MYSTERIES OF GOD'S KINGDOM. Kenneth B. Alexander
was supporting Him. He was so effective in his Word of Christ that the Jews sought to kill him but he escaped. Paul retreated into the Arabian Desert, learned the Gospel (the Good News) from Christ himself and thereafter became a most effective Evangelist and ambassador of Christianity, an Apostle.
Paul occupied the next 17 years in three separate missionary journeys during which he started churches throughout the Grecian world, Asia Minor and eventually Rome. His epistles are actually letters written to the various churches he established and oversaw. They contain the basic principles of foundational Christianity that we refer to today. His journeys are summarized in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles and in Paul's various epistles.
Paul was severely persecuted by the Jews and others during that time. In II Corinthians 11:23-33, Paul states that he was whipped with 39 lashes by the Jews 5 times, he was beaten with rods 3 times, he was stoned (with rocks), shipwrecked, in hunger and thirst and sleepless nights, encountering all the dangers on the road from robbers etc. and imprisoned many times. In addition he had the constant pressure of the oversight of the many churches he had begun who were in a period of great persecution at that time. He was finally imprisoned by the Romans in a dungeon for many years and eventually beheaded by the Roman Emperor Nero. But not before being able to preach the gospel in Rome, along with Peter and Luke, and to start a church in Rome. The Epistle to the Romans was written to the church at Rome.
The epistles he wrote (those that are preserved for us today) were as follows: two to the Corinthian church, to the Galatians in Galatia, to the Ephesians, to the church at Philippi, to the Colossians, 2 to the Thessalonians, 2 to Timothy his confident and bond-servant, one each to Titus and Philemon and to the Romans. There is dispute as to whether Paul was the author of the Book of Hebrews; some say it was written by Paul, some say Barnabas and others Apollos. There is so far no conclusive evidence as to who the author is.
Here we briefly identify some of Paul’s writings however each of his epistles should be thoroughly studied as his writings form the foundation of the Christian Church today.
The epistles were written by Paul were not written abstractly but addressed specific issues that arose in the churches he founded in the various locations. Many were written to counter false spiritual influences that had infiltrated the churches, causing them to turn from the gospel Paul had preached. For example the Epistle to the Colossians opposes no fewer than 5 or six separate influences that had began to corrupt the church (see Col. Chapter 3-4). Therein he identifies those groups who would regulate behavior, food intake, advocate worship of angels, physical debasement, exaltation of visions and saint worship. But in opposing these negative forces Paul is again able to reinforce the gospel of Jesus Christ, which remains a foundation for us today.
Paul addressed other problems that allowed him to again emphasize the true Gospel of Christ. The Gnostic sect of Christianity was particularly prevalent during those times. The Gnostics taught that it was a “secret knowledge” that brought perfection, not Jesus Christ. So were the Judaizers who advocated a form of Christianity still requiring some Jewish ritual such as circumcision. However, in the crucible of problems, persecutions, doctrinal disputes and hardships came forth a word that set forth nearly all of foundational Christianity that we refer to today 2000 years later.
In The Epistle to the Galatians Paul addresses those who came into the churches teaching that Christians that, in addition to serving Christ, should also adhere to the Law of Moses including practicing circumcision. Paul condemned this practice saying: “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. He therefore that ministers to you the Spirit, and works miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? (Galatians 3:1-5). Thus he distinguished the ministry of Christ as being obtained through faith, not by obeying the former law.
In his epistle to the Philippians Paul again describes the freedom and grace of God that makes one free from the old law. He also identified Christ as a bond servant. “ Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not [important] to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:5-8).
Paul knew our battle was not against man and his pronouncement of false doctrines. He knew the true battle lay elsewhere. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world-forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).
He then taught the Christians how to put on the armor of God to resist and defeat those spiritual powers. “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:10–17.
In his epistle to the Romans, Paul brings forth two critical points. In Chapters 2-4 and 9-11 he explains the Kingdom and Christ’s salvation in relation to the Jews. First, the Jews were God’s chosen people in the Old Testament but after Christ introduced the New Covenant, salvation was opened to the Gentiles (all non-Jews), which had the effect of putting everyone on equal footing. Despite having crucified the Lord of Glory, God extended forgiveness to the Jews just as He extended the same to the Gentiles, and to the whole earth. The concept of being a Jew radically changed from the Old Testament definition, Paul said: “he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God”. (Romans 2:28-29). Therefore the decidedly Christian thinking that the Jews are still God’s chosen people, and that the New Jerusalem will be set up in Israel, is a false concept. Now the true Jew is one created by the Spirit of God by faith, a spiritual Israelite in a spiritual Jerusalem.
Second, in Romans, Paul explains the Spirit realm as opposed to the flesh of men. Man was subjected to the fallen nature of Adam after the Fall and sin became a part of his nature from then until now. In Romans chapter 7, Paul recounts his own battle with the flesh nature, and acknowledged his own powerlessness against sin in himself. He says: “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members (Romans 7:19-23). He finishes the description of his dilemma with: “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (vs. 24).
In Romans 8 he answers his own question. “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:2-3). He goes on to point out that man cannot know God through his natural mind but only through the mind being renewed to be the mind of Christ through the Spirit (v. 5-8). Those who walk in the flesh cannot please God (v.6). Unfortunately, this applies to much of Christianity today.
The Christian sometimes thinks he can be justified by his good works but the truth is he can only be justified through his faith in Christ. The good and lasting works will come through this spiritual relationship, not vice versa. You cannot please God with good Works. Christ said: “Not every one that saith unto me,