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