Part 5 of 5 - Heeding “Jesus of Nazareth,” or “The Apostle to the Gentiles”

This Article is part of a multi-part Study Series called The Apostle, The Mystery, And The Body Of Christ.

Portions taken from C.R. Stam

Believers need to seriously consider the words of “the Apostle to the Gentiles,” Paul, who was chosen by the ascended Lord who returned from heaven several years after the cross for the sole purpose of saving Saul of Tarsus. The Lord then sent him as “Paul” to the Gentiles (Eph 3:1) with the new “gospel of the grace of God” under the new “dispensation (administration) of the grace of God” (Eph 3:2).

Cornelius Stam writes: (parenthesis content was added for clarity)

In the controversy over “Pauline truth,” many Fundamentalists have joined Modernists (and Apostates) in attempting to exalt “the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth (on earth)” above the Word that the resurrected and ascended celestial Christ gave us through Paul (Gal 1:12, 3:3) for today. They would ask; “Which should bear the greater weight with us, the words of Jesus, or the words of Paul?” implying that Jesus of Nazareth’s words have precedent over the Apostle that the ascended Lord Jesus chose and sent to the Gentiles for today.

(I would ask,) Do they ask this question because they truly desire to obey these words of Jesus (of Nazareth) and to see them obeyed? No, for they flagrantly disregard the commands Jesus (of Nazareth) came to give (to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel”) (Matt 15:24).

(Even though they erroneously promote these commands) they disobey these commands such as those of “the Sermon on the Mount” and “the Great Commission.” With regard to the Sermon on the Mount, they do not subject themselves to the law of Moses (Matt. 5:17-19); they do not bring gifts to altars of sacrifice (5:23,24); they do not give freely to all who ask of them (5:42; 10:8,9); they do not refrain from laying up treasures on earth (6:19,25,26); they do not sell what they have and give alms (Luke 6:30; 12:33).

And while professing obedience to the so-called “Great Commission” as “the Church’s marching orders” for today, they do not proclaim faith AND BAPTISM as the requirement for salvation (Mark 16:16). They do notthey cannot—perform miraculous signs (Mark 16:17, 18) as Jesus did, (“healing all that came to him); they do not give the Jew first place in their ministry (Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8), and they certainly do not teach others to observe all things that Messiah on earth commanded (Matt. 28:20 cf. 23:1-3).

They set “the teachings of Jesus” (on earth) over “the teachings of Paul,” not because they are determined to obey Jesus (of Nazareth), but because they are determined to minimize that which God has “magnified”— the authority of Paul as “the apostle of the Gentiles.” (Listen to these inspired God-words of Paul; But now I (Paul) am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I lay great stress on my ministry and magnify my office (Romans 11:13 (AMP)

They seek to exalt the teachings of the earthly (ministry of) Jesus (of Nazareth) above those of Paul because they have closed their ears to the oft-repeated and Spirit-inspired claims of Paul that the glorified Lord spoke again from heaven, to and through him, committing to him “the dispensation of the grace of God” and the program for the day in which we live. (See Acts 20:24; 22:6-10,17-21; 26:12-18; Rom. 11:13; 15:15,16; 16:25,26; I Cor. 3:10; 11:23; 15:3; II Cor. 5:16; Gal. 1:1,11,12; 2:7-9; Eph. 3:1-4,8,9; 6:18-20; Phil. 4:9; Col. 1:23-27; I Thes. 4:15; II Thes. 3:14; I Tim. 2:5-7; II Tim. 2:7-9; Titus 1:2,3, etc.).

They have forgotten the stern rebuke the Galatians received for failing to recognize Paul’s teachings as a message from the risen, exalted Christ (see Gal. 1:6-12). They have taken lightly Paul’s words to the Corinthians. “...if I come again I will not spare: since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me (Paul)” (2Cor. 13:2, 3)

Some would say “How can you say such a thing as to not heed the words of Jesus of Nazareth as instruction of r the body of Christ today.” Our Apostle for today, Paul, tells the believers at Corinth they should not heed the words of “Jesus of Nazareth” spoke in His earthly ministry to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt 15:24, cf. 10:5-6).

2 Corinthians 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh (as Jesus of Nazareth), yet now henceforth know we him (Jesus of Nazareth) no more.

Paul does not abandon the words of the “resurrected” Lord who now is “the Spirit of Life” who indwells the spirit of every believer. Paul tells believers they are to heed the words of “the Apostle to the Gentiles,” as a “pattern” (1Tim 1:16), guiding believers to conduct their daily walk under the influence of the resurrected “Spirit of Christ.”

Paul tells us the resurrected Lord Jesus now is “the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:2a) in the believer’s spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:17a NOW THE LORD IS THAT SPIRIT…

Paul repeatedly tells us we have an intimate union with Christ “in Spirit.”

1 Corinthians 6:17 But HE THAT IS JOINED UNTO THE LORD IS ONE (in) SPIRIT.

We ought to “walk in accord with the Spirit” as Paul instructed the Galatians.

Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Galatians 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.