Gospels vs. Pauline Epistles
Have you ever thought of how much power the Christians have in the world today? If you ask most people they would say, none. There is one major reason for this. Most Christians and Christian Churches are stuck reading the Gospels and the Old Testament. This isn’t bad, but without knowing WHAT came after Christ ascended into heaven the Christian WILL be powerless. Why? Because, that which was made available after Christ’s ascension, because of Christ’s death, resurrection and ascension, was not available before AND not explained in the Gospels or the Old Testament.
Have you ever thought of how much power the Christians have in the world today? If you ask most people they would say, none. There is one major reason for this. Most Christians and Christian Churches are stuck reading the Gospels and the Old Testament. This isn’t bad, but without knowing WHAT came after Christ ascended into heaven the Christian WILL be powerless. Why? Because, that which was made available after Christ’s ascension, because of Christ’s death, resurrection and ascension, was not available before AND not explained in the Gospels or the Old Testament.
It is in the Pauline Epistles where 1: Our new position is found 2: the Power of the Indwelling Christ is explained. 3: the Power of God In Christ in each and every believer is revealed and explained.
When I graduated from college I received a diploma that said that it conferred all of the rights and priveleges that that degree held. Thousands and millions of people endeavour to get a degree from a college and yet something that is MUCH greater and is within reach and without cost and actually confers power and priviledge people don’t even give a second look.
The Bible calls what was made available on and after the Day of Pentecost “the Mystery.” It says that it was kept secret from the foundations of the World. It Says that if the Devil had known what would happen if he killed the Lord Jesus that He would not have done it! It says that God hid it and that the prophets of old searched the Scriptures diligently because they saw the sufferings of Christ (when he died on the cross) and His glory (after all things are put straight) but they couldn’t see this period of time!
What could be so wonderful, so powerful and so important that God would hide it for thousands of years and devils would not have crudified Jesus Christ if they had known???
Romans 16: 25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
I Corinthians 2: 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes (devils) of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
I Peter 1: 11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
The angels wanted to see what was in store for us but even they could not nor were allowed to see.
What is this mystery?
Colossians 1: 25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
What this means is that we have the power to cast out devils, to heal the sick, the lame the lunatic. We can walk with and for God AND we can do what Christ paid the ultimate price for, we can share this Word with others and bring them to Christ.
Romans 5: 15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2: 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Romans 10: 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
The manifestation (operations or workings) of the holy spirit in you are: speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, prophesy, word of knowledge, word of wisdom, discerning of spirits, faith, miracles and gifts of healing. All of these are wrapped up in the new birth of Christ in you. All can be operated by every born again believer. It is up to you! You choose to operate them. But, if you don’t know about them or you don’t know how to operate them or you don’t believe that they are for you will you ever operate them? No! You are being held back; not living up to your full potential if you have been stuck reading just the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Romans 12: 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 8: 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
II Timothy 1: 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
I John 4: 4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Christians are the most powerful creatures that walk this Earth. All you have to do is know what you have from GOD and believe it by practicing (walking) it!