SWORDS Bible Study: Why Is Paul Your Apostle? (He was not one of the 12!) PART 8

By Mari

(All caps for emphasis only)

I believe Paul is our Apostle because the gospel of the grace of God was given directly by the risen Jesus Christ SOLELY to the Apostle Paul, for us.

It was NEVER given to the prophets.

It was NEVER before prophesied. Yet, the gospel taught by the 12 Apostles was known and taught by what the prophets HAD spoken!

A prophet is a man chosen by God to take a message to His people. It was the word of God as well as a foretelling of the future.

Jesus Christ came to Israel. He came not to destroy the law but to fulfill the Law.

Mat 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

We know from the word of God that Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of the Law!

The law taught us that we CANNOT keep the law!

It schooled us to understand that without a Saviour we were toast! The only way we can be justified is by faith!

Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

The Apostle Paul is who tells us that the righteousness of God without the law is manifested and being witnessed by the law and the prophets!

Rom 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

That is the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ. That it is to all of them that believe! Whether bond nor free, Jew or Greek, male nor female there is no difference now!

Rom 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Gal_3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

We see today the new thing that was brought to us in this dispensation of grace! For NOW we know and understand from the teachings of Paul that we have ALL sinned and come short of the glory of God. And we who choose to believe today are justified FREELY BY HIS GRACE…through the REDEMPTION that is in JESUS CHRIST.

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Jesus Christ did everything needed to fulfill the law. He is the righteous judgment of God that through faith in His blood, it is declared His righteousness for the remission of sins past! HIS righteousness! He is OUR Justifier when we believe on and in HIM!

Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

Rom 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

We know only through the epistles of Paul that we are NOT under the law, NOT of works, but of faith! That we are justified by faith without the deeds of the law! We find that WE are the new creature IN Christ! The body of Christ! By faith alone.

Rom 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

Rom 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

2Co_5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Gal_6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

If you are working to receive the blessings of God…to receive salvation from God…it is a fruitless work and you are damned. Why? Because you have made yourself a person of debt. You owe a debt to God because you do not believe in what he has done FOR YOU!

Rom_4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

Conversely, if you believe on Jesus Christ and what HE has done FOR YOU…you ARE saved. You are justified and counted for righteousness.

Rom_4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Paul is a special Apostle. A man born out of due time…to bring a message to the Gentiles…to the whole world from our RISEN Lord and Saviour.

1Co_15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

Are you a believer who believes you are saved by the gospel of the grace of God…that Jesus died for your sins, was buried and resurrected to life defeating death…? Then YOU have HEARD THE GOSPEL GIVEN TO PAUL FOR US TODAY!

The gospel given to the Apostle Paul for us is the preaching of the CROSS the POWER of GOD unto SALVATION.

1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

If you are believing the gospel of the 12 Apostles (John 3:16) it is a vain gospel for anyone today because it is without the cross. Without His death, burial and resurrection, without His blood atonement made for our sins. The gospel of the 12 does not save anyone today!

Nowhere in Matthew, Mark, Luke or John was the gospel of the cross preached. The twelve Apostles were teaching to the 12 tribes of Israel.

Next week…more on the different gospels.

The Gospel that saves today:

1Co 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

1Co 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: