SWORDS Bible Study: Why Is Paul Your Apostle? (He was not one of the 12!) PART 10

By Mari

(All caps for emphasis only)

 

We will continue with our study of the differences in the gospel given to the 12 Apostles of Israel during Jesus’ earthly ministry, and the gospel given to the Apostle Paul by the Risen Jesus from heaven.

 

Apostle Peter taught the gospel of the kingdom, and it was to be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then the end would come.

Mat 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. 

Apostle Paul taught that he would finish his course with joy and the ministry which he received of the Lord Jesus testify the gospel of the grace of God. He also proclaimed that this gospel was preached to every creature under heaven!

Act 20:24  But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. 

Col 1:23  If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; 

Big difference here. The gospel Peter was preaching was to Israel to take to the whole world, was never accomplished for two reasons.  One Israel rejected Christ and two, a NEW thing was REVEALED from heaven. The MYSTERY!  Christ in us without having to go through Israel or live under the law, but under grace!

The Apostle Peter’s gospel was NOT preached to all the nations. There was an interruption and the Gospel of the grace of God was revealed to Paul from heaven for all of us today.

The gospel of the grace of God given to the Apostle Paul DID go out into the whole world and Scripture was closed.  Not until the fulness of the Gentiles comes in will God again deal with Israel and the promises He made to them!

The Apostle Paul declared the end of his ministry, NOT that at the end of his ministry the end would come.

Ti 4:6  For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 

2Ti 4:7  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 

2Ti 4:8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 

 

Act_20:24  But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God

At the end of Paul’s ministry, he wrote that his gospel had come into all the world, preached to every creature.

The gospel that Peter preached and the “end” he said would then come, did NOT come as he had declared.

It is because they were TWO different gospels! It was simply the end of a dispensation and the beginning of the dispensation of grace. (Eph 3:2)

Gospel simply means “good news”. The good news that Peter was preaching was that Jesus was the Son of God and the kingdom was at hand.

The kingdom of God was at hand and Jesus taught this during His earthly ministry, but with Israel’s rejection of the Saviour, this program was set aside for a time.

The gospel of the grace of God, the mystery, was made manifest and initiated with the raising of the Apostle Paul.

Rom_16:26  BUT NOW is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

People need to know what saves them today!

 

The Apostle Peter taught that Gentiles are blessed ONLY through Israel.

Act 11:19  Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, PREACHING the word to NONE but unto the JEWS only.

 

The Apostle Paul taught to both Jews and Gentiles!

(Eph 2:14)  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

(Eph 2:15)  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

(Eph 2:16)  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

(Eph 2:17)  And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

(Eph 2:18)  For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

 

Israel had rejected Jesus Christ, and Paul was teaching to the Jews the forgiveness found in Christ by believing what He had done on the cross for all men. Most rejected this teaching, still wanting the physical kingdom.

 

The Apostle Peter was still preaching the cross as an offence against Israel for killing their Messiah.

Act 2:36  Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 

The Apostle Paul taught a completely different message! Paul taught the cross as GLORY.

Gal 1:1  Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) 

Gal 1:2  And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: 

Gal 1:3  Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, 

Gal 1:4  Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: 

 

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.

 

The Apostle Peter preached the Gentiles would be saved through the rise of Israel and the covenants which God made with Israel.

Act 3:22  For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. 

Act 3:23  And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. 

Act 3:24  Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. 

Act 3:25  Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. 

Act 3:26  Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities. 

 

The Apostle Paul preached the Gentiles would be saved through the FALL of Israel.

Rom 11:11  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. 

Rom 11:12  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? 

Rom 11:13  For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: 

Rom 11:14  If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. 

Rom 11:15  For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? 

 

The Apostle Peter preached a gospel that was known by His holy prophets SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN.  It was preached that this information COULD BE SEARCHED OUT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.  (John 5:39)

Act 3:21  Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. 

 

The Apostle Paul preached about the gospel of the grace of God that was KEPT SECRET SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN.  He preached THIS information could NOT BE SEARCHECED OUT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.

Rom_16:25  Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

Eph_3:8  Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

 

Col_1:26  Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, BUT NOW is made manifest to his saints:

 

More next week!