ACTS 10:34

1. God is no respecter of person (v. 34: Rom. 2:11; Ephesians 6:9; I Peter1:17)
2. Two conditions of acceptance 1) Fear God (v.35; Luke 12:5) 2) Work righteousness by obeying the gospel program (v. 35; James 1)
3. Christ sent of God to Israel (v. 36-37) John 1:11; John 3:16-20; Matt. 10:6; 15:24)
4. Christ is Lord of all (v. 36; 2:36)
5. Christ came preaching peace (v.36)  3:15; Luke 2:14; John 14:27)
6. The Gospel dispensation began with John the Baptist (v.37; Matt. 11;11;Luke 16;16; Acts 1:21,22; ; Gal. 3:19-29)
7. God gave Jesus Christ the fullness of the Spirit (v. 38; John 3:34)
8. The twofold program of the gospel, preaching and confirming it (v. 36, 38; Matt.4:23-25; Heb.2:3,4; John 14:11)
9. Power comes along with the Holy Spirit anointing (v.38; 1:8; Luke 10:19; 24:49; Mark  16:15-20; John 14:12)
10. Satan not God is the cause of sickness (v.38; Luke10:19; 13;16; John 10:20; Matt 4:23-24; 10:1-8)
11. Christ was approved of God by signs and wonders (v.38) 2:22; John 3:2; Matt. 4:23-24; John 14:11)
12. It is God’s will to heal (v.38; Matt. 8:17; I Peter  2:24; John 10:10; 14:12; Mark 16;15-20; Luke 10:19; I Cor. 12:4-11; James 5:14-16; 3 John 2)
13. It is God’s will to heal all if conditions are right(v. 38, Matt. 13:58; 7:7-11; 17:20; Mark 9:23; 11:22-24; Luke 10:19 John 10:10; 14:12-15;15:7,16; 16; 23-26; James. 5:14)
14. Special witnesses were chosen of Christ’s life from John’s baptism on, so a true record could be made of all things (v.39-41)1:22; 3:15; 5:32) 
15. Crucifixion of Jesus(v. 39; 2:23; 3:15; 4:10; 5;30; I Peter 2:24)
16. Bodily resurrection of Jesus (v. 40; 2:24-26; Luke 24:39 ;I Cor. 15)
17. Christ’s bodily resurrection fully attended  (v. 40,41: 1:3; John 2:14 )
18. The great commission to preach and confirm the gospel (v.42; Matt. 28: 19-20; Mark. 16:15-20; Luke 24: 49-53; Acts 1: 4-8).
19. Christ is ordained by God to be the judge of all (v. 42) 17:31; John 5:22)
20. But the dead and the living will be judged (v. 42; Rev. 20: 11-14; Matt. 25; 31-46; Rom. 14:10; II Cor. 5:10; I Cor. 3: 11-15)
21. Christ was the subject of the prophets (v. 43; 3:21; Luke 24:44; John 5:39)
22. Faith in Christ necessary for salvation ( v.43; 2:38;4:12; Rom. 10:9-10)

This article is the result of some interesting questions that were brought to my attention a few years back.  I will begin by citing the scriptures, and then I will state the questions.

by Jim Schucker at jimschucker@gmail.com

1. The first question comes from Heb. 7:1-4 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him. To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace. Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life. but made like unto the Son of God; abides a priest continually.   Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.”… “of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.”…  This should make one curious and want to know more about this person Melchizedek. So the question is: what more could the Apostle Paul have told us about Melchizedek if the Hebrews hadn’t been so dull of hearing?  Especially considering that in the old testament Melchizedek is only mentioned two times once in Gen 14:18 and the other in Psalm 110:4…“without father and mother without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life.” What, is he still living?
2. The second question comes from Gen.9:20-27 “And Noah began to be a husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness. And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him. And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.” And the question is: why does Noah curse Canaan for something that his father Ham did? This is the only place that I know of in the scriptures that the perpetrator of a crime seems to get off free, and someone else gets punished. Why would Noah do that? Does this seem like the kind of man the Lord would chose to save mankind from extinction with? Besides, is there really something wrong with seeing you father naked? Do we have a scripture that states that a man should not see his father naked?
3.    The third question comes from 1 Chronicle 5:1 & 2 “Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, for as much as he defiled is father’s bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.  For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph’s“.  What does this mean?  What is this genealogy, and birthright?

Believe it or not these three questions are all related to each other in a wonderful way, and when you unravel it you begin to see that the bible tells a story of the most incredible family drama the world has ever seen.  I would like to begin by having you put yourself in Shem’s shoes, the third son of Noah. Imagine if you will; the world has just been destroyed by a great flood. Only you, your two brothers, your father Noah and a Zoo have managed to survive. Your family is the only family on earth… What plan of action will you institute amongst your children to divide the land fairly?

Would you want to know the answers?