Over the years, I’ve taught the epistles of Paul to thousands of believers in different contexts—local churches, missions conferences, Bible conferences, leadership conferences—and I’ve discovered that many believers feel uncomfortable with Paul’s radical message of grace.

Some have wondered where Paul got his teachings of salvation by grace, through faith, plus nothing. Was he teaching in reaction to Jewish legalism? Did he become a little sensitive to his persecutions and overreact?

The gospel is indeed radical, but it didn’t come from the Apostle Paul. It came from the lips of the Lord Jesus when He commissioned Paul on the road to Damascus. A lot is at stake. Failure to clearly understand the doctrine of salvation invariably leads to preaching a false or perverted works gospel. God unquestionably saves those who come to Him despite a fuzzy or errant gospel, but that does not make it a good thing or an acceptable error. A healthy life demands a healthy birth, and there is only one way to a healthy new birth—a correct Gospel!

Over the years, I’ve taught the epistles of Paul to thousands of believers in different contexts—local churches, missions conferences, Bible conferences, leadership conferences—and I’ve discovered that many believers feel uncomfortable with Paul’s radical message of grace.

Some have wondered where Paul got his teachings of salvation by grace, through faith, plus nothing. Was he teaching in reaction to Jewish legalism? Did he become a little sensitive to his persecutions and overreact?

The gospel is indeed radical, but it didn’t come from the Apostle Paul. It came from the lips of the Lord Jesus when He commissioned Paul on the road to Damascus. A lot is at stake. Failure to clearly understand the doctrine of salvation invariably leads to preaching a false or perverted works gospel. God unquestionably saves those who come to Him despite a fuzzy or errant gospel, but that does not make it a good thing or an acceptable error. A healthy life demands a healthy birth, and there is only one way to a healthy new birth—a correct Gospel!

Books 6 and 7 record the growth of the church through the missionary efforts of Paul. Paul’s second missionary journey to Cyprus and Asia Minor brings the issue of the relationship between the Law of Israel and the grace of the church to a head. Choosing grace instead of the Law, the early church leaders rightly concluded that the body of Christ was for every tribe, tongue, and nation and that the grace of God was for all who believed. We read of Paul’s Spirit-led passion to take the Gospel to the epicenter of the Gentile world—Rome. His “travel agent” on the road to Rome would be the Lord Jesus, who directs the Apostle of Grace’s steps through persecution, arrests, trials, defense, and ministry. Over six years, from 56 through 62, Christ overrules Paul’s plans repeatedly. Every overruling is an opportunity for ministry that Paul seizes. All the divine interventions add up to an impact the Apostle could never accomplish with his own strengths and strategies.

Against all odds, the church expands west to the Aegean shores of Europe and Asia Minor as the Holy Spirit directs Paul’s steps to prepare people in strategic cities. Next, it extends to the center of the Roman world as Jesus Christ directs Paul to achieve his passion for proclaiming the Gospel to all peoples—including the Jews—through his arrest, trials, defense, and release.

When it’s time to move on, finish strong, and don’t look back!

Book 5 traces the church's growth through the church's missionary efforts in Antioch and under Paul's leadership. Paul’s first missionary journey to Cyprus and Asia Minor brings the issue of the relationship between the Law of Israel and the grace of the church to a head. Choosing grace instead of the Law, the early church leaders rightly concluded that the body of Christ was for every tribe, tongue, and nation, and God's grace was for all who believed.

Against all odds, the church expanded from a Gentile church into the Gentile territories of Asia Minor under Paul’s leadership and preached the message of the grace of Christ rather than the Law of Moses.

The Christian life is lived by grace through faith, not by following the Law.

Book 4 records the shift of the church’s center from Jerusalem to Antioch of Syria. Luke emphasizes the Gospel’s spread increasingly to Gentiles in three momentous stages: Peter’s ministry to Hellenistic Jews in the port cities of Palestine (9:23-43), Peter’s ministry to the Gentile centurion, Cornelius, and his friends in Caesarea (10:1-11:18), and the beginning of the church in Antioch (11:19-30). In the face of tremendous persecution, the Jerusalem church remains vital for opening their lives to Gentiles (12:1-23). This proves that the word of God, Jesus’ words and promises to His church, cannot be resisted by earthly powers (12:24).

Against all odds, the church expands into Gentile territory and establishes an outpost in Antioch to deploy to the end of the earth.

Do you want to be a door opener? Prepare to be attacked by Christians and Satan.

The time of “favor with all the people” (2:47) is over. Book 2 of Acts traces the Satanic attack on the church in Jerusalem as the Jewish authorities that killed the Lord Jesus turn against His people (3:1-6:7). The irresistible force of the church will not be stopped. The church continues multiplying disciples—including Hellenistic or Grecian Jews and many priests!

In Book 3, we read of the church expanding beyond the city of Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria, just as the Lord Jesus had said (Acts 1:8). The narrative presents three momentous events in these critical transitions for the church from Jerusalem to Judea and from an exclusively Jewish community to the Gentile world—the martyrdom of Stephen, the ministry of Philip, and the conversion of Paul. Luke begins each new section with the central character's name (6:8; 8:5; 9:1).

The Law of Sowing and Reaping Spiritual Seeds: The harvest always involves suffering. Radical growth requires radical believers.

Luke divides his history into panels or Books, separated by progress reports. Book 1 takes the reader from Christ's ascension to the birth of the church and concludes with the first progress report: “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (2:47).

Throughout his account, Luke presents Christianity as an irresistible force in the face of significant opposition and persecution. Book 2 traces the expansion of the church in Jerusalem and introduces the two forces that oppose Christ’s followers—persecution from the enemies of Christ and pollution in the people of Christ.

The same factions that crucified Christ now try to suppress His apostles.

The first day of the church was truly eventful. A mighty wind attracted a huge crowd of devout Jews who heard the disciples miraculously proclaim the wonderful works of God. When Peter explained what they just saw with prophetic precision they were cut to the heart, and 3,000 joined the ranks of the Jerusalem church.

Luke wraps up his account of the birth of the church by describing the everyday life of the first Christians in Jerusalem. The infant church enjoyed a brief period of sweet effectiveness before the onset of persecution from without and division from within. Still totally Jewish but transformed by God's grace, these men and women were enamored with Christ.

Though their growth was amazing, their impact on the city has made Christians of every generation look to their example for clues to effectiveness. What can we learn from them?

Luke’s sequel to his gospel, the Book of Acts, begins where he left off—the ascension of Christ. The emphasis is different. The Gospel of Luke stresses the work of Christ while He walked on earth; Acts highlights the work of Jesus done by the Holy Spirit through the Apostles.
Without Acts, we would have no record of the beginning and growth of the early church. Luke traces the birth and expansion of the church to strengthen the faith of Theophilus, a fellow Christian who may have helped finance Luke’s missionary and writing ministry (Luke 1:1-4). The Holy Spirit had a much broader audience in mind—the church of Christ throughout the age of grace. Luke’s selective but accurate history of the first 30 years of the church answers Theophilus’ questions in a timeless way.

Without Acts, we would have no record of the beginning and growth of the early church. Luke traces the birth and expansion of the church to strengthen the faith of Theophilus, a fellow Christian who may have helped finance Luke’s missionary and writing ministry (Luke 1:1-4). The Holy Spirit had a much broader audience in mind—the church of Christ throughout the age of grace. Luke’s selective but accurate history of the first 30 years of the church answers Theophilus’ questions in a timeless way.