Who is our spokesman in this dispensation of grace? Some said it’s Christ (Rom. 15:8), and another said the 12 Apostles (Gal. 2:7-9). Unquestionably, our chief spokesman is the Apostle Paul. The risen Lord (II Corinthians 5:15) committed to Paul, the Apostle, dispensation of the grace of God (Ephesians 3:2), and the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery (Romans 16:25), dealing with God’s Eternal and Heavenly purpose “The Body of Christ” (Ephesians 3:2-6; Colossians 1:24-27; Ephesians 3:8-11).
In contrast, the dispensation of law was committed to Moses, dealing with Israel and the Nations – God’s earthly purpose. The student of the Bible should not fail to recognize its two major divine purposes. Nothing but confusion can arise from reading into one dispensation that which relates to another (II Timothy 2:15). As the law of Moses was authoritative over Israel, so Pauline revelation is equally authoritative over the church, the Body of Christ.
Why Paul? Permit Scripture to answer this most crucial question.
1. Paul the Chosen Vessel: (Acts 9:15-16; 22:14-15, 21; Galatians 1:15-16)
2. Paul the Apostle, Teacher, Preacher, and a Minister of the Gentiles: Romans 11:13; 15:16; Acts 22:18-21; I Timothy 2:5-7; II Timothy 1:10-12; I Corinthians 9:1-2; II Timothy 4:16-17; Acts 26:16, Romans 15:16; Eph. 3:7; Col. 1:23-27.
3. The Gospel of the Grace of God Committed to Paul: Acts 20:24; Galatians 1:11-12; 2:7; I Timothy 1:11; Titus 1:2-3; I Thessalonians 2:4; I Corinthians 1:18, 23, 24; II Corinthians 4:6-7; Colossians 1:28; Ephesians 3:8.
4. Paul Preach the Gospel of Salvation by Grace through Faith: Romans 1:16-17; 3:10, 23; 4:4-5; 5:15-19; 6:23; I Timothy 1:15 (c.f. Luke 19:10 – salvation under law, for the Jews); I Corinthians 15:1-4; 1:17-24; II Corinthians 4:3-4; 5:19;11:3; Ephesians 1:13; 2:8-10; Titus 3:5-8; 2:11-15. Note that all this stands in vivid contrast to the gospel preached by John the Baptist, the Lord Himself on earth, the twelve, Peter at Pentecost of Acts 2, and in the house of Cornelius in Acts 10.
5. The Mystery, God’s Eternal Heavenly Purpose, revealed to and through Paul the Apostle:
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Hid from ages and generations (Col.1:26)
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In other ages was not made known (Eph. 3:5)
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Hid in God (Eph. 3:9)
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Kept secret since the world began (Rom. 16:25)
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Eternal Purpose which He purpose in Christ Jesus (Eph. 3:11)
Eternal Life (Titus 1:1-3)
Dispensation of the Grace of God (Eph. 3:2-3)
One Body (Eph. 3:5-6)
Christ in believers (Col. 1:25-27)
The Believers in Christ (Eph. 1:4, 5:30-32)
Salvation without works (2 Tim. 1:9-11)
Hidden wisdom of the Cross (1 Cor. 2:6-9)
The Preaching of the Risen Christ Seated in the Heavenly Places (Rom. 16:25)
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But Now…Revealed (Eph. 3:5); Known (Eph. 3:10); Made Manifest (Col. 1:27; Rom. 16:25)
6. Paul’s God given Timing (Gal. 1;15-16; I Cor. 15:8; 1 Tim. 2:3-7; 1:11-16; 2 Tim. 1:9-11; Titus 1:1-3)
7. Paul’s Heavenly Commission, Our Commission: II Timothy 2:2; II Corinthians 5:14-21; Ephesians 3:9; I Corinthians 1:17). Compare verse 19 of the II Corinthians passage with Peter’s message (under the Kingdom Commission) to the House of Israel in Acts 2:22- 23, 36-38; 3:19-26), and note carefully Acts 2:16; 3:18, 24. PROPHETIC, not MYSTERY. The clock of PROPHECY was still ticking at that time.
8. Paul’s “My Gospel”: Romans 2:16; 16:25; II Timothy 2:8. Embracing the Gospel of God’s Grace and the Mystery; God’s secret heavenly purpose, which was kept secret since the world began, was committed to Paul. A glorious message distinct from that of the twelve. Note, in contrast the Gospel of the Kingdom preached by Peter and the eleven (Matthew 9:35; 10:5-10; Mark 16:15-20; Acts 2:36-47; 3:19-21). The heavenly and the earthly are sharply contrasted in the Word of God. If our gospel is not Pauline, it is not the Gospel of the Grace of God.
9. Paul, the Pattern (I Timothy 1:15-16; 2 Thess. 3:9; Phil. 3:17; Acts 20:33-35; I Thess. 2:5-12; 2 Thess. 3:6-14)
10. Paul says “Follow Me”: I Corinthians 4:15-17; 11:1; Philippians 3:17; 2 Thess. 3:9; II Timothy 3:10- 14; I Tim. 6:11; 2 Tim. 2:22; 1 Thess. 1:6). Note carefully these are not merely Paul’s words, but God’s inspired word directed to us through Paul (I Corinthians 14:37).
11. Paul the Wise Master-Builder: I Corinthians 3:9-11, 16; 6:19; Ephesians 2:20; I Timothy 3:15; Acts 17:24-25. The believers constitute the house of God in the dispensation of Grace, not the meeting place.
12. Paul Says “For God is My Witness”:Acts 22:15; 23:11; Romans 1:9; 9:1; II Corinthians 1:23; 11:31; 12:19; Galatians 1:20; Philippians 1:8; I Thessalonians 2:5, 10; I Timothy 2:7. Should we reject God’s Word TO US through His chosen vessel Paul? To reject Paul’s words is to reject Christ. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me”(John 13:20).
13. Paul’s Exhortation “I beseech you”:Romans 12:1-2; 15:30; 16:17-18; I Corinthians 1:10; 4:16; II Corinthians 6:1; 10:1-2; Ephesians 4:1-6; I Thessalonians 4:1, 9-10; 5:12, 14; Philippians 4:1-2; Philemon 9-10. Surely, there is a great need of getting back to the Pauline concept of exhortation.
14. Paul’s Epistles Alone Reveal the Blessed Hope of the Redeemed of the Dispensation of Grace: I Corinthians 15:51-52; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Colossians 3:4; Titus 2:13.
15. Paul’s Prayer and Longing for All Believers Concerning the Mystery: which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God; “BUT NOW” – “IN DUE TIME” revealed to and through Paul the apostle: (Ephesians 1:15-23; 3:14-21; Colossians 1:3-6, 9-14; 2:1-3; Philippians 1:3-11; I Thessalonians 1:2-10; Rom. 1:7-13; I Thess. 2:8,17-19; 3:9-13; Col. 4:2-4; Eph. 6:18-20). All this is in sharp contrast to the “Thy Kingdom Come” prayer of Matthew 6 related to the Legal Dispensation.
Evangelist Rodgie Quirante
The Workman’s Treasure Study Series