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Why Paul called it my gospel?

Posted January 1, 2000 - 1:00am

When I talk to others about Christ I am speaking MY gospel to them. It is the same as Paul's, but it is also mine. The point is that the people in MY world see it as MY message. Most Bible "scholars" will dispute that it agrees with the apostle Paul's message, but it really makes no difference in the long run. Those who are not too familiar with the Bible are usually very surprised that such a message would be found in it based on what they have experienced from religion. All they can really comprehend is that this is Jim's viewpoint (even if I show it to them in the Bible). The fact is that my message of good news really comes from CHRIST, so that when anyone receives it as FROM GOD they are receiving it in truth and NOT because I am right.

The gospel of Christ is the only message that is truly valid in this world because it is not about the one who speaks it, but it is about God Himself. Every other attempt to preach "God's message" to the world that is centered around programs or laws or principles, etc, is not about Christ at all. It is about preaching YOURSELF. Dissect any "message" in the world and you will also discover that it is centered around the person who speaks it. Try it sometime, it's amazing what you will hear!!! :)

Jesus told the Pharisees, "I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive me; if another shall come in his own name, you will receive him." (John 5:43). Preaching Christ doesn't glorify the speaker in any way. It gives me no personal "kingdom" to establish myself by. I'm always left in the same place: IF IT IS HEARD AT ALL IT IS BECAUSE HIS SPIRIT IS MAKING IT REAL TO THE HEARER. I never really know how it's going to be taken ... and that factor leaves me no place to trust my own abilities. That's why you will always notice the tendency for a speaker to add an element in that will "validate" or cause attention to be put upon himself. The truth of the matter is that the gospel goes out and I CAN'T "CLOSE THE SALE" (part of my earlier "evangelical" training) - it is totally the work of God.

Consider this: each of you are taking the message of Christ to your individual "worlds" ... and TO THEM it is YOUR gospel. Remember who it is that you are telling them about. It is a strange message, and unlike any they have heard. Because it's not about YOU but about HIM.

Oh, well, I sure didn't plan on going on like this. hahaha! :)

Love,
Jim

Comments

Re: Why Paul called it my gospel?

by Visitor - Mar 20 2012 - 1:47pm

Can you elaborate? I'm not disputing, just inquiring because it seems like you are positing opposing theses.

Re: Why Paul called it my gospel?

by theshovel - Mar 20 2012 - 2:33pm

For me to elaborate on what you hear me positing, it would help me to know what that might be. Perhaps you could give me a hint.

Jim

Re: Why Paul called it my gospel?

by Visitor - Mar 20 2012 - 2:41pm

I see Jim saying that this was Paul's gospel in the perception of others he was involved with or had heard about him.

Re: Why Paul called it my gospel?

by Visitor - Mar 20 2012 - 2:49pm

How do people in your world see it as your message (contrast to people in my world who see it as the message of the "Church" that I mindlessly follow). Then, if it is Christ's message, how can you still call it your message?

Are you saying that it is because you embrace it that it carries the uniqueness of your experience and wisdom? Are you saying he took ownership of the gospel at a place of visceral resonance?

For example, did Paul exploit "the blood" because it was already culturally relevant (sacrifices, Mithras, etc.) whereas we might find more traction with Jesus being a put-down enemy of the state in our times of populism?

Re: Why Paul called it my gospel?

by theshovel - Mar 20 2012 - 5:44pm

There is only one true gospel, and it is the declaration of the resurrected Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. In Paul's day, just like today, there were those who preached what he called a different gospel, another Spirit, a different Jesus — but they were supposedly preaching the gospel. To differentiate, he came on strong with claims that if someone came preaching a gospel that was not the same as his then they were to be considered accursed. In other words, Paul's gospel was the true gospel, the very truth Jesus Christ gave to him. It's not that no one else was preaching the true gospel, but it had gotten so corrupted so soon. Anyhow, when he personalized it as being his gospel, it was in order to make the distinction in the minds of those who addressed that it had nothing to do with the perverted messages they were being bombarded with.

So no, it has nothing to do with the uniqueness of his experience (or mine, for that matter) but with the demand that there is no other gospel than the one he preached. For Paul preached Christ, and only Christ. Others came in the name of Jesus, and yet had a bottom-line message that ultimately contradicted the very essence of Christ. There are many such gospels in the world today, and they are revealed for what they are by being confronted with the true gospel. Those who have disagreed with the gospel that I preach often pass it off as being my version, and to those involved, I will stand up for my version because contrasted with their message, my version declares Christ, and him only.

Does that help at all?
Jim

Re: Why Paul called it my gospel?

by Visitor - Mar 20 2012 - 5:58pm

So Paul's gospel was one he could take ownership of?

Re: Why Paul called it my gospel?

by theshovel - Mar 20 2012 - 8:07pm

He had been entrusted with it by God himself, and he took that personally and seriously. It's not that he ran around telling everybody that it was HIS gospel, but when the impostors came hawking their wares (their twisted versions) he gave them no wiggle room but challenged their versions to his ... for his testified to Christ.

Jim

Re: Why Paul called it my gospel?

by Visitor - Mar 20 2012 - 5:51pm

I really enjoyed this Jim. I can attest to the Gospel, the true Gospel that you 'preach'. I too had been taught it the same way internally many years before we met. So ...there you go.

Re: Why Paul called it my gospel?

by Visitor - Jul 24 2012 - 11:05pm

"The testimony of one is invalid."

Paul had no witnesses which is required by God to establish a matter. So therefore, what he taught was 'His gospel.'

God gave the revelation of the mystery of the kingdom of God to the 12 apostles, not 13. God also made Peter the apostle to the Gentiles. The church was established by those who were Christ's disciples and witnessed his resurrection.

There are red flags everywhere. Snakes/vipers have scales that fall from their eyes. Jesus called the Pharisees 'vipers.' Beware the 'wolf in sheep's clothing.' Paul was of the wolf tribe, Benjamin. "Satan appears as an angel of light." Saul saw a bright light, those with him did not see but they heard. Another account recorded by Luke, Paul's travelling companion, says 'they saw but did not hear.'

All the churches in Asia turned against him, including Barnarbus. IN Revealtion God praises churche at Ephesus for testing those who claimed to be an apostle but found them false. They were told to stop partaking of 'food sacrificed to idols.' Paul said it was nothing even after the apostles had confirmed by the HOly Spirit that the new converts should not partake of those things. Paul blasphemed the Holy Spirit. He threatened to put curses on anyone who preached another gospel besides 'his.' He had a demon that tortured him. He turned people over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh. He said there was no male or female, Jew or Greek in God's sight then said that women should sit down, shut up, and speak only to their husbands when they got home. He said if you let yourself be circumcised Christ was of no benefit. He circumcised Timothy. He never once spoke about hell. Why would he? He might lose a few member of his kingdom.

Re: Why Paul called it my gospel?

by theshovel - Jul 28 2012 - 3:56pm

Similar claims were used against Jesus as well. Although there were witnesses for both Jesus and Paul, many people will never be satisfied by the nature of God's true witnesses. You disregard Paul just as the religious leaders disregarded Jesus, which suggests to me that you misunderstand Jesus even though you seem to approve of him.

My friend, your objections reveal that you are looking for a fleshly validation. Jesus didn't accept the validation from man that would satisfy you, either. Every one left him as well ... just as he told them they would. It took the Spirit of God to give them insight into the true validation of God. Until your religious sensibilities are offended by Jesus Christ, as they obviously are by Paul, you are listening to some other voice.

Jim

Re: Why Paul called it my gospel?

by Visitor - Jul 29 2012 - 6:22pm

Speaking of wolves...the recent 'visitor' post seems to postulate removing any part of the Scriptures attributed to Paul from the canon! Aside from possibly mishandling the rest of Scripture, that person is falling into the trap of 'the quest for the historical Jesus' and going in the face of what we understand of early church history from the material remaining from folks who were far closer to the events than we are. Selective picking and choosing of 'Scripture' is a slippery slope which doesn't go in a good direction!

Re: Why Paul called it my gospel?

by Dignz - Jul 30 2012 - 11:47am

"Until your religious sensibilities are offended by Jesus Christ, as they obviously are by Paul, you are listening to some other voice." <~theshovel



wow!  AWESOME!  so true!  :)



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