The BIG Picture (Q&A)

COMMENT: It appears Peter was writing to the Christians in Gentile nations, not to the Israelites in Israel. Peter also preaches about the kingdom of heaven and not about the physical Israel. Have a look at these verses that attest to this: 2 Peter 2:1-3;  2 Peter 3:15-17;  1 Peter 1:1;  1 Peter 4:16. REPLY: Let's quickly start with a brief background of details for context. Peter started in the Kingdom program under law. This was the time when Jesus was on earth. The Kingdom gospel concerning Jesus' identity was ministered to Jews ONLY. Then we get the blinding of Israel, according in Rom 11:25. The Kingdom program for Jews ONLY was suspended and God converted Paul and sent him to preach the Grace gospel concerning Jesus’ cross work to all nations, both Jew and Gentile. This grace program ends with the Body of Christ being snatched up into heaven and this closes the period of grace through the cross work of Christ. So, we have the end of two very different dispensat...

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...

STATEMENT: Is it just me or does anyone else think it’s funny that “Paul is hard to understand sometimes” can be directly backed by scripture (2 Peter 3:16)? ANSWER: Let’s look at the whole verse, 2Pe 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. One must remember that we are dealing with two distinct programs, and both happened to be running at the same time in Peter’s day (ie: the Acts period). Peter serviced the Jewish church, under prophecy, the law, and the Kingdom program and doctrine. Paul serviced the Body of Christ, under mystery, and under the Grace program and doctrine. The epistle that Peter wrote was addressed to the Jewish church. Since they were under a different doctrine, it is natural to expect that the Jews found it hard to receive ‘the mysteries’, a doctrine that was so different and ...

James is not a book written to or addressed to you. Notice who James is writing to, Jas 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,  to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad , greeting. James is writing to Jews under the “Kingdom” program. In this program they required to prove their faith with works. The grace program is a completely different program, with different conditions and criteria. The grace program does not ever need works to prove salvific faith. This is because Jesus has already done all the work that was needed to redeem us. Paul therefore says, Rom 4:5 But to him  that worketh not, but believeth  on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Eph 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved  through faith  [only] ; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9)  Not of works , lest any man should boast. Our doctrine, the principles we need to understand and apply in practicing our Chri...

Lesson #1 The absolute MOST valued lesson I have learned is to rightly divide the truth, 2Tim.2:15. After 40 years of reading the Bible as if it was ALL written to me and for my instruction, when I learned about rightly dividing the truth, and recognizing that Paul’s letters are instructions addressed to me, and the rest of the Bible is instructions for Israel, this brought clarity and dismissed all that confusion and contradiction. The Bible became an open book from that point. Things fell into place and my faith became settled and strong. Dividing the Word showed me a clear picture of the whole plan of God to redeem us. It showed me where I fit into God’s plan, and it gave me purpose and insights into what God’s will was for me. I cannot overemphasize the value and importance of applying this command to rightly divide the truth to your bible studies. It has completely changed my understanding of God’s Word for the better. I will never look back again at blending everything into on...

QUESTION: Personally, I don’t have any faith in Paul whatsoever, a lot of his teachings seem to be in contradiction of those of the Christ, I’m not at all sure that any of his letters or epistles should even be in the bible. ANSWER: The purpose of Jesus’ earthly ministry was to save Israel under the law program so that, according to prophecy, they could be the light and salvation of the Gentiles. However, because of Israel’s unbelief, their program was temporarily halted (or blinded as Paul informs in Rom.11).  It is at this point that Paul’s ministry was started and God sent Paul to the Gentiles with a new salvation message (the cross of Christ) and a new doctrine of grace (not law). So herein is the reason why Paul’s ministry and message is so different to Jesus’ message. They in essence taught different people groups and two separate messages, although both were in the plan of God to create two distinct bodies to fill both heaven and earth with the glory of Christ. If you recogn...

QUESTION: I chose not to listen to Paul. I'm no scholar nor expert but here are a few scriptures from Jesus himself: Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. So, we are to still keep the commandments. Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’ This shows that some people who consider Jesus Lord will be condemned because they were lawless. The answer to “I never knew you” is John 10:27 My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. For me, Paul is too hard to understand. Peter even mentioned it just after 2 Peter 3:14. ANSWER: God put the writings...

WOW! What a question! It deserves a significant answer! In Gen.12, God's covenant promise to Abraham (Israel) was that in (or through) Israel all the nations of earth would be blessed. Through Israel, salvation would come to the world (Acts 1:8, Zachariah 8:23). However, about 5 years after Jesus ascended into heaven, the Jews stoned Stephan, and this triggered the downfall of the Jewish nation. Paul writes about the fall (or blinding) of the Jews in Romans 9-11. So, does this not cause a dilemma? How would the Gentiles be blessed if the source of blessing (Israel) has fallen? *The answer is: Paul! God keeps His word and saves Paul, a Jew (a descendant of Abraham), and equips him with a new gospel and a mystery message and sends him to the Gentiles. Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to him (Ananias), Go! For this one is a chosen vessel to Me, to bear My name before Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel. (See also Galatians 1:1) Transliteration of ‘chosen’ : eklogḗ; Definition (Stron...

The four gospels are a reflection of the life and purpose of Christ according to the prophets and the Kingdom program. God selected 4 Jewish apostles to document the life of Jesus Christ from 4 different views, or characteristics based on this program. Let me outline these in summary: There are 4 "BEHOLD" prophecies that represent how Israel should recognize their Messiah. Zech.9:9 Behold your KING comes Zech.3:8 Behold my SERVANT Zech.6:12 Behold the MAN Isa.40:9 Behold your GOD There are 4 "BRANCH" prophecies that define the characteristics of the Messiah. Jer.23:5 ...a righteous BRANCH and a King shall reign...in the earth. Zech.3:8 ...my Servant the BRANCH. Zech.6:12 ...man whose name is The BRANCH; Isa.4:2 ...the BRANCH of the LORD... The gospels also harmonies with the prophecies that describe the 4 faces and characteristics of God as specified in Ezek.1:10 and Rev.4:7 Matthew = Jesus as King (LION – MESSIAH/KING OF THE JEWS) – genealogy of Matthew traces back...

Answer Request: How can I have faith in Paul’s letters in the Bible? I have a feeling they might go against God?      It is sad to say that too many people in our churches today are not aware that the content of Paul's epistles are written directly to them today, and are crucial for their edification and encouragement. People either think that Paul is a second-rate apostle and dismiss his writings, or they set Paul's writings aside because they think it is of less importance than the red-letter teachings of Jesus Christ. Little do they know that literally ALL of Paul's writings might as well be in red letters too, since He received it all directly from the risen and glorified Christ. Rom.11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, The important thing to realize is that the 3-years of Jesus earthly ministry was specific to the Jews. Galatians 4:4-5 reads, "But when the fulness of the time was com...

The four gospels are a reflection of the life and purpose of Christ. God selected 4 Jewish apostles to document the life of Jesus Christ from 4 different views, or characteristics. Let me outline these in summary: There are 4 “BEHOLD” prophecies that represent how Israel should recognize their Messiah. Zech 9:9 Behold your King comes Zech 3:8 Behold my Servant Zech 6:12 Behold the Man Isa 40:9 Behold your God There are 4 BRANCH prophecies that define the characteristics of the Messiah. Jer 23:5 ...a righteous BRANCH and a King shall reign...in the earth. Zech 3:8 ...my Servant the BRANCH. Zech 6:12 ...man whose name is The BRANCH; Isa 4:2 ...the BRANCH of the LORD... The gospels also harmonies with the prophecies that describe the 4 faces and characteristics of God as specified in Ezek.1:10 and Rev.4:7 Matthew = Jesus as King (LION – MESSIAH/KING OF THE JEWS) – genealogy of Matthew traces back to "King" David and the promised "Kingdom" (Land) through Abraham. Mark =...

Understanding the order in which Paul wrote his epistles is of great importance because it helps us to determine the progression of the revelations that Paul received from the Lord. One must be aware that the Lord did not reveal ALL details of the Grace Program to Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). Even during the 3 years that Paul spent in Arabia, it was not sufficient time to learn all the intricacies of the full revelation of grace. Furthermore, we can gather that Paul got even more revelation of hidden things of the heavenly program when he was stoned (Acts 14:19) and, either close to death, or having died, he was shown things pertaining to God's grace and the heavenly program while in spirit and in the 3rd heaven (2 Corinthians 12:2).  As Paul writes his epistles, from the book of Galatians to the second book of Timothy (chronological order of the 13 epistles), we (as the reader or student) are taken from the initial revelations of grace salvation, progressively, and ever...

It is sad to say that too many people in our churches today are not aware that the content of Paul's epistles are written directly to them today, and are crucial for their edification and encouragement. People either think that Paul is a second rate apostle and dismiss his writings, or they set Paul's writings aside because they think it is of less importance than the red letter teachings of Jesus Christ. Little do they know that literally ALL of Paul's writings might as well be in red letters too, since He received it all directly from the risen and glorified Christ . The important thing to realize is that the 3-years of Jesus earthly ministry was specific to the Jews. Galatians 4:4-5 reads, "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law , that we might receive the adoption of sons."   Jesus was born into the world as a Jew, to save ...