Bible scholar C.R. Stam once wrote, “Throughout the writings of the Apostle Paul he again and again refers to a wonderful secret, which he designates in a special way as ‘the mystery,’ or ‘the great mystery.’

“For centuries it was almost entirely lost sight of. In fact, until brought to the fore through the writings and the preaching and teaching of a distinguished ex‑clergyman, Mr. J. N. Darby, in the early part of the last century, it is scarcely to be found in a single book or sermon throughout a period of sixteen hundred years.

“Of ordinances exalted to the place of mysteries, as in heathen rites, he will find much; but as to the mystery, which to the apostle was so unspeakably precious, rarely a reference.

“That a doctrine so clearly revealed in the Scriptures could have become so utterly lost is only to be accounted for by the Judaizing of the Church, and the consequent minding of earthly things that beclouded the heavenly ones.”

*****

Paul certifies in Galatians 1:1 that the source of his apostleship had NOTHING to do with men. He writes, “Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.”

As my pastor, Richard Jordan, explains, “Paul’s saying his apostleship didn't originate with men, neither was it by the instrumentality of the appointment of some men, but it was by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.

“Now, critics say we try to pit the words of Christ against the words of Paul as though there were a difference between the words of Christ and the words of Paul, but they never seem to get around to passages like that!

“The words the Apostle Paul spoke were the words of the Lord Jesus Christ and you need to settle that. He’s saying, ‘If a man won’t teach what I’m teaching you, and won’t consent to these things, even the words of Christ’. . . Christ is in Paul writing the words down for you today!

“Critics say, ‘Well, you don't believe the words of Christ; you're always following Paul.’ They don't really mean that, though. They're not really interested in following the words of Christ—they don't go back into the gospel accounts and follow what Christ said!”

Just look at one of many glaring quotes on this from the Rev. Rick Warren’s book, The Purpose-Driven Church. He writes, “Some pastors today criticize ‘life-application’ preaching as shallow, simplistic, and inferior. To them the only real preaching is didactic, doctrinal preaching. Their attitude implies that Paul was more profound than Jesus; that Romans is ‘deeper’ material than the Sermon on the Mount or the Parables. I call that heresy!”

In another passage, Warren emphasizes, “It’s easy to complicate the gospel, and of course, Satan would love for us to do just that. The apostle Paul worried that ‘your minds would be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.’ (2 Cor. 11:3 NASB). I’d rather be clear than complex. Jesus—not anyone else—must be our model. When we preach like he did, we’ll see the results he did.”

Of course, what Paul really wrote in II Cor. 11:3 was, “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.”

The simplicity is in following the exact OPPOSITE of what Warren preaches! Christ wants us to know that in today’s dispensation of grace, laid out solely by Paul, we are not to follow Israel’s prophetic program delivered by Christ to the Jews alone during His earthly ministry directed at Israel.

The program dramatically changed with the raising up of the Apostle Paul and guys like Warren refuse to see this!

As Paul states in such a painfully simple manner in Ephesians 3: 1-11, “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
[2] If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward:
[3] How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
[4] Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
[5] Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
[6] That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
[7] Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
[8] 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;
[9] And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
[10] To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
[11] According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Jordan explains, “Paul’s dealing with the issue of divine revelation and of his God-given position, and you need to face this issue tonight if you never have before. If words mean ANYTHING, those words tell us that Jesus Christ—from heaven’s glory and by revelation—gave to Paul a system of information that was kept a secret up until that time. The issue there is God’s revelation. It’s not some issue about the man, but it’s the position God Almighty gave to the Apostle Paul.”

In direct, complete contrast to what Warren falsely proclaims, Paul writes in I Timothy 1: 15-16, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.”

The word pattern is right there in the verse! Paul’s saying he’s the pattern for anyone who believes in Jesus Christ as Saviour.

Jordan reasons, “If you think it through, thinking Christ is your pattern only points to your faults and failures because you realize the sinless life of Jesus Christ can only condemn you.

“The Lord Jesus Christ told His disciples, ‘If I had not come and spoken unto you, you would not be in sin, but now you have no cloak for your sin.’

“When you examine the sinless perfect spotless life of the Jesus Christ, you have a life that shows your failure and condemns sin in your flesh. It’s only His death at Calvary that saves you.

“But when you look at Paul, the ‘chief of sinners,’ that’s a pretty good pattern. That’s the kind of guy I qualify to resemble. That’s the kind of guy I am and I appreciate God giving me that kind of pattern!

“That’s why Paul says in I Cor. 11:1, ‘Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.’ Paul’s the only man outside of Jesus Christ who said over and over again, ‘Be ye followers of me—follow me, follow me, follow me,’ and he didn’t say that because he was such a wonderful person.

“From His ascended position far above all heavens, Jesus Christ poured out His grace to a rebellious world and sent Paul forth as the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles.

“If you’re going to see the Lord Jesus Christ today, He’s going to be revealed to you THROUGH the ministry of the Apostle Paul, and that’s the reason we jump up and down about this is, because if the world is going to know anything about Him today they’re going to know about it through the ministry He’s given to us in Paul’s epistles in this Bible. That’s how God operates today!”