Gospels and Raptures (Grace - Part 25): Conditions

The Gospels and their Raptures (Grace - Part 25)

Conditions

Was blessing the Jews necessary in this gospel? Was keeping certain ordinances and laws necessary to keep the peace and to continue to bless the Jews? Was works still a requirement for one's salvation?

When Paul entered a city, we know that he presented the gospel of God to those present in the synagogues. To those who believed and had faith to 'continue in the grace of God' (Acts 13:43), Paul would teach that there was no laws or ordinances,

Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Colossians 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

In Romans 14, Paul settles with clarity how one had to conduct themselves in this mixed culture church. Because the Jews were still under laws and ordinances, yet the Gentiles had made peace with the gospel of Christ, he had to provide advice that it was not in works and rituals, but rather that love and personal conviction was the best way to coexist and avoid disputes. 

Romans 14:3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. ... 5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. ... 15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

The transition period of Acts has a clear progression when it comes to righteous works for justification. The period of the Kingdom Gospel was for the Jews only and required the works of the law as part of salvation. The gospel of God continued with the works requirement, but eased up on the law component as more Gentiles were being saved under the gospel of Christ. The council meeting in Jerusalem recognized that Gentiles were not familiar with all the laws and practices of the Jews and settled on them practicing only some very specific laws, not for salvation, but simply for keeping peace and coexistence of the two faiths. 

So, to answer the above questions; Was blessing the Jews necessary in this gospel? Was keeping certain ordinances and laws necessary to keep the peace and to continue to bless the Jews? Was works still a requirement for one's salvation? The answer is No! Unlike the gospel of God, the gospel of Christ did not require any works component to merit salvation. The rules from the council meeting were not a requirement for salvation but simply a means to keep the peace in the culturally-mixed members.

Unmerited Grace

The gospel of the grace of God was sent to those who were 'far hence' (as Paul puts it in Acts 22:21). It makes sense that no works were required here as these were the Gentiles who had no opportunity to 'bless the Jews', nor were they even familiar with their religion to merit practicing the sabbath and other customs and laws without any context. As we can see from this deduction, and unlike the participants of the Kingdom gospel and the gospel of God, who's salvation is tied into works that they can merit, the gospel of grace requires no works and is utterly based on unmerited grace. God chooses to save us because of the work of His Son imputed to us by His choice. 

Romans 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

So, as we follow this progressive trend through the gospels, and end with the grace gospel, we find that all forms or works to merit righteousness gets eliminated. The gospel of grace teaches that no works can be done to earn salvation because all of it was completed by the cross of Christ. By the year 70AD, at the fall of Jerusalem and the temple, Israel was no more a nation and Gentiles could not be saved by blessing the Jews. Righteous works in the form of laws and ordinances, and in the form of blessing Israel were completely redundant.

Ephesians 2:8-9 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.

2 Timothy 1:9 He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.

Titus 3:5 He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

Part 26 will continue with the 'participants' of the Gospel of Grace.