Pages 407-408 … purely Paul
“We believe Paul’s [words] just as much as [those from] any other book.” … Yes, it is obviously clear that this is indeed true – and hopefully it is becoming obviously clear that this is precisely the problem! My dear Friend, Paul’s Gospel is in conflict with the Gospel of Christ, and Paul’s teachings directly contradict those of Jesus… I have already shown you this before, and yet maybe it’s worth showing everyone again. So with this in mind, please consider the following …
First of all, realize that Jesus warned us of Paul (and other 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), 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” (John 5:43), and then Paul changed his name from Saul to Paul (Acts 13:9) … *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 he would speak personally & privately (just like Paul claimed his “revelation” did for him in Galatians 1:11-12).
Second, Paul himself inadvertently cautioned others against his own false teachings! Indeed, in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 he clearly warned of “boasters” (which he was himself – see 2 Corinthians 11:16-33) “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).
Third, any earnest student of the Scriptures can clearly see that Paul’s theology – not surprisingly – thoroughly contradicts the teachings (and indeed the very Gospel) of Jesus Christ. Yes, there are a few verses here & there in Paul’s writings that do indeed harmonize with the The Way of Christ (see 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 in any way be more in conflict …
Please consider the following remarkable contrasts between the two:
*While Paul 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) …
*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 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) …
*While Paul says that 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 him at all, but rather are to pay homage solely to 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) …
*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) …
*While Paul professed a Heaven that exists elsewhere, a place 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 single moment of their 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) …
*And while Paul obviously believes that Salvation comes from being primarily 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 in the Gospels 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 arrogant claim 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 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 (only where they contradict those of Christ, of course).
“Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served the created rather than the Creator.” ~ Paul (Romans 1:24-25)
“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
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