Gal 1:11-12
11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.
12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. (NKJ)

These words were written by the Apostle Paul to the believers of Galatia during the time period covered by the book of Acts. In these Acts period epistles, Paul used the Old Testament scriptures to prove that faith has always been God’s requirement for salvation, not works.

Rom 1:16-17
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith." (NKJ)

Rom 3:10
10 As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; (NKJ)

Rom 4:3
3 For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." (NKJ)

Rom 4:6-8
6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:
7 "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin." (NKJ)

Clearly, the mystery of the God's grace, as revealed by Paul in his Acts-period epistles, was a mystery which was hidden in the Old Testament scriptures.

Rom 16:25-26
25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began
26 but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all nations . . . (NKJ)

However, in Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians, Paul was allowed to reveal the mystery of the Church which is the Body of Christ. The prophets of old knew nothing about this mystery.

Col 1:24-26
24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,
25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God,
26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. (NKJ)

Eph 3:5
5 (This mystery) in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: (NKJ)

As the mystery of God’s grace was revealed in the Acts period, believers were healed and spoke in tongues. They also practiced water baptism and other rituals of the law. But as Paul revealed the mystery of the Church which is the Body of Christ in Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians, the sign gifts and the rituals passed away.

Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com

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