The Two Administrations of Jesus Christ
PART 10
Paul's Gospel and the
Pauline Revelation
THERE ARE TWO MAJOR "REVELATIONS" IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. The one most Christians are familiar with is John's "Revelation of Jesus Christ", contained in the last book of the Bible. These writings describe how the Apostle John is 'caught up to heaven' and shown what will happen during the Tribulation of the last days.
HOWEVER, THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER REVELATION GIVEN TO SAINT PAUL -- KNOWN TO BIBLE SCHOLARS AS "THE PAULINE REVELATION" ... AND IS ALSO DEFINED AS A "REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST".
IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND, THAT WHILE PAUL'S
REVELATION IS CONSIDERED ONE OF TWO MAJOR NEW
TESTAMENT REVELATIONS -- IT SHOULD NOT BE
VIEWED AS "SECOND-IN-LINE", SINCE IT TOOK PLACE
MORE THAN 35 YEARS BEFORE JOHN'S REVELATION.
AS A RESULT, THE PAULINE REVELATION OCCURRED
"FIRST" IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, WHICH TELLS US
ABOUT ITS IMPORTANCE.
At this history-changing event, Paul is "caught up to heaven" and hears THE NEWLY RESURRECTED AND ASCENDED LORD JESUS CHRIST SPEAK WORDS "THAT ARE UNLAWFUL FOR A MAN TO SPEAK". It is here that Paul is given "The Gospel of Jesus Christ for the Gentile Church". Paul later reveals that this Gospel (the Gospel He preaches) WAS GIVEN BY REVELATION BECAUSE IT HAD TO BE KEPT SECRET ... AND SPECIFICALLY REFERRED TO IT AS "GOD'S HIDDEN WISDOM". As a result, Paul's revelation, recorded in his "New Testament Epistles to the Church" PROVIDES THE FULL DETAILS OF CHRIST'S NEW COVENANT, WHICH HADN'T BEEN REVEALED TO ANYONE (EXCEPT THROUGH THE "TYPES AND SHADOWS" OF SCRIPTURE) ... UNTIL JESUS GAVE IT EXCLUSIVELY TO HIM.
Contrary to popular Christian teaching, the remaining eleven Apostles of Christ who ruled the Church since the day of Pentecost (in Acts Chapter 2) - DID NOT HAVE THIS REVELATION. If the eleven original apostles already possessed this knowledge ... then The Pauline Revelation (and Paul's trip to heaven) -- would not be necessary; since Paul could have simply received the knowledge from them. But, the Bible is careful to reveal that it was Paul, who had to personally teach the apostles (beginning with Peter) BECAUSE THEY DID NOT POSSESS THE KNOWLEDGE REVEALED IN THE PAULINE REVELATION.
Speaking of his actual trip
to heaven to meet with Jesus,
Paul writes;
"It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: I know a man in Christ (speaking of himself) who fourteen years ago--whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows--such a one was caught up to the third heaven. And I know such a man--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows--how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter." (2 Corinthians 12:1-4)
In the following statements, Paul reveals that the
Gospel he preaches came only from Jesus Christ
given during his trip to heaven. He later said that
the knowledge he received from Jesus was "a mystery
and hidden wisdom".
"But I make known to you, brethren, that the Gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it (the Gospel) came through the revelation (speaking of the Pauline Revelation) of Jesus Christ. (Galatians 1:11)
"However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory." (1 Corinthians 2:6-8)
The revelations of both Paul and John are of great importance. However, due to the existence of popular yet corrupt brands of theology, most church leaders rarely talk about the Pauline revelation, which happened many years before John had his revelation of Jesus Christ.
The Pauline Revelation and its previously "hidden Gospel" is important because it removes the "Jewish only limitation" established by Christ during His earthly ministry. This limitation was a Messianic mandate that continued to operate for years after the cross. But, the Pauline Revelation establishes a new mandate that the Church is now to be "Gentile"; making it "racially neutral" and no longer limited to just "the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (or the Jews). This means that membership in the Church of Jesus Christ is now open to all races of the earth, which also includes any Jews who desires to participate. This is why Paul made the following statement to the Church:
"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Galatians 3:26-29)
(Important Note: The words "Gentile and Greek" are often used interchangeably by Paul in the New Testament, where the word "Greek" is synonymous with the word "Gentile".)
At this point, some might say that Paul had no legal right to remove a limitation that Jesus had originally established ... and had no legal right to replace an existing Gospel with the one in his revelation. In such situations, the following truth is often ignored:
It was Jesus who previously established the "Jews only limitation" ... and it was the same Jesus, now living in heaven, who later removed it - and then communicated this change to Paul during his heavenly visit. Likewise - it was Jesus who sanctioned the Gospel that was first preached by His disciples (later to be apostles), which was directed only at "the lost sheep of the house of Israel" ... and it was the same Jesus, now living in heaven, who changed the requirements of this Gospel so that it applies to all earthly races known as "the Gentiles".
PAUL WAS NOT THE ONE MAKING THE CHANGES.
PAUL ONLY COMMUNICATED - IN HIS "EPISTLES
TO THE CHURCH" - THE CHANGES OUR RISEN
LORD JESUS CHRIST HAD MADE.
In both cases, Jesus was the one making the
changes. In the latter case, the resurrected
Jesus christ, now living in heaven, used
the Apostle Paul as His mouthpiece to
communicate these changes.
What many liberal theologians and ministers
(but thankfull not all) quietly object
to...is Jesus choosing Paul as His 'proxy'
to reveal the mystery of the New Covenant.
As a result, there is a deliberate effort
within Christendom to supress and even
discredit the Pauline Revelation.
Unfortunately, this popular effort
unknowingly produces a dangerous heresy
that carries unthinkable eternal
consequences.
Speaking Now From Heaven
Jesus Christ Changes
All the Previous Rules
Various brands of denominational theology claim that the words Jesus uttered both before the cross and before His ascension from the earth (often highlighted in red in our Bible) gives us a complete revelation for all Christian faith and practice.
But...after the cross and the day of
Pentecost in Acts chapter 2; everything
changed in the spiritual realm.
FIRST:
Jesus was raised from the dead...meaning that
He now lives again. Believing this truth in
your heart is one of the requirements
necessary to obtain eternal life.
(see Romans 10:9-10)
SECOND:
Christ, who is now alive from the dead,
also continues to speak from His position
in heaven.
THIS IS WHY WE ARE WARNED ...
"Not to refuse Him who now speaks from
heaven." (Hebrews 12:22-26)
Refusing to listen to the words of Christ
from heaven may be an indication that you
do not truly believe He is alive from the
dead - otherwise, you would heed what He
says -- even when it comes through a
Divinely chosen proxy such as Paul.
The previous Old Testament program and its written law (Paul calls it "the letter that kills"--see 2 Corinthians 3:4-11 quoted below) was first fulfilled BY JESUS CHRIST and then replaced by God's new redemptive program; "THE NEW COVENANT" ... ALSO CALLED "THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS" as revealed in Romans 8:1-4. Tragically, many professing Christians are taught to either ignore or reject this truth through their religious traditions or by their church.
HOWEVER ...
As a result of the changes brought about by Christ's sacrificial death, many of the requirements for salvation that He previously taught before the cross (such as His instructions to the rich young ruler to "keep the commandments" in Matthew 19:16-17) - are now fulfilled by His sacrifice at the cross - and then replaced with "a new and living way" that incorporates these changes (See Hebrews 10:19-23). Contrary to popular church teachings, when the Bible uses the phrase "new and living way" -- it means that God no longer honors the previous "old way of the Law" -- as stated by the following Scriptures (repeated again for emphasis).
"FOR AS MANY AS ARE OF THE WORKS OF THE LAW ARE UNDER THE CURSE; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." BUT THAT NO ONE IS JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW IN THE SIGHT OF GOD IS EVIDENT, for "the just shall live by faith." YET THE LAW IS NOT OF FAITH..." (Galatians 3:10-12 -- Emphasis Added)
"Therefore BY THE DEEDS (WORKS) OF THE LAW NO FLESH WILL BE JUSTIFIED IN HIS SIGHT". (Romans 3:20 -- Emphasis Added)
"You have become estranged (separated or cut-off) from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; YOU HAVE FALLEN FROM GRACE." (Galatians 5:4 -- Emphasis Added)
Paul is speaking to the Corinthian
Church and to all Christians today
when he says ...
"And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the New Covenant, NOT OF THE LETTER (the old written Law) BUT OF THE SPIRIT; FOR THE LETTER (THE OLD WRITTEN LAW) KILLS, BUT THE SPIRIT (CHRIST'S NEW COVENANT) GIVES LIFE. But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, how will the ministry of the Spirit (Christ's New Covenant) not be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation (the old written Law) had glory, the ministry of righteousness (Christ's New Covenant) exceeds much more in glory. For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious." (2 Corinthians 3:4-11 - Special comments added)
(IMPORTANT NOTE: "The ministry of the Spirit" and "the ministry of rightousness" are alternate terms describing Christ's New Covenant)
We can now understand the
words Paul wrote in his
Epistle to the Hebrews.
"But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He (Jesus) is also mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second." (Hebrews 8:6-7)
"In that He (Jesus Christ) says, "a new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away." (Hebrews 8:13)
AN IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION: When we speak about Christ's New Covenant (or what the Bible calls 'the second covenant' in Hebrews chapter 8) - and how it 'replaces' the first covenant of Old Testament Law - readers should not think that we are teaching the false doctrine of Replacement theology (an entirely different subject addressed later in this study). We often use the word 'replace or replacing' to emphasize an important Scriptural truth. What Jesus referred to as "The New Covenant in His blood" in Luke 22:20 is not a continuation or extension of the Old Covenant program - also referred to as "the first covenant" in Hebrews chapter 8.
Scripture now declares this "first covenant" to be annulled, abolished and "nailed to the cross" at the Crucifixion (See Ephesians 2:11-22, Colossians 2:13-14 and Hebrews 7:11-22). As a result, it is not extended or continued.
If the Law is abolished (or 'annulled' as revealed in Hebrews chapter 7:11-22) - then it must be "taken out of the way" (as stated in Colossians 2:13-14) and replaced with something else. In this situation ... it is replaced with the New Covenant, which is also called "the new and living way of Christ" (Hebrews 10:19-23). We see this same pattern in 2 Corinthians 5:17 which states:
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."
What God has accomplished through His Son is actually very easy to understand. Something old is replaced by something new ... and better. The confusion and false accusations that continues on this subject comes from misguided church leaders who are spreading out-of-context Bible teachings - in an effort to protect unbiblical, yet cherished doctrines and traditions.
The full details of this 'new and
living way--or New Covenant of
Christ' are revealed through
the Epistles of Saint Paul--which
contain the words Jesus Christ
speaks from heaven about the way
salvation is now received.
If we fail to accept this change...
If we reject the 'new and living way'
Jesus taught from heaven and adopt
the popular belief that what He taught
on earth - before our salvation was
paid for at the cross ... continues to
be the way salvation is obtained and
kept today, then we have no other
choice but to go astray in our faith.
WHAT IS JESUS NOW TEACHING
FROM HEAVEN?
"For by Grace you have been saved
through faith, and that not of
yourselves; it is the gift of God,
not of works, lest anyone should
boast." (Ephesians 2:4-9)
AND ...
"Therefore by the deeds of the Law no
flesh will be justified in His sight".
(Romans 3:20)
AND ...
"You have become estranged (separated
or cut-off) from Christ, you who
attempt to be justified by law (or by
keeping the commandments of the Law);
you have fallen from Grace."
(Galatians 5:4)
This is why Hebrews 12:22-26 warns about the severe consequences of rejecting these "words of Christ" spoken from heaven. Some preachers, attempting to protect their legalistic brand of Bible teaching, try to persuade us that Christ's heavenly words (not highlighted in red) carry a 'lesser weight' than those spoken on earth - simply because they come through the mouth of Paul as Christ's proxy. Yet, Christians go into dangerous religious error and even heresy when they fail to accept all His words on an equal basis.
The annulling of the old covenant program
of the Law is a Divine act performed by
God Himself that we like to
refer to as;
"Heaven's Royal Proclamation"
and is covered in more detail HERE
We also understand that many hold to the
popular 'half-truth' that "God never changes";
and insists that any changes to God's program
of salvation that takes place after the
cross - especially the changes mentioned in
this study by Christ Himself - is false
teaching.
This dangerous "half-truth" is covered in
more detail HERE
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