THE GOSPEL OF MARTIN ZENDER SEEN THROUGH THE PRISM OF PAUL HE ANNOYS THE WORKS PROFESSORS BY TEACHING FROM GOD IS ALL YES, THE JAMES GANG HATE HIM BUT REDNECKS FROM ANTIOCH DON’T WE SURROUND HIM WITH LINEBACKERS “GIVE AN INCH” NO WE WON’T. IT’S A GRACE THING HE GIVE US. NOT A WORKS CONSTRUCTION. AN EONION CONCLUSION WHERE GOD IS ALL. NOT ETERNAL DESTRUCTION OF THOSE OUTSIDE THE WALL. IT’S THE GOSPEL OF MARTIN ZENDER. A THRILLING ITINERARY OF PEACE. IT’LL DRAG ALL ALONG WITH LAUGHTER AND SONGS AND FINISH THE UNIVERSE-COMPLETE WITH EASE. THE GOSPEL OF MARTIN ZENDER STARTS AT THE CROSS AND ENDS THERE TOO. HE MIGHT STRAY OFF TOPIC FROM TIME TO TIME, BUT QUICKLY RETURNS, FOR IN HIM BURNS THE MESSAGE THAT FINDS WHERE EVERY HEART TURNS THAT CHRIST PRESENTS HIMSELF ALIVE AND EVERY KNEE WILL BOW EVERY MIND WILL CLEAR AND EVERY HEART WILL MELT IT’LL ALL MAKE SENSE THEN AS THE EONS END AND LIFE REALLY BEGINS AND WE ALL GOT A PEAK FROM THE MESSAGES RENDERED BY OUR FAVORITE BIBLE TEACHER THEY CALL MARTIN ZENDER.
There is a lot going on in the opening chapters of the book of Acts. Christ had just been sacrificed on the bloody cross. Three days later, he presents Himself alive to the disciples. He spends 40 days with them, making sure they know it’s Him, and telling them things concerning the Kingdom of God. Finally, He’s taken up from them and as He’s leaving He tells them to wait for Holy Spirit. And they wait in the upper room. Well, as they are praying some big things start happening, left and right. The whole town is aware that Christ’s disciples have something going on. And even the invalid man, who was always laying on the street pestering everyone — begging for handouts — is totally healed by Peter’s command. Talk about a commotion. Now the whole town is atwitter. Now… Peter’s got their attention. Guess what he tell them? He tells them — YOU KILLED “THE INAUGURATOR OF LIFE” He tells them — YOU DISOWNED THE HOLY AND JUST ONE. He tells them — YOU GIVE UP ON GOD’S BOY, JESUS.
Then, Peter really lays down the law… He tells them — YOU DID IT IN IGNORANCE. AND YOUR LEADERS WERE IGNORANT TOO.
And, as if they weren’t confused enough… Next… Peter tells them… THE WHOLE THING WAS STAGED BY GOD… WHO ANNOUNCED IT ALL BY THE MOUTH OF THE PROPHETS LONG AGO.
Can anyone really argue that we all have “a freewill”… if most of what we all do, we do in “ignorance?”
The teaching that humans have a totally freewill is a dirty trick really. We don’t have a freewill. Our will is very much influenced by many things. Our will is not free of influences at all. Causality — it’s a big concept. AND — if our will is influenced by IGNORANCE — We most certainly must bow down and trust God’s operations. We have no other “choice”. Who are we to think we contribute one whit to God’s great purpose and plan? (Eph 3:11) All is of God says Romans 11:36. Human pride is based on nothing, really. What do we have that we did not receive? The freewiller’s message that “if you go to hell you can only blame yourself” — seems utterly silly when you factor in that we all disowned the Holy and Just one. That we all killed the Inaugurator of Life. And that the prophets told us it was all going to happen.
Yet, God raises His Boy from the dead. And thus, we can now see the outcome of this great battle. Christ’s resurrection is the great foreshadowing of the final chapter in creation’s long story. We win. God wins. Christ wins. Every knee will bow at that time. Every tongue will acclaim, “Oh my”. What a site to behold on that day. The glory of the Father will illumine every corner of the universe. And every heart. Wow.
Just thinkin’ Ace.
FROM ACTS, CHAPTER 3….
Peter answers the people: “Men! Israelites! Why are you marveling at this? Or why at us are you looking so intently, as if by our own power or devoutness we had made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorifies His Boy Jesus, Whom you, indeed, give up and disown before the face of Pilate, when he decides to release Him. 14 Now you disown the holy and just One, and request a man, a murderer, to be surrendered to you as a favor. 15 Yet the Inaugurator of Life you kill, Whom God rouses from among the dead, of which we are witnesses. 16 And in the faith of His name, His name gives stability to this man whom you are beholding, with whom, also, you are acquainted, and the faith which is through Him, gives him this unimpaired soundness in front of you all. 17 “And now, brethren, I am aware that in ignorance you commit it, even as your chiefs also. (FREEWILL?) 18 Yet what God announces before through the mouth of all the prophets — the suffering of His Christ — He thus fulfills. (FREEWILL?) 19 Repent, then, and turn about for the erasure of your sins, so that seasons of refreshing should be coming from the face of the Lord, 20 and He should dispatch the One fixed upon before for you, Christ Jesus, 21 Whom heaven must indeed receive until the times of restoration of all which God speaks through the mouth of His holy prophets who are from the eon. 22 “Moses, indeed, said that: A Prophet will the Lord your God, be raising up to you from among your brethren, as me. Him you shall hear,
“FOR NOT FOR ALL IS THE FAITH” GOD GIVES FAITH TO SOME BUT NOT TO ALL.
PAUL TO THE THESSALONIANS (2) Chapter 3 1 Furthermore, pray, brethren, concerning us, that the word of the Lord may race and be glorified, according as it is with you also, 2 and that we should be rescued from abnormal and wicked men, for not for all is the faith. 3 Yet faithful is the Lord, Who will be establishing you and guarding you from the wicked one.
Paul gave us the ultimate “church starter” kit. He gave us thirteen letters.
So… if you want to move beyond the lonely existence of being a sole-believer in your little town, I might recommend the following:
Invite people over for “A Public Reading Of The Book Of Ephesians.”
Let them know there will be something of a pot luck supper afterwards.
Announce the next meeting will be “A Public Reading Of The Book Of I Corinthians” or one of the other letters of Paul. Maybe even a reading of the book of Acts. But for sure, don’t go beyond Paul’s letters. Not yet. Not until your group is established in the truth of the evangel.
Keep repeating this formula and magic will happen.
The reading and the pot luck suppers afterwards, will create a dynamic growth all on it’s own.
Paul told Timothy “Till I come GIVE HEED TO THE READING.”
Paul recommended pot luck suppers in I Corinthians chapter 11.
You may have heard of “book clubs” from time to time. They are usually middle-class to upper middle-class ladies (sometimes men) who get together to read and discuss some novel or highbrow piece of literature.
Well, why should they have all the fun?
You don’t need to be a “teacher” to get this thing started. If you just get together to read Paul’s letters, and have a pot luck dinner afterwards, the ecclesia will take a shape of it’s own.
As you go along, of course you’ll stumble on something Paul says that’s mind-blowing. So, you’ll want to discuss it. Perhaps even use a concordance to clarify that you’re thinking clearly. But, right before your eyes, many dynamics will play out.
Your pot luck suppers will consist of discussions about neighbors, politics, how to fix a broken toilet, who’s sweet on who, and the deeper meaning of Romans 11:36.
Before you know it, there’s a house in your neighborhood for sale or rent, and one of the members of The Reading will move in and so-called “church life” will begin.
Of course as you go along, you’ll have your share of trouble makers. The ecclesia in Corinth certainly did. Drunks, false teachers, divisive a-holes. But they’re not much trouble, compared to the joy of seeing the ecclesia grow into something of a gemstone to God.
And don’t expect this ecclesia of yours to be a permanent institution. Apparently, from the book of Acts, it’s important for the ecclesia of God to be scattered from time to time.
If you do try to become permanent, you’ll have to buy land, build a building and get a 501-C3, and you’l end up teaching all the same crap as regular christianity, “freewill” “eternal rewards for us but not for you”, “immortal soul” “twinity” (do you like my spelling?). Etc.
Most likely, if you follow this formula, you’ll never end up like a Joel Osteen Mega Church. Thank God for that. Your gathering will be 15 to 30 folks who are quite devoted to the project. And another 100 or so max who join you from time to time.
If you have to choose a name for your little operation, just call it THE READING. Picking a name is kind of dangerous. In that it tends towards that “us vs them” mentality. For sure don’t call yourself “The Antioch Baptist Church” or something pretentious like “The Lord’s Recovery”. Lord knows, we’ve got enough of those guys out there.
By doing this, not only will you and your pals learn more about God’s purpose and the evangel of Christ… but you’ll have a network of folks to help you in normal, day-to-day, life matters — kind of like the Mennonites or the Amish help each other.
After all, Paul said “No man is an island.” (Not the Paul of the Bible, I’m talking Paul Jensen, the french fry cook.)
Now remember… I TIM 4:10 says God is the savior of all.
The next verse says TEACH THIS.
The next verse says, even if you’re young you can do this.
Finally, verse 13 says GIVE HEED TO THE READING.
Anyway… I hope this helps. Grace to you. Ace.
i TIMOTHY 4:13 Till I come, give heed to the reading, to the entreaty, to the teaching.
It’s funny how “christianity” has basically turned Jesus into something of a good luck charm. Whereas the REAL TRUTH is that He is the Firstborn of all, and as such He is responsible to make sure the whole family is doing well. As the Firstborn, it’s not hard to imagine that the Father looks to Him (Jesus) to guide and lead the rest of the family. And as Tony shows, to rescue anyone in the family who gets into trouble. Jesus Christ, is so much more than our personal “good luck charm”… we all hide behind His tunic as it were… at the slightest threat and unknown. He is the firstborn of all creation (COL 1:16) and is the kinsman redeemer of all (see I Timothy, first chapter.)
ACTS Chapter 9 1 Now Saul, still breathing out threatening and murder against the disciples of the Lord, approaching the chief priest, 2 requests from him letters for Damascus to the synagogues, so that, if he should be finding any who are of the way, both men and women, he may be leading them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now in his going he came to be nearing Damascus. Suddenly a light out of heaven flashes about him. 4 And falling on the earth, he hears a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 Yet he said,
“Who art Thou, Lord?”
Yet he said,
“I am Jesus Whom you are persecuting.”
6 “Nevertheless, rise and enter the city, and it will be spoken to you what you must be doing.” 7 Now the men who are journeying with him stood dumbfounded, hearing, indeed, the sound, yet beholding no one. 8 Now Saul was raised from the earth, yet, his eyes being open, he observed nothing. Now, leading him by the hand, they led him into Damascus, 9 and he was three days not observing aught, and he neither ate nor drank. 10 Now there was a certain disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” Now he said, “Lo! it is I, Lord!” 11 Now the Lord to him, “Rise! Go to the street called ‘Straight,’ and seek in the house of Judas for a Tarsian named Saul, for lo! he is praying. 12 And he perceived in a vision a man named Ananias entering and placing his hands on him so that he should be receiving sight.” 13 Yet Ananias answered, “Lord, I hear from many about this man, how much evil he does to Thy saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who are invoking Thy name.” 15 Yet the Lord said to him “Go, for he is a choice instrument of Mine, to bear My name before both the nations and kings, besides the sons of Israel, 16 for I shall be intimating to him how much he must be suffering for My name’s sake.”
@michael Thunder I know the Bible as well as most folks ’round here. And I certainly know the bible better than most typical christians… and get this… for the past few years my favorite verse has been “AND CERTAIN MEN CAME FROM JAMES” (GALATIANS 2.) Now, why would I pick up on that verse? It’s because it shows a dynamic that went on in Paul’s day… with Paul’s work… and those who would destroy his work. The fundamentalists tell us to “love God’s word” and that “IT’S ALL INSPIRED” and such…. well… what about AND CERTAIN MEN CAME FROM JAMES??? That little verse packs quite a punch. It should strike fear into our hearts about the poison that a PRIDE MESSAGE can contain. If you check out Galatians two… “they came to spy out our freedom”… and the rough and tumble brawl Paul got into with Peter and those dudes from James…. something was going down there that I NEVER heard discussed in all my years of “going to church”. Why? Why did not one preacher ever, ever, ever bring up the FIST FIGHT revealed in Galatians two??? It’s because it would reveal their ruse. When I hear The James Gang tell me “YOU MUST DO THIS” or “YOU MUST DO THAT”… it sounds a lot like the serpent telling Eve, “YOU WON’T REALLY DIE.” Both messages start with the word “YOU”… And thus, they take their eyes off God and God’s purpose, plan, promises and word. “you”, “you”, “you”, The word YOU, I, ME, and MINE are the Freewiller’s wet dream word. Remember Paul says we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness, etc. ??? To me The James Gang is all about “flesh and blood” — like what you can see… and what you can “prove”… like the Pharisee who stands in public to pray… so he can be seen and adored by the crowds. “Everyone can see that I prayed.” (Prayed what, the so-called “sinners’ prayer?”) Paul says they should whack their own weener. Strong language. Proof that this is a serious problem. Years ago, I knew a brother named Will Powell… whose son committed suicide due to these James Gang christians who infected his mind with a NO WIN situation. “You MUST please God, but you can NEVER please God.” — type of thing. Brother Powell was really hurt over losing his son. The James Gang will never accept responsibility for the bull shit chaos they sling at us like monkeys with poo. And you have to know, that Will Powell’s son is not the only one who could not see his way out of that mess. In fact… Paul… in the first two chapters of Romans has The James Gang’s number… when he says… “you command to not steal, yet YOU are stealing” and “You say NOT to commit adultery yet YOU are committing adultery”… and “YOU are a teacher of minors”. A teacher of minors? Wow, what an insult to the pushers of law and works. Would that they cut themselves off. The verse “AND CERTAIN MEN CAME FROM JAMES” should give anyone the freedom to despise the James Gang. Bunch of meddling busy-bodies, and stinking of self-righteousness. Grace to you Michael. The favor granted to those who do not/ can not/ dare not earn it.
Ace. P.S. The other day I posted a video about that Calvary Chapel dude from Canada who said “GOD OFFERS GRACE” — About how ridiculous it is to suggest that “GRACE” is offered… You see, if it’s “offered” you must meet the qualification of the “offer” to get the grace. And if you meet the qualifications… grace ceases to be grace. It becomes something earned, merited, and deserved. God operates in grace. But… God does not “offer” grace. Our message is about God. God’s work. God’s purpose. God’s glory in His Boy. Their message is all about man and what man must do the take up the slack in God’s operations of grace. They’re nuts. May they cut themselves off. GALATIANS 5: 12 Would that those who are raising you to insurrection struck themselves off also!
NOTES ON EVIL PLUS TIME Fact: God created evil: Isaiah 45:7 Fact: God created time: Hebrews 1:2, Colossians 1:16, Fact: God has a purpose in doing all this: Ephesians 3:11.
(Imagine the nightmare we’d have if God wasn’t the one who created evil. What if God was not in total control????)
We should understand right up front that EVIL is not necessarily “moral” — you see, falling out of a tree is an evil experience. Evil is the opposite of good, of course. But what if you add TIME to EVIL… what do you get?
Why, you get a whole different picture.
EVIL plus TIME equals something good as I see it. Scientists says the 10 million years ago, an asteriod hit the Earth and wipe out the dinosaurs. So long ago… yet no one today is crying over the matter. Evil plus time. Noah’s flood wiped out a lot of people. So long ago. Yet, no one is upset about it, today. Evil plus time. The Titanic went down about 100 years ago. Evil plus time. In 1974 Pam Todorov dumped my butt and ran off with a biker dude. I cried then, But not now. Evil plus time.
I think you can define EVIL as something we think that “should not happen”. But it does. Oh my. You should not fall out of a tree. But it sometimes happens. SIN and EVIL are not the same thing. Sin is missing the mark. (Note: Remember that tribe of Left-handed guys, in the Old Testament? They could hit the target within a hair’s breath and “not sin” — KJV says “not miss”. (Judges 20:16)
God created TIME. And God controls EVIL. And when God blends TIME and EVIL some good things happen. Just give it “time” you’ll see.
I have a bum leg. It’s an inconvenient “evil”. But lots of folks thank God on a daily basis that I have a bum leg or they know for sure I’d kick their *ss. And they’d deserve it.
The greatest “evil” in the history of “time” was putting God’s Boy on the cross. Oh my God… But… that was also the greatest “good” in the history of “time”… And I’m so humbled, honored, and hopeful now… about the whole story of it all. Just thinkin’ In Him… Grace to you. Ace.
POST SCRIPT: “TIME” is a measure of “change”. Things are different today than they were last Wednesday. If there were no CHANGE we could not have a measure of change called TIME. Before God began creating, time did not exist. God was all and there was no change, therefore no “time”. But when CHANGE began to happen (Christ, the Firstborn of creation – COL 1:16) then, TIME began to measure it all. At the end of TIME (I COR 15:24) God will be ALL-IN-ALL and thus nothing more will “change” as we understand it now… and TIME will cease to be.
Romans Chapter 16 1 Now I am commending to you Phoebe, our sister, being a servant also of the ecclesia in Cenchrea, 2 that you should be receiving her in the Lord worthily of the saints, and may stand by her in whatever matter she may be needing you, for she became a patroness of many, as well as of myself. 3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus 4 (who, for the sake of my soul, jeopardize their own necks, whom not only I am thanking, but all the ecclesias of the nations also) 5 and the ecclesia at their house. Greet Epanetus, my beloved, who is the firstfruit of the province of Asia for Christ. 6 Greet Mary, who toils much for you.
THE CULT OF PAUL vs THE JESUS FREAKS. or… WHY PAUL NEVER QUOTES JESUS (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) AND YOU SHOULDN’T EITHER.
The “Jesus Freaks”… are those who love to quote Jesus… and you’ll noticed they tend to be self-righteous. But…If…IF… IF you can get someone to see and believe Paul’s gospel — the “evangel of our salvation”… one of grace and peace… they don’t brow beat others into submission.
They only “fall out of grace” when the “fall into works and law”.
Yes, I’m in the “cult of Paul”… it’s way better than being in the JAMES GANG. — The “Jesus Freaks”.
Listen…THERE IS ONE TIME when Paul does quote Jesus, and its in I CORINTHIANS 11… concerning the Lord’s table… I contend that I CORINTHIANS is all about the pot luck supper that they saints should be having. Why?
Because some were over eating and some were getting drunk. And some were hogging all the good food. How rude. The pot luck supper is important for the ecclesia. So important that Paul, in I COR 11 reveals that the pot-luck supper is really “Lord’s Table” it’s really a very spiritual thing.
Elsewhere Paul says DO ALL THINGS TO THE GLORY OF GOD… right? So, why not see the POT LUCK SUPPER as a spiritual event… something wonderful put together by the saints for the saints. ???
Now… concerning the “Jesus Freaks” or the “JAMES GANG… GET THIS…
PAUL WAS RIGHT TO THROTTLE PETER AT ANTIOCH. Why? Because — PETER WAS “SELF-CENSURED”.
We don’t use the term “self-censured” very often in today’s world… so let’s see what it means — It means you shut up and let the other guys have their way. You stand down. You’re afraid they might hurt you later on so you let them have their way… at least for now.
IT MEANS you’re chicken — you’re afraid of the repercussions … and threats.
Peter was “self-censured”. The bastard.
Paul was right to smack him around.
You don’t give in to THE JAMES GANG. They are full of themselves. They quote Matthew, Mark, Luke and John just to brow-beat you.
GRACE to them is horrifying.
That God would save someone… anyone… who doesn’t deserve it… Oh the horror. Oh the shame… Oh I’m going to faint. It’s a scandal, I tell you… a scandal.
——— “NOW I BRETHREN, if I am still heralding circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? Consequently the snare of the cross has been nullified. Would that those who are raising you to insurrection struck themselves off also!” (Gal.5:11,12). —— FROM STRONG’S CONCORDANCE: THE WORD “SNARE” IS — ◄ 4625. skandalon ►
Here is the key reason you should NEVER quote Jesus — Jesus said: I am only sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (Matthew 15:24 )
Paul reveals that HE DIED FOR ALL MANKIND… but Jesus’ earthly ministry was to and for the Jews. “The lost sheep of the house of Israel”.
If you read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, don’t look for any clear answers there as to God’s eonian purpose and long-range plans. Those things were revealed to Paul alone, not to them. In fact… Paul says… in Colossians 1:25 God granted it to me to complete the word of God.
Now, it’s ok to understand God’s purpose and plan for Israel. It has a lot to do with grace AND WORKS… and the future RULE of the Kingdom… and the Earth.
But what happens to us, the ecclesia, which is His body, is way different than what God intends for Israel. Our allotment is “among the celestials”. (EPH 3?)
So, don’t think you’re more “spiritual” if you’re quoting Jesus about this and that. NO…. you should be hanging out in Paul’s 13 letters to get a firm foundation in the evangel of grace… before you go exploring the evangel of the circumcision.
And if “certain men come from James” there is no reason in the world to put up with their crap. Paul didn’t. And neither should you.
Galatians 2:12 “And certain men came from James.” (KJV)
These guys… these “certain men come from James”… will lay the law on you… Paul warns about them in Romans 1… where is says “they tell you not to steal but they get caught stealing”… and … “they tell you not to commit adultery, then they get caught committing adultery.”
Judaizers. Law-keepers. They don’t boast in GRACE. They don’t boast in the cross.
“NOW I BRETHREN, if I am still heralding circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? Consequently the snare (SCANDAL) of the cross has been nullified. Would that those who are raising you to insurrection struck themselves off also!” (Gal.5:11,12).
Chapter 2:21 for if righteousness is through law, consequently Christ died gratuitously. Chapter 3 1 O foolish Galatians! Who bewitches you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was graphically crucified? 2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you get the spirit by works of law or by hearing of faith? 3 So foolish are you? Undertaking in spirit, are you now being completed in flesh?
The “Jesus Freaks”—James Gang wants you to complete the work of God IN YOUR FLESH. They want you to establish yourself, in yourself, by yourself…that’s why they tend to be freewillers.
PAUL TO THE GALATIANS Chapter 1
1 Paul, an apostle (not from men, (SEE V. 16 AND V. 19) neither through a man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, Who rouses Him from among the dead),2 and all the brethren with me, to the ecclesias of Galatia:3 Grace to you and peace from God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ,4 Who gives Himself for our sins, so that He might extricate us out of the present wicked eon, according to the will of our God and Father,5 to Whom be glory for the eons of the eons. Amen!6 I am marveling that thus, swiftly, you are transferred from that which calls you in the grace of Christ, to a different evangel,7 which is not another, except it be that some who are disturbing you want also to distort the evangel of Christ.8 But if ever we also, or a messenger out of heaven, should be bringing an evangel to you beside that which we bring to you, let him be anathema!9 As we have declared before and at present I am saying again, if anyone is bringing you an evangel beside that which you accepted, let him be anathema!10 For, at present, am I persuading men or God? Or am I seeking to please men? If I still pleased men, I were not a slave of Christ.11 For I am making known to you, brethren, as to the evangel which is being brought by me, that it is not in accord with man.12 For neither did I accept it from a man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ.13 For you hear of my behavior once, in Judaism, that I inordinately persecuted the ecclesia of God and ravaged it.14 And I progressed in Judaism above many contemporaries in my race, being inherently exceedingly more zealous for the traditions of my fathers.15 Now, when it delights God, Who severs me from my mother’s womb and calls me through His grace,16 to unveil His Son in me that I may be evangelizing Him among the nations, I did not immediately submit it to flesh and blood,17 neither came I up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I came away into Arabia, and I return again to Damascus.18 Thereupon, after three years, I came up to Jerusalem to relate my story to Cephas, and I stay with him fifteen days.19 Yet I became acquainted with no one different from the apostles, except James, the brother of the Lord.20 Now what I am writing to you, lo! in God’s sight, I say that I am not lying.21 Thereupon I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.22 Yet I was unknown by face to the ecclesias of Judea which are in Christ.23 Yet only they were hearing that “He who once was persecuting us, now is evangelizing the faith which once he ravaged.”24 And they glorified God in me. Chapter 2
1 Thereupon, after the lapse of fourteen years, I again went up to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also along with me.2 Now I went up in accord with a revelation, and submitted to them the evangel which I am heralding among the nations, yet privately to those of repute, lest somehow I should be racing or ran for naught.3 But not even Titus, who is with me, being a Greek, is compelled to be circumcised.4 Yet, it was because of the false brethren who were smuggled in, who came in by the way to spy out our freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, that they shall be enslaving us-5 to whom, not even for an hour do we simulate by subjection, that the truth of the evangel should be continuing with you.6 Now from those reputed to be somewhat-what kind they once were is of no consequence to me (God is not taking up the human aspect)-for to me those of repute submitted nothing.7 But, on the contrary, perceiving that I have been entrusted with the evangel of the Uncircumcision,8 according as Peter of the Circumcision (for He Who operates in Peter for the apostleship of the Circumcision operates in me also for the nations),9 and, knowing the grace which is being given to me, James and Cephas and John, who are supposed to be pillars, give to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we, indeed, are to be for the nations, yet they for the Circumcision-10 only that we may be remembering the poor, which same thing I endeavor also to do.11 Now when Cephas came to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, for he was self-censured.12 For, before the coming of some from James, he ate together with those of the nations. Yet when they came, he shrank back, and severed himself, fearing those of the Circumcision.13 And the rest of the Jews also play the hypocrite with him, so that Barnabas also was led away with their hypocrisy.14 But when I perceived that they are not correct in their attitude toward the truth of the evangel, I said to Cephas in front of all, “If you, being inherently a Jew, are living as the nations, and not as the Jews, how are you compelling the nations to be judaizing?”15 We, who by nature are Jews, and not sinners of the nations,16 having perceived that a man is not being justified by works of law, except alone through the faith of Christ Jesus, we also believe in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by the faith of Christ and not by works of law, seeing that by works of law shall no flesh at all be justified.17 Now if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ, consequently, a dispenser of sin? May it not be coming to that!18 For if I am building again these things which I demolish, I am commending myself as a transgressor.19 For I, through law, died to law, that I should be living to God.20 With Christ have I been crucified, yet I am living; no longer I, but living in me is Christ. Now that which I am now living in flesh, I am living in faith that is of the Son of God, Who loves me, and gives Himself up for me.21 I am not repudiating the grace of God, for if righteousness is through law, consequently Christ died gratuitously. Chapter 3
1 O foolish Galatians! Who bewitches you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was graphically crucified?2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you get the spirit by works of law or by hearing of faith?3 So foolish are you? Undertaking in spirit, are you now being completed in flesh?4 So much did you suffer feignedly? Since, surely, it also is feignedly!5 He, then, who is supplying you with the spirit, and operating works of power among you-did you get the spirit by works of law or by the hearing of faith,6 according as Abraham believes God, and it is reckoned to him for righteousness?7 Know, consequently, that those of faith, these are sons of Abraham.8 Now the scripture, perceiving before that God is justifying the nations by faith, brings before an evangel to Abraham, that In you shall all the nations be blessed.9 So that those of faith are being blessed together with believing Abraham.10 For whoever are of works of law are under a curse, for it is written that, Accursed is everyone who is not remaining in all things written in the scroll of the law to do them.
PAUL A SLAVE OF CHRIST, YOU COULD BE SO LUCKY, WASHING DISHES IN LOVE.
The Ace Theological Company 