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The ministry of Jesus while on the earth was to only Israel, as he preached and taught the things of the kingdom of God, which still waited for the redemption of mankind, and that Israel should repent and adhere to the heart of the law of Moses. The ministry of Paul the apostle of the glorified Jesus Christ was to all the world, as he preached and taught the things of the kingdom of God, where mankind had been redeemed and God’s grace was let loose upon it, restoring man unto the image of God once again.
I marvel that you are so soon removed from him who called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Galatians 1:6
I once had a monthly Bible study at my home. Once a month I would meet with around ten other men, many of whom were, or had been in ministerial responsibilities. I taught the gospel of Paul, the grace of God, the revelation of the mystery of Christ. The study ended when one of the active ministers (and, as it turned out, he was simply voicing what the others chose to believe) decided to reject the gospel of Paul, stating, “Paul didn’t die for my sins.” This minister thought we should be focusing on the words of Jesus, who did die for our sins. I should have responded to him, “And Jesus didn’t write the Gospels.” In other words, Jesus himself is not a writer of any Scripture. Either we believe what is written as coming from the mouth of God, or we don’t.
Paul’s gospel certainly is not the same gospel as what Jesus preached. Can you imagine why? Well, for one, their audiences were not the same.
But he (Jesus) answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Matthew 15:24
For he who worked effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision (Israel), the same was mighty in me (Paul) toward the Gentiles (everyone not of Israel): Galatians 2:8
There is no record of Jesus every ministering specifically to a Gentile. If you look closely at all the records of the centurion who had a servant who was sick, you’ll see that he had Jewish leaders go to Jesus to request help with that servant, who was most assuredly Jewish. The Gentiles were never included in the benefit that the Christ made available to the world, until after he left the earth.
Paul’s gospel certainly is not the same gospel as what Jesus preached. Can you imagine why? Well, for two, Jesus did not have the new spiritual birth to offer while he was on the earth. No person was “born from above” until the day of Pentecost, ten days after Jesus had ascended off the earth. In John 3, where Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus, he is speaking of a future time, at the resurrection, when those raised into righteousness and eternal life will be “birthed” spiritually to live forever. No person ever got “born again” while Jesus walked the earth. His death and resurrection were required in order for that to happen.
That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. Romans 10:9
But for us also, to whom it (the righteousness of God) shall be imputed, if we believe on Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Romans 4:24
Paul’s gospel certainly is not the same gospel as what Jesus preached. Can you imagine why? Well, for three, the mystery of Christ which Paul preached was not revealed to man until after Jesus died, was raised, and ascended. The mystery of Christ was prepared by God before the world began, for our glory, but was not revealed to us until the gospel of Paul (and others whose writings we no longer have).
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, that which was hidden, which God prepared 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. I Corinthians 2:7,8
Now unto Him who is able to establish 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, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith. Romans 16:25,26
How could Jesus preach the mystery of Christ, while it yet remained hidden in God, so that the princes of this world would have Jesus put to death, so that his Father could raise him and glorify him by seating him at His own right hand in the heavens, so that Jesus could send the holy spirit into the world so that anyone who believed could be filled with that same spirit of Christ, who could then do even greater works than Jesus when he walked the earth? No, Jesus did not preach the mystery. Paul did. But Jesus did point to a time after he left the earth that would be better than it was when he was on the earth.
… for he (the holy spirit) dwells with you (being in Jesus) and shall be in you. John 14:17b
Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believes on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do, because I go unto my Father. John 14:12
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient (profitable, advantageous) for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the comforter will not come unto you; but when I depart, I will send him unto you. Howbeit when he, the spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth… John 16:7,13a
No man was born of the spirit when Jesus walked the earth, for man was still under the law of Moses. Man could only walk by his fleshly understanding, and so he was in a constant battle with the things of God.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:7,8
When Jesus walked the earth, no man could know, understand or walk in the things of the spirit of God, for only Jesus had the spirit. (Some of Jesus’ disciples may have had the spirit upon them for a season, but they were never born of that spirit while Jesus walked the earth) Today, via Paul’s epistles, any man can receive, know, understand and walk in the things of the spirit of God. There is such a big difference between the gospel which Jesus preached and the gospel which Paul preached.
Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. But the natural man receives not the things of the spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. I Corinthians 2:12,14
Every man of Israel during the time of Jesus walked in his flesh, unable to walk by the holy spirit which was not yet born within him. Thus, he walked under the curse of the law.
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, Cursed is everyone that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, the just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith; but, the man that does them shall live in them. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us… Galatians 3:10-13a
The words of Jesus can be very profitable and life giving, when read and understood in light of the revelation of the mystery of Christ as revealed by the apostle Paul. When they are read and understood as pertaining to the flesh, then they can never bring a man into the presence of God. When the words Jesus spoke are exalted above the truth of the gospel of the mystery of Christ as revealed by Paul, then all they can do is try to make the flesh of man a little better, and point to better days. They can not bring those better days to pass; only the spirit of the Christ within (the holy spirit of God) can do that.
Which (“another gospel”) is not another; but there be some that trouble you and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed (because he is still under the curse of the law). As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than what you have received (from us), let him be accursed. Galatians 1:7-9
If you believe that what is written in the Bible is the Word of God, then you must believe what is written by the apostle Paul , who declared that what he reveals for us is what God had kept hidden until after His son ascended to His right hand. You must understand that what is being revealed to us by Paul is what Jesus himself alluded to while he was on the earth, but could not himself reveal to us… that what we have available to us today is so so so much bigger and better than what man could receive during the days that Jesus walked the earth.
Was what Jesus spoke while on the earth important? A big yes! But what the apostle Paul spoke (and wrote) is so much more important for us today, for he was tasked with making known to the world the mystery of the Christ within, given to him by that very Jesus who is now seated at the right hand of God.
For I guarantee you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not according to man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by a revelation of Jesus Christ. Galatians 1:11,12
If you promote what Jesus spoke while on the earth over what Jesus at the right hand of God is speaking today through the ministry of his apostle Paul, you are yet in your sinful flesh and are under the curse of living under the law. Rather than seeking the Jesus who walked the earth then, seek the Christ who dwells within today. Subject yourselves to the gospel given to Paul by the exalted Christ, and grow up into the glory which God has prepared for you since before the world began.
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