Paul wrote SOME things hard to understand. Peter said so. But not all he wrote was hard to understand. When he needed to make it plain he could and did. He warned a fellow minister, Timothy, “If we deny Him (Jesus Christ), He also will deny us!” (See 2 Timothy 2:12). He went on to say, “If we believe not (or, if we doubt Jesus would do such a thing), yet He abides faithful (to His warning, to what He had said long ago during His earthly sojourn) He cannot deny Himself” (verse 13, 2 Timothy 2). Paul knew that Jesus could not deny that He had told His disciples long ago “WHOSOEVER shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven” (See Matthew 10:33). And notice Jesus said, “WHOSOEVER,” meaning preacher, disciple, apostle (Judas was – Matthew 10:2-4), Christian, whosoever!
To the Christians in Rome Paul wrote, “If some of the branches (the tribes of Israel) be broken off (cast away from fellowship with God), and you (Gentiles) being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them (among Israel – becoming spiritual Israel), and with them partake of the root (Jesus Christ) and fatness (spiritual blessings) of the olive tree (enjoying all that was promised faithful Israel), boast not against the branches (that you Gentiles now enjoy the blessings of God while the Jews do not), but if you boast (know this) you bear not the root, but the root bears you. You will say then, the branches were broken off that I might be grafted in. Well, because of unbelief they were broken off. Be not highminded (proud), but fear. (Fear what?) For if God spared not the natural branches, TAKE HEED LEST HE SPARE NOT YOU. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God, on them which fell severity (was shown), but toward you goodness (was displayed) IF YOU CONTINUE IN HIS GOODNESS, OTHERWISE YOU ALSO SHALL BE CUT OFF” (See Romans 11:17-22).
Paul made it mighty plain when he said, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate (men who purposefully make themselves appear as the opposite sex), nor abusers of themselves with mankind (both gay and lesbian), nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards (and today that would include dope addicts), nor revilers, nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God!” (See I Corinthians 6:9-10). But notice what he says next, “And such WERE SOME OF YOU, but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God!” (See verse 11).
None of the offenses named by Paul are unpardonable sins. All such can be forgiven, but those guilty of such offenses must abandon such sins and surrender their lives to the guidance and control of the Holy Spirit in order to escape the judgment of God and, thus, enter into eternal life.
Paul further warned in the plainest language possible that “another Jesus” would be presented to the world, and that “another spirit” would go forth with the preaching of that other Jesus and “another gospel.” (See 2 Corinthians 11:4). Paul warned that men would transform themselves into supposed ministers or representatives of the real Jesus Christ. (See 2 Corinthians 11:12-15). They would assume offices and positions among professing Christians to which Jesus Christ had never appointed them. And he warned that true believers “might well bear with them,” that is be duped into believing these deceivers actually were ordained ministers of Jesus Christ. (See 2 Corinthians 11:4).
Jesus told His first small group of hand-picked representatives that when the Holy Spirit was given “He will guide you into ALL truth” (See John 16:13). A short time later while praying to the Father on their behalf, Jesus said, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (See John 17:17). From these two verses we learn that Jesus’ truly anointed spokesmen, pastors, teachers, etc., are sanctified, set apart from the rest of those who profess to be such, by their deep knowledge and understanding of ALL the Word of God – NOT just the New Testament. They are as at home and familiar with Zephaniah or Ezekiel as they are with Luke or Peter’s writings.
Jesus went on to say something else that pinpoints God’s true representatives, telling His disciples that not only would the Spirit guide them into ALL truth, but that the Spirit would also reveal to them “things to come” (See John 16:13, last part). Things to come are future things! That means the Spirit would open their minds to understand the prophecies given by the Lord through His prophets of old as well as His apostles! They would not obtain such understanding through the commentaries or theological works of men, but from Jesus alone as guided by the Holy Spirit into the Word of God alone, NOT from the writings of John Calvin, or Martin Luther, or Matthew Henry, or Ellen G. White, or any other flesh and blood human being. A truly anointed and appointed teacher of God’s Word does not need shelves of commentaries, theological works, or books by theologians. He needs a Bible. That’s all. A concordance or dictionary, or a study of Greek and Hebrew words would help, of course. But such are not mandatory. Just give the fellow a Bible and then listen to him speak or read what he writes. You will be astounded!
Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley