PAUL ONLY? Pastor Art Watkins of Coden Bible Church (Coden, Alabama) October 20, 2018 Satan is at work today dividing the saints who are in Christ from one another as he did in time past. This was the heresy at Corinth according to 1 Corinthians 1:11-13 which says: For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? The saints in Corinth were divided up into different groups and schisms and each faction called themselves by the names of different apostles and they said God spoke to them through their apostle only. One faction said, God speaks to us through Apollos only and we follow him. Another group said, that God speaks to us through Peter only and we follow him. Another group said, God speaks to us through Paul only and we follow him only. Another group said, God speaks to us through Christ and no one else. Does this sound familiar? Today there is a schism of people who say Paul is their apostle only as the carnal Corinthians in time past. They say we do not follow the 12 apostles for we have no other apostle but Paul. They say doctrine for the church is in Paul’s epistles only. They say that if you base doctrine on any book outside of Paul’s epistles, you are guilty of wrongly dividing the word of truth. They say they do not even follow what Christ said in the 4 gospels, only what Paul said in Romans through Philemon. They say Paul preached a different and opposing gospel than the 12 apostles. They say Paul alone has the true gospel for today. They say we should not base our doctrines on any book outside of Paul’s epistles. They say Paul is the only apostle who preached salvation by grace apart from the law. They say that Paul is the only apostle who preached forgiveness of sins and eternal life as a present possession. They say only Paul’s converts were saved and all the rest were still waiting for salvation. They say the blood of Christ that Paul preached forgives all our sins now, but the blood of Christ preached by the 12 apostles did not forgive sin, it just merely covered their sins until the second coming which is no different than the blood of bulls and goats! They say that if you follow what Christ said in the 4 gospels or what the 12 apostles said in Hebrews through Revelation you are deceived. But What Saith The Scriptures? ****Paul is not the only apostle God gave the church.**** He gave us many apostles to perfect and edify the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-12: And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Notice he gave the church APOSTLES plural. Not one, but many. ****Paul is not the only apostle God revealed the mystery of Ephesians 3:6.**** God revealed it to many apostles other than Paul. Ephesians 3:4-5: Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. Notice it was revealed to his APOSTLES and PROPHETS plural by the Spirit. Not just Paul, but ALL of the APOSTLES. ****Paul is not the only apostle whose writings are the foundation of the church.**** It is built upon the foundation of many apostles and prophets. Ephesians 2:20: And are built upon the foundation of the APOSTLES and PROPHETS, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone. The foundation of the church is the books written by the apostles and prophets. Their books are just as important to us as Paul’s. ****Paul’s epistles are not the only books God gave us for doctrine today.**** Paul never said Romans through Philemon are the only books for doctrine in this age of grace. Here is what he said: 2 Timothy 3:16-17: ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD, AND IS PROFITABLE FOR DOCTRINE, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. He said all scripture is profitable for doctrine and this is why he based at least 60 church doctrines on the Old Testament scriptures and quotes it nearly 200 times in his epistles! ****Paul is not the only apostle who preached the sacrificial death and resurrection of Christ for our sins.**** Some hyper dispensationalists actually believe Paul is the only one who preached the cross for salvation. But what saith the scriptures? All of the apostles preached the cross for salvation. 1 Peter 3:18: For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 1 Peter 2:24: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. Peter and the 12 apostles knew this years before God saved Paul. They learned it in Luke 24:44-47. ****Paul was not the only apostle who was justified by faith without the works of the law.**** Some dispensationalists actually teach that Paul was the only apostle who believed and preached justification by faith without works, when in fact all the apostles did. The following verses are a record of what Paul said to Peter after Peter caused a church split at Antioch. In verse 14 it says: I said unto Peter before them all and in verse 16 he reminds him that both he and Peter were justified by faith without the law. Galatians 2:16: Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we (Peter and Paul) have believed in Jesus Christ, that we (Peter and Paul) might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Paul said to Peter: That WE might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law. Both he and Peter were justified by faith and not by works. ****Paul was not the first or only apostle to preach the gospel to uncircumcised gentiles. Actually Peter did.**** Act 15:7: And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. Christ also preached to them before any apostle. 1 Timothy 3:16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (See Matthew 12:14-21) ****Paul was not the only apostle who preached salvation by grace without the law.**** In Acts 15:10-11 Peter said: Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. In Acts 15 Peter said Cornelius was saved by grace verse 11 through faith verse 9, without the law verse 10 and without being circumcised and before he was baptized in Acts 10:45-48. This the same gospel of grace preached by Paul to the gentiles. ****Paul was not the only apostle who preached redemption by the blood of Christ. So did Peter.**** 1 Peter 1:18-19: Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: ****Paul was not the only apostle who preached forgiveness of sins as a present possession. So did the other apostles.**** In 1 John 2:12 John writing to his converts said: I write unto you, little children, because YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN YOU for his name's sake. Notice the tense of forgiveness. They were not waiting for their sins to be forgiven as some hyper dispensationalists teach. He said their sins ARE forgiven, present tense. In Revelation 1:5 John wrote to the saints in the 7 churches of Asia said: And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and WASHED US FROM OUR SINS IN HIS OWN BLOOD. Notice their sins were washed away past tense. ****Paul was not the only apostle who preached that Christ gave himself a ransom for sinners.**** Christ himself preached it years before any apostle preached it. In Matthew 20:28 Jesus said: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. ****Paul and his converts were not the only believers who had eternal life.**** All of the converts of all of the apostles had eternal life. 1 John 5:11-13: And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. ****Paul and his converts were not the only believers who were free from future condemnation.**** All of the converts of all of the apostles were free from future condemnation. John 5:24: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Jesus taught the 12 apostles and their converts in his earthly ministry that they had passed from death unto life, past tense. They had everlasting life, present tense. They would not come into condemnation, future tense. They had this promise years before Paul and his converts were saved. ****Paul and his converts were not the only believers who were sealed with the Spirit unto the day of redemption.**** All of the apostles and their converts were sealed, for the Spirit is the seal. Ephesians 1:13:14 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. God put a seal in all believers and the seal is the earnest and pledge of our redemption. (Eph. 4:30) And the seal is the Holy Spirit of promise. Therefore anyone who has the Spirit of God in them is sealed. The Spirit of God is the seal and guarantee and earnest from God that when Christ comes again he will redeem these vile bodies and make them like his. All of the apostles had the Spirit of God living in them; therefore all of the apostles and their converts were sealed. Jesus told the 12 apostles in John 14:16-17: And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 1 John 4:13: Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. ****Paul and his converts were not the only saints who were in Christ and Christ in them.**** The converts of all the apostles were in Christ and Christ was in them. In John 14:20 Jesus told the 12 apostles and their converts that when he sent the Spirit into the world: At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. This promise was fulfilled in Acts 2 when the Spirit came into the world. From that day forward all believers are in Christ and Christ in them. 1 Peter 5:14: Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. 1 John 5:20: And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. 1 John 4:13: Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. The converts of Peter and John were in Christ and Christ was in them which is precisely why the church is called the “body” of Christ. ****Paul is not the only apostle whose converts had eternal security.**** One of the most ridiculous doctrines taught today by Pentecostals and extreme dispensationalists is that Paul and his converts were the only ones who had eternal security. Nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus told the 12 apostles and their converts in John 5:24: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Notice the tenses in this verse. They passed from death unto life, past tense. They had everlasting life, present tense. He said they shall not come into condemnation, future tense. This is one of the great verses in the New Testament that confirms our security in Christ. We who have everlasting life now shall not come into eternal condemnation in the future. This promise was made by Christ to the 12 apostles and their converts years before Paul and his converts were saved. In John 10:27-29 Jesus said to the 12 apostles and their converts: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. This is one of the greatest promises of eternal security in the Bible and it was made to the 12 apostles and their converts years before God saved Paul and his converts. In 1 Peter 1:5 he wrote to his converts that they were: Kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. They were kept, preserved and sealed by the Spirit unto the second coming of Christ just like all of Paul’s converts. Jude said to the converts of the 12 apostles: Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: They were preserved in Christ Jesus just like Paul’s converts and without preservation no one would ever remain saved. 1 John 5:11-13 John wrote to his converts and said unto them: And this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. The converts of John and Peter had eternal life. How long is eternal life? If you could lose it, then it is not eternal is it? We quote these verses many times today to prove that we have eternal life now and that we can know it and yet these verses were written by John who was one of the 12 apostles to his converts! ****Paul was not the only apostle who had the blessed hope of Christ’s coming and appearing to change his vile body into Christ’s likeness.**** All the apostles had the same blessed hope. 1 John 2:28: And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. Notice his appearing is the same as his coming and his coming is the same as his appearing. 1 John 3:2-3: Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. This is the same blessed hope Paul wrote about in Philippians 3:20-21: For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. ****Paul was not the only minister of the grace of God.**** So was Peter. He wrote: 1 Peter 4:10: As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Peter and the other apostles were as much stewards and ministers of the grace of God as Paul. ****Paul was not the only apostle whose converts had a new nature dwelling in them.**** All of the converts of all of the apostles had a new nature. 2 Peter 1:4: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. ****Paul converts were not the only idol worshippers God saved in the book of Acts.**** Peter and his converts were idol worshippers before God saved them. 1 Peter 4:3: For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries. ****Paul’s converts were not the only believers who were dead to sin.**** All of the converts of all of the apostles were dead to sin. 1 Peter 2:24: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. A person becomes dead to sin by being baptized by the Spirit into Christ’s death and dying to sin as he became dead to sin. Paul explains this in detail in Romans 6. This of course means that the believers Peter wrote to were baptized into Christ’s death for that is the only way anyone can become dead to sin and alive unto God at the same time. ****Paul and his converts were not the only believers who had a standing in grace.**** So did the converts of the 12 apostles. 1 Peter 5:12: By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand. ****Paul was not the only apostle who observed the Lord’s Supper.**** The 12 apostles observed it years before Paul was saved. Matthew 26:26-28: And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. ****Paul was not the only apostle who preached that Christ would judge the quick and dead when he comes again.**** So did Peter. 1 Peter 4:4-5: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. ****Paul and Peter wrote epistles to the same people.**** 2 Peter 3:15: And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you. According to this verse Paul wrote an epistle to the same people Peter wrote. ****Paul was not the only apostle who wrote an epistle to the church at Galatia.**** Peter wrote one too. 1 Peter 1:1: Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, ****Paul was not the only apostle who wrote an epistle to the church at Ephesus and Laodicea.**** John did too. Revelation 2:1: Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; Revelation 3:14: And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God. (Compare Colossians 4:16) ****Paul was not the only apostle who wrote epistles to the house of God.**** So did Peter (God has only one house). 1 Peter 4:17: For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? ****Paul was not the only apostle who preached eternal redemption.**** So did the writer of Hebrews written to the converts of the 12 apostles. Hebrews 9:12: Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. ****Paul was not the only apostle who preached eternal salvation.**** The writer of Hebrews did also. Hebrews 5:9: And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; ****Paul was not the only apostle who preached an eternal inheritance.**** So did the writer of Hebrews written to the Hebrew saints. Hebrews 9:15: And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. ****Paul was not the only apostle who preached the eternal perfection of believers.**** So did the writer of Hebrews to the Hebrew saints. Hebrews 10:14: For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. ****Paul was not the only apostle who preached that Christ is our eternal intercessor.**** The writer of Hebrews did too. Hebrews 7:25: Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. ****Paul was not the only apostle who preached a heavenly hope and inheritance.**** So did Peter. 1 Peter 1:3-4: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, ****Paul was not the only apostle who preached a hope and home in the heavenly city New Jerusalem (Gal. 4:26).**** So did the writer of Hebrews to the Hebrew saints Hebrews 12:22-24: But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. So did John Revelation 21:2-3: And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. ****Paul was not the only apostle who preached the resurrection of the dead and the translation of living saints without dying at Christ’s coming.**** The prophets wrote about it 100’s of years before Paul. 1 Corinthians 15:54-55: So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Paul said that when Christ comes and the dead are raised and the living caught up without dying that two major prophecies made by the prophets will be fulfilled. He quotes Isaiah 25:8 and Hosea 13:14. ****Paul was not the only apostle who preached that God would justify heathen gentiles by faith alone in Christ.**** That gospel was preached to Abraham in the Genesis 22:18 and Genesis 15:6. Galatians 3:8: And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. Romans 4:1-3: What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. ****Paul was not the only apostle who preached the imputed righteousness of God by faith.**** It was written down and known by David in the Psalms. Romans 4:6-8: Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. (Psalms 32:1-11) ****Paul was not the only apostle who preached that Christ would save both Jews and gentiles (Romans 15:8-12).**** The prophets in the Old Testament prophesied he would save gentiles along with Jews also. Paul wrote in Romans 15:8-12: Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. Paul quotes the prophets in the Old Testament to show the Jews that Jesus Christ not only came to save the Jews, but gentiles also which he did. He quotes Psalms 18:49, 117:1-2, Deuteronomy 32:43 and Isaiah 11:1-2. Compare Isaiah 49:5-6 with Acts 13:47. All of these prophecies were fulfilled in the ministry of the apostles in Acts. Paul said in Acts 26:22-23: Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles. CONCLUSION ----To say Paul preached the gospel and doctrines of grace is true, but to say the other apostles did not is false. ----To say Paul was an apostle of the body of Christ is true, but to say the 12 apostles are not is false. ----To say Paul preached the sacrificial death and resurrection of Christ for sins is true, but to say the 12 apostles did not is false. ----To say Paul preached eternal security is true, but to say the 12 apostles did not is false. ----To say Paul preached salvation by grace is true, but to say the 12 apostles did not is false. ----To say Paul preached the blessed hope of Christ’s appearing is true, but to say the other apostles did not is false. ----To say that Paul’s epistles contain doctrine for the church is true, but to say the other books of the Bible do not is false. CONFESSION I must confess that I was once a part of the “Paul Only” religious movement but years back when I began to take an honest look at its doctrines and theories and saw how they contradicted the clear teachings and doctrines of the Bible, I asked myself this simple question; how can a movement be of God when so many of its doctrines and theories are unscriptural and false? That is when I came out of it. I have found since then that many of the so called followers of “Paul Only” are some of his worst enemies today. The people who claim to know so much about Paul really know little about him. They do not understand the ministry of Paul and why God saved him and what he actually sent him to do. They claim they do, but their preaching and writings prove they don’t. If you are in the “Paul Only” movement my advice is, get out today. 1 Corinthians 3:3-7: For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.