"The Rule" - The Gospels

In 2nd Corinthians 11 it says,

“3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

Getting saved is simple, there is nothing complicated about salvation. Sometimes we, as being Bereans and brothers that rightly divide the word of truth, we tend to forget about the simplicity in Christ Jesus. In 1st John 5 it says,

“10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”

Verse 12 is as simple as it gets, if you have Jesus Christ you have life and if you don’t have Jesus Christ you don’t have life.

Plain and simple.

Eternal life exists in Jesus Christ. This is why you have to have Christ. In John 14 it says,

“6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

It is not possible to bypass Jesus Christ and get to the Father. It’s just not going to happen.

But through the ages many people have thought that eternal life came from different ways. Some thought that it came through the scriptures but Jesus corrected them and tells them in John 5,

“39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.”

These people thought that by knowing, believing and understanding the scriptures it would give them eternal life. But Jesus said that all the scriptures do is testify of him and he said,

40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.”

Eternal life comes from Jesus Christ. Eternal life does not come from the scriptures. All the scriptures do is testify of the Lord Jesus. The scriptures are what lead you to Christ. In 2nd Timothy 3 it says,

“15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

Paul told Timothy that the scriptures are able to make you wise unto salvation, but the salvation did not come from the scriptures but rather through the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Eternal life comes from, through and by the Lord Jesus Christ. Period.

In time past, God used the law to bring people unto Christ. In Galatians 3 Paul says,

“23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.”

So during the time of the law, the Lord used the law to bring people unto Christ.

After the Lord Jesus taught the apostles, he used the word of the apostles to bring people unto Christ. In John 17 Jesus is praying to the Father referring to the apostles and he said,

“20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;”

Please notice here that Jesus said, “…believe ON ME, through their word;”

The Lord was using the words of the apostles to bring people unto Christ.
In John 6 Jesus said,

“44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Jesus said here that you cannot come to him unless the Father draws you to him. In John 12 Jesus said,

“32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.”

So Jesus said that if he be lifted up he will draw all men unto himself indicating the cross.

And here is where the gospel comes in of Christ dying and paying for sins. This is what the Lord is using to draw all men unto him. Whether you want to call it the gospel of God, the gospel of Christ, the gospel of your salvation, whatever you want to call it, Christ dying and paying for the sins of the world, being buried and raised again is God’s calling card. This gospel is what God is using to draw all men unto him today.

This gospel of Christ dying for sins testifies of what the Father and Lord Jesus Christ did for us. This gospel comes from the old testament scriptures. In 1st Corinthians 15 Paul said,

“1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

According to the scriptures.

What scriptures?

Mainly it would be Isaiah 53, which says,

“5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

There are a few others but none as clear as Isaiah 53 about Christ dying and paying for sins.

What about the resurrection?

Psalm 16 is a good one, which says,

“10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.”

So Christ dying and paying for sins and being raised again is according to the old testament scriptures.

Question:

Does eternal life come from the scriptures?

Once again Jesus said,

“39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.”

If eternal life does not come from the scriptures, and the gospel comes from the scriptures, does eternal life come from the gospel?

NO. The gospel testifies of what the Lord Jesus did, but eternal life does not come from the gospel, it comes from Jesus Christ. The gospel, (according to the scriptures) can make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus, just as Paul told Timothy.

THE GOSPEL LEADS YOU TO CHRIST. THE GOSPEL IS WHAT DRAWS YOU TO CHRIST. THE GOSPEL MAKES YOU WISE UNTO SALVATION. THE GOSPEL IS GOD’S CALLING CARD.

You can believe the gospel but never trust Jesus as your Saviour and believe in vain and end up in the lake of fire. Paul said,

“2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have BELIEVED IN VAIN.”

There are 3 kinds of believers:

1. Non-Believers
2. Vain Believers
3. True Believers

A non-believer is someone that does not believe that Christ died and paid for sins.

A vain believer is someone that believes Christ died and paid for sins but they have not trusted Christ as their Saviour, They are trusting in their works, water baptisms, walking the aisle, church affiliation, etc.

A true believer is someone that believes Christ died and paid for sins and also trusts Christ as their Saviour. This is where salvation comes in.

In Ephesians 1 it says,

“12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

13 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,”

Paul is very clear in this passage that you must TRUST Jesus Christ.

To BELIEVE is to acknowledge something to be true.

To TRUST is to rely upon.

You can believe in Jesus Christ but relying upon your water baptism for your salvation. You can believe he died and paid for your sins but be relying upon something other than Jesus Christ for your salvation. This is not salvation. When you TRUST Christ, rely upon him, this is when salvation kicks in.

Paul is clear that trusting comes after you hear and believe the gospel of your salvation. First you hear the gospel, believe it, and then trust Christ as your Saviour.

But what happens if you stop at just believing?

In Romans 10 Paul says,

“13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

First preachers are sent.
The preachers preach.
Some hear, some do not.
Out of those that hear, some believe, some do not.
Out of those that believe, some call on the Lord, some do not.

So what happens to you if you stop at believing and never call upon the Lord? Are you saved?

Paul said that you can believe in vain. If you believe Christ died and paid for your sins but you are trusting in yourself to get yourself saved you are a vain believer.

I was Catholic. I know this for a fact. I was a vain believer.

The Catholic church teaches that Jesus Christ died for sins was buried and rose again but they also teach you to trust in yourself to get yourself saved. They will tell you not to miss mass, do good works, keep the commandments, confess your sins and so forth.

Go up to a Catholic and ask them if they believe Christ died for their sins and they will say yes. Ask the same thing to a Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal or just about any other denomination and they will tell you yes that Christ died for their sins, was buried and rose again. But many of them are not trusting Jesus Christ as their Saviour but rather are trusting in other things in order to have eternal life.

Here is a perfect example of 2 vain believers, my wife and myself. Please forbear with me as I give a quick testimony, it is necessary for the point I am about to make. I was raised Catholic and my wife was raised Baptist. We both believe that Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again but neither one of us were saved.

Back in the late 1970’s, a dear friend of mine, Mark Rumfello, his father passed away. (Mark is now the pastor of Grace Believers Bible Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.) Mr. Rumfello was very dear to me, and his passing away was very emotional for me.

It also got my attention.

It scared me. I didn’t know anything about death but I knew that I didn’t want to go to hell. The Catholic church had taught me that Christ died and paid for my sins so I had better be good so I could have eternal life. Well, I wasn’t good, far from it. I did the drug scene, the alcohol scene, the rock and roll, etc.

It was obvious to me now that the Lord was calling me to him. It just so happens that Mark’s cousin, Bobby Cottle, went to the only grace church in Louisiana at the time, which just so happen to be right across the street from where I lived.

Mark called me up and asked me if I wanted to go, I said sure, I was looking for answers and the Catholic church was not giving them to me. So anyway, it was Mark, David Cottle, (Bobby’s brother) and myself that went to that church that Sunday morning. The church was Berean Bible Fellowship and the pastor was Obed Kirkpatrick.

I do not actually remember the sermon that morning for my head was in a cloud of confusion, but I knew I needed God in my life. When the sermon was finished brother Obed gave an altar call and I walked the aisle along with Mark and David.

I remember telling brother Obed that I wanted to be part of God’s family, he asked me if I believed Christ died for my sins and I told him yes and he showed me Romans 10:13,

“13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

And he said, “Are you a whosoever?” and I replied, “I don’t know.”

I felt really good about making a decision to turn to God, but I still had my old Catholic doctrine in me about being good to be saved. I decided to go back to brother Obed’s church and start reading and studying the bible.

I soon came to realize that I could not save myself, and I finally realized that even though I knew who the Saviour was and what he did for me, (and I knew this from the time I was a little boy) I had never trusted Jesus as my Saviour.

So the night I realized this, I went into my living room by myself and knelt down by the couch and with tears streaming down my face I called upon Jesus Christ and asked him to save me. I quit trusting in myself and I put my trust in him and relied upon him to save me. My salvation was a very emotional experience for me. I do not remember the date, but the event has been burned into my heart and soul.

Not only did I trust Christ as my Saviour, but I gave my life to him and he soon called me into the ministry.

But my belief of him dying and paying for my sins did not change. It was the same before I trusted him and it is still the same now. It never changed.

Believing that Christ died and paid for my sins did not save me. When I put my trust in him is when I became saved. Believing that he died and paid for my sins did not save me, nor did it put me into the one new man (body of Christ).

Several years later in May of 1983 Berean Bible Fellowship was putting on a bible conference. My wife and I helped with the conference preparing meals and such.

That Saturday night, brother E.C. Moore gave a terrific message on “Lost Believers.” The following morning brother Steve Atwood gave a fantastic salvation message. With these two teachings you knew that you were either saved or you were going to spend eternity in the lake of fire, they were that good.

There was an altar call given and 17 or 18 people walked the aisle. Many of them you thought were already saved and so did they but they realized that they did not have a Saviour. It was a very Spirit filled emotional service, one of the best I have ever been in.

After the conference was over my wife and I went home. We decided to take a nap because we were very tired from working the conference. We were laying in bed and I asked my wife, “Clair, when did you get saved?”

And she replied, “Last night.”

I asked her why she did not walk the aisle and she told me that she had already done that many times in the Baptist church. She said that she had been relying upon her water baptism and walking down the aisle for her salvation. She told me that she wanted to make sure it was just simple trust in Christ and she refused to walk down the aisle again.

She had already believed that Christ died and paid for her sins many years before this. Her belief of Christ dying for her sins was the same before her salvation and the same after her salvation. It never changed.

Believing that Christ died and paid for her sins did not save my wife. She was a vain believer. When she trusted Christ as her Saviour is when she became saved.

Believing that Christ died for her sins did not save her nor did it put her into the one new man. When she trusted Christ as her Saviour, Jesus saved her and put her into the one new man by his Holy Spirit, the same he did for me and everyone else that trusted Christ as their Saviour during the dispensation of grace.

Now back to “the Rule”.

The Rule:

If you believe Peter’s gospel it puts you into the new covenant church (kingdom church) and if you believe Paul’s gospel it puts you into the one new man (the body of Christ). If Peter preaches to you, you go into the new covenant church and if Paul preaches to you, you go into the one new man.

“The Rule” claims that Paul’s gospel is that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried and rose again and Peter’s was not. And if you believe Paul’s gospel it puts you into the body of Christ and you cannot be put into the body of Christ without Paul’s gospel.

OK. Let’s say that this is correct. Let’s test it. If it is correct, then there should be no exceptions to this rule. But if we find exceptions, then there is a good possibility that this rule is flawed.

Exception #1

Vain Believers.

Paul is very clear that if you are a vain believer you will not be saved. If you believe that Christ died and paid for your sins according to the scriptures and was buried and rose again the third day according to the scriptures but you do not trust Christ as your Saviour you will not be saved. The gospel does not save you nor does it put you into the one new man. The gospel is what leads you to Christ and tells you who to trust. Knowing and believing what Christ did for you is not going to cut it. You have to have a Saviour in order to be saved. Knowing a few scriptures is not going to do it.

Exception #2

Christian Babies That Die

There is no doubt in my mind that if a young Christian couple has a baby or a young child that dies that the Lord will give the child eternal life. Today during the dispensation of grace the only thing available is the one new man. I believe with all my heart that the Lord puts the parents and the child together into the one new man. The child does not know or believe that Christ died and paid for their sins, but yet the Lord puts the child into the one new man. Once again, this is an exception to the rule.

If you feel that the Lord puts Christian babies that do not know or believe that Christ died for their sins into something other than the one new man please let me know.

Exception #3

Peter And The Apostles

For the moment let’s say that in Luke 24 that Christ DID NOT teach Peter and the apostles that he died and paid for sins. Let’s say that Peter and the apostles learned this from the apostle Paul. In Galatians 2 Paul said,

“2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.”

So Paul is teaching the Gentiles that Christ died and paid for sins and Peter did not know this, did not believe this, nor was he teaching this, but Paul is going to show it to him. Starting in verse 7 it says,

“7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.”

In verse 9 it says that the apostles perceived the grace that was given unto Paul. This means they saw it, they understood it and of course most of all they believed it. In 1st Peter 2 it says,

“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.”

And in chapter 3 he says,

“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:”

The bottom line is somebody told Peter that Christ died and paid for sins and from that point on he believed it and taught it. If Christ did not do it in Luke 24, then surely Paul did it in Acts 15 when they met in Jerusalem.

Now here is the big question:

Regardless of when Peter found out that Christ died and paid for sins and started teaching it, did it put him into the one new man?

NO WAY!

If it would have put him in the one new man the Lord would have told him to start teaching the same doctrine that Paul was teaching. Peter was teaching the doctrine of the circumcision which is quite different than the doctrine that Paul was teaching to the uncircumcision. The doctrine for the new covenant church is different from the doctrine for the one new man.

So Peter and the apostles believing that Christ died and paid for sins DID NOT put him or the apostles into the one new man. Just another exception to the rule.

Exception #4

Satan And His Angels

Does Satan and his Angels believe that Christ died and paid for sins? You bet they do! But it is not going to help them out one single bit. They are not put into the one new man.

Exception #5

Tribulation Saints

After the adoption takes place (rapture) and the one new man is caught up into heaven the tribulation will start which is Daniel’s 70th week. The dispensation of grace will be over.

During Daniel’s 70th week when the people believe that Christ died and paid for their sins will it put them into the one new man?

NO. The one new man will be complete and over and done with. It will no longer be available. Believing that Christ died and paid for their sins will not put them into the one new man. Just another exception to the rule.

Exception #6

During the Kingdom

During the 1000 year reign of Christ before the new heaven and earth are created, when the people believe that Christ died and paid for their sins will it put them into the one new man?

Simply no.

Exception # 7

Outside The New Jerusalem

In Revelation 22 it says,

“14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.”

When these people outside of the new Jerusalem believe that Christ died and paid for their sins will it put them into the one new man?

Once again, NO.

Exception #8

The Apostle Paul

According to “the Rule”, Paul would have to receive the information that Christ died and paid for his sins before he could be put into the one new man. Let’s test this. In Acts 9 it says,

“3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.”

Now from Acts 9 there is no indication here whatsoever that Paul received the info that Christ died and paid for sins. Let’s check other places. In Acts 22 it says,

“6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.

7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.

10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.

11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.”

Nothing here. Let’s try Acts 26,

“14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”

Still nothing about Christ dying and paying for sins. Now let’s go back to Acts 9 which says,

“8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.”

Now here is a really big question:

Those three days when Paul was in Damascus without sight and neither ate nor drank, was he in the one new man?

Now remember, before you answer this question there is absolutely no record of Paul knowing that Christ died and paid for sins.

Some people will say, “Well, you have to ASSUME that Paul was told that Christ died and paid for sins on the road to Damascus. Why must we ASSUME this? Because “the Rule” says so.

This causes division. Because of “the Rule” most Acts 9 brethren say that Paul was put into the one new man the moment he was saved and Jesus told him that he died and paid for sins on the road to Damascus. There is no scripture on this whatsoever.

Our brethren that say the one new man started later such as Acts 11 or Acts 13 say that Paul did not receive that Christ died and paid for sins until later. They realize that the scriptures do not say that Paul got this info on the road to Damascus.

Here’s my answer, I take the Acts 9 position and I believe that Paul was immediately put into the one new man. Those three days he was at Damascus he was in the one new man. There is no record whatsoever that he knew that Christ died and paid for sins, but I have seen enough scriptural evidence that shows that “the Rule” has flaws.

Christ put the apostle Paul into the one new man, not the gospel. Knowing the gospel does not put you into the one new man.

Right after Paul got saved there is no record of him teaching that Christ died for sins. But rather he says in Galatians 1,

“23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.”

So if Peter was not preaching that Christ died for sins, then neither was the apostle Paul.

BUT IF PETER WAS PREACHING THAT CHRIST DIED FOR SINS, THEN SO WAS THE APOSTLE PAUL.

It works both ways.

I wish I had a dollar for every time I taught that you will not find Peter preaching that Christ died for sins in the book of Acts. If I did I would take a well needed vacation. But seriously, you will never find this in the book of Acts.

Preachers that teach “the Rule” also use this fact to teach that Peter was not teaching that Christ died for sins.

But the matter of fact is that you will not find anywhere in the book of Acts that Paul taught that Christ died for sins either. Luke never records in the book of Acts where Peter, nor Paul taught that Christ died for sins. It is simply just not there.

Let’s test this. In Acts 9 it says,

“20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.”

Nothing here. Let’s move on. In Acts 13 it says,

“5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.

16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.

17 The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.

23 Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:

26 Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

29 And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.

30 But God raised him from the dead:

33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.”

Nothing about Christ dying for sins yet. Let’s keep going, in Acts 16 Paul told the jailor,

“31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.”

This process continues all the way through the book of Acts. Nowhere in the book of Acts will you find that Paul preached that Christ died and paid for sins. You will find where Paul says that forgiveness of sins comes by Jesus Christ but Peter preached that also, but nothing about him dying and paying for sins.

But the preachers that promote “the Rule” say that all you have to do is go to 1st Corinthians 15:1-4 and you can see that Paul was preaching that Christ died for sins. OK, let’s do this one more time,

“1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

And they say, “See, Paul was preaching that Christ died and paid for sins.” But they don’t want to continue down to verse 11, but we will,

5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.

In this very same chapter just a few sentences after he gives the gospel of Christ dying for sins, Paul says the apostles were teaching it also.

1st Corinthians was written about Acts 19, which is well after Acts 15 when Paul met with the apostles and taught them that gospel which he preached among the Gentiles, which included Christ dying and paying for sins. This is well recorded in Galatians 2.

When Paul writes 1st Corinthians, Peter definitely without a shadow of a doubt knows, believes and teaches that Jesus Christ died for sins, was buried and rose again the third day according to the scriptures. This cannot be denied.

In Luke 24 Jesus taught the apostles why he had to suffer and that reason was to die and pay for sins.

Paul says in 1st Corinthians 15:11 that Peter and the apostles were teaching that Christ died for sins.

Peter says in 1st Peter chapter 2 and 3 that Christ died and paid for sins.

You cannot deny that Peter knew, believed and taught that Jesus died and paid for sins.

So when did Peter receive this information? Did Christ give it to him in Luke 24 or did Paul give it to him in Acts 15? Regardless of which one you take, it was well before Paul went to Corinth in Acts 18. By the time Paul went to Corinth and then writes to the Corinthians, Peter is definitely preaching that Christ died and paid for sins.

Personally, I take the position that Christ told Peter and the apostles in Luke 24 that he died and paid for sins, and when Paul got saved in Acts 9 Paul immediately started preaching that Christ died for sins also. He preached the faith that he once destroyed. Once again, in Galatians 1,

“23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.”

Whatever faith it was that Paul was destroying, as soon as he got saved he started preaching it. And if Peter and the apostles were teaching that Christ died and paid for sins, (which I believe they were) then the apostle Paul started teaching it also. If the apostles were not, then neither was Paul.

Let’s go back to Galatians 1 which says,

“17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.”

So Paul got saved on the road to Damascus, went into Arabia, went back to Damascus and then went to Jerusalem and stayed with Peter for 15 days."

Now let’s think about this for a moment. Paul stayed with Peter for half a month. Do you think they talked about Christ for those two weeks? Of course they did.

Big question:

Why didn’t Paul tell Peter his gospel at this time? Why did he wait another 14 years to tell Peter his gospel? Surely, Paul would have told Peter that Christ died for sins within those two weeks. Do you think Paul was telling everyone that Christ died and paid for sins but when he gets to Peter he keeps it a secret? That doesn’t even make sense.

Here is how I see it:

Peter was taught that Christ died and paid for sins by the Lord Jesus Christ right after the resurrection in Luke 24. Paul gets saved in Acts 9 and immediately teaches that Christ died and paid for sins. Approximately three years later when Paul stayed with Peter, both of them already knew that Christ died and paid for sins. It was mutual knowledge between them. There was no gospel of the uncircumcision to share as of yet.

14 years later, when Peter and Paul met in Jerusalem, Paul teaches Peter and the apostles the gospel of the grace of God (gospel of the uncircumcision) that he is preaching among the Gentiles, which includes being saved by grace, sealed unto the day of redemption, no works involved, getting a new body, going into heaven and such.

Peter and Paul then agree that Peter would not go unto the Gentiles because Peter’s doctrine did not apply to the Gentiles. This was approximately twenty years after Paul started his ministry.

Now let’s get back to what the book of Acts says about what Peter told Cornelius. In Acts 10 it says,

“34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;

38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”

Nowhere in this chapter does Peter ever say that Christ died and paid for sins. Absolutely nowhere.

But of course, as we showed earlier, nowhere in the book of Acts will you find that Paul preached that Christ died for sins either.

But according to the scripture, we know that both Peter and Paul preached that Christ died and paid for sins. The Lord showed both Peter and Paul and Paul said they were both preaching it.

Even though Peter and Paul taught different doctrines, their doctrines had the same foundation, which is Jesus Christ.

Many times through the years have I heard that Paul laid the foundation for the one new man and Peter laid the foundation for the kingdom church. But in all reality, the apostle Paul says that there is only one foundation that can be laid and that foundation is Jesus Christ. In 1st Corinthians 3 he says,

“11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

According to Paul, only one foundation can be laid, which is Jesus Christ. The doctrine of the one new man is quite different from that of the new covenant church (kingdom church) but the foundation for both doctrines is exactly the same, which is Christ Jesus. In Ephesians 2 Paul says,

“15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;”

Paul is very clear in these passages of scripture that the one new man that the Lord made to join Jew and Gentile together is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. It is not built upon a separate foundation as many people teach.

Paul did not lay this foundation in Jerusalem, Peter and the apostles did, but Paul did lay this foundation in many other places including the city of Corinth.

In 1st Timothy 3, Paul tells Timothy,

“15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”

Paul tells Timothy that he was in the house of God, which is the church of the living God. This would also put Paul in the house of God. In 1st Peter 4, Peter says,

“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?”

So what we have here is that Peter states that he also was in the house of God.

But yet, Peter and Paul taught different doctrines, so how does that work?

Let’s check out this chart:

http://www.gracebiblestudy.net/images/Charts/FoundationoftheGospels.jpg

This chart shows us how Peter and Paul could both be in the house of God but yet still be separate in their doctrines. Peter and Paul’s doctrines had the exact same foundation which is Jesus Christ dying and paying for sins.

This chart also shows a few of the differences between the gospel of the circumcision and the gospel of the uncircumcision.

The bottom line is this: Peter and the apostles were preaching the new covenant unto the nation of Israel. They were preaching that Israel would get the blotting out of their sins at the second coming. The new covenant is based upon the shed blood of Christ and him dying to pay for sins.

The author of Hebrews (which was not the apostle Paul) clearly shows us that Christ died and paid for sins, this was done for the new covenant. In Hebrews 10 it says,

“10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,

16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.”

But yet in this very same chapter the author of Hebrews said that he could lose his salvation. Starting in verse 26 it says,

“26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?”

There are several things we can get from these passages.

1. The author of Hebrews could lose his salvation therefore it was not the apostle Paul. Paul was in the one new man and was sealed unto the day of redemption.

2. The author of Hebrews believed that Christ died and paid for sins but he was not in the one new man (body of Christ). By the way, this is another exception to the rule. You can add this one to the list also.

3. Once again, believing that Christ died and paid for your sins does not put you into the one new man.

4. The author of Hebrews was teaching the new covenant as was Peter and the rest of the apostles. The new covenant is based upon the shed blood of Christ, him dying and paying for sins.

5. The Hebrews in the new covenant church were sanctified by the blood of Christ which is the blood of the covenant. This includes Peter and the apostles.

In Hebrews 9 it says,

“26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”

The author of Hebrews teaches that Christ died for sins but they still do not get their salvation until the second coming of Christ just as Peter and the apostles were teaching.

Christ dying and paying for sins applies to Peter’s gospel and Paul’s gospel. Peter and Paul were both teaching that Christ died and paid for sins even though Luke never records it for either one of them in the book of Acts.

Christ dying and paying for sins is the foundation for both Peter’s gospel and Paul’s gospel.

Even before Jesus died on the cross and shed his blood he told the apostles in Matthew 26,

“28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

And in Mark 14,

“24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.”

And in Luke 22,

“20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”

And right after the resurrection he told them in Luke 24,

“44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:”

So before the cross he tells them about shedding his blood for the remission of sins and after the cross he opens their understanding to the scriptures of why he had to suffer and be raised again the third day, which Peter acknowledges in 1st Peter that it was to pay for sins.

But some teach that Peter and the apostles did not have a clue that Christ died and paid for sins until Paul told them 20 years after he got saved.

So this means that Peter and the apostles knew nothing about the shed blood of Christ for the payment of sins until Acts 15 when they met with Paul? So Peter and the apostles went for 20 years teaching the new covenant and being sanctified by the blood of the new covenant but not knowing anything about the shed blood of Christ for the payment of sins? So Peter and the apostles didn’t know anything about the shed blood of Christ for sins even after he told them before the cross and after the resurrection?

Just because Paul’s doctrine that was given to him to give to the uncircumcision was different from what Peter taught the Jews does not mean that Peter and the apostles did not know that Christ died and paid for sins.

In fact, they knew it before the apostle Paul did. Christ dying and paying for sins was the foundation for Peter’s doctrine and Paul’s doctrine.