I am understanding, and can see how and why 'Matthew thru John' are for a past time and not for us, and also that 'Hebrews thru Revelation' are not for us. But, I still am confused about Acts 1-9 (probably due to the typical Baptist teaching in my upbringing).
The book of Acts (especially chapters 1-9), like every book of the bible, serves a purpose in teaching doctrine to a particular group of people—as like the Four Gospels, the book of Acts speaks directly to and about the nation of Israel. The word "Acts" is short for the "actions," or "activity" of God the Holy Ghost through all His apostles. Starting the book out first with the actions and activities of the twelve Apostles of Israel; and then transitioning from them and ending up exclusively with the actions and activities of that one unique, distinct Apostle Paul, God's Apostle to and for us gentiles!
Therefore, the purpose of the book of Acts is to first explain to Israel their fall as a nation, corporately; then secondly, to explain that now God's salvation in our Lord Jesus Christ is available to all individual gentiles through Paul's ministry.
Romans 11:11
I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall [Israel’s] salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
So all the chapters in the book of Acts serve as a ‘bridge,’ transitioning between God's Prophecy program in the earth with the nation of Israel…
Acts 3:21
Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
…and his Mystery program with us gentiles today…
Romans 16:25
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
…in the dispensation of grace for the heavenly places.
Ephesians 3:1-20
For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church [the Body of Christ, not the Jewish Jerusalem church] the manifold wisdom of God,
That is why the very next book after Acts is the book of Romans! The Romans were the gentile power of that day. God now has a word to them/us through our Apostle Paul! The 13 letters of Paul are for us, speaking both to us and about us today. But the doctrine of the book of Acts—a book NOT written by our Apostle Paul, although for our learning—is NOT directly written to us today, nor is it written about us who are living today in this present dispensation of the Grace of God!
Again, therefore, that is why there is a lot of Jewish references of activities, terminology and customs in the book of Acts—that being, because it is written for, to, and about those Jewish people—and also that we would have the learning (knowledge) and understanding.
Hopefully this
helps!
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for Pastor Ron?
More to come on the subject of terminology, according to the various dispensations ...
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