First the Question: The Apostle Paul did not need instructions from the 12 apostles to give him either his Gospel message, or Divine authority to proclaim that message. True or False?
Please take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day
And now the answer to the LLM Question of 12-13-2011
Question: Does Acts 15:7 show that the Apostle Peter was called to share the ministry of the Apostle Paul? Yes or No?
Answer: NO! We might think from Acts 15:7, that the Apostle Peter was called to share this ministry with the Apostle Paul, BUT Galatians 2:7-9, proves otherwise. Now, out of the 753 responses we received to this question, 82.4% of you got it right. Praise the LORD! Therefore, now, let us take a look at...
THE LLM STUDY OF THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS, CHAPTER 1, PART 3 of 3
Let’s take a look at the Apostle Paul’s defense before Agrippa and the Jews in Acts 26:4-5 and Acts 26:9, “My manner of life from my youth, which was at first among mine own Nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee”, and “I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.”
Paul knew, from his own past, the condition of the Israelites concerning whom he wrote in Romans 10:1-3, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” How true it is that a person may be devout and sincere and be sincerely wrong. Zeal without knowledge may lead to an awful end. There are thousands of religious people going religiously to perdition. Many of them belong to some sect LABELED as “Christian.”
It was the Grace of God that saved Saul and that called him to preach His Son among the heathen. We might think from Acts 15:7, that the Apostle Peter was called to share this ministry with the Apostle Paul, BUT Galatians 2:7-9, proves otherwise. Peter preached to the household of Cornelius. Cornelius was a just man, a devout, man, a praying man, and feared God with all his house. He gave alms to the Jews. He was a proselyte. Acts 10:2-22. His works went up with his prayers as a memorial. And note what Peter preached to him, “But in every nation, he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him.” Now compare this with Paul’s Grace message in Titus 3:5:
Titus 3:5, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”
AFTER THREE YEARS I WENT UP TO JERUSALEM
In this first chapter, then, we learn of the Apostle Paul’s visit with the Apostle Peter in Jerusalem. In the second chapter we are going to learn of Peter’s visit with Paul at Antioch, some years later. Peter got into some trouble during his visit. In Galatians 1:18-19, the Apostle Paul is emphasizing a fact that must be known by every student of the Word of God who would rightly divide, interpret, and apply the Scriptures. He must emphasize the fact that in the case of Paul there was no apostolic succession; and that Peter and James, the LORD’s brother, had absolutely no authority to dictate, in any way, as to what and how Paul should preach. In the sixteenth verse Paul clearly declares that he conferred not with flesh and blood. Let us repeat what Paul says, in Galatians 1:11-12, that his message was not after man; that the method by which he received it and was commissioned to preach it was by the direct revelation of the Risen Jesus Christ. So we quote Galatians 1:22, “And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ.”
Acts 22:17, “And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance.”
Acts 22:21, “And He said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.”
Thus we see that while Paul gave his testimony at Jerusalem it was not the LORD’s will that that should be his field of service. In Romans 1:14 we read these words, “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.” Generally Paul first went to the synagogues and testified to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. But his special commission is stated by him in Romans 11:13, which we again quote, “For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office.”
In the closing verse of this first chapter we note that the Apostle Paul preached the Faith which he once destroyed. When he was destroying the Faith, Peter and the Eleven were not preaching to Gentiles. They were preaching to Jews only. It is very significant that Saul was converted before Cornelius was converted. The Apostle Paul’s conversion is recorded in Acts 9; and that of Cornelius in Acts 10. And right here it is important to note Galatians 2:8, “For He that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles.” This will perhaps help us to clear up any confusion in our minds as to Paul’s statements concerning his own baptism, and his authority to baptize others. It would be well to compare the two verses, Acts 22:16 and 1 Corinthians 1:17, “And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the LORD.” AND, “For Christ sent me NOT to baptize, but to preach the Gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.”
In this respect the Apostle Paul was NOT sent to preach to Gentiles the same message which the LORD Jesus preached to HIM, as Saul.
“Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” Acts 16:31, while there is still time!
So There You Have it!
Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide. The time is short
Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.
In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry
Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)
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