SWORDS Bible Study: Why Is Paul Your Apostle? (He was not one of the 12!)  PART 6

 

By Mari

(Reminder that all caps are for emphasis only!)

The RISEN Jesus Christ raised up a NEW Apostle Paul. Christ still had the 11 original Apostles plus Matthias which made 12 again.

Act_1:26  And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

WHY did God want a NEW Apostle when He already had 12 good ones?

Several reasons and it is fun to search them out!

First of all, God was not caught unaware when Israel rejected their Messiah.  God knows everything, of course, He is God! He created everything and has always had a plan.  His plan from the beginning of the world was to keep a secret hid in Himself that would allow sinners to be saved.

Let us look at a few things of interest first.

Jesus in His earthly ministry to Israel said:

 

Joh_18:20  Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.

Everything Jesus taught in his earthly ministry to Israel was taught openly.  It was not a secret.

It was told from the beginning by the mouths of the prophets.  Here are just a few examples:

 

Zec_8:9  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which were in the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.

 

Luk_1:70  As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

 

Act_3:18  But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.

 

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.

However, God DID have a SECRET…that He did NOT tell His prophets. In fact, He tells us NOW that he kept the mystery a secret and hid in Himself since the WORLD BEGAN.

God kept the mystery a secret.  Hid in Himself.  Unsearchable in the word of God.

 

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_3:9  And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

 

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

 

(Just a reminder, refresher if you will… Why did God keep the mystery a secret?

1Co 2:6  Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 

1Co 2:7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 

1Co 2:8  Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.)

Key words in Col 1:26…BUT NOW… Now through the revelations of Jesus Christ to the Apostle Paul, we are told of the mystery, the secret hid in God until He revealed it to Paul for US today!  It is NOW made manifest to His saints (WE who believe).

This is WHY the new Apostle: because “but now” HAS COME.

Saul/Paul was a chosen vessel to bring the “but now” to the Gentiles.  To the whole world. Because NOW the mystery is made manifest to all the saints.  The mystery of HOW we who would believe could receive blessing – APART from Israel and their covenants! – by believing the free gift of salvation is ours direct from God!

Both Jew and Gentile can believe and be saved the same, for there is no difference today between Jew and Gentile!  For ALL have been concluded under sin. That salvation would be by faith of Jesus Christ to them that believe.

Gal_3:22  But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

 

Our gospel today, which is 1 Cor 15:1-4, was NOT what was given to the Nation of Israel.  It was not given to Israel to take to the world either.  It was given to the Apostle Paul to take to the Gentiles and the whole world, to anyone who will believe.

Israel’s good news gospel was that the blessings were to come about THROUGH the Nation of Israel to the world, WHEN the nation believed Jesus was the Son of God, the Messiah, and that their prophesied kingdom was nigh.

Israel not only failed to do this, they rejected Jesus Christ and tortured and killed Him on a cross. They rejected and killed their Messiah.

The Apostle Peter was not preaching the cross for the forgiveness of sins.  Peter taught the cross as a CONDEMNATION to Israel for having crucified their Lord and Christ! Look here…this is Peter speaking:

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 people were quite wrought having been pricked in their heart and were worried about what should they do now?

Act 2:37  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 

 

Peter does NOT tell them that by grace through faith in the blood of Christ are they saved…no works involved at all! He tells them that they must be baptized for the REMISSION of sins…and then they will receive the gift of the holy Ghost!

Act 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

 

Paul tells us there is NO WORK such as the baptism of John which was of the law, but by faith of Jesus Christ whom we have believed – in Jesus Christ and NOT the works of the Law.

Gal_2:16  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

So, the gospel of the king coming and the promised kingdom on earth was the gospel given to Israel.  Both the king and the kingdom were promised to the nation of Israel.

Never was the cross for salvation preached to Israel. Israel was sent to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick, which would be the sign that they were from God…as Israel, the Jews required signs to believe.

Luk 9:2  And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

 

Joh_4:48  Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

 

1Co 1:22  For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 

 

Their gospel was the kingdom of God on earth. They did not understand the import of the cross at all!

Luk 18:34  And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.  

 

(Read 18:31-34 for a very clear understanding THAT they did NOT understand at all.  It was hid from them.)

 

More next week!

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: