“The apostle Paul reminds us that none of us can stand before a Holy God unless we are washed by the blood of Jesus.”

 

Well, if I am to sincerely follow Jesus Christ and consciously remain “humble as a young child” (see Matthew 18:4), then I must admit that this statement might end up being true … Of course, FAR MORE IMPORTANT for the true believer in Jesus Christ is the choice to follow his teachings – both those about himself, as well as those about his Way to Salvation and his Kingdom of Heaven … And if we sincerely do so, we find that doing so requires not only that we courageously adopt & abide in the words of Jesus himself, but also that we gently dismiss & discard most of the words of the “apostle” Paul … Please, my Friend, have the humility to consider – with an open mind as well as an open Heart – the following Scriptures that clearly support such a courageously correct, “Jesus-First” position:

 

First of all, realize that Jesus warned us about Paul (and all preachers like him) … *Jesus warned us about not listening to “the yeast of the Pharisees” (see Matthew 15:13-14, Mark 7:6-8, Luke 12:1 et al), and then Paul boldly claimed to be a Pharisee (see Acts 23:6, Acts 26:5, Galatians 1:14 & Philippians 3:4-5) … *Jesus warned of a false prophet who would be “coming in his own name” (see John 5:43), and then we see Paul changing his own name from Saul to Paul (see Acts 13:9) … *And in Matthew 24:26, Jesus warned us all quite clearly that the Deceiver would come in the wilderness (just like the false “Jesus” came to Paul in Acts 9) and that it would speak both personally & privately to those it met (just like Paul claimed his “revelation” did for him in Galatians 1:11-12).

 

Secondly, Paul himself inadvertently cautioned others against his own false teachings in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, when he warned of “boasters” (which he himself often was – see 2 Corinthians 11:16-33 et al) “disguising themselves as apostles of Christ” (which he repeatedly did – see Romans 1:1 et al) and “disguising themselves as ministers of righteousness” (which he frequently did as well – see 1 Corinthians 3:10).

 

Thirdly, any sincere student of the Scriptures can clearly see that Paul’s theology thoroughly contradicts the teachings (and indeed the very Gospel) of Jesus.  Yes, there are a few verses here & there in Paul’s writings that do indeed harmonize with The Way of Christ (like Romans 2:1, Romans 2:13-15, Romans 8:5-6, Romans 8:14-16, Romans 12:10,  Romans 12:14-21, Romans 13:8-10, Romans 14:4, Romans 14:13-14, Romans 14:19, Romans 14:22, 1 Corinthians 3:16,  1 Corinthians 6:17, 1 Corinthians 10:24, 1 Corinthians 13:2, 1 Corinthians 13:8,  1 Corinthians 16:14, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Galatians 5:6b, Galatians 5:14, Philippians 2:4-5, Philippians 4:5a,  Colossians 2:20, Colossians 3:12-14, and 1 Thessalonians 5:15-18), and yet the foundations of the two gospels could not be any more conflicting … Please consider their following remarkable contrasts:

 

*01) While Paul repeatedly says that we are all innately “original sinners” (see Romans 5:12, Romans 7:14, Romans 8:21-23 et al), Jesus repeatedly tells us that our Goodness is innate (see Matthew 11:30, Luke 12:32, Luke 13:18-19, John 1:5, John 13:10, John 14:4, John 14.20, John 17:5, John 17:24 et al) …

 

*02) While Paul says that we are to capitulate to man-made rulers and obey all their edicts & orders (see Romans 12:2, Romans 13:1-6, Acts 8:1-3, Acts 9:1-2, Acts 13:15, Acts 16: 38-39, Acts 25:10-11 & Acts 26:10-11), Jesus says that we are to transcend societal authorities by always first & foremost obeying the Will of God (see Matthew 17:24-27, Matthew 22:20-21, Matthew 17:19-21, Mark 11:24, Mark 12:17, Mark 12:30-31, Luke 20:25, John 16:23, John 16:7-8+13-14, John 14:16-17, John 14:26, John 15:26 et al) …

*03) While Paul says we are to worship Jesus himself as the only Son of God (see Acts 24:21, Acts 16:31, Acts 17:18, Acts 18:5, Acts 18:28, Acts 19:17, Acts 28:23, Acts 28:31, Acts 9:20-22, Romans 1:4, Romans 4:5, Romans 5:8 + Romans 6:5, Romans 3:21-24, Romans 5:18, Romans 7:25, Romans 8:3, Romans 8:9, Romans 14:9, 1 Corinthians 2:2, 2 Corinthians 4:5 + 5:15, Colossians 2:9 + Colossians 3:1-2), Jesus repeatedly informs us that we are not to worship himself, but rather are to solely honor his Father in Heaven (see Mark 10:18, Mark 13:31, Luke 6:46-47, Matthew 11:6, Mark 12:28-31, John 3:17, John 10:26, John 12:26, John 13:15, John 5:41, John 7:6, John 12:44-45, John 13:35, John 18:37, John 14:6, John 14:15, John 15:4 et al) …

 

*04) While Paul creates an entirely new “Gospel” of atonement by equating it with Jesus’ resurrection and our required worship thereof (see Acts 13:30-38, Acts 17:3, Acts 17:31b, 1 Corinthians 15:13-14), Jesus clearly defines his “Good News” – his “Gospel” – as Salvation in the present moment via selfless acts of Love (see Matthew 10:7 + Matthew 24:12-14) …

 

*05) While Paul promised a Heaven that exists elsewhere, in which only the “worthy” reside for eternity after their deaths (see Acts 17:31a, Romans 8:18, 1 Corinthians 1:7, 1 Corinthians 14:1-3, 1 Corinthians 15:19, 1 Corinthians 15:23-28, 1 Corinthians 15:50, 2 Corinthians 4:14-17, Philippians 1:23, Philippians 3:13-14, Philippians 3:20 & 1 Thessalonians 1:10), Jesus makes it very clear that his Kingdom of Heaven is right here & right now – available to everyone in every moment of our lives (see Matthew 3:13, Matthew 19:23-26 + Matthew 20:23, Matthew 22:32, Matthew 24:26-28, Mark 13:34-37, Luke 17:20-21, Luke 17:22-24, John 3:18, John 3:3-9, John 5:25 + John 7:6 + John 12:31, John 10:34 + John 14:12 + John 18:36 et al) …

 

*06) And while Paul states that Salvation comes from being subservient to Jesus (see Acts 15:20-29 + Acts 16:4 + Acts 13:39, Romans chapter 4, Romans 5:10 + Romans 7:4, Romans 9:32 + Romans 8:24-25, 1 Corinthians 1:8-9, Galatians 2:16, Galatians 2:21, Philippians 3:9, 2 Corinthians 5:7 + 2 Corinthians 1:10), Jesus notes over & over again that our Salvation comes solely from actively & selflessly caring for others (see Matthew 4:17, Matthew 21:43, Mark 1:15, Mark 5:36, Mark 8:34-35 + Mark 9:35 + Mark 10:21 + Mark 10:43-45, Mark 12:34 + Mark 13:5-6 + Mark 13:23 + Mark 15:31, Luke 6:27-31, Luke 6:35-36, Luke 6:46-49, Luke 8:15 + Luke 9:23-24 + Luke 10:27-28 + Luke 12:35, Luke 14:12-15 + Luke 18:20-22 + Luke 22:26, John 4:24, John 5:39-40, John 6:63, John 6:53-58 + John 8:31 + John 10:38 + John 12:25, John 13:10 + John 13:34-35 + John 14:23 + John 15:8, John 15:12-17, John 17:26 et al).

In conclusion then, while I make no boastful assertion that Jesus is right and Paul is wrong, I most certainly do remind Christians & non-Christians alike that the teachings of the two men are most certainly not compatible, that a choice between their two gospels must be made, and that it might be wise to err on the side of following (i.e. emulating, & thereby enlivening) the teachings of Jesus and gently discarding those of Paul (wherever they contradict those of Christ).

 

^“Everyone who does not abide in the teaching of Christ, but goes beyond it, does not have God; whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.” ~ 2 John 1:9

Filed under: Burnishing Bigotry by Scaughdt