Page 15 - In Defense of the Gospel PUB

Jerusalem News: “Skeptic Becomes Lead Spokesman On the
Finished Work of Christ.”

Why didn’t Jesus reveal it to His own brother James, who

wrote the book of James, and became the pastor of the big church

in Jerusalem? Isn’t this the way it’s usually done — pass the baton

on to a son, brother, or other family member?

But Jesus didn’t choose to pass the baton to one of the

original apostles. Instead, he chose a person who had never known

him during his earthly life. He chose someone “not fit to be called

an apostle,” to quote Paul about himself.

I’m personally very glad Jesus chose Paul. I’m glad He didn’t

choose one of the original apostles. I think He did it for us — for

you and for me! If He had chosen one of the original twelve to
reveal the mystery of the GOSPEL to, we’d always be able to say

that they had an “inside track” with Jesus, and had a special

position that we don’t have.

We can’t say this about Paul. Paul says he’s the greatest of

sinners. Paul was a man very much like you and me. He never
knew Jesus during his earthly ministry. He never knew the other

disciples either. He was a total outsider.

I think God chose Paul because of his vast knowledge of the

Old Testament, and his ability to then COMPARE the Old against

the New, and reveal to us how much BETTER our New Covenant
gospel is compared to the Old Covenant law.

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