The Significance of Paul's Revelation (Part 1)

The 'Mystery of Christ' was revealed to the former Saul of Tarsus (the apostle Paul) beginning with his dramatic encounter with the Lord Jesus on the 'road to Damascus.'
This deeper revelation, which the apostle called "my gospel", completed the foundational truth of the gospel of Christ; and though expounded in the fourteen books of the New Testament written by Paul; it has become a 'missing link' in popular Theology, to the overcoming, triumphant life intended for the Christian.
Summarized in Galatians 2:20... "I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me"... This mystery revealed, unlocks a deeper understanding of the Christians's ministry potential, and the many inherited benefits 'in Christ'...

"But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ."
--Galatians 1:11-12

One of the most essential tenets of our faith is the belief that the Bible, in its entirety, is the authoritative and inspired word of God. And in spite of all the doctrinal differences within the body of Christ, the potential for 'unity of the faith' (Eph. 4:13) will always remain, as long as we hold to that one basic truth.
A pastor friend of mine recently told his congregation, "You won't hear me say, 'this is what the Bible means to me..."
To that, I yield a hearty 'Amen'. What the Bible says, is what it means. And it means the same to one, as it does to another. There are varying degrees of understanding of the Bible, however; and because of that, there are many incomplete or altogether incorrect interpretations of the same. But the Bible is the revealed word of God and is neither flexible, nor conformable to man's way of thinking.
"Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God".
--Romans 10:17
The moment there arises a question as to the source and authority of the Scripture--faith disappears. True faith in God cannot occupy the same space as the belief that perhaps only part of the Bible is divine inspiration. That would mean the Scriptures are partially contrived through the weakness and fallacy of human intellect. It would then be up to you and me to determine which is divine inspiration and which was spawned by mere human philosophy.
Everyone has heard of a 'half-truth'. But whoever heard of a 'half-lie'? There is no such thing. A 'half-truth' equals a 'whole lie', and a lie is a lie... There is no 'half-lie'.
The majority of the New Testament comprises a collection of fourteen letters written by the apostle Paul, to various churches and or segments of the body of Christ in general. Contained in those letters, is a marvelous exposition of the depths of the gospel of 'Christ, and Him crucified', not found (except by reference) in any of the other Books of the Bible.
There were also the same effectual truths in Paul's preaching (as recorded in Acts). These truths concern the spiritual aspects of the death and resurrection of Christ, and were scarcely alluded to, even by those who were apostles before him. Paul's application of the Old Testament law and prophecy, as well as Israel's historical record; were not only part and parcel of, but essential to, his explanation of the gospel of Christ.

JESUS, the Source of Paul's Revelation...

Prior to Calvary, Jesus told His disciples...
"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth..."
--John 16:12-13

Several significant points are presented in that one promise. First of all, Jesus indicated that in addition to what He had already taught them, there would be more to follow.
Secondly, that He (Jesus) would be the source.
And thirdly, that they (His disciples), would not be able to received nor understand these additional truths until they were indwelt by the Holy Spirit, through Whom, He would reveal those truths.
It was that same Jesus, who well after His ascension, appeared to Saul of Tarsus (Paul) on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). During that spectacular encounter, Saul was converted and received his calling to preach the gospel. Beginning at that point, and for an undetermined period of time spent in the desert of Arabia, Paul began to receive direct revelation from the risen Lord Jesus of that which the Lord had promised. Those 'many things' the Lord had promised to reveal to His disciples, were revealed to Paul in the desert, and then in Damascus for the three years that followed. This 'revelation' is what began to be referred to, by Biblical scholars, as the 'Pauline revelation'.

The Apostle Peter's Endorsement...

Though Paul's revelation composes the majority of the New Testament, it has been avoided, ignored, undermined, and even ridiculed by many professing ministers of the word. Apparently, this attack began even in Paul's day, as the Holy Spirit inspired Paul's defense of 'his' gospel and the written 'certification' that the message he was preaching was not learned in a class room, or from any mere human source; but by direct revelation of the Lord Jesus Himself.
Ultimately though, the leaders of the church at Jerusalem--James, Peter, and John--received Paul and recognized the source and power of his ministry, as that of the Holy Spirit. Peter's last written words to the church in general, as also inspired by the Holy Spirit, were a clear endorsement of Paul's writings--referring to them as "scriptures"...
"Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation--as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures."
--2 Peter 3:14-16
Additionally, Peter points out, in the same statement, that due to the fact Paul's revelation ("the wisdom given to him") cannot be understood with the intellect, there would be some who choose to twist the meaning thereof to suit themselves. These would-be teachers, whom Peter calls "untaught and unstable", do so, to 'their own destruction' and to the detriment of their followers.
There are, of course, many within the church today who have no part in the refusal to recognize Paul's letters as any less divinely inspired than the rest of the New Testament. But, within that vast majority of the Christian church, there are also few who realize the existence of such controversy, and even fewer who realize just what doctrine, in Paul's writing, would stir such a contoversy. Yet that very revelation, which Paul referred to as 'the wisdom of God' and 'the power of God' is what so delivers the captives, and so upsets the devil who held them captive.
It is this marvelous revelation that renews the mind, brings spiritual maturity, and introduces a steady flow of victory into the life of the believer. Without it, the church would have ceased to exist within the first century.

To be continued....