The ascension and transition into the Church age.

As we previously mentioned, it was the responsibility of the Jews to establish the new testament church and to get the gospel into all the world. Peter was the one chose to set up the Church and rightly so:

Note: God calls who He needs to get the job done. It is our privilege to serve with this understanding because sometimes… we can’t seem to figure out why God chose THAT person. But different ministries require different types of temperance. God needed a rugged man to get his gospel out to a world that hated them because of Christ.

The Church Established

Matthew 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

This is the first time that the “Church” was used. In its context here we see that it is not a building but rather a movement or gathering of a people.

Peter almost quits in John 21

The ministry isn’t what Hollywood makes it out to be. Think about the weight of responsibility that a Pastor has on him.

Hebrews 13:17  Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Something was said that Peter did not like, enough for him to walk out on God. Jesus showed Peter that He was going to get the job done… with or without him. See Message – ADD LINK

So when Christ ascended to the throne of Heaven Peter and the disciples didn’t fully understand all the mysteries of the Church that were being revealed. Note the question the disciples ask:

Acts 1:6  When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

The Gospel of the Kingdom was still needing to come to full effect. The disciples were commanded that after they received the Holy Ghost they were to go throughout the world and spread the Gospel…

But they didn’t, staying rather in Jerusalem.

The Book of Acts – The Transition

As the book of Acts goes through, we see a process where a clear transition from the old testament law to the new testament church doctrine was taking place. Without the need, in relationship to our chart, to go into detail of the many things that were revealed; the Book of Acts has been widely abused in the understanding of its purpose and intent. Modern evangelical and apostolic churches are quick to claim the promises and miracles of the book of Acts without rightly dividing and placing the book where it belongs. Again the book of Acts is transitional… meaning that everything was in flux; to pull new testament doctrine from the book of Acts without definitive new testament, church age, Paul line validation is simply doctrinal heresy.   

Through the first 8 chapters of Acts God worked through Peter to fulfill the “great commission” (Mark 16:15) however, we see a clear deviation of this plan after the stoning of Stephen in Acts Chapter 7. With Peter and the Jews refusing to leave Jerusalem God raised up Saul to scatter the Church (chapter 8). We then see the Gospel now being given to the Gentile. We also see a clear departure of the need for signs and wonders as the Gentiles walk by faith, not by sight. As the book continues we see the conversion of Saul to Paul and the furtherance of the Gospel, as well as, the mysteries of the Church being revealed. (SEE LINK HERE)

The Kingdom Postponed

Because of the failure of Israel to accept Jesus, God chose to give the Gospel of Jesus Christ over to the Gentiles; through Paul. Note this verse:

Romans 11:10  Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

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.