Paul: The Minister of The Church
Part I
Lesson III
October 12, 2006
I
Introduction
The
importance of the letters of Paul in relation to the Church and Church truth
cannot be over emphasized. In reading
Church history and the writings of the Church fathers it would seem to this
writer that few men of the book really saw the importance of Paul.
Although,
in our opinion, Martin Luther was not perfect in his doctrine he seemed to see
the importance of Paul above many others.
Luther said: “In comparison to
the book of Romans, the book of James is an epistle of straw.” So in this lesson we purpose to draw to your
attention to the man, Paul, and his writings.
II
The Ministry of the Apostle Paul
There
is Church truth in Peter and John, but in their writings you will not find many
of the things taught by Paul. Paul tells
us that his ministry was two-fold:
1)
Paul is the minister of the doctrine of the grace of God,
2)
Paul is the minister of the doctrine of the
Church.
To
depart from Paul has always led the Church into heresy. History proves this fact. When one sees the
importance of Paul’s writings to the Church, one will not be led
to find foundational Church truth in the Old Testament. It is not there to be found!
III His ministry as the minister of the doctrine of the grace of
God.
To
depart from Paul is to depart from the clear teaching of the grace of God.
There are two great Revelators
in the Bible.
1)
In the Old Testament, it
is Moses.
All
he has written in the book of Genesis was by Divine revelation for all was
history made before he was born. This
fact makes John
2) In the New Testament, it is Paul.
We
must see him as Jesus Christ’s representative to us today. Paul was as independent of men as was Moses.
Galatians
1:1
(1)
Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the
Father, who raised him from the dead;)
Others
may claim to be a minister but Paul claims to be the minister of Christ to
the Gentiles. No one else holds that position.
The
doctrine of grace he claims to have received by revelation. As we have pointed out, the other Apostles
were taught by Jesus after His resurrection and His return for forty days.
Acts
1:3
(3)
To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible
proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to
the kingdom of God:
Paul
was in Arabia alone with Jesus for three years.
Galatians
1:15-18
(15)
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called
[me] by his grace,
(16)
To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately
I conferred not with flesh and blood:
(17)
Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I
went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
(18)
Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him
fifteen days.
Galatians
1:11-12
“For
I certify you, brethren that the gospel which was preached of me is
not after men. For I neither received it
of men, neither was I taught [it], but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Therefore there are things in Paul’s gospel
that cannot be found elsewhere in Scripture.
Galatians
2:1-2
“Then fourteen years after I went up
again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with [me] also. And I went up by revelation and communicated unto
them
the
gospel which I preached among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of
reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.”
Paul
communicated the gospel to the Apostles.
That must mean that he taught them the gospel as he had received it from
Christ.
1
Corinthians 9:16-17
(16)
For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is
laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
(17)
For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a
dispensation [of the gospel] is committed unto me.
Here
the word dispensation , so I have read, means a “stewardship” of the gospel was
committed to him.
Colossians
1:23-25
(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;
(24)
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of
the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:
(25)
Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is
given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
The
gospel whereof I Paul am made a minister (twice).
We
shall discover that no other man saw the grace of God as clearly as did Paul in
his epistles.
IV Consider
Paul’s Position as stated in Scripture
Romans
15:15-19
“Nevertheless
, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting
you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God. That I should be the minister of Jesus
Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of
the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. I have therefore whereof I may glory though
Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God. For I will not dare to speak of any of those
things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient by
word and deed. Through mighty signs and
wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round
about unto Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.”
Romans
11:13
“For
I speak to you Gentiles, in as much as I am the apostle of the
Gentiles, I magnify my office:”
Romans
16:25
(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,
Galatians
2: 7-9
(7)
But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was
committed unto me, as [the gospel] of the circumcision [was] unto Peter;
(8)
(For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the
circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
(9)
And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace
that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of
fellowship; that we [should go] unto the heathen, and they unto the
circumcision.
1
Thessalonians 2:4
(4)
But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we
speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
1
Timothy 1:1
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our
Saviour…
1
Timothy 1:1
(1)
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and
Lord Jesus Christ, [which is] our hope;
Titus
1:3
But
hath in due times manifest his word through preaching, which is committed
unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
V
Because of the Revelations he received from Christ, they together
constitute what Paul calls “my gospel”
Romans
1:1 here he speaks of the gospel of God
Romans
Romans
16:25 my gospel
2
Timothy 2:8 my gospel
Ephesians
3:2 given me
Ephesians
3:3 known unto me
Ephesians
3:4 my knowledge
Ephesians 3:7 given unto me
Ephesians
3:8 unto me…is this grace given
If
you do not know what Paul’s gospel is, then you do not know the
gospel.
By way of illustration:
Imputation
is a great part of Paul’s gospel.
1)
Adam’s sin was imputed to the human race.
Romans 5:12
(12) Wherefore, as by
one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon
all men, for that all have sinned:
We
are sinners, not because of what we do but because of where we are. Being in Adam we inherited sin and death.
2)
The sin of all men was imputed to Christ on the Cross. He who knew no sin became sin; without
sin. He had no sin of His own.
2 Corinthians
5:21
(21) For he hath made
him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the
righteousness of God in him.
When
Christ died bearing our sin, the awful demands of the law were met. The law demanded death and Christ died for
our sins.
3)
Christ’s righteousness is imputed to anyone who believes.
Romans 3:21-22
(21) But now the
righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law
and the prophets;
(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:
And
being then In Christ (2 Corinthians
5:17) and having been made righteous (2 Corinthians
5:21), it is not what we are that saves us but where we are - in
Christ.
2
Corinthians 5:17
(17)
Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are
passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2
Corinthians 5:21
(21)
For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made
the righteousness of God in him.
VII
The Apostle Paul is the revealer and declarer of the truth of the gospel
The
foundation of Paul’s gospel is found in the first eight chapters of the book of
Romans.
If
you take the Pauline Epistles out of the New Testament you will find little
about the gospel of the grace of God as it applies to the Church.
Paul
revealed the mystery of the Rapture.
1
Corinthians 15:51
(51)
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be
changed,
He
also revealed the mystery of the present state of Israel
Romans
11:25
(25)
For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye
should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to
Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Paul
distinguishes clearly that ‘law’ and ‘grace’ do not mix.
Romans
11:6
(6)
And if by grace, then [is it] no more of works: otherwise grace is no more
grace. But if [it be] of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no
more work.
The
letter to the Galatians is the inspired answer to legalism. And we must face the fact that human beings
are all born legalists!
VIII As we shall learn later the Church is a new body of People.
A
new body that demands a new body of truth.
Paul
reveals the doctrine of the Church;
the position of the Church;
the walk of the Church;
the welfare of the Church;
and
the destiny of the Church.
Says
Professor James Staker:
“Paul
was a great thinker. In the
Says
F.B. Meyer:
“Paul’s
writings must not be measured by their length but by their weight. Think of the truths he presents: Redemption,
Reconciliation, Election, Justification, Predestination, Resurrection,
Sanctification, Glorification to name a few.”
And
all these great doctrines we shall find in the book of Romans. We have observed that, as the Church loses
its taste for these great doctrines, it loses its appreciation for Romans and
Paul’s Epistles.
Paul
says:
1
Corinthians 14:37-38
“If
any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that
the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any
man be ignorant let him be ignorant.”
We
have had experience with men who have claimed to be prophets and with that claim,
they also give the impression that they are more spiritual also. But in most cases we have met, they are very
ignorant of what Paul has written. And
if men, regardless of their claims, ignore Paul, here we are instructed to
ignore them.
Our
advice to one and all is: Doctrines
contrary to Paul are to be ignored.
VIII Concluding statements
In
these lessons it is our purpose to help you clearly see the following facts:
1. There is a clear
distinction between Israel and the Church.
That the Church has replaced Old Testament Israel is not
scriptural. There is a clear distinction between law and grace.
John 1:17
(17)For the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and
truth revealed by Jesus Christ.
We will only be able to keep these divided if we have learned to
give Israel her place and the Church her place.
2. This in turn will help
us see the distinction between the Sabbath day, the last day of the
week, and the Lord’s Day , the first day of the week.
3. To see clearly that God
is not extending the kingdom today but is rather building His
Church. I am personally
persuaded that “extending the kingdom”, “living in the kingdom” and other such
phrases being used today, originated with the Roman Catholic Church and then were
propagated by Protestant Post-Millennialists.
Most of their sermons equated the kingdom with the Church. Such is not the case. Post-millennialism now, strangely on the
rise, teach about “kingdom living”, the “the kingdom in our lives” and “kingdom
builders.”. And with such teaching
there is little or no emphasis on The Church.
4. In this teaching there
is a lost sense of the members of the Church being citizens of Heaven
(Philippians 3:20-21); of our being “strangers and pilgrims on earth (1 Peter
2:11); and our being Ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20).
Philippians 3:20-21
(20) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence
also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
(21) Who
shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious
body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things
unto himself.
1 Peter 2:11
(11) Dearly beloved, I beseech [you] as strangers
and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
2 Corinthians 5:20
(20) Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as
though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ's stead, be ye
reconciled to God.
As Ambassadors we are foreigners here. This world is not our home. There are only two things that can take a
believer home:
Death:
2 Corinthians 5:6-8
(6) Therefore [we are] always confident, knowing
that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
(7) (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
(8) We are confident, [I say], and willing rather to
be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
or the Rapture:
1 Thessalonians 4:17
(17) Then we which
are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to
meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
We are not here to make the world a
better place in which to live or sin. We
are not here to improve the world. Only
the Creator can do that.
5. We plan to show that
there are two aspects to many Bible doctrines, a fact being ignored by most
theologians today.
a)
There are two major aspects in Bible prophecy as to the ministry
of the Messiah:
1) The sufferings and
2) The glory.
1 Peter 1:11
(11) Searching what,
or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when
it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should
follow.
b)
There were two aspects of the ministry of Christ in His first
Advent:
1)
Pre-cross ministry to
Israel, and
2)
His post-cross ministry to
the Apostles.
c)
There are two major aspects to His Second Advent:
1)
The Rapture, and
2)
The Return
d)
So also are there two aspects to the gospel, the good news:
1)
The gospel of the
Kingdom, and
2)
The gospel of the
grace of God,
the first (i.e., the gospel of the
Kingdom) being a message primarily to Israel; the second (i.e., the gospel of
the grace of God) being a message primarily to the Church
Having
left the message of the gospel of grace to a great degree, the present
generation has lost its sense of real mission.
They are more concerned about the affairs of this life, feeding bodies
rather than saving souls.
I
quote from a history book, “Canada 1900-1945”
The
Social Service Congress in Canada 1914:
a Mr. Gordon said: “This ‘New Church’ would have a ‘passion for men’ and
would seek the Kingdom of Heaven on this earth, not in the next. God’s imminence meant that Christians must
reconstruct society. The emphasis, therefore,
was upon the community, not upon the individual. The ‘New State’ and the ‘New Christianity’
would free themselves from the “Big Individual’ and ‘Big Business’ which
controlled Canadian politics.”
The
emphasis changed from saving souls to improving social conditions on earth. The reform movement emanating from the
Protestant churches was known as the Social Gospel. And it is my opinion that we are seeing
history repeat itself in the evangelical church of our day. The social gospel has never done any good for
fallen humanity. And in my opinion, today
building bigger buildings is to gather bigger crowds so they can minister to
more goats!
God has
called me not to tend goats but to feed sheep!