Jesus

For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. (John 5:21).

Paul

For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive, (1 Cor. 15:22).

Rebuttal

This is close but it is not orthogonal, it does not intersect Jesus’ words at a right angle, but rather obliquely Paul makes a fundamental error and so does the writer. Notice Paul uses the word “all,” the word all does not qualify, but quantifies his statement. Paul does not say some, he does not say the believers, but he says all. What does Jesus say on this subject that the writer fails to see or mention? 

Seems Jesus’ use of quantity differs significantly than Paul’s does, and as you will see Jesus uses quality differently.

Let us remain on the words of our Lord and look only a few verses further to see who our Lord says he will give everlasting life too,

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. (John 5:24)

2. Anxiety

Jesus

For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing? (Matt. 6:25).

Paul

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God, (Phil. 4:6).

Rebuttal

At  first this seems orthogonal but under closer examination, what is Jesus saying and what is Paul saying. With Jesus the key is in the words “For this reason,” indicating that we should look at the verses that proceed this one. 

3. Atonement

Jesus

I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep, (John 10:11)

Paul

and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma, (Eph. 5:2).

Rebuttal

I wonder what the writer thinks of the following,

But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance. (Matthew 9:13)

But let us remain with what verses the writer selects to use. Where in John 10:17 is it even remotely suggested that Jesus is making His body an offering for the atonement of sins? Actually where in whole four gospels does Jesus say his body or blood is to be used for the atonement of sins? He does say in the synoptic gospels that his body and blood are being given for the remission of sins. There is no ambiguity between atonement and remission.  According to Strong’s dictionary “remission” is defined as “release from bondage or imprisonment forgiveness or pardon, of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed), remission of the penalty.” Atonement is defined as “exchange of the business of money changers, exchanging equivalent values adjustment of a difference, reconciliation, restoration to favor (in the NT of the restoration of the favor of God to sinners that repent and put their trust in the expiatory death of Christ.)” Please notice that even Strong sees that atonement used in the manner is not consistent with all scripture and is a product of the New Testament. The question is, if Jesus did not intend to use the word atonement, who did? Atonement is found in only one place in the New Testament, Romans 5:11(KJV)  “And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” Jesus never used the word atonement. The writer veers off from the start and is not even remotely parallel. 

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.(John 15:13)

 

4. Deity of Jesus

Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am, (John 8:58). 

Compare with Exodus 3:14,

And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you."

Paul

For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, (Col. 2:9).  See also, Phil. 2:5-8.

Rebuttal

I hate when people do these things. Yes, I believe Jesus is the only begotten Son of the Living God of Israel. But, is this what Jesus is saying or is the author trying to put words in Jesus’ mouth?  The author says we should compare this with Exodus. In Exodus the words “I AM” is used as a noun, which is a thing, a name or title.  Let us look at the grammar of this sentence in light of some simple replacements. We will replace “I am” with fish, Joe and President.

Original Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am,

Option 1 "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, fish,"

Option 2 "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, Joe,"

Option 3 "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, President,"

Does this make grammatical sense? No, it does not. In light of this, what the author wants Jesus to say is not what Jesus said. If the verse read, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I was," it makes grammatical sense. However, since Jesus is the Son of God He is not bound to any sense of time, for Him past, present and future exist in a sublime Now.

Look at the way Jesus uses “I am,” elsewhere in the Gospels.

. . . teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.  Matthew 28:20

Jesus said, "I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven." Mark 14:62

You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come." John 7:34

If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. John 12:26

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:3

Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. John 17:24

5. Forgiveness

Jesus

For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, (Matt. 6:14).

Paul

And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you, (Eph. 4:32).

Rebuttal

These are words and not deeds. I would ask the reader to read the following statements of Paul,

I would they were even cut off who trouble you. Galatians 5:12

Here Paul is wishing for the emasculation of those who profess circumcision in maintaining the eternal laws of God.

deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 1 Corinthians 5:5 

I never knew Satan redeemed souls for God, but it does not sound like Paul was very forgiving was he?

 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. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:8-9

My favorite of Paul’s forgiving nature.

6. Jesus is the Only Way

Jesus

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me, (John 14:6).

Paul

For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, (1 Tim. 2:5).

Rebuttal

It is in the use of the word mediator that Paul shows how much pagan cultures have influenced “his” theology. Nowhere in the gospels does Jesus say He is our mediator (that is some neutral party to negotiate a difference between two parties to restore peace.)  Jesus does tell us He will be our witness to our Father.

 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.(Matthew 10:32)

While searching for the term mediator (note I have used the New King James to standardize my replies) in the complete bible, it is used only three times in the Old Testament.

Nor is there any mediator between us, Who may lay his hand on us both.”(Job 9:33)

 If there is a messenger for him, A mediator, one among a thousand, To show man His uprightness,(Job 33:23)

Your first father sinned, And your mediators have transgressed against Me .Isaiah 43:27)

However, when Paul uses the term mediator he uses the Greek word Mesites that does mean mediator, one who comes between two parites. While in Job 9:33 the correct word is the Hebrew word yakack or  daysman which means, to prove, decide, judge, rebuke, reprove, correct, be right. In Job 33:23 the word used in Hebrew is luwts which can mean teacher, interpreter or ambassador. In Isaiah 43:27 the Hebrew word is again luwts. While none of these matches the definition of mediator I point to Job 33:23 using the correct rendering of the word to say this Job was calling for Jesus to show us the way.

And only Paul uses the word mediator in the sense of a one who mediates. If Paul does not get this idea from Scripture where does it come from? It come from an ancient mystery trinity religion called Mithraism, which found its strongest foothold in the Roman Empire in a city of Asia Minor called Tarsus. Mithras was considered the mediator between mankind and the supreme Persian god Zurvan. This aspect of Paul has been swept under the rug for too long by the church fathers. There is too much of Mithraism that parallels the Christianity of Paul, including the Lord’s Supper.

The question is why would Paul do this? Many zealous Christians laud Paul’s statements in 1 Corinthians chapter 9, which I will summarize with one sentence, “I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” To garner pagan converts, Paul needed to appeal to their concepts of God, which was not a monotheistic deity as the Hebrews had. The Greeks had a pantheon of gods. Many Christians point that it was Paul who brought so many converts to Jesus. In truth without being inside the man, it is hard to say what his true intentions were. So let us assume his intentions were good, but has any reader ever heard the phrase, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions?” Unfortunately, Paul put millions and millions of trusting souls on this same road with him.     

7. Justification by faith

Jesus

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life, (John 5:24).  See also John 3:16-18; Luke 18:9-13.

Paul

Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (Rom. 5:1).

Rebuttal

Hum, Justification is an interesting word. Justification means to have the affirmative defense of a legally sufficient reason, explanation, validation, rationalization, or excuse. Someone please explain to me how Jesus’ death was  intended to reason, validate, rationalize, or excuse sin? This is an incredibly dangerous idea, because God the Father has already said there is no justification for the wicked.

He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.(Proverbs 17:15)

But if Jesus wanted to say we are justified by our faith, why didn’t He simply say so? In the four gospels the terms “justify or justified” are used seven times.

The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is justified by her children.(Matthew 11:19)

For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.(Matthew 12:37)

And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. (Luke 7:29)

But wisdom is justified by all her children. (Luke 7:35)

 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor? (Luke 10:29)

 And He said to them, You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. (Luke 16:15)

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.(Luke 18:14)

8. Law, the

Jesus

Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill, (Matt. 5:17).

Paul

Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law, (Rom. 3:31).

What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise," (Gal. 3:17).

Appears they are orthogonal, but Paul never knew when to put down the pen.

 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.(Ephesians 2:14-16)

And if that is not enough,

For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.(Romans 6:14)

But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. (Romans 7:6)

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.(Romans 10:4)

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.(Galatians 5:18)

 . . .having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace.(Ephesians 2:15)

Why does Paul hate the law so much? Where does he get the idea that the law is a hostility between God and the man who seeks to serve God? To find the answer look at John 7:47-49 Then the Pharisees answered them, "Are you also deceived? Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed." Please remember Paul was and still is a Pharisee. Philippians 3:5 “circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a PHARISEE;”

I have been told some Baptists see Jesus as having an impossible Gospel, that no man can match, and see Paul as the one who brings light and understand to Jesus’ Gospel, showing mankind a better way. (Please note this is from a Baptist minister.) Well I look at it like this; perhaps when they were fully immersed in the water, they let them up for air too quickly, they should have stayed down under water a little longer so they could have asked Jesus in person.
 

9. Law, living the

Jesus

You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; 19 Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself,(Matt. 19:18).

Paul

Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9 For this, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love therefore is the fulfillment of the law, (Rom. 13:8-10)

Rebuttal

At first glance these seem orthogonal but closer examination reveals serious flaws.

Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

No, the law is not fulfilled here, Jesus raised the bar very high,

You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, (Matthew 5:43-44)

and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Paul really should have walked with Jesus, for then he would have known what the Lord said in Matthew 22:37-39

Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'

Paul makes a very, very fundamental mistake, but here his true self comes through, Paul is a Pharisee, and was taught by Pharisee Gamaliel who was the grandson of Hillel. It was Hillel who taught that the law was summed up standing on one foot, by the application of the golden rule. But Jesus says that this is the result of loving God, the Father with our whole hearts and souls.

Side by side, let us look at what Paul calls the fulfillment of the Law and what Jesus says it the fulfillment of the Law.

Jesus

Paul

"'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' "This is the first and great commandment. "And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"

"Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9 For this, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love therefore is the fulfillment of the law,"

10. Predestination

Jesus

 Not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom it has been given, (Matt. 19:11).

All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out, (John 6:37).

No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day, (John 6:44).

For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me, unless it has been granted him from the Father, (John 6:65).

Paul

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will... 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, (Eph. 1:5,11).

Rebuttal

I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Luke 5:32)

It seems here that Jesus wants people to change their ways. Change implies that nothing is permanent including predestination. Saying we are predestined to be saved is one of the gravest error anyone can make, for it nullifies all creation, and turns the universe into a goldfish bowl, and we are the goldfish. This belief is more closely related to followers of Mohammad than to those who follow the voice of Jesus.   

Jesus has told us that in order to believe in Him we first needed to believe in His Father.

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. (John 5:24)

Of course we are drawn to Jesus through our belief in the Father.  But it is impossible to understand Jesus’ words when you turn your back on His Father.
 

11. Resurrection

Jesus

The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men; 23 and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day, (Matt. 17:22-23).

Paul

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, (1 Cor. 15:3-4).

Rebuttal

No rebuttal to the writers premise, but is the writer making a comparison or standing on a soap box? Resurrection is fundamental to our faith. Now as hard as this may be for some to accept, Jesus did not die for our sins, He died so that our sins may be placed into remission. There is a difference. Paul wants his readers to believe that Jesus was the sin sacrifice, and this is the most common mistake Christians can make. We need to believe in the Law and the prophets, and not solely rely on believing in the resurrection of Jesus.

There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 'And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.' "Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, 'for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.' "Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' "And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' "But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.' (Luke 16:19-31)

Jesus death had two purposes the first and prime purpose was to show us the way back to the Father by forsaking this world, the second was to be the witness of the New Covenant with all of us who in truth are the lost children of Israel. Throughout scripture covenants between man and God were sealed with the blood of the animal, and if you do not believe me, then believe Jesus,

For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.(Matthew 26:28)

Notice His blood is being shed for the new covenant, and it is within the New Covenant that we find the remission of sin.

"Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them,” says the Lord. "But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."(Jeremiah 31:31-34)

Before I move on, please notice that it is God who will be in our hearts through His Son, our Lord, being our only teacher.

And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ.(Matthew 23:10)

Reading both Jeremiah and Matthew I do not see where we are to have the room in our hearts for Paul to be our teacher.

If the reader truly wants to know the mechanics of the New Covenant they need to look at the Prophet Jeremiah to John the Baptist and to compare this to the words of Jesus, to see what is included in the New Coventant. Jesus gives us one piece from the Prophet Hosea

But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless.(Matthew 12:7)

Which is from Hosea 6:6:

For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

The second part of this verse from Hosea is ratified by our Lord with:

And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

No where does Jesus say His blood is for our sins, His blood was spilled so God, the Father could enter our hearts and TEACH US NOT TO SIN!!!!!

12. Rewards and Punishment

Jesus

"For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and will then recompense every man according to his deeds," (Matt. 16:27).

Paul

"who will render to every man according to his deeds," (Rom. 2:6).

Rebuttal

Paul like the writer likes to have it both ways, they would in one moment have us believe we are to rewarded for our deeds, but look just a little further in Romans to “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.” Romans 3:28 and Paul tells us our deeds don’t count.  Does anyone believe the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, the Father of Jesus is an arbitrary and capricious God? If you do, may I suggest you find more like-minded fellows by following the god of Abrahim, Ishmail and Mohammad.

13. Sinfulness of man

For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. 20 "These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man, (Matt. 15:19).

Paul

here is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; 12 All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one,(Rom. 3:11-12).

Rebuttal

14. Tradition

Jesus

And why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? (Matt. 15:3).

Paul

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ, (Col. 2:8).

Rebuttal

Yes, seems very orthogonal, but if we search Paul’s epistles what do we find?  

 Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. 1 Corinthians 11:2

Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. 2 Thessalonians 2:15

But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. 2 Thessalonians 3:6

15. Works Righteousness Denied

Jesus

Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 "And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness, (Matt. 7:22-23).

Paul

Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "The righteous man shall live by faith," (Gal. 3:11).

Rebuttal

Not even close, it is actually the writer the Lord is speaking about, and those who continue to defend the lawless. Who are the lawless? Let us simply look at the word. Lawless, 1. Those who are unrestrained by law; 2. Those who act contrary to the law, 3. Those who are not governed by law.  It is Paul who frees Christians from the law, it is Paul who teaches things contrary to the law, it is Paul who tells Christians they are not governed by the law.

Even those who earnestly devote themselves to their church while neglecting the poor are what Jesus is referring to. Rather the writer should have looked at the parable of the Goats and Sheep:

Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”(Matthew 25:31-46)

Judging by what Jesus says here what do we find? We are rewarded for our acts of kindness and mercy towards the least of our brothers. Again I want to remind the reader that both Paul and the writer categorically state we are rewarded for our deeds, as stated in point 12. But they whitewash the fact that the we are punished for our failure to perform these simple acts of love, kindness and mercy. See Jesus is telling us that the church we set up is totally irrelevant, it is His flock that we must strive to join and to care for until He returns. But go ahead, go to your churches 7 days a week, triple tithe to the church and you will see what Jesus will think about that,

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.(Matthew 23:23)

Again, I must point out to you that we will be rewarded for the acts of charity we give towards our brothers, not just anyone but our brothers in Jesus. If we give a million dollars to improve the lives of unbelievers, that is a noble thing. But if we do this at the expense of those poor people who come to our churches seeking a kindred spirit what have we profited?

Conclusion

The true problem which the writer and others fail to see is that it is Jesus alone who is our teacher. Many people will say Paul was chosen by Jesus, I say show me the scriptural proof Paul was selected to be Jesus’ representative to the gentiles? Here are the rules of scriptural proof, first one needs two witnesses Matthew 18:16

But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.“and you can not witness yourself, John 5:31

If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. 

Some will point to Ananias but tell me to whom did Ananias witness to? Was it Peter or James or any other of the Lord’s disciples?

It was Luke!!! No, wrong.

A careful reading of Acts we find the word “we” in several places, indicating Luke was present. But never is that word used in the Damascus story. Luke was not in Damascus with Paul at anytime, therefore we have Paul’s account of what happened. Not only is Ananias account hearsay, it is spoken by the accused. Accused? Yes, I accuse Paul of being a false apostle who our Lord Jesus prophesied about on several occasions. Besides the parables of the wheat and tares, and the stranger in the Lord’s flock we have Paul coming to us in his own name without two witnesses.

I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.(John 5:43):

Yes, Paul has spoken many truths, some as phrases that are beautifully eloquent and others that require intellectual gymnastics to arrive at their meaning.  The problem with gymnastics is one wrong move and your face is meeting the floor real fast.

But here is the true heart of the problem. Did Jesus really send Paul? Forget witnesses, forget logical reasoning, let us examine our Lord’s own words in light of our faith.

• Jesus is the Son of God. Mark 1:1:1 Then a voice came from heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
• Jesus is the perfect representative of the Father’s will. John 5:30: I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.
• Jesus gave us his message that a child could understand. Matthew 11:25: At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.
• Jesus fulfilled all that was written. Matthew 26:56: But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.
• Jesus finished the work the father gave him on the cross, John 17:4: I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.
• Jesus said our Father would send another to guide us John 14:26: But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
• Jesus is the last word in our salvation. John 14:6: Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
• Jesus sent his disciples to the end of the earth to proclaim his message Luke 24:47-49: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.
• Jesus gave Peter the authority over his church Matthew 16:18: And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
• Was Paul given authority over the gentiles as he says in Galatians? Why then was Peter selected by the Holy Spirit to win the first Gentile, Cornelius? And Paul knows this because he (Paul) was present when Peter arose in Jerusalem and stated this to Paul’s face.

In light of everything above the obvious question is why does Jesus need Paul?

Was Jesus wrong and everything was not finished?

Was Jesus so imperfect that He selected the wrong disciples to deliver His gospel?

Did Jesus really want Paul among the 12?

Did Jesus get to heaven and realize He forgot some teachings, like it is okay to eat at pagan temples because there really is only one God, and all one needs to do is thank God for the food? (Please do not think I am being absurd because this is exactly what Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 8:1-13!)

Jesus did not need Paul and neither do you. There are those who vehemently argue that the desire to only follow the words of Jesus are both wrong and dangerous.  These same people will stand up and sing at the top of their voice “Jesus is my all in all,” but turn to Paul for guidance.   If Jesus is truly your Lord, your savior, if he is truly your all in all, why do you need to commit adultery with Paul?

But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say? Luke 6:46

There is another reason why neither God nor Jesus would have selected Paul to build Jesus’ church. Paul persecuted the saints and had blood on his hands. Blood on his hands? Yes, think about the trial of our Lord, did Pilate hammer the nails into Jesus’ hands? Did Pilate drag Jesus before the High Priest? Yet, Pilate tried to wash his hands of Jesus’ blood. For he was a participant in Jesus’ death. Did not Paul cheer the stoning of Stephen and even hold the coats of those who threw the stones? Would a modern prosecutor not have charged Paul with the murder of Stephen? Why did the Father tell David he could not build HIS temple? And the Father loved David greatly. The Father told David in 1 Chronicles 22:8 “"but the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 'You have shed much blood and have made great wars; you shall not build a house for My name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in My sight.” Was Paul greater than David? Did Stephen’s blood not cry out to the LORD above?

Ok, let’s take an honest look at they way CARM tries to present Paul. Picking selected verse and trying to make them fit.

If truth is being able to selectively pick and choose verses to make our positions valid, I hereby submit to you that Paul is the little horn, the beast of the earth, the antichrist. <>
He rejects the Law of Moses but he calls himself a Jew by birth. He tells men to forsake women and be like him, he tells the Corinthians gods are nothing, and he boasts of his gospel.


Rejecting the Law is rejecting the author.

      I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers' law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today. Acts 22:3

Meaning is self evident.

      For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), (1 Corinthians 8:5)

Here it is pretty evident that what Jesus says we will be judged on is not what Paul says we judged on.

If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. (1 Corinthians 14:37)

Has a very eerie overtone to  Revelations 13:17 “and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” Could the mark be Paul’s approval, for selling the lies Paul calls salvation?

For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, (Romans 8:3)

Paul’s own words, Jesus only came to us in the “likeness of sinful flesh.” Does Paul mean Jesus was Silly Putty, or some kind of soy product? What did John say one of the ways to determine the antichrist?

and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.(I John 4:3)

Oh, I am taking this out of context, am I? Perhaps I should agree with CARM and then I would say, “Oh, I am taking this out of context, I am.”  And according to their fourth point, I can be God.  
The Christian Apologetics Research Ministry, it is my humble opinion that you should apologize to Jesus for even thinking that Paul could add to the perfection and glory that is our Lord’s. And you should apologize to very single Christian who trusted their site for teaching falsehoods. I have been told not to hold my breath waiting for these people to apologize to our Lord or to the people they have infected by placing Paul on par with the Son of God. And I will not hold my breath, but I want to leave them with one last thought:

 

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