I know many teach that Acts 13:38-39 refers to the beginning of the grace gospel that is preached in the Mystery Program. Acts 13:38-39 certainly is different than what was said prior to this point. I would like to question the assumption that Acts 13:38-39 is a reference to grace being preached in the Mystery Program. Actually, I think Paul is explaining to Israel in Acts 13:38-39 that with the cross, there is a "grace message" for Israel and the Kingdom Program. The writer of Hebrews makes this clear by stating, " Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb 4:16). Although Paul does say, “And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses,” I do not think this has to refer to the grace gospel of the mystery program. Isaiah 53:11 prophecies of Christ, not the Law of Moses, justifying many. Isaiah 45:25 states, “In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.” Justification for Israel under the Kingdom Program was no mystery. I think most everything in Acts chapter 13:1-38 sounds Jewish and kingdom related. Acts 13:40 refers back to a warning in the prophets which would be Jewish. The grace message of the Mystery Program has no warnings from the Old Testament prophets! Acts 13:39 taken alone sounds like the grace gospel under the mystery program, but in the context of this chapter I think Paul has in mind the justification spoken of in Isaiah mentioned above. I also think this is the reason the writer of Hebrews says to the Hebrews that perfection was not by the Levitical priesthood which concerned the law. Consider Hebrew 7:11-12:
[11] If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
[12] For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
With the cross the message of the Kingdom program certainly had to change according to verse12 above, but it still required "enduring to the end" and "holding fast." Hebrews 3:6 states, "But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end."
How is Israel able to have "grace" under the Kingdom Program? The answer, I believe, is the "blood of the New Testament." Matthew 26:28 states, "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." This coincides with Hebrews 9:15, "And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance." Remember, under the Kingdom Program before the cross, the blood of bulls and goats could not take away sins (Heb 10:4). The cross had to take place in order for God to carry out the promise of Acts 3:19, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord."
Under the Mystery Program one can isolate Acts 13:38-39 and apply it as doctrine for today, but remember most every thing before verse 38 in Acts 13 is Jewish and Kingdom related. After verse 39 in Acts 13 there is a warning given to Israel, not believers under the Mystery Program, concerning ignoring the work of Christ. My preference in teaching grace, justification, and forgiveness is to go to Ephesians where the mystery is clearly revealed and there is a pure grace gospel with no warnings that do not apply to believers under the mystery program. Things that are similar are not the same.
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