Following Paul as He Followed The Lord Jesus Christ

Biblical Discernment
Following Paul as he Followed The Lord Jesus Christ
jacksdon@gmail.com
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1Co 14:37 If any man1536 think himself1380 to be1511 a prophet,4396 or2228 spiritual,4152 let him acknowledge1921 that3754 the things that3739 I write1125 unto you5213 are1526 the commandments1785 of the3588 Lord.2962
2Pe 3:15 And2532 account2233 that the3588 longsuffering3115 of our2257 Lord2962 is salvation;4991 even as2532 our2257 beloved27 brother80 Paul3972 also2532 according2596 to the3588 wisdom4678 given1325 unto him846 hath written1125 unto you;5213
2Pe 3:16 As5613 also2532 in1722 all3956 his epistles,1992 speaking2980 in1722 them846 of4012 these things;5130 in1722 which3739 are2076 some things5100 hard to be understood,1425 which3739 they that are unlearned261 and2532 unstable793 wrest,4761 as5613 they do also2532 the3588 other3062 Scriptures,1124 unto4314 their848 own2398 destruction.684

Paul writes to the Corinthians that the things that he writes are the “commands of the Lord” [Jesus Christ]. And Peter, writing to Israel, indicates that in all of Paul’s epistles there are some things “hard to understand.”

Why would Peter say that Paul writes, in all his epistles, some things that are “hard to understand” if he and Paul preached the same gospel? Also, in verse 15, Peter indicates that Paul has written an epistle to the Hebrews.

Christendom, as a whole, generally denies Paul’s special revelation[s] for the Body of Christ. It is taught that Paul and Peter preached the same things. How could this be??????
The denominational seminaries almost without exception, embrace the “spiritualized” method of Bible study. You will recognize this as the Covenant/Reformed approach. The result of this method of Bible teaching can clearly be seen in today’s churches. Over time, spiritualizing the verses has resulted in a very shallow and carnal type of Christianity. Because of this method of “teaching,” it is not uncommon for a Christian to remain a spiritual baby his entire Christian life. God never intended the seminaries to stunt Christian growth, but sermons are commonly so shallow and spiritualized as to be of little value to the serious student of the Word of God. And it is routine for pastors to follow Peter and designate Paul as just another apostle. How many denominational churches do you know where the pastor is trying to preach and usher in the “kingdom” by spiritualizing Scriptures?

Note the following verses: Paul writing Scripture “hard to understand.”

1Co 11:1 Be1096 ye followers3402 of me,3450 even as2531 I also2504 am of Christ.5547

1Co 4:16 Wherefore3767 I beseech3870 you,5209 be1096 ye followers3402 of me.3450

2Ti 2:7 Consider3539 what3739 I say;3004 and1063 the3588 Lord2962 give1325 thee4671 understanding4907 in1722 all things.3956
2Ti 2:8 Remember3421 that Jesus2424 Christ5547 of1537 the seed4690 of David1138 was raised1453 from1537 the dead3498 according2596 to my3450 gospel:2098

If Peter and Paul were preaching the same message [in the gospels and Acts], then Paul makes a strange statement in Galatians 2:7 –

Gal 2:7 But235 contrariwise,5121 when they saw1492 that3754 the3588 gospel2098 of the3588 uncircumcision203 was committed4100 unto me, as2531 the gospel of the3588 circumcision4061 was unto Peter;4074
Later, after Paul met with James, Peter and John, they began to understand that Paul’s message was different from theirs and they began to apprehend the good news of the cross that Paul preached.