The letters of the Apostle Paul encompass a large portion of the New Testament. Unfortunately, the majorities of society misunderstands the writings of Paul and start philosophies and mislead congregations by the “writings” in Paul’s letters.
What has to be clearly understood in reading the letters of Paul is that Paul is a true follower of Christ. Nothing in Paul’s epistles supercedes or contradicts the teachings of Christ. Paul was a hired obedient servant of God and Christ.
1st Corinthians 11:1: “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”
Verse 2: “Now I praise you, brethren that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances (Meaning keep the laws) as I delivered them unto you.”
2nd Corinthians 2:17: “For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.”
Furthermore, the Apostle Peter addressed the letters of Paul. Peter understood that the letters Paul wrote could easily confuse those that are unlearned and unstable in the Holy Scriptures.
2nd Peters 3:15: “And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;”
Peter explains in this Epistle the longsuffering (patience and mercy) of our Lord JesusChrist is that Israel repent to attain salvation (Read 2nd Peter 3:9). In which our beloved brother Paul also wrote of in his epistles.
2nd Peter 3:16: “As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.”
The Apostle Paul wrote how to repent and follow Christ in the keeping of the commandments. However unlearned men and women gather Paul’s writings of salvation which are hard to be understood; and because they are unlearned and unstable about keeping God’s commandments they wrest (Struggle with their lusts) / twist the understanding of the scriptures which lead themselves and others to destruction. As a result, many teach doctrines that are contrary to the scriptures and solely base their philosophies/lies upon the letters of Paul.
Some of the doctrines taught today by the unlearned and unstable are as follows:
1. The laws are done away with.(usually based on Acts 15 & Galatians 3:11)
2. Disobedience to Dietary Laws.(usually based on 1Timothy 4:4)
3. Defiling the Sabbath and Holy Days.(usually based on Romans 14:5,6 & Galatians 4:9-11 & Col.2:16)
Usually, those that teach the laws are done away with base their deceit/doctrine on Acts the 15th Chapter to begin with followed by Paul’s epistles. They take hold of certain scriptures in the letters of Paul and isolate them. Forgetting that the Lord taught us how we should learn the Scriptures. (Read Isaiah 28:9-11)
Isaiah 28:10: “For precept must be upon precept, line upon line, here a little and there a little:”
Meaning each scripture must clearly balance with the other scriptures so that one has the proper understanding in the bible.
In addition, Paul clearly states that the laws must be kept in the faith of Christ
Romans 3:31: “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid, yea we establish the law.”
Meaning do we then disobey the laws because of Christ? “God forbid” means NO! “yea we establish the law” means We must keep the Law.
None of the Apostles, James, John nor Peter have anything in their writings that appear to say that the laws are done away with. Which is why false teachers stick with the Letters of Paul.
2nd Peters 3:17: “Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.”
Now that you have been warned; beware lest ye fall into the error of the wicked and become offended by the wisdom of the Heavenly Father hence losing your salvation.
2nd Peters 3:18: “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”
Our desire is that all our brothers and sisters grow in the grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Therefore what follows will clearly depict who is unlearned and unstable in the scriptures.
Psalms 111:10: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments : his praise endureth for ever.”
It is evident throughout the bible those who keep the commandments of God have a good understanding of the bible. On the contrary, those who twist the words of Paul are confounded in their doctrine.
To obtain wisdom we must possess the fear of the Lord which is the keeping of his laws, statutes and commandments (Read Deuteronomy 6:2). It is a fear of the most High’s judgment that drives us to repentance and obedience to him (Read Proverbs 16:6 and Apocrypha Ecclesiasticus 1:21). Those who keep the commandments of God the scripture said have a good understanding.
A problem with our people is that they reject what is written in the Old Testament. Due to this fact they do not uphold the laws of the Heavenly Father but reject it as invalid to the faith of Christ. As a result they lack the understanding of the bible. Let us examine the scriptures to see whether we should reject what was written by the prophets of old (before Christ came).
It is the fear of judgement from the Most High that leads us to repenting and obeying his commandments. ( Read Proverbs 16:6 & Ecclesiasticus 1:21) .
The misunderstandings of the letters of Paul have led many of our people to reject the laws recorded in the Old Testament. Unfortunately, the Old Testament is viewed by our people as unprofitable in following Christ. Let us see if the Apostle Paul rejected the understanding of the Old Testament.
Romans 15:4: “For whatsoever things written aforetime(Meaning the OLD TESTAMENT) were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.“
2nd Timothy 3:16: “All scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
The “All scripture” Paul is referring to is the whole bible beginning with Genesis in the Old Testament because when he wrote this epistle to Timothy the New Testament had not yet been completed. Nonetheless Paul is reaffirming to Timothy to take heed to all the scriptures. Read Christ response to Satan in Matthew 4:4 “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone but by EVERY WORD that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
Verse 17: “ That the man of God may be perfect, ( Read 1st Kings 8:61) , throughly furnished unto all good works.”
Hebrews 10:7: ” Then said I, Lo I come in the volume of the book it is written of me to do thy will of God. “
Paul is testifying that Christ is in the Volume of the Book (the whole bible).
John 5:46: “For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me, for he wrote of me. “
Verse 47: “But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words.“
Christ is teaching us not to reject the writings of Moses. Moses wrote of Christ from the beginning in the book of Genesis (see Jesus the Messiah).
Matthew 5:17: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy but to fulfill.”
Christ came and fulfilled the prophecies regarding his sacrifice for Israel, read Luke 24:44. Christ did not come to do away with the laws of the bible. Christ taught the commandments of the Bible and how Israel ought to repent and keep the laws in the mercy of Christ.
Matthew 5: 18: “Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one title shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”
The one jot or one tittle that passed from the law when Christ fulfilled his sacrifice for Israel are those laws that pertained specifically to the Levitical priesthood also called the Covenant of Levi in Malachi 2:8 & Nehemiah 13:29. The Apostle Paul explains that Christ brought about a change in the law wherein the Levitical Priesthood passed from the law, read Hebrews chapters 7,8,9 and 10.
Let’s read on though and see what Christ commanded us.
Matthew 5:19: “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
What are some least commandments? Let’s read Matthew 23:23 “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have omitted the heavier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”
Proving the least commandments were tithes of your spices but the heavier more important matters of the law is judgment, mercy, and faith but Christ reminded them not to disobey the least commandments of tithing spices.
Today however many antichrists have arisen teaching the people to disobey the Sabbath and High Holydays, dietary laws, dress code etc. and foolishly justify themselves in the writings of Paul. Those that follow that heresy shall not make it to the kingdom.
“But whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
Proving the will of God for us in Christ is to do the commandments and teach the commandments to make it to the kingdom.
Let’s quickly read a prophesy about Christ, Isaiah 42:21: “The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness sake; he will magnify the Law, and make it honorable.”
1st Peters 2:6: “Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious (Christ) : and he that believeth on him(keep the laws in his name) shall not be confounded.”
Verse 7: “Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient (willfully disobey God’s laws) the stone which the builders disallowed
(Pharisees/teachers rejecting Christ), the same is made the head of the corner
The same one they rejected-Christ is made the leader of Israel.”
Verse 8: “And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.”
The true Christ is an offence to them which stumble regarding the word of God because they are disobedient to God’s commandments: whereunto they were appointed to be so.
Colossians 2:8: “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”
Apocrypha Ecclesiasticus 6:18: “My son, gather instruction from thy youth up: so shalt thou find wisdom till thine old age.” Verse 20 “She is very unpleasant to the unlearned: he that is without understanding will not remain with her.” Verse 37 “Let thy mind be upon the ordinances of the Lord and meditate continually in his commandments: he shall establish thine heart, and give thee wisdom at thine owns desire.”
Here the Bible is teaching us that wisdom is unpleasant to the unlearned and he will not remain/continue with her.
Apocrypha Ecclesiasticus 33:2: “A wise man hateth not the law; but he that is an hypocrite therein is as a ship in a storm.”
An hypocrite or one that hates the laws of the Heavenly Father is like a ship tossed by the waves of the sea in a storm which is not stable.
Ephesians 4:14: ” That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine (lies), by the sleight (tricks) of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.“
Unfortunately, there are many of our Brothers and Sisters who are unstable /unlearned and deceived by false teachers/doctrines.
Remember 2Timothy 3:16 says that all scripture is profitable for doctrine and for reproof.
Proverbs 1:30: “They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.”
God’s counsel for reproof is his laws, let’s read what Paul told the believers about God’s counsel/ his laws.
Acts 20:27: “For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.”
verse 28 “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”
verse 29: “for I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.”
verse 30: “Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”
Again Paul reminds us;
1Timothy 4:1: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
verse 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;”
Therefore we encourage everyone to repent and keep the laws in Christ with sincerity. The understanding of the letters of Paul will come after you follow suit in Repenting and keeping the laws in Christ. (Read Hebrews 5:12) Remember Christ hired the Apostle Paul to teach the same thing He himself taught, not to contradict.
Hebrews 2:1: ” Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip“
Shalom!
