Peter vs Paul

 Peter vs Paul: https://matthewmcgee.org/2gospels.html

Many churchgoers often think that the beginning of Matthew Chapter 1 marks the start of Christianity. However, this isn’t the case. It’s actually a continuation of God’s relationship with Israel, rooted in the covenants and promises of the Old Testament.

During this period, the Law still governs. The Temple is active, sacrifices are ongoing, and even those who become believers and followers of Christ do not abandon their Judaism. They continue to observe all aspects of the Law.

Matthew 5:17-18 (AMP)

 “Do not think that I came to do away with or undo the Law [of Moses] or the [writings of the] Prophets; I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For I assure you and most solemnly say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke [of the pen] will pass from the Law until all things [which it foreshadows] are accomplished.

From the time of Abraham, it’s clear that Israel was God’s chosen people.

Genesis 12:2-3

And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you [abundantly], And make your name great (exalted, distinguished); And you shall be a blessing [a source of great good to others]; 3 And I will bless (do good for, benefit) those who bless you, And I will curse [that is, subject to My wrath and judgment] the one who curses (despises, dishonors, has contempt for) you. And in you all the families (nations) of the earth will be blessed.”

When the children of Israel were in Egypt, God declared He would separate His people from Egypt.

Exodus 8:22-23

But on that day I will separate and set apart the land of Goshen, where My people are living, so that no swarms of insects will be there, so that you may know [without any doubt] and acknowledge that I, the Lord, am in the midst of the earth. 23 I will put a division (distinction) between My people and your people. By tomorrow this sign shall be in evidence.”’”

Throughout the Old Testament, God emphasized that His people, the children of Israel, were not to mix with the Gentiles.

Leviticus 20:24-26

 But I have said to you, “You are to inherit and take possession of their land, and I will give it to you to possess, a land [of plenty] flowing with milk and honey.” I am the Lord your God, who has separated you from the peoples (pagan nations). 25 You are therefore to make a distinction between the [ceremonially] clean animal and the unclean, and between the unclean bird and the clean; and you shall not make yourselves detestable by animal or by bird or by anything that crawls on the ground, which I have set apart from you as unclean. 26 You are to be holy to Me; for I the Lord am holy, and have set you apart from the peoples (nations) to be Mine.

They were to remain a distinct people, not intermarrying or engaging with the pagan Gentiles around them. They were never instructed to evangelize them. Jesus himself said in Matthew 15:24, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Paul reiterates in Romans 15:8, “For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed.”

Even in Acts Chapter 10, when Peter has a vision of a sheet filled with creatures and is told by the Lord to kill and eat, Peter responds, “Surely not, Lord! I have never eaten anything impure or unclean” (Acts 10:14). This response shows Peter’s adherence to the Law. When Peter arrives at the home of the Gentile Cornelius, he says, “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean” (Acts 10:28), indicating a shift in God’s plan. God was now turning to the Gentiles through the Apostle Paul (Acts 13:46-47), but up until that point, His focus was primarily on His Covenant people.

2 Peter 3:14-16 (AMP) 14 So, beloved, since you are looking forward to these things, be diligent and make every effort to be found by Him [at His return] spotless and blameless, in peace [that is, inwardly calm with a sense of spiritual well-being and confidence, having lived a life of obedience to Him]. 15 And consider the patience of our Lord [His delay in judging and avenging wrongs] as salvation [that is, allowing time for more to be saved]; just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given to him [by God], 16 speaking about these things as he does in all of his letters. In which there are some things that are difficult to understand, which the untaught and unstable [who have fallen into error] twist and misinterpret, just as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

Galatians 2:7 (AMP), But on the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised (Gentiles), just as Peter had been [entrusted to proclaim the gospel] to the circumcised (Jews); 8 (for He who worked effectively for Peter and empowered him in his ministry to the Jews also worked effectively for me and empowered me in my ministry to the Gentiles).

Paul as the Apostle to the Gentiles: 

Romans 11:13: "I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry".

Ephesians 3:8: "Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ".

Acts 22:21: "Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles’"

In Matthew 10:5-6, "These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: ‘Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel’"

The Twelve: Simon (Peter), Andrew (Peter’s brother), James (son of Zebedee), John (James’ brother), Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew (the tax collector), James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus (also known as Lebbaeus), Simon the Zealot, Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed Jesus)

The message of the twelve apostles focused on proclaiming Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and the coming Kingdom of God; “Kingdom message.” (Matthew 16:16: "Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’"; Acts 2:38: “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”; John 20:31: “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”; Mark 1:1: “The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.”; John 11:27: “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”; 1 John 5:5: “Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”).

Paul’s message, often called the “Gospel of Grace,” or Body of Christ - which emphasized salvation through faith in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. 

1 Corinthians 15:1-4: 15 Now brothers and sisters, let me remind you [once again] of the good news [of salvation] which I preached to you, which you welcomed and accepted and on which you stand [by faith]. 2 By this faith you are saved [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose], if you hold firmly to the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain [just superficially and without complete commitment].3 For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to [that which] the Scriptures [foretold], 4 and that He was buried, and that He was [bodily] raised on the third day according to [that which] the Scriptures [foretold]. 

Romans 10:9-10,13: 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation... 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” 

Body of Christ: 12 For just as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts, though many, form [only] one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For by one [Holy] Spirit we were all baptized into one body, [spiritually transformed—united together] whether Jews or Greeks (Gentiles), slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one [Holy] Spirit [since the same Holy Spirit fills each life]. 14 For the [human] body does not consist of one part, but of many [limbs and organs]. 15 If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” is it not on the contrary still a part of the body? 16 If the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” is it not on the contrary still a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole [body] were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now [as things really are], God has placed and arranged the parts in the body, each one of them, just as He willed and saw fit [with the best balance of function]. 19 If they all were a single organ, where would [the rest of] the body be? 20 But now [as things really are] there are many parts [different limbs and organs], but a single body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 But quite the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are [absolutely] necessary; 23 and as for those parts of the body which we consider less honorable, these we treat with greater honor; and our less presentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 while our more presentable parts do not require it. But God has combined the [whole] body, giving greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 so that there would be no division or discord in the body [that is, lack of adaptation of the parts to each other], but that the parts may have the same concern for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the parts share the suffering; if one member is honored, all rejoice with it. 27 Now you [collectively] are Christ’s body, and individually [you are] members of it [each with his own special purpose and function].

Romans 12:4-5: "For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others".

Ephesians 4:4: "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called".

Colossians 1:18: "And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy".

Ephesians 5:23: "For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior"

All that being said... 

Hebrews 13:8 (ESV), Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (AMP), 16 All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; 17 so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Peter 1:20-21 (TLB), 20-21 For no prophecy recorded in Scripture was ever thought up by the prophet himself. It was the Holy Spirit within these godly men who gave them true messages from God.

Romans 15:4 (KJV), For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 

2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV), Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Ephesians 1:10 (KJV), That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him

Acts 17:11(TLB), But the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and gladly listened to the message. They searched the Scriptures day by day to check up on Paul and Silas’ statements to see if they were really so.

James 3:1 (AMP) Not many [of you] should become teachers [serving in an official teaching capacity], my brothers and sisters, for you know that we [who are teachers] will be judged by a higher standard [because we have assumed greater accountability and more condemnation if we teach incorrectly].

Compilation of Kingdom / Grace verses - Les Feldick

https://www.lesfeldick.org/laura.html

Through the Bible with Les Feldick, Book 4 LESSON ONE * PART I; Through the Bible with Les Feldick, Book 15 LESSON ONE * PART I; Through the Bible with Les Feldick, Book 18 LESSON ONE * PART I (secrets) Through the Bible with Les Feldick

From Genesis 12:1-3 all the way up to Mid-way through Acts, it was all Jewish (Acts 11:19 KJV) with few exceptions:

Melchizedek: In Genesis 14:18-20, Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, blesses Abram. Melchizedek is a Gentile who recognizes and worships the true God.

Rahab: In Joshua 2, Rahab, a Gentile woman in Jericho, helps the Israelite spies. She and her family are spared during the conquest of Jericho because of her faith (Joshua 6:25).

Ruth: The Book of Ruth tells the story of Ruth, a Moabite woman who becomes part of the lineage of David and ultimately Jesus (Ruth 1:16-17, 4:13-17).

Naaman: In 2 Kings 5, Naaman, a Syrian commander, is healed of leprosy by the prophet Elisha. He acknowledges the God of Israel as the only true God (2 Kings 5:15).

The Ninevites: In the Book of Jonah, the prophet Jonah is sent to the Gentile city of Nineveh. The people of Nineveh repent and turn to God (Jonah 3:5-10).

The Magi: In Matthew 2:1-12, the Magi from the East, who are Gentiles, come to worship Jesus after His birth.

The Centurion: In Matthew 8:5-13, a Roman centurion demonstrates great faith in Jesus, and his servant is healed.

The Syrophoenician Woman: In Mark 7:24-30, a Gentile woman shows faith in Jesus, and her daughter is healed.

The Messianic movement:  
https://www.gotquestions.org/Messianic-Judaism.html
https://www.gotquestions.org/Hebrew-roots.html

Incredible blessing (50:50 - 52:52) - Chuck Missler:
https://youtu.be/EJy_uS-QlAg?si=-w3HBlkrrYvTCs9g&t=3050