The BIG Picture (Q&A)

SOCIAL MEDIA QUESTION: Why do Christians fall for Paul, who openly admitted that he was a liar (Rom 3:7), crafty (2 Cor 12:16), chief of sinners (1 Tim 1:15), a blasphemer (1 Tim 1:13), a murderer (Acts 22:4), preacher of his own gospel (Rom 2:16) who never even met Jesus? MY REPLY: Paul, like every one of us, is a sinner. His self-admitted flaws—being a persecutor of Christians (Acts 22:4), a blasphemer (1 Timothy 1:13), and the "chief of sinners" (1 Timothy 1:15)—highlight the universal truth that all have sinned and fall short of God's glory (Romans 3:23, KJV). Even Peter, James, and John were not without sin. Peter, for instance, denied the Lord three times (Luke 22:61-62), yet millions 'fall for Peter' as a saint. Despite these shortcomings, God’s grace transformed their lives and used them mightily for His purposes. Similarly, Paul’s violations you mention are no different from those of any of us. We are all in the same boat as sinners needing a Savior, and ...

Prophecy foretells that Jews are a distinct nation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation (ex.19:5–6) called of God for the purpose of showing forth His glory and being the light and salvation of the Gentiles (Isa.60:1–3). With this in mind, the earthly ministry of Jesus was directed to Jews ONLY (Matt.10:5–6; Matt.15:24) to save them and bring them lift them up to that place of preeminence, that they might fulfil prophecy and be that light and salvation to the Gentiles. Jesus was a minister of the circumcision (Jews) (Rom.15:8) and preached according to the law and according to prophecy (Gal.4:4–5). The gospel Jesus taught was concerning the prophesied earthly Millennial Kingdom, which was a hand, and thus He called for Jews to repent and prepare for the inheritance of this Kingdom in which He would be King. This ministry of Jesus is in stark contrast to the ministry of Paul who was called by the glorified Christ for a very different purpose. Paul was to go to a different audience (the Ge...

QUESTION: Why can’t I take the words of Jesus and ignore those of Paul? I’m on my way back to Jesus after a long separation and Paul is the main barrier. ANSWER: The Lord Himself chose and separated Paul for a special ministry. Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles. Romans 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: The 13 epistles that he wrote contains information that is relevant for the Body of Christ today. This is important to realize as the contents of the Bible, outside of Paul’s epistles are written to Israel and is doctrine for the Jews under Law. Even Jesus ministry was towards the Jews. This is why Jesus Himself said, Matthew 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. and… Galatians 4:4-5 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law [as a Jew], 5 to redeem those who were under the law [Jews], When Jesus appea...

Paul was indeed a Jew and devout Pharisee, but when God converted him on the Damascus road, God gave him a completely new gospel and doctrine. Have you ever considered why Paul never references anything of Jesus in his epistles? No teachings, no parables, no miracles. This is often a surprise to people! The ONLY thing Paul brings across into his epistles and into the grace gospel is the CROSS, which for the Kingdom gospel was a contentious issue according to Peter. Gal 6:14  But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 2Co 5:16-17 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. (17) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.