Salvation terminology ...part 3

There seems to be a lot 'Mystery terminology' (e.g., of people getting saved, being a part of the church, added to the Lord, etc.)

Continued…

Being a part of the church, added to the Lord

Yes, people (Jews, not gentiles) were being "added."  But, what were they being added to?

Acts 2:38-47

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you [Israelites], and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation [Israel's religious leaders]. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church [at Jerusalem] daily such as should be saved.

Notice in verse 38: “Then Peter said unto them.” Who are the "them?"  It is the Jews of verse 5 there in Jerusalem who have come to worship at Pentecost.  There were no gentiles!

Acts 2:5

And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

So again the focus in the book of Acts is the Jewish people and not the gentiles—yet!

Look at verse 41...

Acts 2:41

Then they [those “Jews at Jerusalem” in verse 5] that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

These Jews received Peter's (Israel’s head Apostle's) word. And those Jews were “added unto them." Unto who?  Unto Peter and the other eleven Apostles, and to that current little flock of 120 souls there at Jerusalem at that time! 

There is nothing about any gentiles, or anything about the ‘Church, the Body of Christ’ here--because God was not dealing with us gentiles yet.  Nor did the Body of Christ yet exist!

Look at verse 47...

Acts 2:47

Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Notice here that the Lord "added" to "the church." What church? Not the Body of Christ, but the church that was already there...the believing remnant of Jews/kingdom saints/little flock. The church of Jesus Christ in Prophecy of Matthew 16.

Matthew 16:13-19

When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 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. 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.

Notice here that our Lord, during His earthly ministry to Israel, commissions Peter as the head Apostle of His kingdom church, as shown by giving him the ‘keys of the kingdom of heaven.’

Why did He do that? Because Peter acknowledged the truth of whom He was and confessed it.  That profession of faith, "Thou are the Christ, the Son of the living God," was what those Jews HAD to believe in order to get into the kingdom.

To be continued....