Our Appointed Apostle Paul
One of the first things to learn about rightly divided bible study is regarding our appointed Apostle for today.
Romans 11: 13 in the KJB says, "For I [the Apostle Paul] speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:"
Most of Christendom doesn't seem to see this verse in their Bible. It's like they have been blinded to it. But no wonder because that is Satan's policy of evil against us. He doesn't want believers to know that Paul is our Apostle today or to know or understand anything about rightly divided bible study (Satan tries to hide other important doctrines as well) and the grace message.
2 Corinthians 4:4
“In whom the god of this world [Satan] 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.”
1 Tim 1 says "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;" And again in Romans 11: 13 it says, "For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:" Paul wasn't being full of himself- he's clearly stating that He was sent by the risen and ascended Lord Jesus Christ!
But WHY was Paul sent? The Lord Jesus Christ said in Acts 9:15
“But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:”
In 1 Timothy 1: 12- 16 Paul says, "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting."
So, Paul is our pattern. We are to follow Paul in his Epistles as He followed Christ. 1 Cor 11 verse, 1 says, "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ." This does not mean worshipping Paul! This does mean that our doctrine is in Paul's Epistles. Paul's Epistles are Jesus's teachings for us today!
Paul also suffered greatly for the Ministry. 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 says,
"23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches."
He faced much opposition from unbelievers, the Jewish religious leaders, messianic Jews that were trying to put believers under the law, a variety of "false brethren", and from carnally-minded believers too. Satan was so opposed to the new dispensation of grace that he tried everything to destroy Paul's ministry and even today, most of Christendom is blinded to rightly divided bible study.
Paul writes specifically to Jews and Gentiles that are saved in the dispensation of grace. He begins every epistle stating who the author is and to whom he's writing. The Hebrew Epistles of Hebrews through Revelation are addressed specifically to the Jews going through the tribulation period and has to do with their earthly prophetic program. Romans through Philemon is addressed to the church the Body of Christ and has to do with our heavenly program. Have you ever noticed this before? As we continue to learn about rightly dividing, you will come to see the distinctions more for yourself. It will help to clarify many things in scripture that you may have been confused about. Without this clear understanding of who Paul is and where our doctrine is laid, we could be more easily carried away with every wind of doctrine, you won't be living properly according to the will of God, and your spiritual life and Christian walk will suffer. Next week we will discuss the dispensational transition.
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