2 Peter 3:15, 16
The Apostle Paul must have had a moment or two in his ministry where he wondered if he was preaching the right thing. When confronted in the streets over his doctrine by Alexander the coppersmith, no one in Paul’s entourage stayed with him when he gave his rebuttal (2 Timothy 4:14-16). It must have been a lonely time, to look around and see that no one believes what you are preaching. Perhaps it crossed his mind that God had chosen the wrong person, for maybe one of the men who walked with Jesus in the flesh while He was on this earth would have been better accepted by the people.
As you study the composite whole of Paul’s message, you find that it is unnecessary, and even possibly counter-productive to have someone who walked with Jesus be the first preacher of the New Covenant. The message of New Covenant has nothing to do with the walk and lifestyle of Jesus Christ, which is why we never see Paul making reference to the things that Jesus did. Paul knew that Christianity is not about emulating the things that Jesus did, but about allowing His life to be lived through us because of His resurrection from the dead.
Any reference that connects Christianity with how Jesus would do things will invariably link works to righteousness. It subtly teaches the believer that they should be walking better, talking better, etc, so that they can know “What Would Jesus Do?” This type of lifestyle leads to condemnation and guilt, for you will never live up to the standard of Jesus on a day to day basis, and grace never demands that of us. Grace is a free gift, and if we must earn salvation, then it ceases to be by grace that we are saved.
Paul needed a good, old fashioned, honest endorsement for his message from someone who people trusted, and in the Apostle Peter, he found that man. Peter closes his final epistle by putting his stamp of approval on the ministry of Paul, even stating that the wisdom that Paul had concerning salvation was “given unto him” (2 Peter 3:15). Peter knows that the message that Paul is preaching did not come by intelligence or studying, but by divine revelation.
Paul’s writings are complex and they cover a variety of intricate topics within the framework of God’s grace and goodness. Peter said that Paul’s messages contained “some things hard to be understood” (2 Peter 3:16), so don’t be dismayed if you struggle within the writings of Paul even today. Pray for revelation of Paul’s message, where the Holy Spirit can reveal to you the powerful truths behind this wonderful author of God’s grace and mercy.
I must tip my cap to Peter in this situation, for his endorsement did not come easy. Paul openly rebuked Peter for acting one way in front of Gentiles and another way in front of Jews (Galatians 2:9-14). Peter could have rebelled against this and rejected the ministry of Paul, but instead he changed and became open to the message of pure grace, which affected not only his ministry, but ultimately the entire world.
The stamp of approval has been given to the message of grace, and it has been given by those who walked with Jesus Himself. Don’t run from the wonderful news of radical grace, for only that will radically change your life.
The Apostle Paul must have had a moment or two in his ministry where he wondered if he was preaching the right thing. When confronted in the streets over his doctrine by Alexander the coppersmith, no one in Paul’s entourage stayed with him when he gave his rebuttal (2 Timothy 4:14-16). It must have been a lonely time, to look around and see that no one believes what you are preaching. Perhaps it crossed his mind that God had chosen the wrong person, for maybe one of the men who walked with Jesus in the flesh while He was on this earth would have been better accepted by the people.
As you study the composite whole of Paul’s message, you find that it is unnecessary, and even possibly counter-productive to have someone who walked with Jesus be the first preacher of the New Covenant. The message of New Covenant has nothing to do with the walk and lifestyle of Jesus Christ, which is why we never see Paul making reference to the things that Jesus did. Paul knew that Christianity is not about emulating the things that Jesus did, but about allowing His life to be lived through us because of His resurrection from the dead.
Any reference that connects Christianity with how Jesus would do things will invariably link works to righteousness. It subtly teaches the believer that they should be walking better, talking better, etc, so that they can know “What Would Jesus Do?” This type of lifestyle leads to condemnation and guilt, for you will never live up to the standard of Jesus on a day to day basis, and grace never demands that of us. Grace is a free gift, and if we must earn salvation, then it ceases to be by grace that we are saved.
Paul needed a good, old fashioned, honest endorsement for his message from someone who people trusted, and in the Apostle Peter, he found that man. Peter closes his final epistle by putting his stamp of approval on the ministry of Paul, even stating that the wisdom that Paul had concerning salvation was “given unto him” (2 Peter 3:15). Peter knows that the message that Paul is preaching did not come by intelligence or studying, but by divine revelation.
Paul’s writings are complex and they cover a variety of intricate topics within the framework of God’s grace and goodness. Peter said that Paul’s messages contained “some things hard to be understood” (2 Peter 3:16), so don’t be dismayed if you struggle within the writings of Paul even today. Pray for revelation of Paul’s message, where the Holy Spirit can reveal to you the powerful truths behind this wonderful author of God’s grace and mercy.
I must tip my cap to Peter in this situation, for his endorsement did not come easy. Paul openly rebuked Peter for acting one way in front of Gentiles and another way in front of Jews (Galatians 2:9-14). Peter could have rebelled against this and rejected the ministry of Paul, but instead he changed and became open to the message of pure grace, which affected not only his ministry, but ultimately the entire world.
The stamp of approval has been given to the message of grace, and it has been given by those who walked with Jesus Himself. Don’t run from the wonderful news of radical grace, for only that will radically change your life.
