Gospel: Where did the apostle Paul get the one he preached?
One might assume it came from the instruction and example of the Twelve Apostles. But is that what happened? What does the apostle Paul tell us?
Galatians 1:11-12
11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. [Emphasis added]
Paul clearly didn’t get his training and his gospel from the Twelve Apostles. The Bible is quite clear on that.
Galatians 1:15-17
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,
16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen [ETHNOS = Gentiles]; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. [Emphasis added]
For some years our Lord didn’t want him going anywhere near the Twelve Apostles because his message was to be different, even his gospel that explained the means to one’s salvation. All that changed with the revelation given to Paul.
Galatians 2:7
7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcisionwas unto Peter; [Emphasis added]
This is why Paul speaks of it as his gospel.
Romans 2:16
6 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. [Emphasis added]
He even mentions this a second time in this same epistle because it is such a major part of the foundation upon which our ministry is built today.
Romans 16:25
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, [Emphasis added]
Please see my other articles about this on this website.
Gospels: Did Peter & Paul preach the same gospel?
Peter & Paul: Was their message the same?
So, what was Paul’s gospel? He clearly tells us.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that [gospel] which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: [Emphasis added]
It is the apostle Paul who tells us exactly what the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Christ accomplished. Until this, it appeared to be just another crucifixion. But a reconciliatory work was then accomplished!
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us [speaking of the new commission we’ve been given] the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]
Being made the righteousness of God in Him is what happens in that which is called justification. When anyone expresses faith in what He did for us they are then justified by faith totally apart from any form of works, including those demanded by the Mosaic Law.
Romans 3:28-29
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: [Emphasis added]
Before justification occurs in someone, we are spoken of as ones who are God’s enemies.
Romans 5:9-10
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. [Emphasis added]
It is only by faith in Christ’s work, rather than our own, that we gain peace with God forever.
Romans 5:1-2
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
This then gives us personal and direct access to God that we never had before.
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. [Emphasis added]
All who reject this truth remain enemies to God.
Philippians 3:17-20
17 Brethren, be followers together of me [Paul], and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
Then notice the consequences of unbelief and rejection.
19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
As believers our main responsibility in life is to represent Christ by presenting this message that extends the offer of reconciliation and resultant salvation.
Again, 2 Corinthians 5:20
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. [Emphasis added]
None of this is learned by the people around us if we don’t have the courage to speak up about it. You will find in life that any time anyone ever gets saved, someone opens their mouth and presents this glorious message of truth. So, let us be bold to present this, praying for one another concerning this.
Ephesians 6:18-20
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. [Emphasis added]
An ambassador is someone who represents their country in a foreign land. In our case we are here to represent Christ in this foreign land called Earth, our home now being in Heaven.
Philippians 3:20
20 For our conversation [POLITEUMA = citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: [Emphasis added]
Conclusion—
Where is it in the Bible that we’re to focus our attention to gain the message we are to be proclaiming boldly? Answer: The Pauline epistles—Romans to Philemon. All the Bible is FOR us, but it is this portion of it that is specifically TO us today. It is only there that we find the special revelation that was given by our Lord to the apostle Paul for his writings. This is what all these following passages are speaking about.
Romans 15:15-16
15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,
16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. [Emphasis added]
1 Corinthians 3:10-11
10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me [Paul], as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. [Emphasis added]
It is amazing and sad to see even so many church leaders miss this marvelous truth.
Galatians 2:7-9
7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. [Emphasis added]
Paul is by no means bragging about the message and ministry God gave him. He’s merely stating the facts we all need to know about it.
Ephesians 3:2-3
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, [Emphasis added]
Because these passages are so ignored by so many, you wouldn’t even think this truth was in the Bible. But can there rightly be any doubt about where Paul got his message. Because he knew the importance of this message and that it would be attacked, he asked for prayers that he’d be bold in presenting it. Note his closing words to the Ephesians about this.
Again, Ephesians 6:18-20
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, [Emphasis added]
To learn more about this “mystery of the gospel,” please see my articles about it. Here are the names of three of them.
Mystery: What is the fellowship of the mystery?
Mystery: What is this Secret that Paul wrote about?
Mystery: What is the key to understanding the Bible?
20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. [Emphasis added]
We, too, must be bold in presenting this marvelous message that remains “a mystery” to so many even today. I hope you’ll not neglect the opportunity we all have in this.
