Isaiah 49:6
"yea, he saith, It is too light a thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth"
This is Isaiah's prophecy of Israel taking the gospel of the Kingdom to the ends of the earth. What is this gospel? You will be surprised that the answer isn't what you think. In fact, even the non mainstream churches do not know what this gospel is. There are many versions of the gospel from the mainstream evangelical one to the Hebrew roots gospel and everything in between. The commonality between 99% of them is that they are teaching a false gospel. While most Christians would look at what I just wrote and think "how arrogant" yet the very fact that Jehoshua hasn't come back yet proves my statement:
Matthew 24:14
"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come"
If the churches and the non mainstream denominations were preaching the right gospel Jehoshua would have came back a long time ago as missionaries have basically covered just about the entire earth.
There is so much confusion as to what is the true gospel that arguments are endless and mind numbing about what that gospel is. Thankfully the answer to what is the true gospel is actually laid out for us in plain sight. Often times the devil obscures the most plain and easy to understand truths under piles of theological rubbish.
Matthew 28:19-20
19 Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations 20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age.
We have to remember that first someone needs to be made a disciple before they are taught the commandments of Jehoshua. The Son of God's teachings are paramount to the gospel yet before one truly can obey the doctrine of Jehoshua they have to be begotten from above by the Spirit and made a disciple. Jehoshua says the same as the progression is to first make disciples and then teach them to observe all of his commandments. As we proceed in this study on what the true gospel is, it will match with what Jehoshua taught about himself. Jehoshua's commandments are the meat of the gospel, who he is and what he accomplished are the entrance into the Kingdom gospel.
Acts 1:6-9
6 They therefore, when they were come together, asked him, saying, Lord, dost thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know times or seasons, which the Father hath set within His own authority. 8 But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Jehoshua did not reject the concept of restoring the Kingdom to Israel but told his apostles that it wasn't for them know the exact time or seasons. This matches what he told them regarding his return. We can safely say that the restoration of the Kingdom to Israel is the same as Jehoshua's second advent. The restoration, the apostles and Jehoshua are speaking of, has to do with the physical Kingdom being consummated on earth not the new covenant era mediatorial Kingdom on earth manifest in the ekklesia.
What Jehoshua says in verse 8 is key in understanding what the gospel is that is to preached in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the earth. A few things to point out regarding this verse is that the holy spirit would be poured out on the apostles before they begin preaching the gospel that would go out unto the ends of the earth. The gospel would start being preached in Jerusalem first, showing that whatever was preached after the outpouring of the holy spirit would be thee gospel that was to be taken to the ends of the earth.
The gospel would then go throughout Judea which was the territory of the Southern Kingdom comprised of Judah, Benjamin and Levi. Then the gospel was to be taken to Samaria, the territory of the Northern Kingdom comprised of the 10 tribes of Ephraim. This shows that the priority of the apostolic ekklesia was to reunite the two sticks of Judah and Ephraim thereby fulfilling prophecy (Ezekiel 34 and 37). This could only be done after the arrival and enthronement of the prophesied Davidic King. The Davidic Kingship of Jehoshua will play a key role in the gospel preaching of the apostles after the holy spirit falls upon them.
After the gospel was taken to these two regions it would then go to the uttermost parts of the earth. This is key because it proves that the same gospel preached to the Israelites was to be preached to the ends of the earth. This destroys the false teaching that there is one gospel message for "Jews" and one for "Gentiles". Many Christians have leaned on their own understanding of how the gospel should be preached and the contents thereof. Their reasoning is that "Gentiles" could not possibly understand the Israelite aspects of the faith, so thereby they have to formulate a version of the gospel that leaves or greatly minimizes the Israelite aspects of it.
Remember, we are not to lean on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6) but in all ways acknowledge Jehovah God:
Proverbs 3:5-7
5 Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, And lean not upon thine own understanding: 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he will direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes; Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil:
The problem with modern Christians is that they are wise in their own eyes and have created an alternative gospel made specifically for so called "Gentiles". This shows that they truly don't trust Jehovah God with all their heart as they don't truly believe that the gospel preached by the apostolic ekklesia is good enough to save modern man. Yet the gospel preached by the apostolic ekklesia is the only legitimate gospel as all others are false gospels. In fact, Paul says those who bring any other gospel than the one he preached is accursed:
Galatians 1:8-10
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema. 9 As we have said before, so say I now again, if any man preacheth unto you any gospel other than that which ye received, let him be anathema. 10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? or am I striving to please men? if I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ.
Paul's words are immovable and leave no room for compromise. Anyone preaching a different gospel than what the apostles preached is accursed. This applies to most of the Christian church as well as most of the non mainstream denominations and movements.
How do we know what the gospel is? It's simple if we listen to what Jehoshua told the apostles in Acts chapter 1. We will be able to identify what the gospel is when we see the holy spirit falling upon the apostles and subsequently them preaching in Jerusalem. The contents of that preaching will tell us exactly what the gospel is and it will be that gospel that is to go out to the whole world not just Israelites.
Thankfully we don't need to wait long between the time Jehoshua gives his Kingdom seminar to the apostles in Acts 1 and the holy spirit falling upon them in chapter 2 of Acts.
Acts 2:1-4
1 And when the day of Pentecost was now come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like as of fire; and it sat upon each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
This is the fulfillment of what Jehoshua told the apostles in Acts chapter 1. Judeans from every nation under heaven (Roman empire?) were at the feast of Pentecost and they all heard the apostles preached to them in their own languages. This was the gift of tongues, it wasn't babbling in nonsense but rather the ability to speak foreign languages. This was needed because the Judeans from these other nations spoke in the native languages of those nations.
Many of the Judeans, who were from Jerusalem and Judea, mocked the apostles saying they were filled with wine as they likely couldn't understand what the apostles were preaching. Peter and the others apostles then stand up and Peter starts preaching the first sermon of the new covenant era:
Acts 2:14-21
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spake forth unto them, [saying], Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and give ear unto my words. 15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose; seeing it is [but] the third hour of the day.16but this is that which hath been spoken through the prophet Joel:17And it shall be in the last days, saith God, I will pour forth of my Spirit upon all flesh: And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, And your young men shall see visions, And your old men shall dream dreams:18Yea and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days Will I pour forth of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.19And I will show wonders in the heaven above, And signs on the earth beneath; Blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke:20The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the day of the Lord come, That great and notable day. 21And it shall be, that whosoever shall call on the name of Jehovah shall be saved.
Peter lets the crowd in Jerusalem know that he and his fellow apostles are not drunk with wine but that what they are witnessing is a fulfillment of prophecy. Peter goes on to quote the prophet Joel who says that in the last days Jehovah's spirit would be poured out on all flesh. By Peter quoting this, and applying it to what was happening there at Pentecost, it shows that the last days had already begun. When Christians today ask "are we in the last days?" it makes no sense because we have been in the last days since the 1st century. Verses 19 and 20 of Acts 2 refer to the events just prior to the second advent.
Verse 21 of Acts 2, calling on the name of Jehovah and being saved is within the context of Peter's sermon. This means that those who call on Jehovah in order to be saved must believe the gospel that Peter is about to preach. The evidence of this belief is in repenting and being baptized in the name of Jehoshua. Joel's statement about calling on Jehovah to be saved has nothing to do with simply saying a sinner's prayer and doing an altar call like Evangelicalism teaches.
Acts 2:22-24
22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jehoshua of Nazareth, a man approved of God unto you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him in the midst of you, even as ye yourselves know; 23 him, being delivered up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye by the hand of lawless men did crucify and slay: 24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pangs of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
Peter is now going to translate to the crowd what him and the other apostles were preaching when the gift of tongues fell on them. The first thing Peter does is preach that Jehoshua was a man approved by God. This is far different from the mainstream churches that teach that Jehoshua is a God-man. Everything Jehoshua did was because the Father Jehovah empowered him. Jehoshua himself confirms all throughout his ministry. Essential to the gospel that would go unto the ends of the earth is that Jehoshua is a man 100% (1 Timothy 2:5). To teach that Jehoshua is God or a God-man is to preach a false gospel.
Verse 23, Jehovah God delivered up Jehoshua to Herod and Pontius Pilate as part of His predestined plan that His Son would be the mercy seat for the sins of Israel. See 1 Peter 1:18-21. In Ephesians chapter 1, Paul says that Jehovah God works all things according to the counsel of His own will. It was Jehovah's perfect will that Jehoshua be His spotless lamb to die on the cross. Verse 23 also alludes to Psalm 2:
1 Why do the nations rage, And the peoples meditate a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against Jehovah, and against his anointed, saying, 3 Let us break their bonds asunder, And cast away their cords from us.
David prophesied through the spirit that his royal seed would be rejected by the rulers of this earth and plotted against. Jehovah foreknew this was going to take place because it was according to His own counsel that He worked out by Himself. The apostolic ekklesia attributed this prophetic Psalm to Herod and Pontius Pilate putting Jehoshua to death.
Part of the gospel that would go unto the ends of the earth is Jehoshua being delivered up to the Edomite Jews (Herod) and the Romans (Pontius Pilate) to be crucified. Also essential to the gospel is that it was predestined by Jehovah God according to His own counsel. This part of the gospel is often left out in the churches preaching.
Verse 24 of Acts 2, it was not possible that death would hold Jehoshua in the grave as he was the promised Messianic King who was to rule over Israel in the new covenant era. Jehovah God raised up Jehoshua from the dead. This is important because many Christians teach that Jehoshua raised himself and this is false as over and over again the scriptures teach that God raised him from the dead. This also teaches that there is a distinction between Jehoshua and God, a fact that the churches ignore knowingly.
Acts 2:25-28
25 For David saith concerning him, I beheld Jehovah always before my face; For he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: 26 Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; Moreover my flesh also shall dwell in hope: 27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul unto Hades, Neither wilt thou give thy Holy One to see corruption. 28 Thou madest known unto me the ways of life; Thou shalt make me full of gladness with thy countenance.
Peter quotes Psalm 16 and attributes the words of David as him prophesying about Jehoshua and that Jehoshua's hope and trust would be in Jehovah God. This is exactly what we see throughout Jehoshua's earthly misison, him putting his trust in his Father and his God, Jehovah. Too many Christians ignore the fact that Peter is likening Jehoshua as an antitype of David. Just as David had Jehovah at his right hand during his life so did Jehoshua. Most modern Christians ignore this because it clearly shows a complete distinction in being between Jehoshua and God.
Verses 26-28, here David prophesies of Jehoshua's resurrection. While ultimately David will not he left in the grave, as he awaits the last day resurrection, this was actually a prophecy about Jehoshua Messiah. Jehoshua was the one who saw no corruption to his body as he was resurrected on the third day.
The contents of the gospel that is to go out to the ends of the earth is that Jehoshua, like us, puts his hope and trust in Jehovah God. Also, as we will see in the next several verses the resurrection of Jehoshua is central to the gospel message.
Acts 2:29-31
29 Brethren, I may say unto you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us unto this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins he would set one upon his throne; 31 he foreseeing this spake of the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he left unto Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.
Now we get to the meat of the message. Remember, this is the first sermon recorded of the new covenant so whatever Peter preaches here will be the template for all future public gospel sermons. Peter says that David is dead and buried and in his tomb. He mentions this to show that David's prophecy in Psalm 16 isn't about himself but rather about Jehoshua. This also dispels the immortal soul doctrine as there is no mention of David being in heaven and to the contrary is dead (not alive as an immortal soul) in his grave.
Verse 30, Peter refers to David as a prophet and then brings up the covenant Jehovah made with him. This is the Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7) and the fulfillment of this covenant is David's royal offspring establishing the Davidic dynasty forever from the throne of David. This covenant is about all of David's royal offspring, however it leads up to one particular royal seed that would completely fulfill the covenant.
"the fruit of his loins", the prophesied Davidic Messiah was to be the literal seed (sperm) of David. Many Christians try to spiritualize this truth away by saying that Jehoshua qaulifies as the seed of David by way of Joseph being his stepfather, however that will not suffice as the oath made to David was that it would be an offspring that sprang from his bowels (male seat of generation). In Psalm 89 Jehovah says that he would not alter the thing that has gone out of His lips concerning the covenant He made with David. This means that if Jehovah told David that the royal seed to establish his dynasty forever would be of his literal seed then that's exactly what the Messiah would be, the literal (not spiritual) offspring of David. Again, the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant is that one of David's royal son's would ascend to the throne and establish it forever:
2 Samuel 7:12-14
12 When thy days are fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, that shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. 14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son: if he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men;
This is the Davidic covenant and what Peter is referring to Acts chapter 2. In this covenant we see three important promises from Jehovah God to David.
1) That the eschatological King would proceed out of his (David's) loins (male sexual organs).
2) That David's royal seed would establish the throne of his (David's) Kingdom forever.
3) That Jehovah would be a Father to the Davidic King as they would have a Father-Son covenant relationship.
Number 2 is especially important in regards to Acts 2:29-31. It's important because most of today's Christendom teaches that Jehoshua is not yet on the throne of David and that he will not occupy the throne until a future 1,000 year millennium in earthly Jerusalem. This has had devastating theological effects on the church. It has shifted the church's affections from New Jerusalem to Earthly Jerusalem and because of that the church has largely relinquished it's birthright as being the Israel of Jehovah to those who deny him and falsely claims to be "Judeans".
The outright false understanding of Acts 2:29-31 has also caused most Christians to say that the Kingdom of the Messiah hasn't started yet and that it will only come during the future millennium from earthly Jerusalem. Again, this has had devastating consequences for the church and in effect, they have lost their witness. The church no longer turns the world upside down as they don't preach the Kingship of the Son of God. They have ignored Paul, the author of Hebrews, Pete and most importantly Jehoshua that the eternal Kingdom will be in New Jerusalem not earthly Jerusalem. I will not go further with all the particulars of the negative impact this false understanding of Acts 2:29-31 has had but instead I will focus on the passage itself to prove the truth.
"he foreseeing this spake of the resurrection of the Messiah, that neither was he left unto Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption"
Remember, David was a prophet in addition to be the King and he foresaw the oath Jehovah made with him being fulfilled as a result of the resurrection of Jehoshua. Unlike David, who was still in his grave, Jehoshua was resurrected and fulfilled the Davidic covenant according to Peter the apostle.
"he foreseeing this", what is this?
"knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins he would set one upon his throne"
What David prophesied (foresaw) in regards to the resurrection of Jehoshua was that the fruit of his loins (Jehoshua) would be set upon his (David's) throne.
There is no wiggle room here, Peter clearly says that Jehoshua, as a result of the resurrection, fulfilled the Davidic covenant and was installed on the throne of David. This is not even a hard truth to understand as it use to be a given in Christianity. However, the infiltration of Judaism into Christianity has attempted to pervert this truth of Jehoshua ascending to the throne of David after his resurrection. Let's now proceed to the rest of the sermon as the Davidic covenant continues to be featured:
Acts 2:32-33
32 This Jehoshua did God raise up, whereof we all are witnesses. 33.Being therefore by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he hath poured forth this, which ye see and hear.
Verse 32 acknowledges that God raised up Jehoshua from the dead. This clearly shows that Jehoshua didn't raise up himself but that God did and it also shows the distinction in being between God and His Messiah.
Verse 33, now Peter alludes to Psalm 110 which is a Davidic covenant prophetic text. Peter says that Jehoshua is on the right hand of God denoting that he(Jehoshua) is on the throne of Jehovah God. Note that the throne of David is also called the throne of Jehovah God in the old testament:
1 Chronicles 28:5
"And of all my sons (for Jehovah hath given me many sons), he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of Jehovah over Israel"
Here we see that the throne of David is also called the throne of Jehovah. Jehoshua sitting on the throne of Jehovah God in heaven is the same as sitting on the throne of David in heaven. In fact, in Psalm 89 it was prophesied that the throne of David would be in heaven when the promised Messiah would sit on it:
Psalm 89:35-37
35 Once have I sworn by my holiness: I will not lie unto David: 36 His seed shall endure for ever, And his throne as the sun before me. 37 It shall be established for ever as the moon, And as the faithful witness in the sky. Selah
Psalm 89 is a commentary on the Davidic covenant and Jehovah says that His word of the oath is irrevocable. The oath says that David's royal seed (Jehoshua) will sit on the throne of David forever and that the throne will be established as a faithful witness in the sky, like the sun and the moon.
After being exalted to Kingship, Jehoshua poured out the holy spirit on the apostles so that they can preach the gospel in the gift of tongues. Notice that in connection with Jehoshua's exaltation to the throne of David, was the holy spirit being poured out to empower the apostles to preach that Jehoshua fulfilled the Davidic covenant. This further proves that indeed Jehoshua was enthroned on the throne of David at his ascension into heaven.
Acts 2:34-36
34 For David ascended not into the heavens: but he saith himself, Jehovah said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35 Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet. 36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that God hath made him both King and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified.
Peter says that David has not ascended into heaven, this shows the error of the dying and go to heaven doctrine of the mainstream church. Peter also makes the point that David has not ascended to heaven because he is not the ultimate fulfillment of the Davidic covenant and thereby the Lord of the Psalm 110 prophecy. Rather than being the Lord that is installed as king in Psalm 110, David is the one prophesying the coronation event.
Psalm 110:1 is the most alluded to old testament verse in the new testament. This should tell us how important the Davidic covenant is concerning the the gospel, yet much of Christendom either ignores it or greatly diminishes it. A big part of the reason in Christendom for the minimizing of the importance of the Davidic covenant concerning the gospel is that it will expose their precious trinity doctrine. Even the non trinitarian churches leave the Davidic covenant out of their statement of faith's as they still teach "another Jehoshua" who was a pre-existent angel or spirit being.
Here in Psalm 110:1 David prophesies and sees Jehovah telling his (David's) Lord to sit on His (Jehovah's) right hand. When you go back to this verse in the old testament, there are two different Hebrew words for the translation of "Lord". The ASV uses the name Jehovah for the first "LORD" (JHVH) and then "Lord" (adoni) for the second one. Some translations try to captilize both uses of the word "Lord" in order to deceive and/or confuse the readers into thinking that both Lords are Jehovah God. The object of this is to promote the multipersonal godhead.
The true understanding of this prophecy is rather simple and beautiful in that Jehovah God is fulfilling the oath He made with David and installing his royal seed on the throne of the Kingdom. The new testament proves that this prophecy was ultimately about Jehoshua although it can be applied to all the royal Davidic kings in a shadowy figure. The first "LORD" is Jehovah God and the second "Lord" is the Davidic King i.e. the one who proceeded from David's bowels (male seat of generation). The Hebrew word for the second "Lord" is "adoni" and denotes a human or angelic ruler. It is the Hebrew word "adonai" that denotes deity.
These distinctions are important because it keeps intact the fact that Jehovah God is a singular being and not a multipersonal godhead. It also preserves the fact that Jehoshua is a human being of the literal seed of David and not some pagan godman. Understanding these distinctions are crucial to have a correct gospel. In this prophecy you have God enthroning David's human son to Kingship fulfilling the promise made to David in 2nd Samuel 7.
Despite the quotation of this passage and the earlier Acts 2:29-31 proof the churches will still deny that Jehoshua sat on the throne of David at his ascension. Psalm 110 is a crystal clear prophecy of the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant and in this prophecy David foresees Jehovah coronating Jehoshua into Kingship.
"Sit thou at my right hand"
As stated earlier, the throne of David is equivalent to the throne of Jehovah God (1 Chronicles 28). When we combine the statement above by Jehovah in Psalm 110:1 with Peter's earlier statement in verse 30 of Acts that Jehovah set Messiah upon David's throne, then we also have a new testament example of the two thrones being equivalent to each other. The quotation of Psalm 110 here in Acts 2 further proves that Jehoshua fulfilled the Davidic covenant at his resurrection and subsequent ascension.
Jehoshua is to sit at Jehovah's right hand until Jehovah makes his (Jehoshua's) enemies his footstool. This alludes to the second advent when Jehoshua will come back to kill his enemies and consummate his Kingdom here on the earth. In that day the Davidic throne will come to earth to be the center piece of the new heavens and new earth. The Davidic throne will never ever again be in earthly Jerusalem. The Davidic throne is now and forever in New Jerusalem. The only change will be that it will relocate from the third heaven to the new heavens and new earth after the second advent of the Son of God.
Verse 36, Peter sums up the sermon with letting the house of Israel know assuredly (absolute fact) that Jehovah has made Jehoshua both King and Messiah. Jehoshua is not a future King as Peter says God made him King all the way back in the first century and in connection with his resurrection and ascension into heaven. This is the end of the first gospel sermon of the new covenant and what Jehoshua identified as the gospel that was to be taken to the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8).
Acts 2:37
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do? 38 And Peter [said] unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as Jehovah our God shall call unto him.
It was this message about the Davidic covenant that pricked the heart of the Israelites present at the feast. Again, please note that this gospel of the Davidic covenant was to be taken to the uttermost parts of the earth not just to the Israelites. What was required of those that sincerely believed the message of Jehoshua's passion, death, resurrection and Kingship? It was to repent and be baptized. The modern church has replaced this Biblical formula with the accept Christ sinners prayer.
The word "repent" has strangely become a controversial concept in the church due to the easy believeism evangelical gospel. The call to repentance is a call to turn from iniquity (sin, lawlessness) and to change one's mind about the Kingdom of God, thereby turning to God through His Son Jehoshua Messiah. The seal of this faith and repentance is not a sinner's prayer but rather baptism. Baptism has greatly been minimized in the church yet scripture shows us that baptism was the first order of business for those that accepted the gospel message as true and had faith in it. Baptism identifies us with Messiah's death, resurrection and Kingship.
Verse 39, the fact that people responded to the gospel does not denote freewill but rather they responded because Jehovah God called them, in other words He elected them to salvation. This is a promise to the Israelites and their children whether near (Judah) or far (Ephraim).
For anyone who doubts the effectiveness of the Davidic covenant as the pure gospel verse 41 says that 3,000 souls were added to the ekklesia that day and were baptized. So many modern Christians will try to explain this away and use every argument in the world to get out of preaching this and concoct their own gospel message but remember what scripture says:
Proverbs 3:5-7
5 Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, And lean not upon thine own understanding: 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he will direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes; Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil:
Most of Christendom's Pastors and theologians have done exactly what scripture warned against and that is they have leaned on their own understanding in making a gospel that they think fits better for the modern age. Scripture says to not be wise in our own eyes. Paul narrows the gospel down to these two essential facts:
2nd Timothy 2:8
"Remember Jehoshua Messiah, risen from the dead, of the seed of David, according to my gospel"
The gospel is all about the resurrection of Jehoshua and his Davidic Kingship. Let's get back to the true gospel so that our King comes back to consummate his Kingdom (Matthew 24:14).
