THE NECESSITY OF KNOWING PAUL'S WRITINGS -
By – Win Johnson
1. Paul is God's messenger and apostle to the Gentiles, therefore, he who knows not Paul's Gospel is ignorant of what God has to say in these times of the Gentiles.
2. Paul's letters constitute an INDEPENDENT and COMPLETE body of doctrine. They reveal not only God's method of salvation in this age, but also the true character, calling and destiny of the Church. These various secrets called 'mysteries', which must be known by every' intelligent believer of the Gospel in this age (and there are more than a dozen of these 'mysteries') are also revealed by Paul's letters. Consequently, they reveal how men are to worship God in this dispensation, and what the order of creation is: so that if you are ignorant of Paul's letters, you are, and shall be ignorant of all real and genuine knowledge. Knowledge whiG1Lthe-schOOlOf men imparts is either facts about the present world or vain imaginations of philosophers.
3. He who is ignorant of Paul's letters has no place of certainty in his soul. In the four Gospels, Christ is dealing with the Jews. (Matt. 15 and Romans 15:8), James and Peter with Jewish believers, and the Book of Revelation with what is coming on the world after the true Church is taken away; so Paul's letters remain alone to instruct the Gentile believer regarding his PLACE and PRIVILEGES in CHRIST. However much the other portions of Scripture may instruct the Gentile believer, he knows that they are not PRIMARILY comcening him. The Jewish believer also, as Peter testifies, in his second epistle, last chapter, must go with humility and obedience to Paul's letters for ins tructions in many things, indeed the vital things of the nature and constitution of the Church of God in this age, where circumcision and uncircumcision disappear.
4. He that is ignorant of Paul's writings has rejected, or at least neglected, messages that our Risen Lord, who has sent the epistles of Paul to us Gentiles, intended that we should constantly read, learn and abide in. No Apostle speaks with authority to Gentiles but Paul. Therefore, he that remains ignorant of Paul's letters, highly displeases, by his neglect, the Son of God, and therefore, God the Father.
S. He that remaineth ignorant of Paul's letters, may well be threatened with that terrible curse which Paul told the Galatians would fall on ANYONE who taught or preached any other Gospel than tha t which he (Paul) had announced.
6. He that remaineth ignorant of Paul's epistles, or readeth them lightly, will not become established. Paul .distinctly declares this (Read Rom. 16:25; Galatians 1:11-12; I Tim. 1:10-11).
7. No preacher ignorant of, or doubtful in, the epistles of Paul can preach with authority from God, not that Paul gives authority; but Paul has spoken with authority from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Chris t those grea t facts which concern Chris t and the purposes of God in Him, which pertain to this present age, and no man can Neglect, Reject, Despise, or Treat Doubtfully these Pauline Epistles and have divine authority in his ministry. This is the great cause of the weakness and childish worldliness of this day that it KNOWS . OT, or knowing, DESPISES the words of the Lord's great Apostle to the Gentiles; therefore, the J ewistical hash, and philosophical trash that is being served up today.
Also the so called "Social Service Gospel," and the emasculated word "Evangelism" of the present day as contrasted with the Gospel of the Grace of God.
8. Finally, he that is ignorant of Paul's Gospel, cannot have certainty of his own salvation nor lead others into ASSURANCE. Paul is Christ's messenger sent to you and to me by a Risen Christ Who appeared to him on the Damascus Road, sending him as a special commissioner to us to inform us, in the most expressed terms, of what Christ did at Calvary. This Knowledge of What God did in Christ at Calvary when believed, brings salvation, assurance and all other blessings.
The Epistles of Paul
Canonical Order (Doctrinal Significance)
CHRIST and HIS CROSS
Romans Doctrine & Instruction
1,2 Corinthians Reproof for Practical Failure
Galatians Correction of Doctrinal Error
CHRIST and HIS CHURCH
Ephesians Doctrine & Instruction
Philippians Reproof for Practical Failure
Colossians Correction of Doctrinal Error
CHRIST and HIS COMING
1,2 Thessalonians Doctrine & Instruction
PASTORAL EPISTLES Pastoral Instruction
1,2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon
Chronological Order (Dispensational Significance)
Pre-Prison Epistles (written during the Acts Period)
During this time Paul had a unique ministry (1 Cor. 9:19-23), to the Jew first, then the Gentile. Thus we see miracles, signs, and the practice of the Jewish law still in effect. The mystery was not yet fully revealed. We must "rightly divide" these epistles.
1 Thessalonians - from Corinth (AD 52)
2 Thessalonians - from Corinth (AD 53)
1 Corinthians - from Ephesus (AD 57)
2 Corinthians - from Ephesus (AD 57)
Galatians - from Corinth (AD 57)
Romans - from Corinth (AD 58)
Prison Epistles (written after close of the Acts Period)
Israel, as a nation, being set aside at the close of the Acts period, miracles, signs, and observance of the Jewish law ceases. The mystery is fully revealed making known God's purpose for His church today, during this present dispensation of grace.
Ephesians - from Rome (AD 62)
Philippians - from Rome (AD 62)
Colossians - from Rome (AD 62)
Philemon - from Rome (AD 62)
1 Timothy - from Corinth (AD 67)
Titus - from Corinth (AD 67)
2 Timothy - from Rome (AD 68)
How
God Saves Men
Believing
Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing
Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
ead
Acts 16L31 Romans 1:16, and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4
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