With
predictable and monotonous regularity, we in the Grace Movement are accused of
worshipping our apostle Paul by those who do not truly believe that CHRIST IS
RISEN and that the words of Paul are the words of the resurrected, ascended,
glorified Lord Jesus Christ.
“If any man think himself to be a prophet, or
spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the
commandments of the Lord.” (1 Corinthians
They
cling to the words spoken by the Lord PRIOR to the MOST SIGNIFICANT EVENT IN
THE HISTORY OF GOD
“But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for
sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;” (Hebrews 10:12 AV)
They
cling to the words of the Lord in his role as a MINISTER OF THE CIRCUMCISION.
“Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the
circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the
fathers:” (Romans 15:8 AV)
They
cling to the words of the Lord PRIOR to the FALL OF ISRAEL.
“I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall?
God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles,
for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be
the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the
Gentiles; how much more their fulness?” (Romans 11:11-12 AV)
They
cling to the words of the Lord AFTER THE FLESH.
“Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh:
yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.” (2 Corinthians
The whole
Bible is addressed to them, they say. They worship
“But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the
lost sheep of the house of
It is highly
likely that those who do not magnify
“Now if
If they
are not interested in what the resurrected, ascended, glorified
“But I certify you, brethren, that
the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it
of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of
If on the
other hand you are among those who have come to see that what the resurrected,
ascended, glorified Lord Jesus Christ had to say through Paul is of even
greater importance to us than what the earthly Lord Jesus Christ had to say,
chances are you are saved. Why?
·
Because
belief in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is a prerequisite to
believing what he had to say to our Apostle Paul.
“And I said, Who
art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou
persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee
for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things
which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto
thee;” (Acts 26:15-16 AV)
·
Because
belief in the resurrection of the
“But is now made manifest by the
appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath
brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: Whereunto I am
appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.” (2Tim
“For I speak to you Gentiles,
inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:” (Rom
·
Because
belief in the resurrection of the
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth
the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in
thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:9 AV)
“Moreover,
brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also
ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By
which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you,
unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that
which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the
scriptures; And that he was buried, and
that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” (1Cor 15:1-4
AV)
Why is
what the resurrected, ascended, glorified
“Think not that I am come to destroy
the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” (Mat
The
risen, glorified
“And he said unto me, Depart: for I
will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.” (Acts
“According to
the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid
the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how
he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid,
which is
“Therefore
if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are
passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians
“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision
availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.” (Galatians
“And he is the
head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the
dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” (
“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of
your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that
holy Spirit of promise,” (Eph
It is
because of
“Well; because of unbelief they were
broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:” (Rom
11:20 AV)
“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye
should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to
Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.” (Rom
That by
his grace we can go straight to heaven and avoid God’s wrath.
“And to wait for his Son from heaven,
whom he raised from the dead, even
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of
the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise
first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them
in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the
Lord.” (1Thess
If the
Lord did not rise from the dead and ascend to heaven then his visitations with
our
If the Lord
did not rise from the dead and ascend to heaven then Christianity may as well
shut up shop and we can all become science-worshipping, sexual-intellectual
atheists destined only to become worm food when we die.