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Just who were these Gentiles going through to get saved? ISRAEL. Read 10:22. Read v.36, 37, 39. In order for a Gentile to be saved, he had to become a proselyte, or bless Israel. Israel was our way to God. And speaking of Peter's encounter with Cornelius, if Peter had a clear mission to go to both Jews and Gentiles with the Gospel of the grace of God, why did he doubt within himself what the vision he saw was?(v.17). Why did Peter state it was unlawful for a Jew to keep company with a Gentile (v.28)? WHy did Peter "rehearse the matter from the beginning" when he told the apostles and brethren of Cornelius? Surely they knew that Christ died for our sins, and they were to spread the good news of the gospel of the grace of God. Why the hesitation? Because THEY KNEW that UNTIL Israel accepted Christ as Messiah, they were to go to the Jew FIRST. THAT is why Peter hesitated. Not only that, IF Peter and the 11 understood grace, why would Christ have had to come to him in a vision and speak to him of the Gentiles?

I'm not interested in what pastors, theologians or really smart people have to say. I'm interested in what God's Word says. NOT what people THINK it says, but what it ACTUALLY SAYS.

BTW: IF Paul was preaching, teaching, proclaiming and doing everything Peter and the 11 were doing, why didn't God allow Paul to be made the 12th Apostle? WHy the need for another, if the message was the same?

You know, the reason I see it necessary to make the distinction between the gospel of the kingdom and the gospel of grace is to understand why baptism is not a requirement for salvation and how our faith works out.

It does clear up some confusion in places where there is some apparent conflict, but since we are now in the church age, the age of grace, we can rightly conclude that baptism is not necessary for salvation, nor are works.

Salvation has always been by faith in Christ, whether looking forward or looking back. It would indeed be interesting to know how things would have turned out if Israel had accepted Jesus as the Messiah, but at this point, it’s just speculation. It didn’t happen and we’re here where we are.

It’s been an enlightening conversation, but I think I am going to just drop into just reading it.