Pauline Christianity – the problem with Paul’s theology on salvation

In my previous post I’ve explained how Christianity is based on the theology of the Apostle Paul, who wasn’t part of the original 12 disciples and never met Jesus. Not a lot of people in Christianity are actually aware of that and a lot of people just assume that Christianity is based on Jesus’ teachings. However, when you examine Paul’s teachings and compare it with Jesus’ teachings, you will see significant differences in their theology. One of my main arguments was where the authority of Paul actually came from? I have explained that Paul’s legitimacy does not hold any strong evidence apart from his own words and his supernatural conversion event, which had no witnesses’ testimonies. Regardless of that, Paul’s story was believed and accepted and his reputation grew significantly. Paul appointed himself as an Apostle to the Gentiles spreading the gospel, or rather “his gospel”, to the people who didn’t know Torah or Yahweh. Interestingly, or rather unfortunately, Paul’s letters to Romans ended up being a foundational text of Christianity. One of the questions that always come to my head is – why Rome? Why focusing on a pagan location of people who crucified Jesus? Jesus was perceived as a threat to the Roman empire by clamming to be the King of the Jews. Why would Paul chose this particular location for his teachings?

The spread of churches for the Gentiles and teachings of Paul to the Gentiles, have started a new movement, a new religion that differed from the Jewish religion or Jewish followers of Christ called Nazarenes. Early Christ followers observed Torah and the Law, however Paul somehow interpreted that only Jews have to follow the Law, but Gentiles are different in the eyes of God. He separated what Jews have to do and what Gentiles have to do and focused his newly discovered teachings on Gentiles.

“But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? ” Galatians 2:14

That separation between Jews and Gentiles and God’s different treatment towards Jews and Gentiles, created division. This has especially grew more significantly since Jews didn’t want Gentiles to observe Sabbath and follow their feasts and Gentiles hated Jews for their rejection of Jesus Christ. As Gentiles were separating more and more from the original teachings of Jesus and Torah, Paul created his own theology.

“Pauline Christianity or Pauline theology (also Paulism or Paulanity), otherwise referred to as Gentile Christianity, is the theology and form of Christianity that developed from the beliefs and doctrines espoused by the Hellenistic – Jewish Apostle Paul through his writings and those New Testament writings traditionally attributed to him. Paul’s beliefs had some overlap with Jewish Christianity, but they deviated from this Jewish Christianity in their emphasis on inclusion of the Gentiles into God’s New Covenant and in his rejection of circumcision as an unnecessary token of upholding the Mosaic Law.” (source wikipedia) 

When Jesus was on earth, he was only teaching from Torah as there was no New Testament of course. Jesus didn’t teach anything new that wasn’t in Torah, however he presented a different perspective to the teachings and to the Law that was coming from the heart and focusing on compassion, love and forgiveness. Jesus came to earth to show us how it should be done, how the Law should have been followed in the first place and it was only misinterpreted due to the Pharisees deviating from the original meaning of the Law by focusing on the insignificant aspects. Jesus called out Pharisees many times:

“The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden. Everything they do is for show.” Matthew 23: 2-5

Jesus was highlighting here that what Pharisees say you have to practice, but they don’t practice what they preach!

“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.” Matthew 23: 27-28

This created hate towards Jesus, he was their direct threat to their power, control and status. Pharisees relied on the fact people were uneducated, unaware of how the Law should be observed and used this to keep people under control and to gain riches. At the end of the day it’s all about money, status, power and control. And history likes to repeat itself, and so this is what we see now with the Catholic Church power….

What were the main differences between Paul’s theology and Jesus theology?

There were few differences between Paul’s theology and Jesus teachings. Some of Paul’s interpretations gave birth to further interpretation created by Church fathers later.

1. The Law is finished
2. Salvation through faith alone
3. No works because Jesus cleanses us from all wrong
4. Gentiles and Jews have different rules (which later gives birth to dispensationalism)
5. The rapture of the church
6. All focus and worship on Jesus (which later gave birth to the Trinity doctrine, forgetting the Father)
7. The church is the bride of Christ and the body of Christ (it can’t be both, yet according to Paul is)

These were Paul’s main points of his theology. Now, let’s have a look at Jesus against those points:

1. The Law is valid till heaven and earth passes away
2. Salvation through change of the heart and being born again
3. Faith without works is dead
4. All people have the same rules and have to follow the Law
5. “Let your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven” – the Kingdom will come to the earth and Jesus will come back to the earth
6. All focus on the Heavenly Father
7. Jesus will marry one woman

As you can see these are contradicting each other quite significantly. That is why modern Christianity follows Paul not Jesus and Paul is the author of this religion and theology! Let’s examine those points.

1. The importance of the Law.

Paul’s role in the Gentiles movement grew significantly, where he was preaching that the Law is finished. Interestingly Paul believed that he had this “mystical” knowledge that no one else had and that he knew more about the resurrection or after life that anyone else did. It’s like he came from heaven himself and just shared this knowledge. However, it wasn’t based on scripture and Paul on many occasions twisted scripture to fit into his argument:

 “I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.  Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?” Galatians 4: 12-15

First of all, Paul is pleading to become like him? Shouldn’t we become like Jesus?! And second of all, his illness was a trial? Why there was a need to test other people? This gives me such a sneaky aspect of his personality. A snake who is testing, twisting the scripture and lies to fit his agenda. And then he compared himself to an angel of God or Christ himself. If that is not boasting then I don’t know what is! And yet, some people doubted him because he needed to justify himself on many occasions by saying: “Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?” If he was telling the truth, there would be no need to keep highlighting that he is telling the truth. It’s a simple phycological fact. Only those who lie have to defend themselves by highlighting they are telling the truth.

Going back to the point of the Law, Paul was well educated, where his education was rooted in the Greek system. Paul’s writings were associated with thinkers like Plato, Socrates, Aristotle and Seneca – this shaped Paul’s theological arguments and his understanding of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Paul’s education and philosophical understanding naturally transpired into his own teachings. His letters are full of philosophical approach and his interpretation of the events through the bias of his Greek education system. We can see Paul battling between verses: to follow the Law or to not follow the Law? That is the question…

When you read those verses it actually becomes comical because in the end you are not sure where Paul stand on this. He was very flaky and always deciding what stand to take on depending on who he was talking to. This has created a lot of confusion. And God is not the author of confusion, therefore this couldn’t be of God….

“I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” Galatians 2:21

You can’t become righteous through the Law.

“Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.” Romans 7:12

However the Law is good and holy.

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” Galatians 2: 16

Man is justified by faith only.

“For not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;” Romans 2: 13

But here are we actually justified by works….

“For I, through the law died to the law that I might live to God.” Galatians 2:19

So the law died, therefore we no longer have to follow it.

“For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves” Romans 2: 14

However here Paul says that even if you don’t have the law yet do things of the law, you are still justified by the law…Hmmm….

“And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death.” Romans7:10

So the commandment brings death, however Paul also said that commandments are holly….

“If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.” Romans 7:16

So the law is actually good…

“You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonour God through breaking the law? ” Galatians 2:23

I don’t know Paul, you told me to not follow the law….

“For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.” Galatians 2:25

So, you are telling me all this good I have been doing is for… nothing?!

“Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?” Galatians 2:26

So now I need to follow the law to be righteous then…

 “Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.” Romans 3: 27-28

Apart from the deeds of the law? Does that means is faith AND the deeds of the law? But Paul, you said no works…

“Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.” Romans 3: 29-31

Oh I see, so now we establish the law and follow it.

“But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.” Romans 7:6

But now we don’t follow the law?

Can you see the confusion?! It changes as the wind blows. When you read the Old Testament, it is very clear what we need to do:

“Remember the Law of Moses, My servant,
Which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel,
With the statutes and judgments.” Malachi 4:4

“But take careful heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Joshua 22:5

“Remember His covenant forever,
The word which He commanded, for a thousand generations,
The covenant which He made with Abraham,
And His oath to Isaac,
And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute,
To Israel for an everlasting covenant” 1 Chronicles 16: 15 -17

“Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments” Nehemiah 1:5

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.
His praise endures forever.” Psalm 111:10

“Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
Who delights greatly in His commandments.” Psalm 112: 1

These are just few examples, you can see similar examples in almost every book of the Old Testament. It was very, very clear – love God and keep God’s commandments. When Jesus was on earth, he said:

“If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15

“Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:19

Therefore Jesus certainly taught to obey the Law and God’s commandments. No confusion there, just teaching what has been written in the Torah.

2. Salvation through faith alone.

Paul established that salvation comes through faith alone:

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” Galatians 2: 16

Again, this was only HIS interpretation of the events, because Jesus was very clear in his teachings that it was not faith in him alone that would give us salvation:

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21

And what is the will of the Father? – following the Law.

“And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” Luke 10: 25-26

Every time someone asked about eternal life Jesus answered to consider the law. Jesus also was preaching repentance and he never used the word “grace” during his ministry. He showed God’s grace through his actions, but he never said: you are saved by grace so rejoice!

3. No works because Jesus cleanses us from all wrong.

What about works? When I hear someone criticizing any works, I say then what about repentance? Is that not works? And what about carrying for the poor? Is that no works? And what about change of heart and practicing holiness? Is that not works? All of this requires some sort of action, not a passive thinking and hoping Jesus will solve everything. This thinking and condemning works puts us in a very complacent state of not carrying. This is not what Jesus want from us! Besides we do not work to be saved, we work because we are saved and our heart has been changed. This is a natural progression of wanting to help others and it doesn’t feel like work at all. If it feels like work or it is forced, then perhaps you haven’t been saved…

“Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  ”The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” Matthew 19: 16-22

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” John 14:12

“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” James 2: 14-17

4. Gentiles and Jews have different rules (which later gives birth to dispensationalism)

“When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?

 “We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.

“But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners, doesn’t that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker.” Galatians 2: 14-18

Paul criticized Peter for preaching the law to the Gentiles. He turned the conversation into condemning disciples that they “live like Gentiles”, therefore highlighting the fact that they are breaking the law. Paul argues that Gentiles are not obligated to follow the law for salvation. He emphasized that salvation is found in Christ, not in adherence to the Law. However, Paul acknowledges that Jewish believers continue to observe Jewish customs and traditions, and he doesn’t necessarily condemns them for doing so. He only opposes Gentiles to follow the Law. You have to ask yourself this question – Why? Paul forgot to say to the Gentiles that we don’t follow the law IN ORDER to obtain salvation, but BECAUSE of salvation – it’s the process of once deciding to follow Yahweh who is sovereign, you decide to follow the laws that falls under that sovereign ruler as a way of distinguishing yourself from other rulers. It’s a natural obligation.

This division or Paul’s idea that God treats differently other groups of people, gave birth to a dispensationalism.

“Dispensationalism is a theological framework for interpreting the Bible that divides history into distinct periods called “dispensations,” each with unique relationships between God and humanity. It emphasizes a literal interpretation of biblical prophecies, particularly those concerning Israel, and a distinction between the church and Israel.”

This couldn’t be further from the truth, because God said:

“Look to Me, and be saved,
All you ends of the earth!
For I am God, and there is no other.
I have sworn by Myself;
The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness,
And shall not return,
That to Me every knee shall bow,
Every tongue shall take an oath.” Isaiah 45: 22-23

Therefore I will give men for you,
And people for your life.
Fear not, for I am with you;
I will bring your descendants from the east,
And gather you from the west;
I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’
Bring My sons from afar,
And My daughters from the ends of the earth—
Everyone who is called by My name,
Whom I have created for My glory;
I have formed him, yes, I have made him.” Isaiah 43:4-7

“I will preserve You and give You
As a covenant to the people,
To restore the earth,
To cause them to inherit the desolate heritages;
That You may say to the prisoners, ‘Go forth,’
To those who are in darkness, ‘Show yourselves.’” Isaiah 49:8-9

Clearly God is not dividing and giving different treatment to Israel and different treatment to the Gentiles. God wants to restore the whole earth, all whom He created for His glory. However Paul’s letters were interpreted that God changes depending on the period, which creates confusion on what each period is responsible for and what needs to be followed. And we know God is the same yesterday, today and forever. If God was changing according to a different weather and period, how could we trust Him? That is why we have this reassurance, God doesn’t change and whatever God said from Genesis to Jesus, is relevant till the end of times.

5. The rapture of the church.

This dispensational thinking gave birth to another doctrine – the rapture. For those who don’t know, rapture is another concept that distinguishes Christianity. Rapture is an eschatological position held by some Christians, particularly those of American evangelicalism, consisting of an end time event when all dead Christian believers will be resurrected and, joined with Christians who are still alive, together will rise “in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.” This view of eschatology is typically part of dispensational premillennialism, a form of  futurism that considers various prophecies in the Bible as remaining unfulfilled and occurring in the future. The idea of a rapture as it is defined in dispensational premillennialism is not found in historic Christianity and is a relatively recent doctrine originating from the 1830s. The term is used frequently among fundamentalist theologians in the United States. (source wikipedia)

Therefore we can see that this idea came from United States in the 19th century. We can see it has been widely popularized by the Hollywood movies, especially movies like “Left behind: The movie” in 2000, “Rapture: the Beginning of the End” movie in 2014 and many, many more. Suddenly people started using this term as a confirmed future event and something to look forward to.

Paul seemed to believe that we will go up to heaven to meet Jesus and this will happen in his lifetime:

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17

However, the Bible is clear we have to endure till the end:

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.” Matthew 24:9

“But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” Matthew 24:13

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Paul also believed in a mystery, that we will be changed and receive new bodies:

“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—  in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Corinthians 15: 51-54

However, we always have to check against the Old Testament. If anything new appears in the New Testament that hasn’t been prophesied in the Old Testament, we can take as false. Paul’s believe in this mysticism and mystery is of the devil. There are no secrets and no magic from God. Paul’s knowledge on after life or second coming of Jesus has no basis in the Old Testament. It is purely his imagination. Moreover, the book of Revelations that reveals end times events has been written after the letters of Paul by quite significant time. Most scholars date the Book of Revelation to the mid-90s, around 95-96 AD, while Paul’s letters were written earlier, some between 52-62 AD. Paul is believed to have been executed in Rome around 62 AD. 

In the book of Revelations we see Jesus coming down to earth, not us coming up to heaven:

“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: “King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” Revelations 19: 11-17

6. All focus and worship on Jesus

Jesus’ death and resurrection tore the veil between God and the people, therefore, through Jesus as the mediator, we have direct access to God. In reality we don’t need priests, churches and all this religious systems, because we can meet with God in our bedroom. However, it is good for believers to support each other, correct each other and live in the community, therefore I do not discount the need for churches. On the other hand, modern Christianity has deviated from the original teachings of Jesus, from following the Bible and now we have all churches being based on lies and false teachings. One of those teachings is the doctrine of Trinity that stole the worship of God.

The Trinity was officially introduced into Christianity at the Council of Nicea in 325 AD. The Council was called by Roman Emperor Constantine to resolve disputes among church leaders. The early Christianity did not worship the Trinity and up until 325 AD, thus around three centuries after Jesus’ death and resurrection, we didn’t see the Trinity being mentioned at all. There is also proven evidence that the verse which clearly proves the existance of the Trinity was added centuries after. That verse was not present in the original texts:

“For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.” 1 John 5:7

That verse came in 1525 for the purpose to convince sceptics who were saying the Trinity was not present in the Bible. Some say just because the word “trinity” was not there, however many argue that the idea of the Trinity was always present. I agree with the fact that just because some words are not in the Bible, it doesn’t mean that they are not true or the idea of it is not true, however it is important to see how this idea of Trinity has been introduced to us. We can’s argue with the facts which are: the Trinity was introduced three centuries after Jesus’ death and resurrection by Roman Catholic church at the Council on Nicea, and we know that Catholic church is a false church based on pagan gods, and the sceptics of the Trinity were reassured that there is one verse that proves the Trinity, which was actually added in 1525. With that you have to question the reasons behind, who wanted to confuse people? Who wanted to take away the worship of God and split it in three?

In the Old Testament we only see the worship of the one Most High God Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We see many prophets rising and being the “mouth piece” of God and messengers of God’s coming judgement. There was no confusion, no discussion on this and it was very clear that there was only one God.

Jesus was also teaching that:

 “One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12: 28-31

Jesus was pointing back to God, not himself and highlighting there is one God only. I think this would have been a perfect opportunity to explain to people that God has three forms, yet he didn’t and only said God is one. Why then we are asked to believe into something men came up with in 1525?

Jesus never said he is God but the Son of God:

“What about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?  Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” John 10: 36-39

This scripture many people take as Jesus saying him and God are one person:

 “I and the Father are one.” John 10:30

However later we read that God “set him apart as his very own and sent into the world” – Jesus was describing how alike they are. Very often as parents, our children are almost a spitting image of ourselves in looks, body movements and character:

“Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” John 14:9

Jesus is the fruit of the Father, who looks and acts like him and “The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.” John 14:10, which means God’s spirit moves in Jesus and allows him to teach all the works of the Father. Jesus also highlighted that the Father is greater than him:

 “You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.” John 14:28

We have to give all the praise and worship to God the Father, however all the modern churches moved the worship to the Son of God. To add to this, Catholic church moved even further and worships Mary, Jesus’ mother. This thinking that Jesus and Yahweh are the same person and if we worship Jesus we worship Yahweh is all wrong. All worship should be given to God the Father.

7. The church is the bride of Christ and the body of Christ (it can’t be both, yet according to Paul is)

This must be Paul’s the most illogical theology I came across. That the church is the bride but also the body of Christ. Therefore Christ will marry his own body:

“And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1: 22-23

“Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.” 1 Corinthians 12: 27

Here Paul describes the church as the body of Christ. However here, Paul is now saying church is the bride:

“ Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5: 22-27

This verse tells us that Christ is the head of the church, so head of his body and he is the savior of the body. But then later we find out that Christ gave himself for her – meaning the bride, who is the church. So this is clear contradiction from Paul’s side. Did Jesus gave himself for his own body as the savior of the body? Or Jesus gave himself for the bride, therefore it’s separate to his body? If we have to guess where Paul’s stand was on this, it is not of God. In the book of Revelations we see that:

“Let us rejoice and be glad
    and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
    and his bride has made herself ready.
Fine linen, bright and clean,
    was given her to wear.”

(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.) Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” Revelations 19: 7-10

Here we see that bride made herself ready, not themselves, and we see that “blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!”, therefore if church was the bride, it wouldn’t have to be blessed to be invited to the wedding as guests.

We also see in the Psalm 45 titled as “The Glories of the Messiah and His Bride”

“Kings’ daughters are among Your honorable women;
At Your right hand stands the queen in gold from Ophir.” Psalm 45:9

“The royal daughter is all glorious within the palace;
Her clothing is woven with gold.
She shall be brought to the King in robes of many colors;
The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to You.
With gladness and rejoicing they shall be brought;
They shall enter the King’s palace.” Psalm 45: 13-15

We see that the virgins are her companions, meaning these are those who were “blessed, who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!”, which would be guests and believers who have the truth. Not everyone will be invited to the wedding and not everyone will be the bride as this will be “the royal daughter”.

She has been chosen for this task before she was born which we see in the book of Isaiah:

“Lift up your eyes and look around;
 all your children gather and come to you.
As surely as I live,” declares the Lord,
“you will wear them all as ornaments;
you will put them on, like a bride.” Isaiah 49:18

We also see this comparison in the book of Revelations:

 “And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” Revelations 19:8

From all this, we can see how different Paul’s teachings were compared to the teachings of Torah and Jesus. One may ask, how come God would allow someone false to be in the Bible? How come Paul was accepted by other disciples? How come they weren’t directed by the Holy Spirit?

There are all valid questions, however we have to remember two things: disciples were just men who could be in error. Peter rejected Jesus three times and Satan used him when he wanted to oppose Jesus, where Jesus said: “get behind me Satan!”. God warned us to not put our trust in men. This flesh can deceive us as well as other unclean spirits who are pretending to be the angels of light.

Second, this world is run by Satan and his fallen angels who have more power than people. God is using them and allowing them to do a lot to test people and their devotion to God and God’s words. God would allow a false prophet or false apostle, especially since God warned us by saying:

“You shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk.” Deuteronomy 13: 3-5

Another point is the Canon of the Bible has been established by the Roman empire. Again Rome – the location that crucified Jesus. Roman empire, who worshiped pagan gods, who were unclean and to cleanse from those spirits and demons doesn’t take just Constantine to convert and all done, all is clean and of Jesus. No, it takes very long time of change, which we can see in the example of Israelites, who wandered in the wilderness for 40 years to learn new ways! And God reminds us that:

“Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots?
Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil.” Jeremiah 13: 23

Therefore Rome was led by those evil spirits and they led Paul on purpose to put people in error and to prevent many from salvation. That is this sinister plan.

By Dagmara Z.