WHOSE REPORT DO YOU BELIEVE? 2

Jesus delivered sinners from Satan: but Paul delivered sinners to Satan.

Christians assume Paul preached the same gospel as Jesus.  But close scrutiny reveals otherwise.  Paul never heard Jesus preach; he simply fabricated his own gospel and attributed it to Jesus.  As a result, there are many contradictions between the doctrine of Jesus and that of Paul.

Different gospel

Jesus preaches the gospel of the kingdom of God: “Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom.” (Matthew 4:23).  But Paul preaches the gospel of the grace of God: “I count my life dear to myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus Christ, to testify fully the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:24).

Jesus is the Saviour in the gospel of the kingdom: “She shall bear a son, and you shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21).  But Paul is the saviour in his gospel of grace. “Since I am the apostle of the nations, I glorify my ministry; if by any means I may provoke those who are my flesh to jealousy, and might save some of them.” (Romans 11:13-14).

Jesus says he will build his church himself: “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18).  But Paul says he is the wise “master builder” who lays the foundation of the church: “According to the grace of God which is given to me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it.” (1 Corinthians 3:10).  

Jesus says he gave his life as a ransom for only some people: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28).  But Paul says Jesus gave his life as a ransom for everybody: “There is one mediator of God and of men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all.” (1 Timothy 2:5-6). 

Different ministry

The principles Paul presents in his letters to the churches are at variance with those that Jesus taught during his three-year ministry.  Since Paul’s teachings contradict those of Jesus, those who follow Paul cannot be Jesus’ disciples at the same time.  Take note of the following divergences.

Jesus says he came to call sinners to repentance: “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Matthew 9:13).  But Paul says Jesus came to save sinners: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” (1 Timothy 1:15). 

Jesus kept company with sinners: “As Jesus reclined in the house, behold, many tax-collectors and sinners came and were reclining with him and his disciples.” (Matthew 9:10).  But Paul says Christians should not keep company with sinners: “In my other letter I told you not to have anything to do with immoral people.” (1 Corinthians 5:9). “We command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who walks disorderly, and not after the teaching which he received from us.” (2 Thessalonians 3:6). 

Jesus delivered sinners from Satan: “Jesus told the evil spirit, ‘Be quiet and come out of the man!’ The spirit shook him. Then it gave a loud shout and left.” (Mark 1:25).  But Paul delivered sinners to Satan: “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, with my spirit; also, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ; to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” (1 Corinthians 5:4-5). 

Different Perspective

Jesus says his sheep will hear his voice and follow him.  They will not follow a stranger. (John 10:27/5).  The voice of Paul is the voice of a stranger.  That is what is responsible for the following discrepancies.

Jesus says only the word he speaks is the word of God: “He who has no love for me does not keep my words; and the word which you are hearing is not my word but the Father’s who sent me.” (John 14:24).  But Paul says the word he speaks is the word of God: “For this cause we still give praise to God, that, when the word came to your ears through us, you took it, not as the word of man, but, as it truly is, the word of God, which has living power in you who have faith.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13).

Jesus says none of the Pharisees kept the law: “Did not Moses give you the law? Even so, not one of you keeps the law.” (John 7:19).  But Paul says he kept all the laws of Moses as a Pharisee: “I kept all the righteousness of the law to the last detail.” (Philippians 3:6). 

Jesus says the believer will be raised on the last day: “This is the will of the Father who sent me, that of all which he has given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes on him should have everlasting life. And I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:39-40).  But Paul says believers are already raised with Christ: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God.” (Colossians 3:1).

Dire Warnings

It is imperative that, as followers of Jesus, we must heed his warnings.  A lot of the warnings of Jesus identify Paul as a wolf in sheep’s clothing.  Take another look at the following.

Jesus says we should determine a prophet by his fruits: “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:15-16).  But Paul says we should determine a prophet by whether he agrees with whatever he says: “If anyone thinks to be a prophet, or a spiritual one, let him recognize the things I write to you, that they are a commandment of the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 14:37-38).   

Jesus says we should beware of the doctrine of the Pharisees: “Be sure to guard against the dishonest teaching of the Pharisees! It is their way of fooling people.” (Luke 12:1).  But Paul remained a Pharisee even after he became a Christian.  When he observed that some of the council members were Sadducees and others Pharisees, he shouted: “I am a Pharisee and the son of a Pharisee. I am on trial simply because I believe that the dead will be raised to life.” (Acts 23:6). 

Jesus spoke of Pharisees who shut the kingdom of heaven against men: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men. For you neither go in, nor do you allow those entering to go in.” (Matthew 23:13).  Make sure Paul, the Pharisee, does not prevent you from entering the kingdom of heaven.