Saturday, July 9, 2011

Different Gospels

Hello,

I have recently created an xtranormal video called "Different Gospels." It can be found on youtube.com by clicking here

Below is the script in case you wanted to slow the conversation down and read what they are saying, or maybe you just couldn't understand some parts of it. Regardless, here it is:

Girl:Hello. How are you doing? Can I share the gospel with you?

Guy: But of course. May I ask which one you would like to share with me?

Girl: Oh, well, I am a christian. So i'm talking about the gospel in the Bible

Guy: Well, that still doesn't answer my question. There are many gospels in the bible
For instance, you have the gospel of God in Romans one one. You have the gospel of his son in Romans one nine. The gospel of Christ in Romans one sixteen. And what Paul calls my gospel in Romans two sixteen and Romans sixteen twentyfive and second Timothy two eight. Along with many more.

Girl: But those are all the same message, just different titles

Guy: On the contrary! Different names means different messages. Let me show you. What is your name?

Girl: Jessica Anderson

Guy: And what is your sister's name?

Girl: Ashley Anderson

Guy: Alright, so if i said. Can I talk to Ms. Anderson, you wouldn't know who I was talking to. It could be you or your sister. So when you just say the gospel, how should i know which one you are talking about? But if i say, can i talk to Jessica Anderson, you know exactly who i am talking about. And again, with the Bible, i will know what you're talking about if you say which gospel you are talking about. such as the gospel of christ.

girl: I guess that makes sense. But if you read what each gospel says, they teach the same thing. so you must be wrong

guy: Oh really? Let's talk this out. Tell me, according to Paul and the gospel he preaches, how is one justified?

girl: That's easy. we are justified by faith.

guy: And how are we justified according to James and the gospel he preaches?

girl: Same way. We are justified by faith through grace.

guy: You are but half right. You are correct in saying Paul teaches we are justified by faith. But James preaches we are justified by works.

girl: Wait, what?

guy: Please take out your bible. In romans four two Paul says, For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof]to glory; but not before God. Here Paul is implying that Abraham was not justified by works. Now turn to James two twenty one. Here it says, Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Here the apostle James tells us that Abraham was indeed justified by works. doesn't that sound like two different messages?

girl: Well, yeah, but the bible cannot contradict itself. so something must be wrong with your argument. and just one verse isn't gonna change my views.

guy: Well, it is not a contradiction because the apostles are talking to different people. According to Romans eleven thirteen and galatians two seven Paul was the apostle to the uncircumcision, meaning the gentiles. James, as we see in Galatians two nine was an apostle to the circumcision, meaning the jews. Therefore, it is not a contradiction because these verses were written to two different audiences.

girl: Oh.

guy: Let's continue with the passage. Look at James two twentytwo. It says. Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? This verse tells us that for abraham his faith was perfected by the works that came after faith. Now, let's contrast this with Galatians three three. here Paul says. Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? So we see here that Paul says were are justified only by faith and that our works accomplish nothing.

girl: umm, okay, you are starting to convince me a little. is there anymore?

guy: But of course. Look at James two twentyfour. it says Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. So James is clearly saying that we are justified by works and faith. But Paul says something different. In Romans four five Paul says But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. and in galatians two sixteen Paul says Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Here, we clearly see that Paul strictly seperates works from justification. Therefore, James and Paul teach different ways of justification and different gospels.

girl: Hmmm, that is interesting. I will have to pray about this and study it out.

guy: Very good. I could not ask for a better response.
Now, let's look at what Peter says. In Acts 10:35 Peter says, But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. So, Peter also talks about works being a necessary part of salvation. Then if we turn to his message in Acts three nineteen Peter says Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Now, re-read that verse. Doesn't it sound a little strange to you? It doesn't sound like anything Paul would say, does it? Let's break it down. The verse starts off with Repent and be converted. Paul never uses the word, or any form of the word convert. Paul also never commands anyone to repent. So don't you see how these two apostles could be preaching different things?

girl: Maybe

guy: Look at the second half of the verse. It says that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing come. Remember, this verse is in Acts three. So Christ has already died and risen. So why does Peter say that your sins MAY! be blotted out WHEN! the times of refreshing come? It is very important to see that Peter is telling the audience that their sins may be blotted out, but only when the times of refreshing come. That measn that their sins were not taken away on the cross. Their sins are still with them and will be taken away in the future when the times of refreshing come. Is this in line with what Paul says?

girl: No, it's not. You may be on to something. Because Paul says in Colossians three thirteen. Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. This means that our sins are already taken away. And in Romans four seven through eight Paul again says Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. So, Paul is really stressing that our sins are no longer an issue because Jesus took them away at the cross.

guy: That is exactly right. But let's look at this topic a little more. According to Jesus and the 12 apostles, you had to forgive others if you, yourself, wanted to be forgiven by God. In Luke six thirty seven it says. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven. And in Matthew six fourteen it says For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. These verses clearly state that you must forgive others if you want the Father to forgive you.

girl: agreed

guy:But now let's look at what Paul says. Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do you. So you see that Christ already forgave us, therefore we should forgive others. Let's also look at Ephesians four thrity two, And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Same thing. We should forgive others because Christ has already forgiven us! Now you can clearly see that difference, right?

girl: yes. i definitely can.

guy: This Grace that Paul loves to teach about was made available to him first. The members of the circumcision do not get to enjoy this grace while they are living. Not until the times of refreshing come can they see their sins taken away. We can see this in Paul's first letter to Timothy in chapter one verse sixteen. It says, How be it for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should here after believe on him to life everlasting.

girl: hmmm

guy: Let's also break this verse down. Paul says in me first. Which means Paul is the first person to obtain this object. And the object is longsuffering. This longsuffering is pretty self explanatory. God is, in a way, suffering for a long time. Which mean God is not imputing the sin on Paul that he has committed for a long time. This is also called mercy. Mercy is not getting what you deserve. Therefore, since God is not holding Paul accountable for his sin, God is not punishing Paul, which is an exmaple of mercy. If we continue with the verse Paul tells us that this is a pattern. As in everyone else will get this same treatment. This grace and mercy that God bestowed on Paul will now be available to all. Then when we look at the last part of the verse it says for a pattern to them which should here after believe. So, again, we see that Paul is the first to get this grace because it is a pattern for them which should. Here After. believe. So everyone who believes after Paul will also get this grace.

girl: wow. that one verse says a lot.

guy: it certainly does.
Now, last but not least, we shall look at the gospel Jesus preached.

girl: Wait, are you gonna tell me that Jesus preached a different gospel, too?

guy: It depends. Jesus preached a gospel different than Paul, but he did preach the same one as the 12 apostles. And that is the gospel of the kingdom.

girl: So, according to your previous logic, if different gospels are being preached then they must be talking to different people. And since you say Jesus's gospel is different than Paul's. you must also think that Jesus did not share his gospel with us but with the circumcision or the Jews.

guy: that is correct

girl: But Jesus came to save the world. He must have come to preach to everyone.

guy: Well, if you don't want to believe me, that is fine. But let me show you what the Bible says. In Matthew fifteen twenty four it says. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. So in this verse we see Jesus was sent to Israel, not the Gentiles.

girl: okay

guy: In John four twenty two Jesus says. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. This verse tells us that according to the gospel Jesus preached salvation was of the Jews, not the Gentiles.

girl: okay

guy: And finally in Romans fifteen eight Paul says. Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers. Here even Paul tells us that Jesus was a minister to the Jews. And in Romans chapter eleven verse theirteen Paul says. For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office. This tells us that we, as gentiles, also have an apostle. and his name is Paul.

girl: hmmm. the scriptures do make a convincing argument. I guess i now have a lot to think about.

guy: I will pray for both of us. That his truth will be opened to boh of us and we continue to grow more and more in knowledge according to philipians one verse eight. If you have any questions feel free to come back and ask. Have a great day

girl: you, too. Good-bye