Blogs by Wayne Stewart

The end of the book of Romans is often used as a "proof" that the mystery given to Paul the prisoner was known before the close of the book of Acts and that "the mystery" as revealed in Eph 3 is simply a rehearsal of what was already dispensed in the acts period. This is a part of the mid-acts foundation, an assumption that is demonstrably wrong, upon which many false doctrines subsist. 

Here is the passage:

KJV  Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of...

Clearly "the gospel of your salvation" is an important message and is at the heart of a very special event that occurred in the life of each person who has come to trust in the Lord. Paul says this in Eph.1:13-14

13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

There is however another gospel that...

There are some who would like to tell us that the church of whom Christ is head began in the middle of the book of Acts. This is done by appealing to various assumptions - some will argue that the gospel is the mystery and then show that "the gospel" was preached by Paul in Acts and therefore this age began in Acts (say Acts 13, 17 etc). This is often stated with zeal (Rom. 10:2) but does it measure up to the knowledge that PAul prays  the Colossians  (Col. 1:9) and Ephesians (Eph. 1:16-18) posses? This spirit of wisdom and revelation is a gift of the Father and therefore we...

Salvation is by grace but where do we realize our salvation, with what company and in what part of the Christ's realm? God's kingdom is vast and we can expect that God would have many companies of people to rule and take part in His administration. It is easy to locate the wife (Israel), the bride (overcomers) and the joint body (the church of which Christ is head). The last group and its hope is expounded in the special prison ministry of PAul.

What is interesting is that there are other groups as well. It is instructive to examine these...