Misunderstanding of Paul

Posted by on May 29, 2016

A Mind Twister

We are justified by works and not by faith only (Jas 2:24), but by the works of the Law no flesh shall be justified (Rom_3:20), but the doers of the Law of God are justified (Rom 2:13, Jas 1:22-23) (Paul and James said that?) Yet, a man is not justified by works of the Law (Gal 2:16) and those who are of the works of the law are under curse (Gal 3:10). But, if by works of the Law no flesh shall be declared right before Him, how come by the Law is the knowledge of sin (Rom 3:20), if the Law has been done away with as the pastors teach? How should we know what sin is without Law? Isn’t it true that whosoever sins transgresses the Law, because sin is the transgression of the Law (1Jn 3:4, Rom 7:7)? So, if there is no Law, I am not a sinner (Rom 4:15)? What do we say then that the Law is bad and has been done away with because the Law of God gives us knowledge of sin (Rom 7:7)? But, Paul says, Do we, then, nullify the Law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.’ (Rom 3:31). Paul said that? We have never heard this verse in the church.

Also, if we are working, our reward is reckoned as a debt and if we are not working, we are declared righteous (Rom 4:4-5), because by faith alone we are saved not by works (Eph 2:8-9), but for good works (Eph 2:10)? What does Paul mean here?

And without works faith is unable to save us (Jas 2:14) and without works faith is dead (Jas 2:17-20)? James contradicts Paul? And we need to do the will of our Father by works approved by Him (Ecc 9:7) to enter into the Kingdom of heaven (Mat 7:21), because in the end Elohim shall judge every work, whether good or evil (Rev 22:12)? But all our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isa 64:6) like when we boast in circumcision? However, none of the uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, shall come into Yerushalayim (Isa 52:1) and the Millennial Temple (Eze 44:9)? But the circumcision profits you, if you practice the Law (Rom 2:23-25)? Did Paul say that?

The Messiah is the end of the law (Rom 10:4), because we are not under the Law but under grace (Rom 6:14). And if we are not under the Law, how can we delight in the Law of God (Rom 7:22) and while delighting we … sin (Rom 6:15)? What is Paul saying here? ‘So then with the mind I myself serve the Law of God’ (Rom 7:25) Did really Paul say he served the Law of God?

And by the way, can an everlasting Law (Psa 119:151-152, Isa 40:8, 1Pe 1:24-25) be nullified and did the Messiah have the authority to destroy it when he said ‘Do not think I have come to destroy the Law but to fulfill it (Mat 5:17-20)? Paul teaches contrarily to the Messiah? Did not Paul say that we do not nullify the Law of God but establish it (Rom 3:31)?

We shall be rewarded according to our works (Mat 16:27, Rom 2:6, 2Co 5:10, Eph 2:10). But, if the works are bad, as our pastors teach us, how can they be even criteria of judgement? And yet we are not to expect any rewards because we have done what was our duty to do (Luk 17:9-10) as long as we bear works worthy of repentance (Mat 3:8), because it is profitable to us (Tit 3:8) and we will be blessed in his doing of the Law of God (Jas 1:25), and because by doing righteousness we are declared righteous (Eze 18:5-9, 1Jn 3:7), and because the Law is your righteousness (Deu 6:24-25) and the work of righteousness is peace (Isa 32:17), how come by the works of the Law no flesh shall be justified (Rom 3:20)?

And if the Law is for the Jews only, how come it is for all mankind, as well (Ecc 12:13-14)? And if there is one Law for the native-born and for the stranger (Exo 12:49, Lev 16:29-31, Lev 18:26, Lev 23:21, Lev 24:8, Lev 24:16, Lev 24:22, Num 9:14, Num 15:15-16, Num 19:10), and God does not make distinction between native and non-native (Act 15:9), how come so many teachers teach to the contrary of God’s Word? And Paul said that All Scripture is breathed by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for setting straight, for instruction in righteousness’ (2Ti 3:16), did he mean only the New Testament?

How can we understand Paul? And if this was not clear, read Has the Messiah Abolished the Torah? … and this is not a mind twister.

May we merit seeing the coming of our Mashiach speedily in our days!
Navah