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The third envelope that I now open, contains two letters addressed to two companies of people:
Mr. Saved Gentile.
Mr. Hebrew Christian.
They were both living at the same time in what is known as the Acts period - a transitional period dating from the Crucifixion to Paul's imprisonment in Rome; a period of about 33 years.
Jews which believe (Acts 21:20).
Gentiles which believe (Acts 21:25).
Although with regard to their standing in Christ they were one (Gal. 3:28), yet during this period they did not lose their identity.
You were born a Jew, and are living during the Acts period. when there were two companies of believers. You accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior as well as your Messiah.
You are justified by faith.
You are no longer offering the blood of bulls and goats which could never take away sin (Heb. 10:4). You are trusting in the one Offering of the body of Jesus Christ made once for all (Heb. 10: 10).
You came into salvation and blessing BEFORE “Mr. Saved Gentile” because as a Jew, you were at Jerusalem on the day
of Pentecost. You were in Jerusalem, or had “gone up” to keep the Feast.
You heard a marvelous sermon addressed specially to you, and preached by Peter:
“Ye men of Judah ... Ye men of Israel” (Acts 2).
You were told that the prophecy was spoken by the prophet Joel, and that it concerned a “promise unto you and unto your children” (Acts 2:39) “Your sons and daughters”(Acts 2:17 ).
On this day 3,000 of you believed and were baptized. Another 5,000 were added later (Acts 2:41, 4:4).
You began to perform evidential miracles the "signs" that Christ said would follow “them that believe” (Mark 16: 17-20).
You cast out demons.
You spoke in tongues.
You took up serpents.
You were able to drink “any deadly thing”.
You laid hands on the sick, and they recovered.
You even raised the dead (Acts 9:36-41).
Even the shadow of Peter passing by, did wonders in healing the sick who had been brought into the streets, and laid on
beds and couches (Acts 5:l5) and also special miracles of healing were wrought by Paul (Acts 19:11,l2 ; 28:3,8,9). Your
hope was a millennial one (Rom. 15 :12,13) for here the Apostle Paul places it, when the Lord reigns over the Gentiles as prophesied in the great millennial chapter of Isaiah eleven.
You were waiting for the rest of the Nation to repent and be converted, when the Lord Jesus Christ would immediately
return, and all the glowing prophecies of the O.T. regarding the earthly Kingdom would be fulfilled (Acts 3: l 9-26).
The basis of all your salvation and hope is the New Covenant made by God with your nation (Jer. 31:31 ). “This is the
blood of the New Covenant” (Matt.28:28). (The N.T. usage, must conform to the O.T. usage and its translation).
lf you are a saved Gentile this letter is not addressed to YOU today
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