Are You Prepared For Eternity?
Are You Saved?
Do You Believe Paul's Gospel?
Created, Corrected or Updated 02/04/12
All references are KJV unless otherwise stated
This Study has 9 pages
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Read these three questions above from top to bottom, then answer them from bottom to top. Like this: If you believe Paul's gospel of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery that was hid in God before the world began, then you are saved; if you are saved then you are ready for eternity! I say Paul's gospel of the grace of God as opposed to Peter's gospel of the kingdom. My friend Peter's gospel of the kingdom is fully under the law. But, Paul's gospel is pure grace. These two gospels are completely different!
Below are three very Important absolutes in Scripture!
Absolute # 1: Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Absolute # 2: Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Absolute # 3: Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
You may have heard, or perhaps you have read: Jesus Christ never changes; He is the same yesterday, today and for ever. My friend this is a very true statement and here is Scriptural proof to back it up.
Hebrews 13:8.
v8. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.
But do not be confused! The Lord Jesus Christ's attributes never change. But He has changed the way He deals with men from time to time. And these times of change are called dispensations. Today we live in the dispensation of the grace of God. This dispensation was a secret, hid in the mind of God until God gave it to the apostle Paul for the Gentiles, kings and the children of Israel. It replaced the kingdom gospel for now, but only until the tribulation begins. At that time the church which is called His body must be removed from planet earth. Then at that time the kingdom gospel will be reinstated and be the only gospel for the lost world of that day.
The Lord Jesus Christ chose the apostle Paul to lead this dispensation of the Grace of God. In this dispensation Christ created the one new man made up of Jew and Gentile alike. This new creation is called the body of Christ. Did you know that after Acts 28:28 new Jewish believers had to switch to Paul's gospel of the grace of God for salvation, because their kingdom gospel program was set aside at that time? But, don't loose sight of this fact, the gospel of the kingdom will return during the tribulation, but the church which is called the body of Christ has to be removed before the tribulation can begin.
Ephesians 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;
Brothers and sisters in Christ the rapture is our blessed hope. Many so called men of God frown at the word rapture; many theologians hate the word because they are guilty of not rightly dividing the Word of Truth. In that they claim the wrong dispensation for their own, but I am afraid there is no salvation for the world today in that other dispensation.
1Thessalonians 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
My friend the wrath to come is the tribulation, and we have been delivered from the tribulation, by the catching away or the rapture of the church before the tribulation can start.
The Lord Jesus Christ Chose the apostle Paul for the Gentiles!
Romans 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
The moment we believe Paul's gospel, 1Corinthians 15:1-4,. We are baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit without a drop of water. Therefore we are the body of Christ. And our pattern for everlasting life is the apostle Paul. Salvation for the entire world today is only be found in the Scriptures written for us by the apostle Paul; starting with Romans through Philemon. Paul wrote by inspiration that all of the other Scriptures were written for our learning. But if we do not believe Paul's gospel, all of these other Scriptures are of little eternal value for us. We can apply 2Timothy 3:7 to all of our learning if Paul's gospel is hid from us!
2Timothy 3:7. Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Romans 15:4. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
2Corinthians 4:3-4
v3. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: v4. In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Let me clarify what gospel the apostle Paul is talking about when he said, if our gospel be hid. Our gospel is the gospel of the grace of God, which is the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery. The Lord Jesus Christ said, in Matthew 15:24 concerning His earthly ministry, "I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel". Truly Christ could not accommodate the Gentiles until after His death, burial, resurrection and ascension back to the Father. That is why He commanded the twelve, go not in the way of the Gentiles, go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Before Christ's ascension back to the Father, He told the twelve go ye into all the world and preach the gospel of the kingdom to every creature, but you must win Israel first.
We must realize, the twelve could not possibly preach the gospel of the grace of God to every creature, because at that time the gospel of the grace of God was still a secret hid in the mind of God. When Christ walked here on the earth His ministry was to the Jews only!
Matthew 15:24 But Jesus answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Matthew 10:5-6 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: v6. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
The twelve had to win Jerusalem, Judaea, and Samaria, first then go into all the world and preach the gospel of the kingdom! Brothers and sisters in Christ our gospel is not the gospel of the kingdom that Christ told the twelve to preach. Our gospel is the gospel of the grace of God! That God told Paul to preach! But if the twelve had gone into all the world they would have preached the gospel of the kingdom to every creature just like Jesus told them to do. We would all have to be water baptized by men in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Whereby all Gentile believers would be under the Mosaic law. Not under the pure grace of God that Paul preached.
God's promises made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob for Israel can be found in Genesis chapter 12 through Acts 28:28. The gospel of the kingdom declares that Christ was not sent to the Gentiles, He was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Christ could have nothing to do with the Gentiles by law until after His death, burial and resurrection and ascension back to the Father. Matthew 10:5,6 was not just a suggestion for the twelve, they were commands. Read them again for your self.
Matthew 10:5-6.
v5.These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: v6. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
When I was a youngster, the church that I attended, along with most of the other churches of that persuasion preach continually you must ask Jesus Christ into your heart, repent and be baptized for the remission of sin and be saved. Today many so called Christians change the wording of Acts 2:38 to say, be baptized because you are saved. But that is not what Acts 2:38 says at all! Acts 2:38 is not to and for the church the body of Christ it is for the Jews only. The apostle Paul explains that we must study to show ourselves approved unto God workmen that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Acts 2:38
v38. 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.
Can you see how things would get a little fuzzy at this point? And no wonder, Acts 2:38 is still under the law, but we are not under the law, and that would be mixing law and grace. The command to repent and be baptized eliminates this verse from use by the body of Christ. Because in 1Corinthians 1:17 Paul said, for Christ sent me not to baptize but to preach the gospel. Acts 2:38 says repent and be baptized for the remission of sin. Therefore Acts 2:38 can not the instructions for salvation for the church the body of Christ! 1Corinthians 1:17 is the instructions for the church the body of Christ concerning water baptism.
At the beginning of Paul's ministry even the Corinthians receive the sign gifts such as speaking in tongues etc. But finally all sign gifts ceased in Acts 28:28; at that same time even the apostle Paul's super natural sign gifts disappeared. Paul, could not heal his helpers either. Now, here is my question: how can there be a healing ministry today, when God even took that ministry from the apostle Paul? The only healing ministry for today is that of the spirit, our spirit is dead until we believe the gospel and the Holy Spirit baptizes us into the body of Christ.
1Corinthians 15:1-4 is the gospel in a nut shell for the church the body of Christ! But in Israel's kingdom program the Jews were required only to believe that Jesus was the Christ the Son of the living God and they had to keep the law. But, under Paul's gospel of the grace of God the Gentiles need only to believe in Christ's finished work on the cross plus nothing. Only believe the Gospel!
What did Paul and Silas tell the Philippian jailer:
Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
According to this verse, a very good question would be: What should I believe concerning the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved? And the answer is believe the gospel 1Corinthians 15:1-4, and know what you believe. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ simply means: believe in Christ's finished work on the cross, believe that He died for our sins, that He arose again the third day, and He ascended back to the Father's right hand to make intercession for us; this is Paul's gospel concerning Christ. Romans 16:25 tells us which gospel is ours, and 1Corinthians 15:1-4 is that gospel.
Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to establish 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,
(1Corinthians 15:1-4):
v1. Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; v2. By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. v3. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; v4. And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
If we choose not to believe Paul's gospel, 1Corinthians 15:1-4, look at these two verses! Remember, God said, the apostle Paul is the apostle of the Gentiles. We are saved by the gospel that Paul preached. Paul's gospel comes directly from the risen and glorified Lord Jesus Christ in heaven.
2Corinthians 4:3-4:
v3. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: v4. In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
According to Romans 16:25; Paul's gospel is the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery. And 1Corinthians 15:1-4 is Paul's gospel in a nut shell. Before Christ's ascension, Paul's gospel was hid in the mind of God even before the world began. Paul's gospel is not the same gospel the Lord Jesus Christ and His twelve kingdom apostles preached when He walked here on earth. They preached the gospel of the kingdom to the Jews only, because Christ was sent, to the Jews only, to fulfill the promises made to the fathers.
It took Christ's death, burial, resurrection and ascension back to the Father before He, Christ could send salvation to the Gentiles. In John 12:24 Jesus is speaking of His own death burial and resurrection that would bring forth much fruit, salvation for the Jews and Gentiles that form the body of Christ.
John 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
We are part of that fruit not by asking Jesus into our hearts, nor is it from repenting and being baptized and keeping the law. All we have to do is believe the gospel that is outlined in 1Corinthians 15:1-4. Far to many so called Christians say, no! no! that is just to easy, that can't be right. But, don't be to quick to shout easy believism, because Christ did not save us to sit, He saved us to serve.
Keep in mind, all of salvation's work was done by the Lord Jesus Christ, in His death, burial, resurrection and ascension back to the Father's right hand, and yes the easy part is ours. Believe the gospel and serve! Serve by telling or showing others about the Lord Jesus Christ, but before you start telling others, make sure you know what you are talking about. Make sure you proclaim the right dispensation, the dispensation of the grace of God. The kingdom gospel of the twelve is set aside for now, waiting for the tribulation, and the tribulation is not ours!
The Bible is comprised of 66 books, transcribed by at least forty different writers but, it has only one author, God the Holy Spirit. The first 11 chapters of Genesis were written for all mankind by Moses, starting with Genesis chapter 12 it is all Jewish. Thirteen books were written by the apostle Paul for the body of Christ; Six books were written before he received the complete revelation of the mystery and seven books were written after he received the complete revelation of the mystery. Take a look at 2Timothy 3:16!
2Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
We should read and study the entire Bible. But only Paul's writings are to us, for us and about us. The rest of the Scriptures are for our learning. Romans through Philemon are ours and we must study these books diligently.
Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Although we use all of the Scriptures, God gave us a certain portion for our appropriation; and that portion starts with Romans through Philemon. But again we must not neglect the rest of the Scriptures, they are back ground for our learning and we must know them as well. Now let's see, where does the apostle Paul get the authority to say follow me as I follow Christ?
Acts 9:13-15
v13. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: v14. And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. v15. But the Lord said unto Ananias, Go thy way: for Paul is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Romans 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
1Corinthians 4:16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
1Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Philippians. 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example.
Roman Road To Salvation
These six verses are respectfully call the Roman road to salvation. Why the Roman road Why not the four gospel road or the Jewish road to salvation? The best reason I can find is: Paul is the Apostle for the body of Christ, Jew and Gentile alike and we must be in the body of Christ to be saved.
Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:12 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:
Romans 10: 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
The Wages Of Sin
The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord, if we believe the gospel. The gospel of salvation in a nut shell is to believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins that He was buried and after three nights and three days He arose again from the dead, that He ascended back to the Father's right hand where He makes intercession for us. 1Corinthians 15:1-4 is the basic gospel in a nut shell!
In the Jewish economy repent and be baptized for the remission of sin was required, but it is no longer valid. In this dispensation of the grace of God, the apostle Paul calls for anathema on any one who preaches that gospel. Repent and be baptized has been set aside along with the nation Israel. We must understand that the kingdom program is fully under the law, and God has put it on hold, until the church the body of Christ's is full. The church the body of Christ is not under the law therefore we will be removed before the kingdom gospel is preached in all the world. We have been reconciled to God through the cross of Jesus Christ by believing the gospel 1Corinthians 15:1-4.
The Lord Jesus Christ paid all of our sin debt in full on His cross; all we need is to believe Paul's gospel from God, to be saved. On the other hand if we do not believe the gospel of Jesus Christ we are bound eternally for the lake of fire. There is no middle ground! Believe and be saved or believe not and be forever damned. God gave mankind a free will, if we are lost for eternity it is our free will that brought us to that position, we can not blame God.
It is we who must choose!
If you have any questions or comments please.