Conversation with the Apostle Paul

law

So, I had a conversation with the Apostle Paul this morning. I had a few questions about his beliefs and the law, so I asked:

ME: Hey Paul! Peace be upon you. I beseech thee, is the law BAD?

PAUL : “But we know that the law is GOOD, if a man use it lawfully;”

ME : Hmm, thats not what most people seem to think. But if this is so, then who was the law made for?

PAUL : “Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man but….”

ME: Pardon me! Not made for a righteous man? How many righteous people are they?

PAUL : “As it is written, There is NONE RIGHTEOUS, no, not one:”

ME : Oh wow ok, so please finish what you were saying, the law was made for who?

PAUL : “for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be ANY OTHER thing that is CONTRARY to sound doctrine;”

ME: Wow, okay then! That’s like EVERYONE! Makes sense tho as no one is perfect. Thanks! But what about grace? So many PASTORS and people are saying that since we have grace under the new covenant that we do not have to keep the law… Is this true?

PAUL: “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”

ME: Ok, “not under the law”? Cool, so basically I don’t have to keep the law right? Thats what Creflo $, Benny Hinn, and Joyce Meyer preach.

PAUL : “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? GOD FORBID.

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to OBEY, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of SIN unto DEATH, or of OBEDIENCE unto RIGHTEOUSNESS?”

ME: I see! It sounds like you are saying even tho we have grace which is the fact that Jesus willingly died on the cross for our sins*, that we still have to keep the law. I mean that makes sense because the only reason why we need grace in the first place is because Adam broke the law. It seems like you are saying, in order to prove that we are serving God and not the Devil or ourselves, that we need to obey God’s laws or i.e. not sin. Because according to 1 John 3:4, I read that sin is the transgression of the law. That actually makes sense!

Oh yeah, but what about faith? Surely belief in Jesus trumps having to keep the law. Right? I mean that is the mainstream belief of today.

PAUL : “Do we then make VOID the law through faith? God FORBID: yea, we ESTABLISH the LAW.

Wherefore the LAW is HOLY, and the COMMANDMENT HOLY, and JUST, and GOOD.”

ME: I get your point, so once again the answer is NO! It seems like there is a contradiction with the gospel of today and the gospel of Jesus that you preached. So basically we need to simply ACCEPT and keep the LAW even once we believe in Christ. That makes sense. James did say “faith without works is dead” and that the devils believe in God as well, so belief in and of itself does not mean much. Clearly our works are either good or bad based on a standard and it only makes sense for God’s standard to be his law.

Yo man, I have to keep it real tho. There are many people using your writings to nullify the law and the prophets in the old testament. When people like me try to use your writings and the rest of the bible to KEEP the LAW, I am deemed as a heretic. What do you think about that?

PAUL: “But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, BELIEVING ALL THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS:”

ME: You did not have to confess to me! I believe you! That is some GOOD NEWS and I agree! Thanks for letting me know what you think.

However, I am still bothered because almost every “Christian” pastor I hear, uses your writings to nullify the old testament law. They justify this due to the “grace” of God, and the “new dispensation” which is based on faith and primarily LOVE. Many say that all you need to do is “believe” and love everyone to gain salvation? I believe that love is key as Jesus said, if you love me keep my commandments. So in regards to salvation, how would you suggest keeping the law?

Paul: “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be ANY OTHER COMMANDMENT, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”

ME: Something that many people often say is that no one is perfect except Jesus and those old testament laws were for the Jews only. That cannot be so, because you taught the Jews and the Gentiles the same doctrine on the Sabbath day. So my question is, does Jesus’ death and or resurrection prevent us from having to keep his commandments for salvation?

Paul : And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that OBEY him;

ME: Incredible! I cannot believe the stark contrast between what you are saying and what is being taught! I guess the Lord did say “Take heed that no man deceive you.” Do you have any warnings against false teachings?

Paul: “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

ME: About these pastors tho, none on them seem to discuss how and on what basis all of mankind will be judged…

Your thoughts?

PAUL : “For AS MANY as have SINNED without LAW shall also PERISH without law: and as many as have SINNED IN the LAW shall be JUDGED by the LAW;”

ME : To me it sounds like there is no way to circumvent God’s law! Seems pretty fair, I mean the Lord does have an order to everything. Without law there is no order. We see that in families, schools, jobs, traffic, airports, libraries, public transport, even science!

If the bible is correct then faith without works is truly dead. We cannot simply say “I believe” and thats it. We must really have to make sure our actions line up with the Lord’s word.

Another controversial issue that seems to pop up is that, what you have taught is contradictory to what Jesus and others shepherds have taught. Some say you contradict the old testament and some use your writings to contradict the old testament and other scriptures. Peter warned us about the latter. So I wanna know two things. First, what do you view yourself as?

Paul : “an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope”

Well we know the old and new testament speaks of Jesus as our savior (Isaiah 53) and speaks of the word spreading to the Gentiles (Isaiah 49) and you were that light to them, so I believe you!

My second question is, what do you have to say about what you taught and others that may teach differently?

Paul: “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”

Wow, that is some pretty strong language! The word was inspired by God so I believe you! That is bold of you to include yourself within that curse. I understand the intensity because we are dealing with the message of eternal life which means if the message is wrong it will lead to eternal death. Speaking of such, what will happen when Jesus, our savior and King returns to judge us by his law?

PAUL : “Who (Jesus) will render to EVERY MAN according to his DEEDS

(For NOT the HEARERS of the law are JUST before God, but the DOERS of the LAW shall be JUSTIFIED..”

ME : NUFF SAID! Brother, I would like to thank you for your time and words of wisdom. Everything makes perfect sense! I am going to keep fighting the good fight and try not to get caught up in Rome, I mean Babylon.. I mean this global society that is contrary to your writings – “the law and the prophets”.. Peace!

PAUL : “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

PEACE TO THE SEEKERS OF TRUTH!

Scriptures (KJV) used in chronological order :

1) 1 Timothy 1:8-10 2) Romans 3:10 3) Romans 6:14-16 4) Romans 3:31 5) Romans 7:12 6) Acts 24:14 7) 1 Timothy 1:1 8) Galatians 1:8-10 9) Romans 13:8-11 10) 2 Corinthians 11:3-4,12-15 11) Hebrews 5:9 12) Romans 2:12, 6,13 13) Romans 1:7 * (Romans 5:9, Ephesians 1:7, Titus 3:5-7)*