If the Message was the same and the 12 had it down pat...WHY PAUL?

[Christine]

If the message was the same and the 12 had it down pat...WHY PAUL?


Why Paul? (Romans 1:5, 11-12)


When we come to Romans 1, we need to know and retain some information that was presented to us in the book of Acts because Romans picks up where Acts ends: with salvation going to the Gentiles without Israel.

What was going on in the book of Acts?

Acts begins with Peter and ends with Paul.


Acts begins with the nation of Israel, the people of the covenant and children of promise and ends with the Gentiles, strangers from the covenants of promise.


Acts begins with a ministry that confirms the promises made to the fathers to fulfill the law and prophets and ends with Paul preaching the gospel of the grace of God to the Gentiles.

What we see happening in the book of Acts is Paul, a different apostle than the twelve with a different message.


Paul begins preaching to the Gentiles without Israel risen up in faith and obedience. What we see happening in Acts is what Paul described in Romans 11:30 where he says Israel is in unbelief and they stumbled, fell, are diminishing, cast aside and blinded.


The book of Acts ends with Paul delivering God’s salvation to the Gentiles. We need to understand how different that is. This also clearly shows that there are 2 gospels being preached in Acts.


The testimony of the Old Testament and the four Gospel accounts is the Gentiles are saved through Israel only. In Romans, Paul goes to the nations while Israel is in a state of unbelief.If you can see this then you have to believe there is another gospel being preached. If you do not believe that, then you are in unbelief concerning Paul’s apostleship; you are not familiar with who Paul is and what he taught.


So, as Gentiles, we need to hear from this guy Paul, the apostle to and of the Gentiles.

[Christine]

The number one fundamental fact that forms the meat of Pauline authority is that Paul received his office of apostleship from the risen Lord Jesus Christ.

(Romans 1:1-5 KJV) Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, {2} (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) {3} Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; {4} And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: {5} By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

Verse 5 says, "By whom we have received grace and apostleship..." Why did Paul receive grace and apostleship? For the obedience to the faith among all nations.


We, as Gentiles, are to obey the faith. "The faith" is what we are to believe as a Gentile. If you say you believe in God you need to believe in God a certain way during this dispensation of the grace of God and the way we know it is through Paul.


Simply put, why did Paul receive apostleship and this grace (God’s unmerited favor)? For the obedience to the faith among all nations.
So, why Paul? Why Paul if there is not a different gospel than what the 12 preached or a different kind of office of authority? The reason Paul gives is for the obedience to the faith among all nations.

(Acts 1:8 KJV) 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.

Here we see that the 11 will receive power after the Holy Ghost has come upon them. When that happens they are to go out in a particular order:

Jerusalem, the city of the great king (Isaiah 60)
Judea, the land of the throne
Samaria, the northern kingdom
The uttermost part of the earth (the Gentile nations)

So we have to ask ourselves the question:

if Paul and Peter preached the same gospel, then why Paul? (the Gentiles were already concluded under Peter’s commission)

 But Paul comes along and says he is the one who received grace and apostleship for the obedience to the faith among all nations.


The facts are that when you get to Romans 1 you now have a different gospel with a different apostle. We need to recognize Paul’s authority and the uniqueness of his office and the message of it.

[Christine]

What IS obedience to the faith among all nations in scripture? Who said it?


Since the world began, God moved to restore His kingdom on the earth. God vested His kingdom (rule) in a nation called Israel and Israel at the end of Acts was in unbelief.


So, when you get to Romans 1:5 and you see the phrase "obedience to the faith" it is not something you read in the books of Acts. We ought to really appreciate that phrase "obedience to the faith among all nations".


We know that "obedience to the faith" is not in Genesis - Acts because a Gentile concerning the faith in Genesis - Acts has to get their salvation through Israel and her meat on the table (the Law and prophets). So that phrase has great importance at this point in Romans - it shows a different gospel. This obedience to the faith among all nations as Paul reveals it is without Israel - so it is a different gospel.


Why Paul?

For obedience to the faith among all nations.

This obedience to the faith among all nations is only found and attainable by listening to Paul as this apostle to and of the nations.

[GARY WALKER]

The number one fundamental fact that forms the meat of Pauline authority is that Paul received his office of apostleship from the risen Lord Jesus Christ.

Christine, I have noticed from time to time--since words mean something--that some people get lost in a discussion, sometimes by what IS said, but more so by what is NOT said ... many MAY WELL understand where your at when you said "Paul received his office of Apostleship from the risen Lord Jesus Christ". My point is, You & I know what your saying, but others may not. Let me state what you said THIS way (clarified): "Paul received his office of Apostleship from the risen, glorified, accended, Lord Jesus Christ". See what I am saying? That keeps people from lapsing BACK into the Christ "in the flesh" MODE. Believe me, there are those who do that!

[Christine]

The number one fundamental fact that forms the meat of Pauline authority is that Paul received his office of apostleship from the risen Lord Jesus Christ.

Christine, I have noticed from time to time--since words mean something--that some people get lost in a discussion, sometimes by what IS said, but more so by what is NOT said ... many MAY WELL understand where your at when you said "Paul received his office of Apostleship from the risen Lord Jesus Christ". My point is, You & I know what your saying, but others may not. Let me state what you said THIS way (clarified): "Paul received his office of Apostleship from the risen, glorified, accended, Lord Jesus Christ". See what I am saying? That keeps people from lapsing BACK into the Christ "in the flesh" MODE. Believe me, there are those who do that!

Im sure there ARE!!    I'm assuming that if there are those that don't understand what is being said, they can always ask. Thats where the discussion begins. I see what you are saying, and I sure dont want people lapsing back into Christ in  the FLESH mode, however, one must have the mindset to WANT to learn in order to forge ahead. If they are looking for excuses to disagree, they will always be able to find 'em.

Please feel free to word the passages differently in those areas you see this occurring, Gary. I'm all for good communication and clarification....yeee haw!

[Oasis]

Christine

The number one fundamental fact that forms the meat of Pauline authority is that Paul received his office of apostleship from the risen Lord Jesus Christ.

Glenda made comment about this a few days ago. 
She said(I'm paraphrasing), have you noticed that the twelve Apostles were given their earthly message by Jesus while he was on earth and Israel was promised earthly blessings. 
But, Paul was given a Heavenly message by the resurected Christ who was/is in Heaven and Jew and Gentile alike(predominately Gentile)are promised Heavenly blessings?

Why Paul?
God has a record throughout Scripture of using the most unlikely sources for His purposes.  Who better to preach the gospel than the biggest persecutor of the followers of Christ?  What a testimony to the Truth of Scripture that the lead killer of Christ's followers becomes Christ's "main man"?

Hey some of you folks out there!  Kab says while waving!  Who are some of the other unlikely folks God has used, and why?

Headin' for work!  Have a great day!

ybiC,
Kab

[Christine]

Christine

The number one fundamental fact that forms the meat of Pauline authority is that Paul received his office of apostleship from the risen Lord Jesus Christ.

Glenda made comment about this a few days ago. 
She said(I'm paraphrasing), have you noticed that the twelve Apostles were given their earthly message by Jesus while he was on earth and Israel was promised earthly blessings. 
But, Paul was given a Heavenly message by the resurected Christ who was/is in Heaven and Jew and Gentile alike(predominately Gentile)are promised Heavenly blessings?

Why Paul?
God has a record throughout Scripture of using the most unlikely sources for His purposes.  Who better to preach the gospel than the biggest persecutor of the followers of Christ?  What a testimony to the Truth of Scripture that the lead killer of Christ's followers becomes Christ's "main man"?

Hey some of you folks out there!  Kab says while waving!  Who are some of the other unlikely folks God has used, and why?

Headin' for work!  Have a great day!

ybiC,
Kab

Amen...Paul persecuted the KINGDOM church and nearly laid it to waste the scripture tells us. Paul was certainly no namby pamby opponent. Amazing how God completely turned him around and used Him to bring the message of OUR salvation in the age of GRACE.

I would have to say that ALL the people God uses are "unlikely", wouldn't you??? LOL Just take a look at US!!  I am astounded that God would involve us in any way, shape or form in His plans and purposes....but then thats just ME. If I were God I sure wouldn't involve mankind in what I was doing...too many ways they can mess it up! Aren't you glad I am not God??? LOL LOL 

[NewDawn]

I always thought that too!  Why would God want to use us. . or me for anything.  I feel like the biggest loser sometimes, wondering why God even puts up with me. 

Paul had the same drive and determination to spread the gospel, as he did when he was persecuting the church.  So what God saw in Paul was used for Gods glory, instead of Paul getting glory for what he used to do before being saved.

[Christine]

I always thought that too!  Why would God want to use us. . or me for anything.  I feel like the biggest loser sometimes, wondering why God even puts up with me. 

Paul had the same drive and determination to spread the gospel, as he did when he was persecuting the church.  So what God saw in Paul was used for Gods glory, instead of Paul getting glory for what he used to do before being saved.

That is the wonderful thing about God...He says He prefers to use the weak, foolish things of this world (that would include US) to show His glory to others. We are to boast in our weaknesses that the power of God might be manifested.

Always remember...its NOT about US, but its about HIM and what He accomplished on our behalf on that Cross....WOWZER....He is simply amazing!

[NewDawn]

Amen!!!!

[Oasis]

Ditto on that AMEN, Diana.

ybiC,
Kab