The Lord Jesus Christ "The Head of All Principality and Power"

As I have been posting about "Paul's Gospel" and the intricate details therein, I want it to be properly understood that Christ is the issue. I write about "Paul's Gospel" and magnify not him as a man, but his office, his position of authority to proclaim Christ. I write about "Paul's Gospel", because in so doing ,rightly, Christ is preached and glorified most today. I write about "Paul's Gospel" because it is distinct and unique today, not because I say so, but because God's Word says so.

It is slanderously reported that Christ isn't glorified through recognizing that Paul has a distinct, unique, separate ministry and gospel. It has been said that Christ is taken from His proper place by recognizing Pauline authority. It is evident no man can take Christ from His proper place in the first place. It is through a failure to recognize Pauline authority that those who see it have to defend it, in so doing, not "putting Christ in His proper position", but glorifying Him in His already highest position of exaltation. Paul himself in Corinthians had to foolishly defend his authority and ministry, because they did not recognize it. He had to magnify his office HIMSELF, by talking about his sufferings and his ministry that was given to him from Christ Himself. It is now because few take a stand on Pauline authority that those who do have to defend it. The result of this is many claiming things they do not know, slanderously reporting that, those who do, do not put Christ in His proper position. How ignorant are these men for they know not what they say, nor affirm. They kick against the pricks, resulting in themselves not recognizing Christ proper position of authority and granduer that only Paul reveals. They have a lack of understanding and in so doing they, who seem to be wise, become fools. They mix Christ as the King of kings and Lord of lords over the earth, with Christ being the Head of ALL principality and power and in so doing glorify their theology rather than Christ.

Recognizing Pauline authority, magnifying his office results in recognizing Christ's proper glorified position today.

There is no doubt Christ has been the issue through the whole Bible. However, there have been numerous men throughout the Scriptures who spoke on God's behalf. It also has been the failure of countless men throughout the Scriptures who did not recognize these men (who spoke on God's behalf), resulting in their own destruction and became fools. It is no different today, men becoming fools because they do not believe the Word of God resulting in not recognizing God's spokesman. Men today listen to scholars, theologians, and tradition rather then God. They listen to traditions of men rather then the Word of God and sound doctrine.

Hebrews 1:1-3,
"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds: who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;"

Notice many things.

1)It is the book of Hebrews. Are you a Hebrew? Today do you look at someone else mail and apply it to you. Why do you, not being a Hebrew apply it to you? Believe it and in so doing you will not apply it to you, because you will believe you are not a Hebrew. We need to rightly divide.

2)God spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets.

3)"Hath in these LAST DAYS spoken unto us by His Son". Are we in the LAST DAYS? The days of revelation, the 70th week of Daniel? Are we fulfilling revelation, as we speak? How foolish, of course not! However, they were in the last days, they were about to go through the tribulation. The kingdom was AT HAND. Do you believe Israel's literal, physical, visible kingdom was at hand? Or, do you believe tradition that it was the kingdom of God in the hearts of men. Believe God's Word. But what happened?

4) He (Christ) appointed heir of all things. But what are the all things? Let's look into early Acts where they were teaching this doctrine.

In early Acts, they were in the last days, actually they were in the "one year" that Christ answered to God to give to Israel. Luke 13:6-9,

"He spake also this parable; A certain man (Christ) had a fig tree (Israel) planted in his vineyard (Jerusalem, Zion, etc); and he came and sought fruit thereon (first coming) and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years (Christ's earthly ministry, to Israel) I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also (Acts 1-7), till I shall dig about it, and dung it: and if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down."

Anyways, that is another study, however in Acts 3, the little flock is calling the nation of Israel to repentance, because they just killed their Messiah. Israel's fruit would have been repentance, turning from killing Christ to recognizing that He was the Christ. However, they did not and with the stoning of Stephen God cut them down. Paul sheds light on this issue in Romans 11. Israel was to go through the wrath of God. Anyways, in Acts 3, Peter is doing this very thing calling the nation of Israel to repentance. In verses 17-21,

"And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, He hath fulfilled. (That is all that Christ hath fulfilled, not His glory in the earth in the nation of Israel) Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out (when?), when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; (when is the refreshing? it comes from the presence of the Lord, His second coming) and He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things (here is the all things) which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began."

The times of restitution of all things, is the time of God's wrath, His pay back. It is focused on the whole world, but specifically the unbelievers of Israel, their leadership. The all things deals with, all things, but most specifically the authority under Satan's course of this world. This is the big picture so to speak. It is the authority on the earth under the enemies dominion and God has planned through Christ to reconcile it back unto Himself as the King of kings and Lord of lords. Christ through the OT, the Gospel accounts, Acts 1-8, and Hebrews through Revelation, is properly positioned over all things on the earth as prophesied. God had been dealing with the earth all along, however the earth is not the only place where Satan had dominion and, that God would have to reconcile back to Himself. The heavenly places would need to be reconciled back to God and He had the perfect plan to do so in and through Christ, however He hid it in Himself until "due time", until the time He appointed to reveal it. That time would end up being before He began "His day", the day of His wrath. Instead, He poured out His grace and revealed the mystery of Christ, to none other than Paul and Him alone, not to keep to Himself, but to tell all the nations.

When I mentioned before in my past blog that Paul is the authority over all the world, I did not mean that he is Christ. I meant Paul is the only man that has the message of they mystery of Christ, the gospel of the grace of God, to give to all the nations today. He is the only apostle that has this ministry. If we desire to know Christ (not only as King of kings and Lord of lords but fully)and what He is doing today we must listen to the apostle Paul. This does not mean we are to not study the rest of the Bible, because it is for our learning and is truth. Christ from heavens glory appeared to Paul through visions and revelations about the "one new man", "the church, the Body of Christ" to reconcile the heavenly places back unto God from Satan's dominion. However, the glory, the grandeur, the manifold wisdom, and the power that God manifested in doing so was and is awesome.

Ephesians 1:19-23, (Paul is praying for the Ephesians to know somethings)

"And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He reaised Him from the dead, AND set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, FAR ABOVE all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all."

Paul is not praying for us to know God's power, according to His mighty power, but to know the "exceeding greatness of His power" according to His mighty power. How did God manifest the exceeding greatness of His power? When He raised Christ from the dead and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places. Is that it, nope. "FAR ABOVE" all authority. See according to prophecy He would be in the heavenly places over authority, but not all authority. Christ would be placed over all authority on this earth as the King of kings and Lord of lords, however He would not be "FAR ABOVE" all authority. This was revealed solely to the apostle Paul to go along with the mystery of Christ, hence the reason Paul is praying for them to know it. In Ephesians 6:10, he tells them to be strong in it. How foolish are the ones who do not recognize Pauline authority which can only place Christ in the highest place of exaltation. The "exceeding greatness of His power" God manifested in placing Christ "FAR ABOVE" all authority and not only that of the earth, but both heaven and earth. It is through Christ revealing this to Paul and giving him an apostleship that Christ being the "HEAD of all principality and power" is only revealed.

When did this take place? Did it take place right after Christ's ascension from the 11? Paul gives us the answer in Ephesians 4:9-10,

"Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things."

Christ ascended twice, He ascended the first time according to prophecy as we saw Him depart from the 11. According to prophecy, He did this to go be their High Priest in the heavenly Jerusalem that will one day come down as their kingdom, and also to prepare many mansions for His followers. This information was all made known in the prophets or by Christ Himself while He was on earth. What wasn't made known was that He would save His chief persecutor Saul, come down, and extend His grace to him all to not go back to the heavenly Jerusalem, but to take His rightful place as Head over all principality and power in both heaven and the earth. It is only Paul that reveals this mystery of Christ. Why? This was hid in God as part of His manifold wisdom in Christ and Christ fulfilled not prophecy by ascending to the highest position of exaltation, but He fulfilled the mystery of God's will (Eph. 1:9). The exceeding greatness of His power is in accordance with His grace. Folks we must know this and be strong in it.

Those who say we do not put Christ is His place of authority, do not know what they say, and try to intimidate those who actually do, by their own earthly, scholarly authority which is in vain. We need not be educated by man, but by Paul's office of authority that reveals the highest position of Christ's exaltation. We need to be educated by our apostle and not by theologies and philosophies. Once not only Christ's position as King of kings and Lord of lords, but also as Head over all authority of heaven and earth is understood and recognized through our apostle, their is no going back for our allegiance is to Christ and the Word of God that reveals Him as so. Our allegiance is not to theologians, scholars, and tradition that have for so long gotten it wrong. They get it wrong because they do not recognize and believe Pauline authority resulting in mixing, adding, and taking away from God's Words. Our allegiance is to Christ and Christ alone, however it is through the apostle Paul that reveals these issues and rightly divides them for us. Christ through Paul clearly and with clarity ;), give us a proper education on not only these issues, but the whole Bible.

I write about "Paul's Gospel" because it reveals Christ as not only the Head of the Body, but the Head over all authority in both heaven and earth, not just the earth. Christ revealed Himself in His fulness to Paul, therefore we must be educated by him ending in our education of Christ, the mystery of Christ that reveals Him in His highest position of exaltation. Paul clearly by Christ states these issues and clearly sorts them out. As we study Paul and are certified in his gospel of Christ, the mystery of Christ and the preaching of the Cross, we will not only know, have some understanding, and be educated, but will be able to be strong in them and come unto the unity of the faith. It is only then that we as the Body will be able to manifest the exceeding greatness of His power in accordance with His grace. We will have recovered ourselves from the snare of the devil, to become a vessel of honour unto God, fit for the Master's use. I do not talk about "Paul's Gospel" to in some way not give Christ His proper position, but to proclaim, recognize, and give glory to His proper position of exaltation. Those who think otherwise are unlearned, wresting the Scriptures and need to come unto the knowledge of the truth. Christ through Paul will educate you and rightly divide the Scriptures in order to get the proper understanding and power from of the Word of Truth. May we humbly come to our Father and believe His Word through all its reproving, correcting, and doctrine.

We will speak more on this issue next time.

Until next time....
In Him,
Joshua Strelecki

"Paul's Gospel" pt. 5

"Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do." Galatians 2:10

I mentioned last time, that we would focus on this verse and why it is so important. What does this verse mean? Who are these poor? Why are they mentioned right here? Why was Paul and the apostles in Jerusalem so forward to remember them?

It would be easy to say that the Jewish apostles tell them to remember the poor, because it is just a good thing to do. It could also be that the Jewish apostles thought that Paul and those who followed his gospel, apostleship, and ministry of the mystery of Christ would abuse their liberty and not remember the poor? It could be. However, IT ISN'T. The Word of God is too clear on this issue when the Word of truth is "rightly divided". Let us quickly recap what is happening and had happened at the Jerusalem council, which can be found in Acts 15 and Galatians 1-2.

Paul receives a revelation from the Lord Jesus Christ to go up to Jerusalem, to "communicate unto them that gospel which I (Paul) preach among the Gentiles". We saw clearly that, unlike how most Christians teach and preach it, Paul's gospel is not the same gospel Peter preached. We also learn that Paul went up to Jerusalem to communicate that God had changed the program. God does not change, but His dealings with mankind have and will in the future. God changed from dealing with His nation Israel and salvation through Christ dying in order to give the new covenant to the nation of Israel. In doing so God will cause them to keep the commandments perfectly. This will produce righteousness in His sight. The Gentiles, once this happens would then find salvation in Israel as Christ reigns as the King of kings and Lord of lords over the entire earth. This is however, yet to be fulfilled. Christ came the first time to suffer and die, only to come again to rule and reign. However, He did not return again according to prophecy, but according to the mystery of God's will He appeared to the apostle Paul on the road to Damascus. In so doing God changed from doing all of that with Israel, to offering salvation to the Gentiles through Israel's fall of unbelief, by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. It would be "by the Cross" and "the preaching of the Cross" that God would use unto the Gentiles glory a part from Israel. The gospel that proclaims this message, which is the mystery of Christ, God hid within Himself, but revealed it unto the apostle Paul to teach all the nations, that all might be saved and come unto the knowledge of the truth. This is why Paul went up to Jerusalem to communicate this to the Jewish apostles. The Jewish apostles although it was hard to understand, "perceived the grace that was given unto me (Paul)". They also "saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me (Paul), AS the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;". Also they recognized that "He (Christ) that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me (Paul) toward the Gentiles;" The Jewish apostles, because Paul went up and communicated unto them the change, recognized that change. How do I know this? Well Galatians 2:9-10, give us that answer.

"And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do."

Three things happen here. 1)The 3 who seemed to be pillars that is; James, Cephas, and John perceived the grace given unto Paul. 2)Those 3 gave to Paul and Barnabas the "right hands of fellowship". The "right hands of fellowship" did not acknowledge that they were preaching the same thing, remember? However, that they were preaching something different. They are acknowledging that God changed His dealings with mankind from Israel's salvation and Gentiles through their RISE which had not come yet, but would have and will at Christ second coming; to the Gentiles (and individual Jews, although God sees them as Gentiles today) salvation through Israel's fall. Again, how do we know this? 3)Both the Jewish apostles, Paul and Barnabas were forward to remember the poor.

Who are these poor? How does this confirm not only that God changed the program, but that the Jewish apostles knew of this change? By answering the former question we will answer the latter.

These poor are the followers Christ, those who believed He is the Messiah, that is their Christ. Also known as the little flock. The little flock, the true Israel, because they believed Christ not only in the Gospel accounts during Christs earthly ministry, but also in the early Acts period. Why are they poor?

I will start by quickly mentioning that to be a disciple of Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry and the early Acts period you needed to sell all that you had or leave all that you had and follow Christ. When Christ called out His 12 disciples each one left what they were doing, their families, their businesses, everything in order to follow Christ.

"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? or, what shall we drink? or, wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. BUT SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS; AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU." Matt. 6:25-33

Christ commands them to sell all, because He is going to provide for them. Earlier in Matthew before this passage He tells them how to pray "give us this day our daily bread". He tells them to pray for God to provide food for them, because Christ commands them to sell all. Why, because the kingdom of heaven was AT HAND and the Jew could bring nothing in. It would be God that provides for that Jew in that kingdom. Selling all was a work that proved that one trusted; that one had faith in God to provide for their every need. We see through the Gospel accounts that Jesus is continually providing for them. He gives them glimpses of the kingdom through miracles, providing food for the multitudes of 4000 and 5000 by multiplying 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish.

Christ spoke in parables saying,
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field." Matt. 13:44

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it." Matt. 13:45-46

Christ speaks over and over about selling all, because He will provide and the riches in the kingdom are far better, being eternal. This kingdom of heaven that Christ speaks, will come down from heaven, but it will be a literal, physical, visible, earthly kingdom (Rev. 21). Selling all that you had was a requirement to enter in the kingdom of heaven that Christ spoke about, and boy it was AT HAND. In the disciples and others selling all that they had, they became like the Jews in time past whom came out of Egypt with nothing but God to provide for them. The nation of Israel was BORN at that time. Those Jews murmured against Moses and the power of God displayed to them, through provision of food and water, miraculously. The setting was like that during Christs earthly ministry. He explains the trials ahead in the tribulation. They will have nothing, and will not be able to buy anything, but Christ teaches and shows them that He is mighty and powerful to provide for all their needs. They must as a nation be BORN AGAIN. He is worthy to be followed in the midst of the greatest persecution that man was ever to face.

Christ teaches a certain ruler in Luke 18:18-25,
"And a certain ruler asked Him, saying, Good master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor thy father and they mother. And he said, all these have I kept from my youth up. Now when jesus heard these things, he said unto him, YET LACKEST THOU ONE THING: SELL ALL THAT THOU HAST, AND DISTRIBUTE UNTO THE POOR, AND THOU SHALT HAVE TREASURE IN HEAVEN; AND COME, FOLLOW ME. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, how hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."

Christ in the following verses teaches His disciples,

"And they that heard it said, who then can be saved? And He (Christ) said, the things which are impossible with men are possible with God. Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. And he said unto them, verily I say unto you, there is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting."

Christ taught that it was not good enough to just keep the commandments, but now that the kingdom WAS AT HAND, that one needed to sell all and follow Christ. He also taught to the ones who did, such as Peter, that he will be rewarded and provided for from God at the present time, but also we receive the greatest reward eternal life in the kingdom.

In the early Acts period, after Christ's death, burial, and resurrection the little flock continued to follow the commandments of Jesus. Acts 2:44-45,

"And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and SOLD THEIR POSSESSIONS AND GOODS, and parted them to all men, as every man had need."

In verse 47, God added daily to that kingdom church, the little flock of Israel.

Acts 4:32-35, "And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need."

Verse 37, "Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet."

In Acts 5, it talks about a couple who sold all, yet kept some of the money and they died and went to hell, because they did not follow the commandment of Christ to sell all.

Paul says in Eph. 2:12 that we (Gentiles) were at this time strangers or aliens from the "commonwealth of Israel".

My point is manifold in nature. The little flock were to sell all; houses, land, business, animals, etc. They were to do this because the kingdom of heaven was at hand and in that kingdom God is going to daily provide for their every need. God provided for them in the early Acts period by every one distributing the fruit of their goods to those who were in need in that little flock. It is evident that after the resources would run dry that God would provide for them as Christ taught. They would but need pray to the Father and ask in Christ's name and receive. My biggest point of all is, these are the poor that the Jewish apostles, Paul, and Barnabas are forward to remember. But why? God changed the program and they no longer needed to sell all, therefore leaving them in a poorer state then before. The commonwealth of that little flock had dried up or would soon. Paul along with his gospel, apostleship, and ministry communicated that God had changed the program and their kingdom that was AT HAND, is no longer at hand. Hence the reason today Christ is not reigning as the King of kings and Lord of lords in Israel and us Gentiles sojourning to Israel, grabbing the skirt of a Jew because God is with Israel, Emmanuel. That is yet to be fulfilled. No, God changed the program with the apostle Paul and for a season is no longer dealing with Israel and their kingdom, however He is dealing with both Jew and Gentile, forming and putting them in the Body of Christ, through faith in the Cross of Christ, that He died for our sins. This is the mystery of Christ, which God hid in Himself. God is not residing in the nation of Israel through Christ being the King of kings and Lord of lords, under the new covenant. God is residing through Christ in those that believe the Cross of Christ that by it He died for our sins, under pure grace apart from the covenants, law, and the commonwealth. This is not the fulfillment of God's promises or prophecies to Israel, but something different. It is the mystery of Christ!!!

Those poor that we mentioned are the "kingdom church saints" that followed Christ's command. As God changed the program they in their obedience became poor. It is vitally important to note that God still provides for them, but not through the kingdom and not through the commonwealth, but by the apostle Paul's ministry. This is mentioned in a few passages, however I will quickly note Romans 15:26,

"For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem."

God through His awesomeness, although He changed the program, although He changed His dealings with mankind, still provided for the saints who believed Christ's commandments to sell all and follow Him. He honored and provided for their faith. He still provided for them, still kept His word, however not in the same way as prophesied. It would be the Gentiles who were on the Jews back for hundreds of years, the Gentile believers that heard the mystery of Christ from the unique, distinct, gospel, apostleship, and ministry of the apostle Paul that would provide for the poor brethren of God's earthly program with the nation of Israel. That is GRACE!!!!! O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!!!


Until next time....
In Him,
Joshua Strelecki

"Paul's Gospel" pt. 4

"But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by His grace, TO reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:" Galatians 1:15-16

God the Father, the Almighty Creator of both heaven and earth through Christ by the Cross, saved the apostle Paul on the road to Damascus, by His grace. God separated him from his mother's womb. When Paul says that he is not referring to his physical mother and her physical womb. Paul in the context described the Jews' religion and the tradition of "my fathers", he calls it. It is that religion and tradition that is his mother's womb. Paul received his nourishment from that religion, and grew up in those traditions. Paul is saying that God separated him from that, but not for any reason, but "to reveal His Son in me,". God chose the apostle Paul, saved him by His grace and in return separated him from his Jews' religion, in order to reveal Christ in Paul. The ultimate purpose is in the rest of verse 16, "that I might preach Him (Christ) among the heathen;". How awesome!!! God chose the apostle Paul, separated him from what God had been doing in time past and did not send Paul to preach Christ to the Jews only, whom God had been dealing with since Genesis 17, roughly, but sent him to the heathen. The heathen God gave up in Genesis to a reprobate mind (Rom. 1). Quickly, look at Paul's response when God did this, "immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:". Paul did not confer with anyone, to see if what God showed him was really what God was doing. Why if God gave Paul the same apostleship, gospel, and ministry to him as God did Peter, would he not confer with flesh and blood? Why would he hide that? Well, Paul knew something that most don't today that what God sent him to do and that the gospel, apostleship, and ministry given to him were and still are unique and would not be understood right away. God changed the program.

Unfortunately, those in Christendom who listen and see the unique gospel, apostleship, and ministry of the apostle Paul have the same response as Paul does. They are afraid of the religious, legalistic intimidation. They flex their scholarly muscles and proclaim God has been doing one thing throughout all of history and don't even think, because their religion, tradition, and theology won't allow it, that God had and has a two-fold purpose in Christ. In return, they are caught in magnifying themselves and their own religion instead of God's manifold wisdom in Christ described clearly in His Word. May God be true and every man a liar, the Word of God is not bound by Christians scholarly attempts of theology. May we be certified in Paul's apostleship, gospel, and ministry (Gal. 1:11).

It would be 3 years before Paul would confer with flesh and blood. Notice what he says in verse 17 of Gal. 1,
"Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus."
Notice here two things. 1) Paul did not confer with flesh and blood, but more specifically he notes, not with those in Jerusalem. 2) Notice the apostles, the 12, are still in Jerusalem at this time as we studied out a couple days ago.

After 3 years Paul goes up to Jerusalem and only sees Peter and James (v. 19). Paul then leaves and does not go up to Jerusalem for another 14 YEARS!!! Paul had a distinct apostleship, gospel, and ministry. It was something separate from what God had been doing in time past. However, Paul goes up to Jerusalem again, 14 years later, and it is recorded in two places, Acts 15 and Galatians 2. Paul gives us inside information from that of Acts 15. Acts 15 is written by Luke and has a Jewish perspective, however Paul has the perspective us Gentiles need to understand of what happened in that council in Jerusalem. First, Paul went up by revelation (v. 2). In fact verse 2, "And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them THAT GOSPEL WHICH I PREACH AMONG THE GENTILES, but privately to them which were of reputation, best by any means I should run, or had run, in vain." Paul communicated to them, "that gospel" that he preached to the Gentiles. Paul educated and shared with them what Christ had revealed to Paul, throughout those 17 years. Notice a few things in verses 1 and 2. Paul takes Barnabas and Titus with him. Why is this important?

Matthew 18, the context is trespassing against each other in that kingdom church, but Paul does this when he goes up to Jerusalem. Verse 15-20,
"Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, THEN TAKE THEE ONE OR TWO MORE, THAT IN THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY WORD MAY BE ESTABLISHED. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church (kingdom church): but if he neglect to hear the church let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching ANY THING that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

Do you notice the same pattern in Galatians? Paul goes up the first time after 3 years to Peter (the rock) whom Christ gave authority over His kingdom church, little flock. That occasion was the first time Peter heard "that gospel", also James. However, it needed to be communicated to the whole council, the whole church. So Paul, brings with him "two or three" more people Barnabas and Titus with him, so that what he is doing and the word, gospel, apostleship, and ministry of Paul may be established. Paul does not bring two or three more people for his sake, but for the Jewish apostles sake, that Paul by "two or three" witnesses may show that God changed the program. Paul is NOT going up to Jerusalem to confirm that they are preaching the same gospel, no not at all. Paul is going up to the Jerusalem council to communicate "that gospel", not the gospel of the kingdom, not the gospel of the circumcision, but the gospel of the uncircumcision, the gospel of the grace of God. Quickly note, in Matthew, the passage above, that if the men neglect or go against the kingdom church they are but like a "heathen man".
Paul goes up with Barnabas and Titus, who was a Greek and he was not compelled to be circumcised. This ought to catch your attention, Galatians 2:3. What are the Jewish apostles do to? He can't be unto them a "heathen man", he already is a Gentile. Do you see what is happening? "That gospel" that Paul preached is distinct. It is something totally new from what God had been doing with, Jews, the circumcision, and Israel, but also something totally different from what He will do with them in the future, and the Gentiles through them. Titus is already a Gentile, a Greek, and he is not compelled to be circumcised and become a Jew. Why? This was what God had been doing all along, dealing only with the circumcision and others Gentiles through them. NO, God started something new and by God's grace Paul, Titus, and Barnabas testified of the liberty that they have in Christ. They testified that they need not be circumcised, or to circumcise anyone. They testified that they were not under the law. They testified that they although able ministers of the new testament that they were not under it, but having the same spirit. They "communicated unto them that gospel which I (Paul) preach among the Gentiles."

Lets finish Galatians 2:5-10,

To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me: But contrariwise, when they saw that THE GOSPEL OF THE UNCIRCUMCISION WAS COMMITTED UNTO ME, AS THE GOSPEL OF THE CIRCUMCISION WAS UNTO PETER; (For He that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles;) abd when James, Cephas, an John, who seemed to be pillars, PERCEIVED THE GRACE THAT WAS GIVEN UNTO ME, THEY GAVE TO ME AND BARNABAS THE RIGHT HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP; THAT WE SHOULD GO UNTO THE HEATHEN, AND THEY UNTO THE CIRCUMCISION. Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do."

There is so much here and we will not cover it all today, but will in the future. Paul went up to Jerusalem by revelation. God is orchestrating this. He goes up to communicate "that gospel", to share not that it is the same gospel, but that it is unique, distinct, unprophesied, and a mystery that Paul is revealing to all mankind. It speaks about the liberty that we can have in Christ, however, the 3 (James, Peter, and John) are compelling Titus to become circumcised. Titus is not compelled to, because he knows through the apostle Paul that God changed the program and he does not need to be circumcised in order to have spiritual access unto God, but that he now as a Gentile has that access because of the Cross. Paul does not give place to them even for an hour, to be subject unto that. Paul notes that they seemed to be somewhat in conference, but added nothing to me. Paul does not end there, he says, "contrariwise" Paul adds something to them. Paul is communicating "that gospel" of Jesus Christ "according to the revelation of the mystery." The mystery that God hid in Himself about His Son and through Israel's fall He would send salvation to the Gentiles apart from the nation Israel. And by two or three witnesses Paul, Titus, and Barnabas did not subject themselves unto the kingdom church, however they added to James, Cephas, and John as they "saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me (Paul), AS the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter." Two different gospels (good news) of Christ, to two different people's. (For He (Christ) that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, that same (Christ) was might in me toward the Gentiles;)", (v. 8). They PERCEIVED the grace that was given unto me (Paul), not the law, not the new covenant, but pure grace.

There is only one gospel today that saves, that is the gospel of the grace of God, that by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone that He died for your sins, was buried, and rose again the third day, that one is saved. However, the Jerusalem council was a meeting that Paul was commanded to go in order to communicate "that gospel" and for the Jewish apostles to perceive the grace that was given to Paul. Also, for the Jewish apostles to see that it was Christ who is effectually working this in Paul as He effectually worked in Peter for the apostleship of the circumcision.

I pray today that we all recognize Paul's distinct, unique, and set apart gospel, apostleship, and ministry as did the Jewish apostles did, although it was hard for them to understand. I pray that we recognize, believe, and stand firm in God's manifold wisdom in Christ. I pray that we recognize, believe, and stand firm that God is not forming the Body of Christ to fulfill all His promises that He promised the nation of Israel, but that we are a part of the "one new man" "the church, which is His body", the Body of Christ. I pray that we walk worthy of our calling by which we are called, to walk worthy of our vocation, to make all men see the fellowship of the mystery, not the fellowship of Israel, but the mystery. To the intent that now unto principalities and powers might be known the manifold wisdom of God, by the church. What a calling we have!!!

Lastly, I want to quote 2 Peter 3:13-18,
"Nevertheless we (Jews), according to His (Gods and Christs) promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, where in dwelleth righteousness (fulfilled in revelation, not today). Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longs-suffering of our Lord is salvation; (their kingdom had not come, the wrath had not come, nor the new heavens and the new earth, Peter is telling them why) even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom (what wisdom, 1 Cor. 2, the hidden wisdom of God hid in a mystery) given unto him hath written unto you; as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood (because they are new and different from what God had been doing all along) which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 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 steadfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen."

It is evidently clear today under the umbrella of Christianity that many men unfortunately do not see the distinct, unique, and set apart gospel, apostleship, and ministry of the apostle Paul. In return they become men unaware, unlearned, and unstable resulting in "wrest"-ing the scriptures not only to others destruction, but "unto their own destruction". They become men unapproved of God not fully knowing that, because they have the approval of so many men. They may not be ashamed now, but will be when they reach the judgment seat of Christ, not losing salvation, but losing their reward as through fire, because their works are not built upon Paul's gospel, apostleship, and ministry who is our wise master builder (1 Cor. 3). May we build upon the foundation of Christ that Paul has laid as given instruction from Christ Himself from heaven's glory; and may we not build upon another man's foundation of Christ such as laid by Peter as given instruction from Christ during His earthly ministry to Israel. How vitally important it is to "rightly divide" the Scriptures. 2 Timothy 2:15, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

Next time we will quickly look at Galatians 2:10, "Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do." Were the Jewish apostles just telling them to remember the poor, because they thought they did not have to, because of their new liberty in Christ? Was this just a good work, a noble thing to do, to remember the poor? Who are these poor that is being talked about? Why was Paul and the Jewish apostles forward to remember them?

Until next time...
In Him,
Joshua Strelecki

"Paul's Gospel" pt. 3

As we continue to look at "Paul's gospel" there are important scriptures and things to consider. For example, Paul's apostleship. Have you ever thought, why Paul? What I mean by that question is, the Lord Jesus Christ while on earth commissioned the 12 disciples to, "go ye therefore, and teach ALL NATIONS, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Matt. 28:19-20.

The 12 were to go to the nations. So what happened? Did they fail and God had a plan B to send Paul to the Gentile nations? As Bible students these things need to be considered and if not they can cause confusion. Lets look at Luke 24:46-49,

" And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, BEGINNING AT JERUSALEM. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high."

Notice, Acts 1:4-8, also written by Luke,

"And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of Him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And He said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

There is a lot to go through here, but for the sake of this short study I want to draw attention to two things: 1) The 12 were to receive the Holy Ghost in Jerusalem, and 2) The 12 were to start at Jerusalem and then go out to the uttermost part of the earth. The 12 were focused solely on Jerusalem first, hence we see through the early part of Acts, Peter and the 11 speaking and preaching Christ to the leaders of Israel. Notice as well, Acts 11:19, "Now they which were scattered abroad UPON THE PERSECUTION THAT AROSE ABOUT STEPHEN travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, PREACHING THE WORD TO NONE BUT UNTO THE JEWS ONLY." It should be noted that the 12, whom Christ gave the commission unto, to begin in Jerusalem throughout earlier Acts, never leave Jerusalem. Also, it should be noted that those Jews who believed that Jesus was the Messiah, that were scattered by Stephens persecution were "preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only." My point is, early in the book of Acts the 12 who were Jews following Christ's command to reform Jerusalem, the leaders of Israel unto repentance, to preach that Christ is their Messiah, and when that is accomplished to go to the Gentiles. My second point is, they never left Jerusalem. My last point, the Jews who were scattered by the leaders of Israel's unbelief that persecuted an apostle (Stephen) were "preaching to Jews only."

In early Acts, the focus is solely on Jews and more specifically Jerusalem, because Christ commanded it so and the 12 and other apostles followed suit, even when they were scattered they preached to Jews only. There was an order, Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria, and then the uttermost part of the earth. Well, Israel's leaders did not reform, hence why the 12 even after the persecution of Stephen stayed in Jerusalem. The 12 followed Christ's command, but the problem wasn't Christ's command it was their own people. The 12 didn't even get the time to "go to the nations", because the people's unbelief. So is this why Christ saved Paul?, to do what the 12 couldn't? Is it that Christ commanded the 12 and even received power of the Holy Ghost and they failed, so instead of 12 men, God chose 1 man?

The answer is NO!!!

My point in showing all of that, is that the 12 were commissioned to go to all the nations, that was part of their job. However, God had another plan. A plan not only to have Christ reign as the King of kings and Lord of lords in the nation of Israel over all the earth, but also to have Christ be the Head of the Body of Christ in the heavenly places and it was Paul, whom God had chosen to be the apostle, messenger, and pattern of the Gentiles to form the one new man, the Body of Christ.

It has been slammed into our heads, that Paul was either the 13 apostle, or the true 12th apostle. Also that Paul preached the same gospel as Peter did, only to the Gentiles and not the Jews. It has been stated by many that Peter actually taught Paul the gospel in Acts 15 at the Jerusalem council, and that the Jerusalem council was where Paul and Peter affirmed they were preaching the same thing. Again I ask why didn't God just save Paul right away and say you go to the Gentiles and the 12 will go to the Jews? The reason being is because God changed the program. The 12 obeyed Christ's command, doing the right thing by staying in Jerusalem, and the truth of the matter is, is that the 12 will not go out to the nations until the kingdom. However that is another study for another time.

Paul's apostleship is unique, it is distinct, and it needs to be recognized today.

Let's look at Galatians. It is Paul's commentary about his apostleship, his gospel, and what really happened in Acts 15 at the Jerusalem council. May we not rest in man's opinion about scriptures, but on the word of God. Let God's word be the commentary of God's word. Galatians 1:1,

"Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead;)"

Paul mentions his apostleship, that he is an apostle. However, Paul wants us to know he did not receive his apostleship, his office of authority by man, that is by Peter or any of the 12. Paul is not an apostle of men, but of Jesus Christ, AND GOD THE FATHER. Paul did not receive his position of authority through or by man. The question is, well neither did the 12, so what's the difference? The 12 received their positions of authority of Christ while He was on earth. Christ gave 12 men to have authority over the 12 tribes of the nation of Israel, and He gave them those offices while He was on earth. Israel represented by 12 tribes, has 12 disciples of Christ as authority over them. Paul, however isn't an apostle to sit in one of those positions as, really the 12th apostle, or really the 13th apostle as if there was a 13th tribe of Israel. No, Paul was one man, to be the apostle of the ONE NEW MAN, the Body of Christ where there is no Jew or Gentile, no distinction. Paul received his office of authority from Christ, yes, but from Christ in heaven's glory. The 12 to sit on 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel in that earthly kingdom. Paul though is the apostle of the one new man, the Body of Christ for the heavenly places. Do you see it? God's manifold wisdom. Israel for the earth, the Body for the heavens and in those two entities (lack of words) God will rule and reconcile His creation from Satan both accomplished by the Cross.

Galatians 1:11-12,
"But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ."

Today, when we accomplish something we get a certification, you finish college or seminary and you get a certificate to show and remind you of your success and your accomplishment. That is just dandy, however God wants you to be "certified" in Pauline authority, not only his apostleship, but in his gospel. Paul says, "I certify you, brethren", he wants them to be educated about something. Paul all throughout his epistles had to defend his apostleship and his gospel and it is no different here in Galatians and today. Verse 11, "But I certify you, brethren, that THE GOSPEL WHICH WAS PREACHED OF ME IS NOT AFTER MAN." Paul is drawing attention to not only his gospel, but how he received it. Verse 12, "For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." Paul did not receive his gospel from Peter, nor was he taught the same thing Peter was taught, or taught by Peter or by any other man for that matter. Paul received his gospel by the revelation of Jesus Christ. The revelation of Jesus Christ according to what should be your question from our past studies? 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 THE MYSTERY, which was kept secret since the world began." Christ revealed Himself to Paul according to the mystery that God had hid in Himself. This is why Paul's apostleship and gospel are unique and distinct. God began to do something that He planned before the earth, but had hid in Himself until the apostle Paul , that was Paul's apostleship.

Romans 11:13, "For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:"

Paul's office of authority given by Christ from heaven's glory is to be magnified today. Paul the man is not to be magnified, he is but a man. However, his apostleship, gospel, and ministry are to be magnified, because he is the one chosen to have authority over all the world, over all the Gentiles today. Paul can be compared to Moses. Moses was the one man whom God had placed in authority over all of Israel, to whom God gave the 10 commandments and the like. Paul says about his office, 1 Corinthians 14:37,
"If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant."

May we as the Body of Christ not be ignorant of Paul's office of authority over us. Paul is the apostle of the Gentiles and he is the one apostle that God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ want us to follow. 1 Cor. 11:1, "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ."

Paul's apostleship and gospel are unique and distinct compared to the rest of the scriptures. The OT and the gospels testify of Israel's rise and Gentiles being saved through their rise, however the OT and the gospels to not prophecy about Israel's fall in unbelief and God saving the Gentiles not through Israel, but by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. This is the mystery that God would save Gentiles apart from Israel. It is Paul your apostle whom was sent to educate us in these things. What happened to Israel? Were they not promised a kingdom? Did God lie? Is their kingdom a spiritual kingdom in the hearts of men? No, God is not finished with Israel and He is working a new program forming the Body of Christ, it was revealed to Paul and written in Romans through Philemon.

A verse to close,
"Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting." 1 Timothy 1:16

Paul is our pattern how that by the Cross of Christ God can take a Jew or Gentile who is dead in sins and raise them to the highest position of exaltation in Christ, not to reign in an earthly kingdom under or in Israel, but to reign in the heavenly places in Christ as His Body.

In Him,
Joshua Strelecki

"Paul's Gospel" pt. 2

Yesterday we looked at God's power, how it is manifested and how salvation is received today, by "my gospel", that is Paul's gospel (Rom. 16:25-26). Here is the passage again:

"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, 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:"

God's power to stablish anyone, by first saving anyone from their dead state, to making them alive and raising them in Christ to be edified, taught, and to gain understanding of their identity in Christ, is according to Paul's gospel. However, it is Paul's gospel, but also "the preaching of Jesus Christ". Is that all it says? No. Paul says, "and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to (in line with) the revelation of the mystery". Paul taught Christ according to the revelation of the mystery. What is this mystery?

Eph. 3:2-6,8-11

"If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation He made known unto ME (Paul) the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words; whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ,) WHICH IN OTHER AGES WAS NOT MADE KNOWN UNTO THE SONS OF MEN, as it is now reavealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;" (2-6)

"Unto ME (Paul), who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, THAT I SHOULD PREACH AMONG THE GENTILES THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF CHRIST; 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: TO THE INTENT THAT NOW unto principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the MANIFOLD wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:" (8-11)

Col. 1:25-28,
"Whereof I (Paul) am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, TO FULFILL THE WORD OF GOD; 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: whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:"

1 Cor. 2:4-8,
"And my speech and my PREACHING was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect (mature): yet not the wisdom of this world (carnal wisdom), nor of the princes of this world (religious wisdom-really it is Satan's wisdom, he is the prince of this world), that come to nought: BUT WE SPEAK THE WISDOM OF GOD IN A MYSTERY, even the hidden wisdom, WHICH GOD ORDAINED BEFORE THE WORLD UNTO OUR GLORY; which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."

These passages will do for now. In each of these passages, Paul mentions either "dispensation" that God hid from the beginning of the world, or explains the mystery that was hid in God before the foundation of the world.

Do you attempt to make all men see the fellowship of the mystery? Do you know the mystery? If Satan would have known this mystery of Christ he would not have crucified Him, think about that? Do you speak and preach about the hidden wisdom of Christ?, anything else is man's wisdom with enticing words. This mystery of Christ is the very thing "Paul's gospel" that he was teaching, preaching, and making all men see during his missionary journeys.

Paul is going to these churches, giving them his gospel that he received of the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone, and then preaching Christ according to "the revelation of the mystery, WHICH WAS KEPT SECRET SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN," Rom. 16:25.

IT WAS KEPT SECRET SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN, and Paul is now making it manifest, Paul was and still is God's chosen man. Paul is the apostle of the Gentiles, all nations were given unto him. Paul's measure was not the outward appearance, but that he was teaching everywhere the mystery of Christ, the gospel of Christ. (2 Cor. 10:11-14)

Let's look at one verse to compare with the mystery.

Acts 3:17-21, (Peter preaching Christ)
"And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it (killed Christ), as did also your rulers (those were the princes we saw earlier). But those things, which God before HAD SHOWED BY THE MOUTH OF ALL HIS PROPHETS, THAT CHRIST SHOULD SUFFER, HE HATH FULFILLED (notice, the fulfilling of the glory of Christ second coming hasn't been fulfill). Repent (change your minds) ye (Israel) therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out (when?, right away), WHEN THE TIMES OF REFRESHING shall COME (second coming) from the presence of he Lord; and he shall send Jesus Christ (again second coming), which BEFORE was preached unto you: (is this the mystery, let find out) whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution (wrath, 7 year tribulation, pay back for God) of all things, which God HATH SPOKEN BY THE MOUTH OF ALL HIS HOLY PROPHETS SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN."

What Peter reveals and preaches here is Christ, no doubt about it. It is truth, however this truth is according to what "God before had showed by the mouth of all His prophets" and "which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN." This is prophecy, His word that He made known since the world began, but Paul doesn't say that, he says mystery. Paul is preaching what God had NOT made known unto the world (He has now), but what God had kept secret, hid in Himself "since the beginning of the world".

Peter preached Christ as the Messiah over Israel, to be the King of kings and Lord of lords, which Christ surely is and will reign in that position of authority at His second coming. However, God is not just dealing with Israel or Gentiles through Israel at this time. God is dealing with both Jew and Gentile and BY the Cross, God is making "both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; (Eph. 2:14)"

These are differences that must be recognized, properly understood, and believed. Christ according to prophecy to Israel, and Christ according to mystery to the Body of Christ. It is the same Christ, however God in His "manifold wisdom" (Eph. 3) has a two-fold purpose in Christ. God's purpose in Christ is to reconcile His creation back unto Himself, from Satan's dominion. Christ while on earth calls Satan, "the prince of this world (earth)". Paul calls Satan, "the prince of the power of the air (heavens)". God in Christ will reconcile the earth unto Himself by Christ being the King of kings and Lord of lords over the nation of Israel. God also had a plan and purpose in Christ that He hid in the counsels of His will to not only reconcile the earth in Christ, but to reconcile the heavenly places unto Himself by Christ being the Head of the Body of Christ. This is what everyone who receives God precious free gift (to us, it cost Christ His life) is apart of, God's plan and chosen purpose of the Body of Christ to reconcile the heavenly places unto God. The Body of Christ is the means by which God will reclaim part of His creation from Satan and be glorified for His manifold wisdom in and through Christ. However this can be done now by understanding the mystery of Christ and making all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery.

There is a lot here, but I will be going over it scripture by scripture, verse by verse in the days to come. Please if you have any questions, whether you want to reveal your name of not, please ask. Also I have an email that is, josh.strelecki@yahoo.com, I check that daily. Tomorrow we will look at "Paul's gospel" and how distinct not only his gospel truly is, but also his apostleship.

Until next time.....
In Him,
Joshua Strelecki

Paul's Gospel

I am desirous of writing a blog everyday about the Word of truth rightly divided, for edification and education in Pauline authority. However, I know that I will not always have time and therefore will blog about other things or post articles on days that time just doesn't allow.

I start today with a short post. I titled it "Paul's Gospel". Paul in Romans 16:25-26 states,

"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, 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:"

Paul states clearly, if the verse is believed by the reader, that God is of power to stablish you according or in line with "my gospel", that is, Paul's gospel. In new translations the word "stablish" is changed to "establish" this changes the meaning of the word. "Stablish" deals with the issue working in your inner man from the inside out, "establish" deals with the issue working from the outside in. The word "stablish" is in accordance with "being grounded and settled in love" (Eph. 3:17), a good passage to compare this with is Col. 2:6-7,

"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him: rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving."

As ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-9), so walk, by grace through faith, ye in Christ. A huge part of that is understanding your identification in Christ that you are planted (Rom. 6) and baptized (Col. 2:11-13) not into water, but into Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.

Back to Romans 16:25-26. There is one thing I want to make mention and then I am going to show some differences between Paul and Peter that need to be seen and understood.

The issue that I want to be seen is "God's power". "God's power" today is "according to my gospel". "God's power" today is in line with Paul's gospel. Here we have the starting point of Pauline authority and it is distinct, separate, and different from not only Peter's gospel, but Christ's while He was on earth as He taught the "gospel of the kingdom of heaven". "God's power" will only be manifested today, God's salvation will only be received today by listening to Paul's gospel. Paul's gospel: (1 Cor. 15), that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day, according to the scriptures. That gospel if simply believed will save you from your dead position in sins (Eph. 2:1-2) and raise you to the highest place of exaltation in Christ. However, "God's power" doesn't stop there, it continues to work effectually in those who believe (1 Th. 2:13). Those who believe what? you may be asking. 1 Th. 2:13,

"For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God WHICH YE HEARD OF US, YE RECEIVED IT NOT AS THE WORD OF MEN, BUT AS IT IS IN TRUTH, THE WORD OF GOD, WHICH EFFECTUALLY WORKETH ALSO IN YOU THAT BELIEVE."

It is listening to what Paul taught and receiving it as God's Word as it is in truth, and simply believing it. This means to take God at His Word and God will worketh it effectually in you. The "eth" on work, makes it a continual thing, not a one time deal. One can only be saved by Paul's gospel today and one can only have the power of God working in them today through Pauline authority. We will study more of this out in the days to come.

Here are some differences between The Twelve and Paul:

1. Chosen by Christ on earth (Luke 6:13) 1. Chosen by Christ in Heaven (Acts 9:3-5)
2. Had known only Christ on earth (Acts 1:9) 2. Had known only Christ in Heaven (I Corinthians 15:8; Acts 26:16)
3. Representing Israel one apostle for each tribe (Matthew 29:28; Luke 22:29,30) 3. One apostle representing the oneness of the Body (Romans 12:5; I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians4)
4. The twelve offering Kingdomat hand to Israel (Matthew 10:7) 4. Proclaiming "Gospel of the Grace of God" to Jew and Gentile alike
5. Power to work miracles (Mark 16:17,18) 5. Miracles shown at first, signs of apostle (II Timothy 4:20) but later fading (Acts 19:11,12)
6. Ministry based on covenantsand prophecy (Isaiah 60:1-3; Acts 3:22-26) 6. Ministry based entirely upon the Grace of God (Ephesians 1:7) Mystery kept secret until that time (Romans 16:25; Ephesians 3:1-3)
7. Sent to Jew first (Matthew 10:5,6) Gentile salvation through Israel (Acts 3:25,26) 7. Jew and Gentile on same footing with God (Romans 3:22,23; 10:12,13)
8. Ministry in Palastine only (Matthew 10:5,6) 8. Forbade to minister in Jerusalem (Acts 22:21)
9. Labored, hoped and prayed for Christ's return as King (Acts 1:11; 3:20,21) 9. Paul's message explains Hiscontinued absence (Ephesians 1:18; 2:6)
10. Commissioned to baptize and signs as evidence of salvation (Mark 16:15-18) 10. Not commissioned to baptize (I Corinthians 1:17) Miraculous powers to vanish away (I Corinthians 8:10)

Don't take my word for it, study these things out, but believe God's Word. Tomorrow we will look at Paul's gospel and what it is "according to", is it according to what God has planned with Christ since the foundation of the world, or is it according to something else He hid before the foundation of the world?

In Him,
Joshua Strelecki

"Cheap Grace"

I desire to speak more on this issue. I was reading Keith Blades quote again and the comments I wrote and decided I wanted to write a little more on this issue. I write this short post, not to persuade men, or please men, because I won't however I have experienced in many discussions that I have had as soon as something comes out of my mouth the other person closes their ears and starts a rampage of assumptions. So my hope and prayer for this short post is that, you, the reader will not close your ears so fast, but to hear and study out to see if these things are so. I will not go to deeply into referencing verses and will do so in upcoming posts, however what I say can still be studied out through the Scriptures, be a Berean.

"Cheap Grace", I can only but see a multitude of Christians getting frustrated with a quote like Keith Blades because the term and phrase “Cheap Grace” is used to flippantly and in offense to a vast array of theologies and has become the norm under Christendom. May we stop and think about it. "Cheap Grace" without explaining it can and does damage the gospel and the vital element of God that not only is the power to offer His salvation to all men, but the power that actually saves, that element is God’s grace (element for a better lack of words). Christians in the Body of Christ who use this term result in adding and/or taking away from God's marvelous grace that He is offering to all of mankind, this is again accomplished when we as believers use the word cheap to describe it. The "grace" that we are saved by and are to proclaim to the world, to unbelievers that is so awesome and "exceedingly great", that magnifies not only the character of God but His essence and view towards mankind today, is called “cheap” by the hands and mouths of Christians within denominations and sects which is not only wrong, but in light of God’s Word truly is appalling and just plan sad.

I write this to tear the stronghold of this phrase in shreds and to magnify the grace of God and how "exceedingly great" it is. However, I know why the phrase is used, I once was in the Christian pool that so flippantly used this expression. The phrase "cheap grace" is used in defending that “grace” is not a license to sin and when others do take advantage of God’s grace this expression is used in defense against those who are, and some even go as far as saying that those who do are not really saved. It is a phrase with a two-fold purpose, to implant fear and insecurity in those who take advantage of God’s grace that they might “repent” and start doing good works and produce fruit, however it is the strength and motivation for those who are producing and also the unseeingly power to produce more, and can even be the pride to raise themselves higher than those who do not have that same fruit. I have been there. I have been in the position that raised myself so high that I could judge homosexual’s, adulterers, thieves, and the alike and could say they can’t be saved, because if they were they wouldn’t be doing that. I was also in the position that became fearful and insecure in my salvation because I was honest and knew there was still sin in my life that I just had the darnest time getting out of. The issue is the motivation behind the life pleasing to God. Oh, I pray so many read this.

I know so many people who are saved and walk in fear, don’t do this, don’t do that, don’t eat this, don’t eat that, don’t drink this, don’t drink that, don’t touch this, don’t touch that, don’t say this, don’t say that, and the list goes on and on. They live in fear and the guilt that they live in when they sin is tremendous. Then it goes so far that that guilt is from God and evidence of their salvation. Sure they want to please the Lord, but the motivation is to not experience the guilt and the “chastisement” of God. They live day by day walking by sight not by faith, by what they feel and how they feel rather than on the Word of God. By overwhelming senses and again feelings, instead of the powerful Word of God that is consistent and truth. The motivation of one who walks like this is fear, but the motivation God desires today to walk in and the power to not sin is one of a genuine love. How is the love produced? How does one get that motivation to serve God in love and walk worthy of the Lord? It is produced and reflected by how God views you. Is God putting you under the law today to produce the works of the law that revive sin an unhealthy fear of God, or are you standing in God’s grace under His grace, haven given you all spiritual blessings in Christ at the moment of salvation. See “grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts”, God’s grace is our teacher, not God’s law being a tutor and/or governor. Under that law, in that unhealthy motivation you need to forgive in order to be forgiven, but under God’s grace you are already forgiven and that is supposed to motivate you to forgive.

Many scholars and religious leaders use this phrase to help prove that "grace" is not a get out of hell free ticket and that's it, but that it does transform your life and if it has not or does not, they will tac on this phrase "cheap grace" to that person. They use this phrase to prove that people who call themselves Christians, but live a carnal life, who look and act no different from anyone else and blend right in with the world aren't truly Christians and that they have treated God's grace as "cheap". The idea is focused on the man or woman who doesn't bear the fruit of what they believe in and use God's grace as a license to sin and live a life that pleases them.

May I state boldly may we never, never, never look at God's grace through man's actions, works, or deeds, or the lack thereof. Grace is unmerited favor, it is God's Riches At Christ's Expense. Many believe that we are saved "by grace through faith" and "not by works", however after salvation they turn from this grace to the law to work and to prove their salvation as if there good works will give them assurance of their salvation. In this theology, in this thinking, in this man-made phrase we tear down the truth of the gospel and we work along Satan in not only being tossed to and fro by winds of doctrines, but help in the process of tossing believers and especially new believers in those winds of doctrines. We are saved "by grace through faith", why would God change our sanctification to be under the law and do the works of the law. NO! We are "created in Christ unto good works", not the "works of the law". We are to walk in the good works of grace.

The attempt behind this thinking I believe is out of a good heart, however the result of this phrase is devastating not only to one's faith or new faith, but devastating to the Word of God because it either adds or takes away. I pray ye, ye Body of Christ that we may never, never, never point to our lives, our works, our deeds, as proof of the Cross, as proof of our salvation, as proof of the grace that has saved us. May we only point to our belief in the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ as the proof of our salvation. The only thing that separates a person from being a Christian or not is belief is faith. Our assurance, our testimony, our proof of God's grace in our life, is our believe in God's Word, it is not our works of righteousness for we would NEVER be assured of salvation, for not only have we fallen short of the glory of God, but continue even in our Christian walk to continue to fall short of the glory of God, it is belief, it is faith in God's grace, in Christ's righteousness, in Christ's work that we attain assurance, that we attain sanctification, that we attain the glory of God, and that will never change whether you belief it or not.

Many at this point may be thinking that I am defending the position that our apostle Paul was "slanderously reported" in saying "let us do evil, that good may come", "continue in sin that grace may abound" as I teach and preach the same truths that the apostle Paul did in his epistles and as I defend in this pitiable attempt over a blog, but I am not defending the position or granting or giving the license to sin, nor am I adjusting my theology to my sinful lifestyle. I hate my sin, I hate my sin more than anyone, however I have realized after becoming a Christian that any attempts of my confession and confession and confession and confession and confession and confession to God did not take care of my sin. I realized that by putting myself under the law did not take care of my sin nor produced a fruitful life, nor manifested God’s power. I realized as many works that I performed that OTHERS saw and GAVE THEM AN ASSURANCE OF MY SALVATION, they did not give me an assurance of my salvation, because I knew of my sin, whether it was one or ten (just random numbers). God through His Word brought me to the same place that He had at salvation, the place of knowing my sin and not being able no matter how religious I was to take care of my sin and in turn produce a walk pleasing to God. It was then when I started to walk "by grace through faith" again, not unto salvation, I was already saved, but unto an understanding of how God would sanctify me. I stopped listening to the John MacArthur's and John Piper's who so easily used the terms "cheap grace" and the like, and started to take God's Word for it. I have been walking by grace through faith and in grace through faith ever since. I now understand my position in Christ, that God did not want me to confess, confess, and confess my sins, but to walk in the finish work of the Cross and thank Him for it, to walk in my complete forgiveness of sins, to walk in His grace by faith, not by sight. This grace in which I stood all along I began to understand and the sin I so zealously hated and still do, continues to lose it's power in my life, not because I see my own works, not because I rest my assurance on the life that I live, but because I believe in Christ's work, and rest my assurance in Him and the death He died for me and now I live in Christ and set my affection on things above.

"Cheap Grace" this phrase, focuses on our works, on our life and what it produces and does not produce, instead of looking and focusing on the "Expensive Grace" of God, instead of focusing on Christ's finished work, not on our life, but His death, burial and resurrection. Then may we walk not under the law to do the works of the law, for we are not under the law, but under grace but to walk in the good works that God has ordained the good works of grace which is our reasonable service.

It is to the Body of Christ's shame and especially the leadership thereof and in that we focus so much on ourselves and more on others comparing ourselves to others who commend themselves, esteeming ourselves higher than others, and measuring ourselves by others. Paul says this is not wise (2 Cor. 10:12). Grace is freedom, it is a great freedom that God has given to us not for an occasion of the flesh, not to sin, but in love to serve one another. However, grace is abused, there is no doubt, however every single believer in the Body of Christ has abused God's grace at one time or another, some more than others, some less than others, but our measurement of each other is not supposed to be our works, but it is supposed to be Christ. The Corinthians are hard for teachers and preachers who use the term "cheap grace" to explain, because they were so carnal, I am talking about, adultery, fornication, drunkenness, yet Paul deals with them as brothers and sisters, he points them back to their identity in Christ and to God's grace to correct them, to the love of Christ that motivates and produces an amazing and incredible strength in our inner man that no matter what we do good or bad God through Christ loves us loved them and will not remove us from Christ's Body, that is power and power over Satan and his devices. Grace treats us as adults, that God loves us so much He will take the punishment over and over and over for our sins, He did at the Cross (all of our sins were future at the Cross) and it is that sound doctrine, that grace, that truth, that works in our inner man, that produces a fruitful walk in the good works God has ordained in Christ, a growth not in our position in Christ for we cannot grow anymore in Christ, for we are complete in Christ, but a growth in our understanding of that position, in knowing God or rather how we are known by God, that is in Christ.

The differences,
"Expensive Grace" looks at others and oneself by what God has done "by grace through faith" and will do as you continue in Christ "by grace through faith", "Cheap Grace" looks at what you have done or have not done in order to determine the authenticity of your faith.

Why would you determine your faith by works you have done or not done? There are no grounds for this scripturally.
"Expensive Grace" focuses on what Christ did, what it cost God, His Son, and what is cost Christ, His life, "Cheap Grace" focuses on what you have done or not done or on what it has cost you to determine the authenticity of your faith.
"Expensive Grace" walks by faith not by sight, "Cheap Grace" walks by sight not by faith.

"Expensive Grace" is unconditional and never changing, "Cheap Grace" is conditional and ever changing because of your works.
"Expensive Grace" forgives all sins and the believer through faith thanks God for this forgiveness, "Cheap Grace" forgives sins based on your confession which is unbelief.
"Expensive Grace" is God's Riches At Christ Expense, "Cheap Grace" is God's Riches At Your Expense.

My point is not to show that there are two types of grace, because there isn't, however to uncover the underlying lies and false notions that the phrase "Cheap Grace" and its explanations thereof and in give.

I say again I do not defend a license to sin, however if you are struggling with sin, know that you are completely forgiven believe that and when you sin and sin and sin and sin and sin you are completely forgiven. It is this "great love" of God, it is this "exceeding greatness of His power", it is the "riches of His grace" that not only save you while you were dead in your sins, but it is these things that can and will renew your mind and your inner man and produce a genuine desire not to sin through belief of the truth. Grace takes you from the scum of the earth, the lowest of the low, from being dead in sins, to the highest position of exaltation in Christ, in fact that happens at salvation unknowingly, but it is that same grace through your faith in His Word that helps your realize that position and live in it. However terms like "cheap grace" and the like do not help because they go against God's Word and the Spirit in your inner man does not operate on words of man, but only by God's Word, only in truth, only on facts. Grace is not cheap no matter how you look at it and it slanders the grace of God.

Story: A man in Chicago who was a cocaine addict never thought that he could be saved, until he heard a preacher on the radio explain that you don’t have to clean up your life first and then believe, you believe right where your at and whatever your in, believe that Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. The cocaine addict had never heard that before, that he didn’t have to stop what he was doing, but that God would save him right where he was at. The man continued to learn about the grace that he believed in, however he also continued in the cocaine going to parties and getting drugged up. Again more grace (he wasn't being taught to continue to sin that grace may abound, but he was being taught about God's grace and how God views him in Christ, and that taught him even in his sin to deny), more drugs, more grace, more drugs, until one day he started cutting the drugs getting ready to get high and he stopped and told his buddies he could no longer do it. Praise God for the power of His grace that teaches to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts. That man didn’t become saved the moment he stop the drugs, he was already saved, but the love and grace of God taught him to deny the drugs and to serve Christ. I share the story and the point is, is that many would have looked upon that man and said he is not a Christian because of his outward actions, however God was working on the inward man, also that once he stopped it didn’t mean he was completely free from the cocaine he continued to grow in grace and continued to teach him to deny not only drugs, but ungodliness (legalistic religiousness) and worldly lusts (drugs, sex, drinking).

Slandering the Grace of God: by Keith Blades

"Two of the most common of slanders, or slams, against the free gift of salvation and the simple requirement of faith in Christ are the belittling expressions "easy-believism" and "cheap grace." These denigrating expressions are often heard from ones who preach perversions of the gospel of Christ. They employ them to mock the idea that being saved can be as easy as the simple issue of faith makes it to be. Those that hear them are supposed to be impressed with the innuendo contained in the expressions, and they are made to think that the idea of free salvation is ludicrous. But, in truth, such expressions are only backlashes from the flesh nature of these false evangelists. They are expressions from their wounded fleshly pride and ego as they arrogantly take offence at the notion that they can't do something to justify themselves in God's sight. The flesh rejects and opposes the grace of the gospel in the first place, and pride is its grace-rejecting policy. In its pride the flesh spits out the foul taste of grace and expresses it through disparaging remarks such as these.
When examined in the light of the gospel these two expressions really fall into two separate categories of slander. The first --- "easy-believism" --- is just plain foolish slander. It foolishly speaks against what God so plainly declares. But the slam of "cheap grace" is abominable and God-insulting slander. It strikes out at the very character of God and declares that He Himself and what He offers is cheap. Only a highly offended flesh nature could express such things as this. Only one in full cooperation with the policy of evil, either by being one of Satan's false evangelists, or by being removed from the grace of Christ unto another gospel, could express such things as this.
"Easy-believism" is foolish slander because God Himself declares that that is just what He has made salvation to be --- something that is easy to hve because He offers it as a free gift and it is received simply on the basis of belief in Christ as one's completely sufficient Savior. When the apostle Paul warned the Corinthians about the tactics of Satan's policy of evil in their midst, and spoke to them about the ones who would be preaching "another gospel" and the like, he warned them that the "simplicity that is in Christ" was at stake and under attack.

"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, SO YOUR MINDS SHOULD BE CORRUPTED FROM THE SIMPLICITY THAT IS IN CHRIST." (II Corinthians 11:3)

Everything that needs to be done for our salvation has been accomplished by God in the redemptive work of Christ on the cross. Every single thing necessary for propitiation, expiation, forgiveness, imputation of righteousness, and the like, was fully provided for and completely settled through Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. All the work of salvation; all the difficult things in providing for it; all the effort expending activities required to bring it about; were accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ for us. As such, nothing difficult, hard, or laborious either remains for us or is enjoined upon us. Instead, God offers salvation as a free gift of His grace; as something easy for us to have since all the work for it has been done for us by our Redeemer. Indeed, there is simplicity in Christ. Simplicity because every single work necessary to provide for salvation has been done for us by Christ, and because the salvation is received on the basis of simple faith in Christ as the all-sufficient Savior. "Easy-believism" is really what God has made the appropriation of salvation to rest upon. He's made it easy to have, with it being the free gift of His grace, and with belief being the sole requirement for receiving it. Therefore, when the expression "easy-believism" is spouted off as a slam against the preaching of faith in Christ as the sole requirement for salvation, it is in truth downright foolish slander. Few things are more absurd and foolish than to deny what God so plainly declares, and nothing could be more foolish than to slander the only hope of salvation. Easy-believism, in reality, is men's only hope of being saved. If God did not make it so that salvation was an absolutely free gift to us, easily received on the simple basis of faith in Christ Jesus as Savior, THEN NO ONE EVER COULD BE SAVED. Therefore, how more foolish could one's words be than to ridicule the only hope one has of salvation.
On the other hand, the slam of "cheap grace" is abominable, ungodly, revolting slander. By this expression the arrogant rejecter of the gospel looks at God, and what He so freely offers, and declares both Him and it to be cheap. This is because, in the expression, cheap is not an adjective that can be applied to the issue of grace, without at the same time being applied to God. Grace is part of God's attitude towards us, because God is a God of grace. Therefore, by the expression, God Himself is declared to be cheap. This is an abominable insult to God. His grace can be abounding, great, exceeding, manifold, and the like, but it cannot by nature be cheap. There is nothing in God, or that He ever does, that is cheap, worthless, vulgar, inferior, or paltry. The word cannot be associated with God, except by those who on the basis of their pride reject Him and what He offers. Only the pride of man can see anything cheap in, or about, God.
The abomination of the expression, though, goes beyond this. Since the word cheap cannot legitimately be applied to grace without implicating God, it must also be applied to what it is that He gives by His grace. Therefore, not only the gracious giver, but also His gracious gift, is being described as cheap. This, horribly enough, is just what this expression really does. It declares that God Himself is cheap and His gift of eternal life is cheap. The blasphemy associated with this is appalling. There is nothing cheap about God setting forth His only begotten Son as a propitiation for our sins, and there is nothing cheap about the gift of eternal life. Instead, both defy the ability of language and heart to express the glory and magnificence of them. Nor is there anything cheap about the capacity of God's grace in Christ to motivate a Christian to live a godly life. Hence, only a heart and mind distorted and corrutped by fleshly sinful pride could possess such a low opinion of grace and respond to the gospel of God's grace in Christ with such slander as contained in the expression "cheap grace."
These two slanderous expressions, and others of their kind, often team up with the various perversions of the gospel to help enforce the acceptance of the perversion for the truth. The policy of evil against the gospel truly has a ready and capable ally in the flesh nature of man. Not only does the flesh nature find the false gospel naturally appealing, but the flesh of those who accept it will also boast itself and express its disdain for God's grace with such slanderous remarks as these. Therefore, men's flesh will gladly cooperate with the policy of evil in the propagation of, and vouching for, the false gospel. Also, unfortunately, too many careless and assuming Christians also cooperate in this by simply parroting misstatements of God's requirement, and not being clear and plain in their preaching of the gospel of Christ."


I quote this, because I used to use these terms very lightly and very strongly. I looked at these two terms and what they said about me and I did not like them. I wanted it to be hard to believe, to be able to do something, some good works, at least something in order to receive God's salvation. I looked at both terms and thought that if my life is not producing a life full of a healthy, fruitful, spiritual walk then I saw myself as taking advantage of God, therefore meaning really His grace was cheap, because if it did not cause that fruitful life in me and I continued sinning and sinning and sinning it really was cheap, and how others would view myself in that I was saying, "continue in sin, that grace may abound". These things hurt my flesh and the pride therein, because in God's salvation there is nothing I can do to earn it or no works I can do to receive it.
I came to learn that God's grace is not cheap, sure it doesn't cost us a thing, it really doesn't and anyone who says anything different does not believe God's Word. It does not cost us a thing, but it cost God His Son, and Christ everything. I learned that even a man or woman who believes in Chrsit that He died for their sins, was buried, and rose again, and then lived a carnal life whether it be a worldly life in the flesh, or a religious (legalistic) life in the flesh, or even stopped believing in Christ all alone, that still God's grace is still not cheap and in fact it is so great and so awesome it will still save that person. God's grace still saves that person even if I I myself do not see the outward appearance of one's faith that so many people want to see, and nothing can separate that person from the love of Christ. Even if that person stops believing if they initially believed, Christ cannot deny Himself, the person is a part of His Body and all the cutting, slashing, and tearing of His Body happened at Calvary, it won't happen again. I am not recommending that we should live a life in sin and unbelief, because God's grace does teach us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, however I am recommending for believers new and old "as ye have received the Lord Jesus Christ, so walk ye in Him". Stop looking at your outward appearance, stop comparing your walk in Christ with others, stop trying to live under the law, but continue to walk in grace through faith as you initially did. I pray that we would get our minds and eyes off of ourselves, especially when it comes to "believing in Christ" and when it comes to "God's grace", although our flesh may view them as not easy or we do not want it to be easy, because that means all your work is in vain, or that your religious status is nothing in God's sight, but that God has made it easy for us in Christ, if He didn't like brother Keith said we would have no hope. May we not view God's grace through our own eyes and through others works or walk in Christ, but may we view God's grace through His eyes and through His work in Christ, that we may not condemn our brothers in the Body of Christ, but instead edify them in the strong grace of our almighty Creator as Paul did with the Corinthians, though they lived a carnal life, He stood strong that they were, "washed, sanctified, and justified" in God's sight. Lastly, I hope that we stop using these slanderous terms, because they blaspheme God and His work in Christ, but instead humbly hold these truths that it is easy to believe for salvation, not always after in sufferings, but unto salvation and that God's grace is in no way "cheap", highly expensive at the cost of His Son, and that salvation is still expensive at the cost of His Son even if that believer turns from God it still has sealed Him, even though that believer chose to suffer loss in heaven rather than in this life. God's grace and faith are compatable and it is these two truths that need to be presented to the world in clarity and in truth, not only for salvation, but unto sanctification.

In Him,
Josh Strelecki