andyc
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It Is Not Secret Knowledge For Only Certain People. When I Read The Bible, I Picture Myself Face To Face, Looking Into The Eyes Of The Speaker Or Prophet, The Emphasis And Passion, Hearing From God. The Mystery Today Is Corporate Churches Feeding Off Of Guilt And Shame, Strife And Everyday Problems Of Christians, Confusing And Focusing On The Wrong Aspects Of The Bible. Namely, The Free Gift Of Salvation In God's Grace Which Came Through Christ Jesus. To Paul First, From Jesus, And Nobody Explains It Better Than Paul Except Jesus. See How That Works Andy ? It's Working. Holy Spirit, That Is.
It's the "Paul first" issue that's what is controversial.
Paul was a minister to the gentiles because that was his calling. He was an apostle to the gentiles. The difference between Paul's message and the other apostles, is that Paul had to introduce the God of Israel to pagan gentiles, where as the Jews were already familiar with the God of the Hebrew scriptures.
A classic example of Paul ministering his gospel is shown in Acts 17 where he explains the God of the bible to the Athenians who were given over to idolatry. Paul makes use of an inscription of an unknown God, to make known the only God. This is what makes Paul's ministry unique compared to the other apostles.
Instead of using the scriptures to preach, Paul makes use of other means to get his point across, and he explains that the only God who is not an image made of gold, wood, or stone, requires all people everywhere to repent of idolatry and works of darkness, and seek him with a pure heart.