God gave the gospel that “we believe” to Paul. Prior to Paul, it was a mystery. The disciples didn’t get it either. Peter certainly didn’t get it. God had to go to a lost man, a religious man, a pharisee, a traditionalist, a zealot, and reveal himself to this religious sign-seeking Jew, through a sign and wonder, a Jew, and convert him, by belief and faith alone in the risen messiah.
Any character you want to pick in the entire word of God, no other had such a unique revelation or knowledge of this mystery. It is for this risen alone, that our gospel messages, and preaching align with Paul’s sound doctrine on the matter. If we therefore preach anything contrary to this mystery, the gospel of the grace of God, we will be found wanting, reproachable, blameable, and an offence to him, and the world.
If you men dabble in the law, you are left wanting, you play in the prophets; If you are following the spirit of the prophets you are in open rebellion of God’s word, and the wholesome words of the Lord; If you flirt with the message of John the Baptist, you are following the spirit of error; If you try to mesh the gospels and Paul’s distinct gospel of grace, you are carried about by another wind of doctrine; If you mistakenly assert some “repentant of all your sins” mentality into a gospel, you are preaching another gospel and are led away by the error of the wicked!
Why do we “labour in vain”, teaching a law, following great MEN of God, instead of following God. I do not care how great they were used of God, many men we cry about being the old timers had many things wrong including this issue of repentance. Repentance is salvation! That study will be coming shortly. Bottom line, in the sense of the order of all things. We know what we see in Paul is for us.
Ephesians 3:9~And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Ephesians 6:19~And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
Colossians 1:26-27~Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Colossians 2:2~That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
Ephesians 3:4~Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Colossians 4:3~Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
Now, I know I will get barks here, but we should not preach how Jesus preached, or many specific things he preached unless the Lord is aligned with Paul. I know how this sounds. But it is in no way anti-christ. It is the order of Christ. We cannot imitate Christ. No oone was ever meant to. This nonsense years back, WWJD (What would Jesus Do), clothing articles, braclets were everywhere.
It doesn’t matter what Jesus would do in many cases as it pertains to us. Now I know what it means to “know him” and the talk of being Chrits like, and I am not knocking that, but we take it to far as usual. It is why he gave us his written word. So there would be order. It is why he chose Paul, one born out of due time.
We can’t replicate actions or manners of a sinless man. You saying you are preaching like Jesus preached is immaterial, and irrelevant. What does this prove? That you are bold in calling people lairs, vipers, and fools? You see you are preaching like the Lord, well, sometimes it is just laughable to see how some of you men parade your selves around a pulpit.
Thats why he chose for the body, Paul, a wretched man like we, who struggled with his vile body and sin until his death. A man, like us, who may have been religious and traditionalist. A man like us, who was a master at taking the OT and missing the point! A man like us, who rejected the free gift of salvation until it became so evident. A man that submitted to the Lord in Acts 9, and realized he had been reading it wrong all these years.
Jesus himself had a specific ministry, much like Paul. It is the order of things. Let all things be done decently and in order. After Paul, and John the apostle in Revelation, there are no more revelations to men out side of the scriptures. And we Bible believers know the history of that!
Paul and company ARE OUR church fathers for the Christian if we want to be technical. Not some mythical Baptist successionist line from John the Baptist or Paul.. Paul was no Baptist!
These examples, commands, and Paul’s tradition only are what our focuses should be! (2 Thessalonians 3:6) This does not mean we reject the rest of the bible at all. Paul is clear about this.
Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Romans 16:25-26 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 the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
2 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
2 Timothy 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Peter 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Paul is to be somewhat of a filter. The “trump card” if you will, of the NT. Because Paul is the one that was given these unique, and individual calling, and revelations of things concerning a body of the Lord Jesus Christ. You can find salvation in Jesus Christ whom Paul preaches, and sound doctrine in Paul the apostle.
So what is Paul’s traditions? If anyone knew about tradition it was Paul. Paul’s traditions are the only traditions of man that we are told to keep. The traditions of man were opposed by the Lord and Paul.
Jesus Christ
Mark 7:8~For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
Jesus Christ
Mark 7:9~And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
Jesus Christ
Mark 7:13~Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
Paul
Galatians 1:14~And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
Paul
Colossians 2:8~Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Do you believe in the inspiration of the Holy spirit, and the Holy Bible. Paul gives the last traditions you are told to follow in the word of God. Paul’s tradition, manner, instruction in righteousness, edification, doctrine, admonishing, letters, and all those things contained in Romans - Philemon.
You want a command! This is New Testament, after the gospel of the kingdom preached, the kingdom age is postponed, after the resurrection, after Pentecost, after Acts entirely. Paul said, This is the gospel. Not Isaiah’s way or Old paths! (“This is the way, walk ye in it”.) Spiritually apply his words all you want. The prophets had a message like we have the gospel. They are not the same. Paul says this around 50 A.D.
2 Thessalonians 2:15
Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
2 Thessalonians 3:6
Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
What about his traditions? Don’t we see? This was the intent of God to give us a man in Paul, who was a pharisee of pharisee, and instructor of the law, he knew the weightier matters of the word already and many of them to come were revealed to us through him and his ministry.
When the Lord met him on the road, it only confirmed, by sight, by a sign, to a Jew, through a wonder, that He, the “Lord”, was in fact resurrected. Paul already knew all the prophecies concerning Him. This was his sign. He wasted NO time in acknowledging that HE was Lord.
The intent of God was to give us a wise man that came from organized religion, that could properly explain, and convey to the Jew and the Gentile, in straight talk, to all men, that anyone can now be saved forever. These thoughts were taboo to the Israelite. It was false doctrine. The Jew had blindness, but all were not blind, much like the Laodicean age does today.
He understood free will. He understood the Tabernacle and the holy things were a picture, or shadow of things to come. He understood they were absolved and done away with, but even he practiced longsuffering and doctrine. It is why he went into the Temple and Synagogues, to rebuke, reprove, and exhort! With all longsuffering and doctrine.
All that we now know, dispensational truths, sound doctrine, spiritual circumcision, the mystery of the body, scriptural divisions, is attributed to Paul’s life and ministry, and calling. We know the OT is for our learning and admonition, not for doctrine for any member of the body of Christ as pertains to our salvation, worship, and conducting of services.
Why do we now reject “THIS tradition”. Why do reject this simplistic patterns we see in Paul’s manner, and conversation of life.
Tradition, so you are clear as to what I am referring is found in this Websters 1828 definition:
The delivery of opinions, doctrines, practices, rites and customs from father to son, or from ancestors to posterity; the transmission of any opinions or practice from forefathers to descendants by oral communication, without written memorials....Traditions may be good or bad, true or false.
We will see the manner of Paul, and the admonition’s Paul had for us in the written word from God. It doesn’t mirror what we see today among denominational divisions, even among the Baptist Churches. It’s evident God chose Paul for this purpose. For the “body of Christ”, to establish the faith. And we have the word to guide us, not Baptist popes with their systematic theology and slanted distorted view on Church history.
Acts 13:43~Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.
God chose him, Paul, to give us the gospel of salvation, and the victorious, abundant life. We accept all these doctrines we get from Paul for salvation, and reject his patterns for the Church? It doesn’t make sense what we are seeing today among us Bible believers!
Men perverting doctrines, corrupting the context of the word, deceitful workers, trying to schism the body to have their personal preeminence. These warnings are seen in clearly ever epistle. Beware, take heed! We have been spoiled through “vain deceit”, and men being “exceedingly zealous of the tradition of their fathers.”
God in his foreknowledge knew our problems with man and the institution of organized religion. So he gave us Paul, who was a part of it. The system. Church Splits, contentions, misappropriation of the scriptures, disagreements, men abusing their authority, lording over the flock of which God hath made you overseer’s, sins of the heart and of the flesh, etc, is prevalent in these early churches, among the early body of believers. Much was done all in his name and for his sake, as it is today, but it was lip service, and Paul could sniff it out. He knew what to look for. He knew himself. He knew traditionalist.
The weaker brothers and sisters, the newly saved, or the uneducated (in the Bible) may grow tired of getting thrashed for stuff, they don’t fully understand. They may be confused. And we so much time protesting the world, telling all to repent, keeping them in fake military conflicts! Pastors may just lack the patience required of them. Or do they love the preeminence? “Well, we just need to preach the word and let the word work and fall where it may”. Well lets deal with this thought for a second.
Preachers and pastors often say, “God’s word will not return void. They get this phrase from Isaiah 55:11 which says, So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it.
I have news for you men, it will return void! When you wonder far from those most vital things that we are to maintain in Paul, When we reproach it, wrest it, misapply it, use it loosely, in phrasing, dicing and slicing etc it will return void. When we construct ideologies based on one verse, it will return void. When we rebuke and have our 2 or 3 quickdraw verses to defend our positions, it is returning void. Do we even know the text of that one verse that is always misquoted. Void means vain. It will be vain, when we preach it incorrectly! The text of Isaiah has to do with his word, the sword, int he 2nd Advent, that will accomplish everything it is set to do! Not some misapplied thought or distorted sermon. When you cast that seed among stoney ground, on purpose, and cast the pearls before the swine, with the express purpose to offend, the word of God will return void. Just sayin….
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