Does the Grace Message Belittle Christ?
(2 Timothy 2:15 KJV) Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
We need to know how to rightly divide the word of truth. That is to put the Scriptures in their proper time. Christ knew how to do this. Compare Luke 4:18-21 with Isaiah 61. Jesus knew where to stop at the correct point in time. Peter on the day of Pentecost got up and quoted from the prophet Joel but he went on to preach the wrath of God to come. Peter at that point in time was unaware of the interruption in the prophetic program. But he learned about it through the Apostle Paul (see 2 Peter 2:15).
The law was given to Moses. Moses then gave the law to the Israelites. The Law is often called the Law of Moses. But we know the Law was given to Moses by God. We understand that it is God's law not Moses'. When the Israelites received the law they did not exalt Moses any more than when we receive the grace message do we exalt Paul. Paul is our Apostle, he is the Apostle to the Gentiles. We receive what he says as words he received from God. Yet, people will accuse those who recognize the distinctive message of Paul as worshipping Paul.
(1 Corinthians 1:10, 12-13 KJV) Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. {12} 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. {13} Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
Paul understood that Satan's plan of evil would come against the one who brought the message. Today, people are confused about Paul, they do not fully understand his message so therefore, they speak against him.
(Galatians 5:2 KJV) Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
If you look back at Genesis 17:13 you will see that in times past circumcision was everything. If a man was not circumcised then he was cut off from the people. But now, Paul says that if you are circumcised Christ is of no benefit to you.
(Ephesians 5:20-21 KJV) Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; {21} Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Here Paul tells us that we need to submit, which means we have to place ourselves under authority. Our flesh does not like authority and wants to rebel.
(Numbers 12:3 KJV) (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
Here we see the word "meek" used for the first time in the KJV. It is what Moses wrote about himself, notice he said that there was not a meeker man on earth. Read what Paul says about himself:
(Ephesians 3:8 KJV) Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Both Paul and Moses had a simple characteristic, meekness, which basically means being yielded to God. That is what we need to be, yielded to God.
(Colossians 1:24-25 KJV) Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: {25} Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
Paul is a minister for the body of Christ in order to fulfil the Word of God.
(Colossians 1:26-27 KJV) Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: {27} To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Here we can see that the "mystery" completes the Word of God. The grace message fulfills the Word of God: it completes it.
(Ephesians 1:3 KJV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Here we see that the grace message makes Christ everything. We have been blessed with all spiritual blessing. All spiritual blessing are found in Christ according to the revelation of the mystery.
We need to learn how to make the right division in the Scriptures so we can know how to live today.
(Colossians 2:6-7 KJV) As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: {7} Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
We have received Christ. How did we receive Christ? In grace through faith.
(2 Corinthians 4:3-11 KJV) But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: {4} In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. {5} For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. {6} For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. {7} But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. {8} We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; {9} Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; {10} Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. {11} For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
Here Paul states that he does not preach himself, but he preaches Jesus Christ and he said he is your servant.
Why should we preach Christ according to grace, according to the revelation of the mystery? You will find the answer in verse 7, that the excellency of power may be of God and not of us.
The life of Christ operates in the body of Christ through the message of grace. Verse 10 shows us our identification with Christ.
You are not spiritually minded if you mix the two messages. If these verses have not stirred you, then you need to examine yourself to see if you are in faith.
The church, the body of Christ, is designed to be the pillar of truth. (See 1 Timothy 3:15).