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Did Jesus Warn Us About Paul?

Jesus taught that the “apostolos is not more important than the one who sent him.” (John 13:16.) The Baptist like-wise knew he “must decrease” so that Jesus’ message would “increase.” (John 3:30-31.) Jesus must have no rivals.

Jesus’ authority over Paul is key as the two do not share the same gospel of salvation. Jesus preached we can go to heaven “maimed” by cutting off body parts ensnaring us in sin (i.e., stern repentance) or “hell whole” (i.e., failure to successfully repent.) See Mark 9:42-47. In Luke 15:17-24, Jesus teaches the prodigal who repents, turns from sin and heads home to the father is “justi-fied” while the unrepentant Pharisee— whom Jesus identified as disregarding the “weightier matters of the Law” (Matt. 23:23)—goes home unjustified. Paul teaches instead in Romans 4:3-5 that Abraham was justified by faith alone while he was yet ungodly, and thus without repentance from sin. At least this is what we hear in endless sermons on what faith alone means. Thus, we have two gospels in the same book. Whom do we follow?

Paul’s Claim to Authority

After the ascension of Jesus, the twelve apostles were the original eleven less Judas until the eleven added Matthias to replace Judas in Acts chapter one. In none of the three vision accounts of Paul recounted in Acts does Jesus ever appoint Paul an apostle. Instead, the fig-ure who said to Paul—while Paul was still a non-believer—that “I am Jesus” on that lonely desert road to Damascus merely told Paul that Paul would be a “martus.” This Greek word means wit-ness, and not apostle. Acts 26:16. Hence, Paul knew his claim to authority as apostle had to rest upon something other than the words of Jesus. What did Paul cite as proof of his own authority as an apostle among Christians? Paul claimed the proof of his authority was that he had “signs and wonders.” See 2 Cor. 12:12 and Romans 15:19. But Jesus was concerned precisely about the “signs and wonders” prophets mislead-ing Christians. (Matt. 7:15-23, viz., v. 22; 24:11, 24.)

Jesus also warns of the false prophets in Mark 13:22. They “shall show signs and wonders to seduce, if possible, even the elect.” The Greek roots were semeion and tera-ton—the same words as what Paul claimed proved his validity. Are such signs and wonders true proof? In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus teaches there are those who “prophesy by the name [of Jesus],” and who can “cast out demons by the name [of Jesus],” but whom Jesus will say “I never knew you.” Why? Because they are workers of ANOMIA. This word ANOMIA is a Greek word that can mean either “law-lessness” or “negation of the Mosaic Law.” Paul certainly taught the Law was abrogated. See Romans 7:1-9.Jesus also warned there is coming false prophets who will be “ravening wolves” in “sheep's clothing” (Matt. 7:15.) Jesus said we will know them by their “fruit.” What type? Traits that match prophecy about ravening wolves. First, Jacob prophecies of a “ravening wolf” from the tribe of Ben-jamin who will kill in the morning (Paul killed Christians at first—Acts 7:58; 8:1-3, 9:1) but in the evening will “divide the spoil.” Gen. 49:27. In Galatians 2:9, Paul claimed a right to divide the mission field so that he exclusively would preach to Gentiles and the 12 supposedly would only preach to Jews. And, of course, Paul was a Benjamite. See Romans 11:1; Philippians 3:5.

Second, Ezekiel in 22:27 spoke of the “princes” who are “wolves raveningthe prey” under whose administration “they have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they caused men to dis-cern between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths” (Ezek. 22:26), claiming “false visions” to justify such apostasy. (Ezek. 22:28.)Ezekiel’s prophecy likewise fits Paul. Paul said the Law given Moses by God is entirely abrogated. (2 Cor. 2:14; Gal. 5:1; Rom. 10:4; etc.) Also, Paul clearly says that we are free to ignore the Sat-urday Sabbath or any Sabbath-princi-ple. (Rom. 14:5; Col. 2:14-16.) And, of course, Paul’s view that we are free to eat any food we like, including meat sacrificed to idols, is likewise clear. (1 Tim. 4:4, ‘all food is clean’; Romans 4:2; Romans 14:21; 1 Corinthians 8:4-13, and 1 Corinthians 10:19-29.)

Jesus, by contrast, made it clear three times that eating meat sacrificed to idols was wrong. Rev. 2:6; 2:14;2:20.

Hence, Paul’s fruits match that he was the Benjamite ravening wolf in sheep’s clothing, i.e., appearing to be a Christian when he truly was not.

Conclusion

Paul was misled by the blinding light on the road to Damascus. Jesus was never going to appear that way again. That figure duped Paul, who then taught a gospel at odds with Jesus, seducing many from Christ. The message then is to obey Jesus’ Words Only.

Sidebar

Jesus’ final warning to the eleven surviving apostles was that “many will come in my name,” that is, saying “I am Jesus” (Matt. 24:4-5). They will claim to have seen Jesus in a “wilderness.” Jesus says “do not listen tothem” because He will never appear on earth again unless “every eye shall see” Him. (Matt. 24:26; Lk 21:8.) Paul’s vision experience on the road to Damascus matches this warning 100%. See Acts 9:3-7.