Radical Things

When Jesus started his earthly ministry, he said some radical things. Certainly, calling the religious elite of his day hypocrites and blind guides was quite out of the ordinary. Claiming that he and the father are one and many of the other things he said caused quite a stir. But what kept his ministry moving forward were the signs he showed day after day. The religious leaders could not argue against the signs of healing and miracles he performed. He was able to keep saying the radical things he said because the miracles proved his message was of God. The fact of the matter is that many of the things he said weren’t really that radical. Jesus told his followers to search the scriptures about him. Much of what Jesus said is found by studying the Old Testament. Jesus spoke regularly of the “Law and the Prophets.” The Apostle Paul also said some very radical things. Paul said the gospel was “his gospel and called it “my gospel.” Paul told us to follow him specifically. This should seem strange to you since you are told to follow what Jesus said in the red letters every Sunday. Paul said the information he was sharing was a mystery that was unknown before he revealed it. This should seem strange to you since you have been taught that Paul just continued what Jesus and the disciples started. This is just the tip of the iceberg for some of the things Paul said. In 1 Corinthians 3 Paul discusses the judgment seat of Christ and very plainly says “I have laid the foundation” and that you need to take heed how YOU build upon it. How can Paul say HE laid the foundation when you are told you are building upon what Jesus started during his earthly ministry? Friend, if you want to have ANY works pass through the judgement seat of Christ shouldn’t you find out why Paul says this? Shouldn’t you know if you should be building upon Jesus’ EARTHLY ministry to Israel or Paul’s ministry to ALL? If you spend your life building upon the things Jesus said to Israel while he was ON THE EARTH, your works WILL NOT pass the judgment seat of Christ. You are clearly told to build upon Jesus’ heavenly ministry he revealed to and through Paul that gives GRACE to EVERONE. These two ministries are clearly separate in scripture. I understand you have been taught they are the same your whole life, but the Bible does not teach this. I want you to get on board with what Jesus is doing NOW in the age of grace you are living in. Paul said some VERY radical things. But I remind you of this, Paul had the sign gifts early in his ministry for the same reason Jesus did. To show his message to be true. Healing and miracles in the Bible are to show the person and the message is legitimate and OF GOD. Paul’s doctrine was proven legitimate by the sign gifts Paul used early in his ministry. Paul says YOUR work today WILL NOT pass the test of the judgement seat of Christ unless it is built upon the mystery Jesus revealed TO PAUL(I Cor 3:9-15). The command of the scripture to follow Paul today is what separates traditional Christians that spiritualize so much of the Bible with a person that believes the Bible AS WRITTEN. You should ask yourself “Why Paul?” Understanding this question is the key to understanding the entire Bible and what Jesus is doing TODAY. You will not understand the radical things both Jesus and Paul said without separating what God has separated in scripture.