Simply Paul
Bible
Matters 551: Simply Paul
To help in understanding a message, the reader needs to understand where
the author is coming from. There are eight
New Testament witnesses. Matthew, John,
Peter, James and Jude walked with Jesus.
From their testimony, Mark and Luke also walked with Jesus as disciples. Paul had high regard for Mark’s
doctrine. Mark was profitable for the
ministry.
2 Timothy 4:11 – Only Luke is with me. Take
Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
Matthew, Mark and Luke wrote similar gospels
of Jesus’s walk on earth. They were
similar, but different enough to lead you to believe that the gospels were not
copied. Paul had high required for
Mark’s doctrine and he took Luke with him!
Of the eight witnesses, only Paul was in the ministry of the Jews as a
Pharisee. Pharisees practiced the laws
and works of religion, thus complying with the Jewish faith. In the Bible, the Pharisees were an
influential religious and political group within Judaism who strictly observed
the Law of Moses. Their name means “the separated ones,” as they
isolated themselves to study scripture and maintain strict purity.
Key aspects of the Pharisees include:
- Beliefs: They believed in both the
written Torah and an oral tradition of laws, the afterlife, and the
resurrection of the dead.
- Practices: They were dedicated to
applying God’s laws to daily, practical life, which helped lay the
foundation for modern Judaism.
Paul lived the works of religion, every
single day of his life. It was his
life. These was no simple tasks as Paul
was living the doctrine established by the Old Testament prophets over 2000
years from the time of Abraham to the time of Jesus.
The tithe was created to provide a living to
the Levites, in charge of the church.
Leviticus 27:32 – And concerning the tithe of
the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passes under the rod, the tenth
shall be holy unto the LORD.
The first fruits were offered as a sacrifice
to their Lord God.
2 Chronicles 31:5-6,12 – And as soon as the
commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the first
fruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field;
and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly. And concerning the children of Israel and
Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of
oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the
LORD their God, and laid them by heaps.
And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things
faithfully: over which Cononiah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother
was the next.
Deuteronomy 12:11 – Then there shall be a
place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there;
thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your
sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your
choice vows which ye vow unto the LORD:
Every
Middle Eastern country knew of the works of the Jewish faith. They knew of the Lord God that destroyed the
Egyptian army. When the Jews went to
conquer Jericho, Rahab gave testimony as to the known power of the Lord God.
Joshua 2:1,4,8-12 – And Joshua the son of Nun
sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even
Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot’s house, named Rahab, and
lodged there. And the woman took the two
men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence
they were: And before they were laid
down, she came up unto them upon the roof;
And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land,
and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the
land faint because of you. For we have
heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out
of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the
other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. And as soon as we had heard these things, our
hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because
of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth
beneath. Now therefore, I pray you,
swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also
shew kindness unto my father’s house, and give me a true token:
The power of God and works of the Jewish
religion were known all the way to Rome.
So, when Paul was sent by God to go to Rome, Paul knew that he had to
speak on these religious works.
Religious works that were not required for the salvation message
delivered by Jesus.
Romans 4:1-4 – What shall we say then that
Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he
hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted
unto him for righteousness. Now to him
that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
Paul knew that the gift of salvation promised
to the Jews and Gentiles did not require religious works. Circumcision was the number one work to enter
into the Jewish faith. Paul tells you in
Corinthian that circumcision means nothing.
1 Corinthians 7:19 – Circumcision is nothing,
and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
Paul does tell you that living a life unto
righteousness, following the commandments of God are expected. Do not lead a life unto sin, walking with the
devil. God is looking for your works of
Love.
Galatians 5:5-6,13-16 – For we through the
Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither
circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by
love. For, brethren, ye have been called
unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love
serve one another. For all the law is
fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of
another. This I say then, Walk in the
Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
In Acts, when certain men came down from
Judea pushing religious works for salvation, both Paul and Peter spoke out
against such works.
Acts 15:1,5,10-11 – And certain men which
came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised
after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. But there rose up certain of the
sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise
them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. Now therefore why tempt ye
God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers
nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord
Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
So, when Paul speaks in Ephesians on works,
he is speaking of religious works. Any
religious work introduced by man to require man to be involved in your walk
with God, means nothing. You are saved
by grace and not religious works. Your
walk is with God, and not living man’s religion and his religious works. That man at the jail gave testimony to living
his life walking with the devil after being baptized with water twice. He stated that the water baptism did nothing
in sanctifying his walk with the Lord.
Ephesians 2:8-9 – For by grace are ye saved
through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Paul immediately follows this statement of
freedom from man’s religious works to tell you that God is looking for you to
reaffirm your faith through good works toward your fellow man.
Ephesians 2:10 – For we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we
should walk in them.
Always be ready to
share good works with your neighbor. Peter
and Paul fought against works of religion.
Both advocate for you to perform good works of love. Do that which is good and be afraid to do
evil.
Romans 13:1-4, 12-14 –
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of
God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Whosoever therefore resists the power, resists the ordinance of God: and
they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works,
but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is
good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that
which is evil, be afraid; for he bears not the sword in vain: for he is the
minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. The
night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of
darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in
the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not
in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not
provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
1 Peter 2:12 – Having
your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against
you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify
God in the day of visitation.
Some of you may
disagree with me. Howard Pittman spent a
life time preaching saved by grace without works. He died and at the gates of hell, was
confronted with this verse, spoken of by the devil.
Hebrews 9:27 – And as
it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Ask yourself that if
Howard was saved by grace and nothing else, then why didn’t he waltz right into
heaven. God told Howard that his works
were an abomination. Once you die, it is
too late. Perform good works, walk in
righteousness and be ready to feed the flock of God. Not for filthy lucre but of a ready mind.
Romans 8:4 – That the
righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the
flesh, but after the Spirit.
1 Peter 5:2 – Feed the
flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by
constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
To God be the glory in all you do, Amen.