the Kingdom includes the following from Isaiah 61: 1 The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me; because Jehovah hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening [of the prison] to them that are bound;2to proclaim the year of Jehovah`s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;3to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Jehovah, that he may be glorified. 4And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. The good news of the Kingdom gospel is that Jehovah is sending His anointed ones to the meek (humble) to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to those who are captive to sin. To give beauty and joy to those who are mourning. To give Jehovah's rest to those who are in heaviness. To proclaim the day of Jehovah's salvation succouring (inviting) people to His Kingdom so that they be trees of righteousness planted by Jehovah God. In verse 4 of Isaiah 61we see Isaiah chapter 58 verse 12 alluded to. This is a reference to safeguarding the Sabbath day. Essential to the good news of the gospel is restoring true Sabbath worship which includes acts of mercy to the afflicted, the hungry, the poor, the naked. The gospel is rooted in Jehovah's justice as is connected with the Sabbath day. Phillip preached the name of Jehoshua Messiah. This means He preached in the authority of Jehoshua and likely the very same things Peter and Stephen preached concerning Him. Acts 8:25 "They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans" The apostles (Peter and John) testified the word of Jehovah in Samaria. The word of Jehovah is another name for the "gospel of the Kingdom". Peter and John bascially confirmed what Phillip had already preached in addition to laying hands on the Samaritan believers that they might recieve the Holy Spirit. Acts 8:30-34 30And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?31And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.32The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:33In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.34And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? This is Phillip preaching the gospel to the Ethiopion eunch. Here Phillip approaches the Ethiopion as he is reading Isaiah 53 specifically verses 7-8. Phillip clearly attributed this passage to Jehoshua as the suffering servant. The suffering of the Son of God leading to His death was a central aspect of the early church's preaching the gospel. Acts 8:36-37 36And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?37And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jehoshua Messiah is the Son of God. Notice that baptism is administered right away after a profession of faith and is not to be prolonged after a several month period of instruction. The profession of faith was in Jehoshua's Messiahship and Sonship. This is consistent with the rest of scripture. Nowwhere in scripture is anyone required to believe in a trinity or that Jehoshua is God in order to be baptized. The gospel preached in Acts witnesses that Jehoshua is a man anointed by God as His King. The titles Messiah and Son of God eqaute to being the King of Israel. Acts 9:17-20 17And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jehoshua, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.18And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.19And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.20And straightway he preached Messiah in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. This is one of the famous Damascus road account of Paul's conversion. Notice the process here of his conversion. He had previously responded in obedient faith at the Lord's command to go into the city (verse 6). He was then given sight to see, this was literal but it also had a spiritual parallel as Paul received the Holy Spirit and the scales came off his eyes. He was then baptized and the text says that he straightway (right away) preached that Jehoshua is the Son of God. This is significant as it shows that Jehoshua being the Son of God is absolutely essential to the doctrine of the apostolic church. Nowhere do they use the phrase "God the Son". Jehoshua is consistently preached as being God's Son throughout the whole new testament. There is absolutely no mention of Him being a second member of a trinity god. Acts 9:22 "But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Messiah" Two verses later we see that Paul was defeating the Jews by way of the Holy Spirit in proving that Jehoshua was indeed the very Messiah that was the long expectation of the nation of Israel. The emphasis, concerning the identity, of Jehoshua in the apostolic church was that He was Jehovah's anointed one (Messiah). Again, the titles "Messiah" and "Son of God" denote Him being the King of Israel not some second member of a trinity god. Over and over again, the apostolic church preaches that Jehoshua is God's Son and Messiah not that He is God Himself or some preexistent angel. Acts 9:27-29 27But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jehoshua.28And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.29And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jehoshua, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. Here again we see the phrase "in the name of Jehoshua". Paul spoke in the name of Jehoshua Messiah in Damascus and in Jerusalem against the Greek speaking Jews. The phrase "in the name of Jehoshua" denotes authority, in that the apostles spoke in the authority of the Son of God. The apostles and all believers preach as representatives of the Son of God. They speak in His authority and proclaim all things concerning Him and His gospel. This is what it means when it is said they spake in the name of Jehoshua. It also means to speak about His character (express image of God) and His identity as God's Messianic Davidic King. Acts 10 36The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)37That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;38How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. 39And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:40Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;41Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.42And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.43To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. Here in Acts 10, Peter is sent to Cornelius a God fearing Gentile to preach the gospel. This is significant in that Peter was shown a vision that a man is not unclean just because he is a Gentile. It is also significant in that the same gospel that was preached to the Jews throughout the book of Acts is also preached to the Gentiles just as it was also preached to the Samaritans (mixed race) and the Ethiopion (african). Cornelius, the Roman centurion, does not get a different version of the gospel than does the Jews but gets the exact same version of the gospel as they do. Verse 36, Jehovah God sent His word (gospel of the Kingdom) by Jehoshua His Son. The gospel is a gospel of peace and they are good tidings. Again, the core of the gospel of the Kingdom is found in Isaiah 61. This shows that the "word" was not a preexistent being but rather God the Father's gospel which He anointed Jehoshua with who then went preaching it to the nation of Israel. Petet then says He (Jehoshua) is Lord of all. This refers not to Jehoshua being God as the Father is acknowledged over and over again as the God of the bible. This Lordship of all things is referring to Jehoshua's Davidic Kingship. 1st Corinthians 15:24-28 shows us that Jehoshua is ruler over all things excepting the Father. Verses 37 and 38, Apparently Cornelius had heard about the gospel being published. Note how Petet attributes the beginning of the "word" to John the baptist's ministry which led to Jehoshua being anointed with the Holy Spirit and power. This again shows the "word" not to being a preexistent being but rather God's Kingdom gospel. This word then became flesh when Jehoshua was anointed with it. It was only after Jehoshua's baptism that He performed miracles. Peter says that God was with Jehoshua in doing these good and miraculous works. This proves that Jehoshua was not doing these things by His own power but rather that God was doing it through Him. Many Christians today have all but pushed God the Father aside and teach that Jehoshua was doing these things because He Himself is the Almighty God. Peter is reiterating what all those in the early Church taught in that it was God the Father empowering Jehoshua. Verse 39, Peter mentions Jehoshua's death on the cross which is a crucial feature of the gospel of the Kingdom. Verse 40, Peter follows with Jehoshua's resurrection from the dead and clearly says that God raised up Jehoshua. Many Christians today say that Jehoshua raised up Himself again denying and casting the Father aside as a bystander. The death and resurrection of Jehoshua are central elements of the apostolic doctrine. Verse 41, Peter and the brethren were witnesses of the resurrection of the Messiah even eating and drinking with them. The cross and the resurrection are center points of the gospel. Verse 42, Peter now alludes to the great commission and says that Jehoshua was ordained by God to judge the living and the dead. Again, Peter acknowledges the Father to have given Jehoshua all things which He posesses. This is the consistent theme of the gospel in that the Father is God and has anointed and exalted His Son to inherit all things and also made Him King, Priest, Messiah and judge. This is an attack on the false co eqaul, co eternal trinity doctrine. Verse 43, Jehoshua was the fufillment of what the prophets of the old testament foretold. The gospel teaches that faith in the name of Jehoshua brings forgiveness of sins. This faith in the Son of God's name isn't merely a mental ascent in knowledge of who Jehoshua is in identity but rather also believing everything He taught and then practicing it. "Name" represents identity, character and authority. Identity = Son of God, King of Israel, eternal Davidic Messianic King Character = fully righteous by keeping Jehovah's law and teach others to do so Authority = empowered by Jehovah God to judge all things and to rule over dominions, powers and principalities Let's now go to the next sermon in Acts where the gospel is being preached: Acts 11:20-21 20But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Greeks also, preaching the King Jehoshua.21And the hand of Jehovah was with them: and a great number that believed turned unto Jehovah. What does it mean that they peached "the King Jehoshua"? Did they simply tell people to accept Jehoshua into their heart as today's evangelist preach? Of course not! You will not see that in scripture. When it says they preached "Jehoshua" we have to understand it in terms of what has already been previously preached about Him throughout the book of Acts. This means that "preaching Jehoshua" is saying that He is the seed of David and the fufillment of the Davidic covenant. That His sits on the throne of David on the right hand of God in New Jerusalem. This means preaching His persecution at the hands of Pontius Pilate and Herod. His death, burial, resurrection and ascension. This means preaching that He is the Son of God, which is the foundation of the Church (Matthew 16:13-20). Son of God is to be understood within the context of the Davidic covenant as Jehovah adopted the royal seed of David in 2 Samuel 7. Also, note that those who believed in Jehoshua were turned to the LORD (Jehovah). The ultimate purpose of preaching Jehoshua was to bring people back in covenant with the God of Israel which is the Father alone (John 17:3). In other words, Jehoshua Messiah is conduit unto which we turn back to the God of the bible. Acts 13:14--16 14But they, passing through from Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidia; and they went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.15And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.16And Paul stood up, and beckoning with the hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, hearken: This is the most centrally located semon in the book of Acts which contains 28 chapters. It is also arguably the most powerful. This is sermon is placed perfectly in this book pretty much in the middle. It is the 2nd longest sermon after Stephen's discourse. Paul nails this sermon and perfectly shows us what the foundation of the gospel is. First off, take note that Paul was still keeping the Sabbath day. Many will try to say that he just kept it to be a Jew to the Jews but there is no evidence that he was keeping the Sabbath for that reason only. The bible elsewhere says it was his custom to keep the Sabbath day. They will say that he kept it because he was Jewish or he was just using it as an evangelism tool although there is no evidence for either of these assumptions. The reading of the law and the prophets was customary on the Sabbath day. These are the scriptures that the early Church had. They did not have anything called a new testament. This means that the law and the prophets are part of the gospel. It would be strange for the Church to have a gospel message based on the law and the prophets if the law was abolished at the cross. This means the reading of the law would be an empty exercise and that the gospel they preached had no foundational writings to support it. As we continue this sermon we will see how the gospel is rooted in the old testament and specifically in the Davidic covenant and Jehoshua being the very fufillment of it. Acts 13:21-24 21 And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for the space of forty years.22And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king; to whom also he bare witness and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who shall do all My will.23Of this man`s seed hath God according to promise brought unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus;24when John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. David comes into the picture as Jehovah's chosen King, being anointed for that office in 1 Samuel 16:13. On that very day Jehovah rent the Kingdom from Saul. David was a man after God's own heart and did whatever Jehovah commanded him. The Israelite kings were supposed to be Jehovah's earthly representatives. In verse 23 Paul says of David's seed (sperm) has God raised up, according to the Davidic covenant promise, a Saviour. The Saviour of the world Jehoshua's identity is in being the promised seed of David. The Saviour of the world is not a preexistent angel or Spirit being but rather a human being of the lineage of king David. Also, the Saviour of the world was not be a miraculous virgin born with no human father Messiah but rather a descendant, through male sperm, of David. Jehoshua was raised up by Jehovah God to be the Savior of Israel. This is key to remember as Israel is the focus of Jehovah's salvation program. Paul says that Gentiles who believe on the Son of God are grafted into the olive tree of Israel and are fellow citizens in the commonwealth of Israel. Jehoshua was not raised up by Jehovah God to start a new religion, nor the Catholic Church nor it's daughter Protestant churches. Jehoshua came to bring salvation to Israel as well as bring Gentiles into the Israelite fold with believing Jews of the flesh. Jehoshua came to bring Israel under a new covenant not start a separate Gentile sect or religion. The scriptures plainly teach that the new covenant is only made with Israel and no one else. This includes Judah and the lost tribes. Gentiles who call on the name of Jehovah are brought into the faith of Israel. So when exactly was Jehoshua raised up by Jehovah to be a Savior unto Israel? Most Christians identify the virgin birth as the time but that's not what Paul says in verse 24. Paul says that it was at the baptism of John that Jehoshua was raised up as Israel's Savior. This is a problem for the mainstream church as they minimize the baptism of Jehoshua and emphasize His birth. Here Paul identifies the baptism of Jehoshua as precisely the time that Jehovah God raised Him up as Israel's Savior. In fact, Paul describes Jehoshua's baptism as "His coming". He explicitly says that John was preaching the message of repentance before Jehoshua's coming (advent). According to Paul the first advent of Jehoshua was not His birth but rather His baptism. This is important to remember as we proceed with this sermon in Acts 13. Acts 13:25-27 25And as John was fulfilling his course, he said, What suppose ye that I am? I am not [he]. But behold, there cometh one after me the shoes of whose feet I am not worthy to unloose.26Brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and those among you that fear God, to us is the word of this salvation sent forth.27For they that dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath, fulfilled [them] by condemning [him]. John the Baptist was not the Messiah. In verse 26 Paul labels the gospel as "the word of salvation" and connects the timing of "the word of salvation" being sent forth with John baptizing the Messiah. This helps us understand John 1:14 better and keeps us from coming to a pagan interpretation. This clearly shows us that the "word" is not Jehoshua per se as a 1 to 1 identifier but rather the "word" is the actual salvation message of Jehovah God. The "word" (God's salvation program) did not get sent forth to Israel until Jehoshua was baptized i.e. anointed with the Holy Spirit. That was the whole point of Jehoshua's baptism was that He would be imparted with the "word" of Jehovah God and then take it to the nation of Israel. So where John 1:14 says the word became flesh it refers to His baptism, as that is precisely the event that Paul identifies as the raising up of Jehoshua to take the word of salvation to Israel. The "word" came from Jehovah God above in heaven and was sent to Jehoshua at the Jordan river via the Holy Spirit. The word (God's salvation program) became flesh in the teachings and life of Jehoshua as He was that prophet that Moses spoke of whom God would put (His) words in. Acts 13:28-31 (ASV) 28And though they found no cause of death [in him], yet asked they of Pilate that he should be slain.29And when they had fulfilled all things that were written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a tomb.30But God raised him from the dead:31and he was seen for many days of them that came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses unto the people. Paul says that the things that the Jews and Gentiles did to Jehoshua fufilled what was foretold in the prophets. Paul here references the crucifixion, burial and then in verse 30, the resurrection of the Messiah. The resurrection of the Messiah is the centerpoint of the gospel, it's the very reason we have hope. Paul also confirms that there witnesses of the risen Messiah.
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