What Kind Of Gospel Did Paul Preach?
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles Tags: Bible Lessons on PaulThe Apostle Paul says God had chosen the Thessalonians (2 Thessalonians 2:13) and “called you by our gospel for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 2:14). The letter to the Galations reveals to us the kind of gospel Paul preached:
It is an exclusive gospel — “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:8-9 – NKJV).
It is a revealed gospel (Gal. 1:11-12) — The gospel Paul preached was not a social gospel, nor the product of man’s wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:4; 2 Peter 1:16). Its essence had been sent from heaven, by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:1-5)
It is an uncompromising gospel — When its principle (one truth for all) was at stake, “we did not yield submission even for an hour” (Gal. 2:3-5). When the apostle Peter, through human weakness, “was not straightforward about the truth of the gospel,” Paul “withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed” (Gal. 2:11-14).
It is a gospel based on a system of faith — As opposed to justification by the law of Moses. In Gal. 3:10, Paul explains what is meant by “justification by law” by saying:
“Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them” (cf. Deuteronomy 27:26).
The law could justify only when its demands were perfectly complied with, but no mortal man ever lived so perfectly, thus justification by the law placed man under a curse.
It is a gospel of Spirit versus flesh — It calls on us to put to death the fleshly desires that war against the Spirit (Gal. 5:16-17; cf. Colossians.3:1-10). It names specific works of the flesh, and says, “those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:21). It encourages us to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-26).
Dear reader, if we haven’t already, let us seriously consider obeying the kind of gospel that Paul preached.
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