Paul: Imposter or Apostle?
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In “Dividing the Word” part four, I mentioned the fact that there are people who do not like the apostle Paul. There are “Christians” who actually try to discredit Paul and teach that he was an imposter. The reason that some “Christians” work to turn others against Paul is because Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles, or the apostle of the age of grace. Paul’s writings contain the most easy to understand teachings on the doctrine of God’s grace. Religious legalists, Lordship Salvationists, etc. hate the concept of grace, because these people do not like the idea that God saves anyone and everyone who believes on Jesus Christ. Paul taught “the simplicity that is in Christ” (2nd Corinthians 11:3). Paul taught that righteousness is written onto the records of people who believe on Jesus Christ (Romans 4:5). Paul taught that believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13, 4:30). Paul taught that believers will be taken out of the world before the Tribulation arrives (1st Corinthians 15:51-52, 1st Thessalonians 4:15-18).
If I were a false prophet, and I wanted to attack the security of Christians (the confidence of eternal salvation, the comfort of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, etc.), I would seek to take down the apostle Paul. I would focus on using Scripture that was written to the Jews, and I would present it to believers in the age of grace. I would abuse and pervert Scripture to remove the doctrine of God’s grace and put believers under the law. And this is precisely what many false prophets are doing.
The apostle Paul suffered persecution during his ministry. He was beaten, he spent lots of time in prison, and the Jews wanted to kill him. The apostle Paul suffers persecution 2,000 years later, because there are some people out there posing as “Christians” who are actually working for Satan.
The Life of Paul
Let’s consider some things about the apostle Paul.
1. Before Paul knew and believed on Jesus Christ, Paul was a Pharisee who was dedicated to the law and persecuting believers.
Acts 8:3: “As for Saul (Paul), he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.”
Acts 9:1-2: “And Saul (Paul), yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.”
Philippians 3:5-6: “Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.” – Paul’s testimony of his Jewish and Pharisaical background
2. After Paul had believed on Jesus Christ and had begun teaching others about Jesus, Paul suffered persecution. Sometimes Paul was beaten. Sometimes Paul was imprisoned. Sometimes Paul was nearly killed.
Acts 13:50: “But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.”
Acts 14:19: “And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.”
Acts 16:22-24: “And the multitude (of Romans) rose up together against them (Paul and Silas): and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them (Paul and Silas had been whipped), they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.”
Acts 21:27:36: “And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him (Paul) in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place. (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.) And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut. And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul. Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done. And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle. And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people. For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him.”
Acts 23:12-15: “And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy. And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul. Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.”
Philippians 1:7: “Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds (Paul’s imprisonment), and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.” - Paul
Philemon 10: “I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten (led to Jesus Christ) in my bonds (Paul’s imprisonment):” - Paul
3. The reason that Paul was persecuted was because he preached Jesus Christ instead of the law.
Acts 18:12-13: “And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat, Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.”
Acts 21:18-21: “And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.”
Acts 21:28: “Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.”
Galatians 5:11: “And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision (the law), why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross (the good news about Jesus Christ) ceased.” – Paul
4. Paul was so dedicated to his beliefs that he was willing to die for them.
Acts 21:13: “Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Paul was a Jew and a Pharisee that was so loyal to Moses’ law that he was causing believers on Jesus Christ to be beaten, imprisoned, and even murdered. Then one day Jesus Christ revealed Himself to Paul, and eventually Paul found himself to be preaching about Jesus, just like those he had persecuted. Paul was no longer adhering to the law, because Jesus Christ had revealed the truth to Paul that the righteousness necessary for salvation comes by faith in Jesus, not by the works of the law (Philippians 3:9). When Paul was persecuting believers on Jesus Christ, he was surely a hero to the unbelieving Jews, who desired to be religious and follow the traditions of men. Once Paul was converted and was found to be teaching others about Jesus, Paul suffered persecution by the unbelieving Jews, which was what we would call “getting a taste of his own medicine.” Jesus Christ knew this would happen. Jesus took away Paul’s sight for three days before calling on a disciple named Ananias, who was told to go and lay hands on Paul.
Acts 9:10-16: “And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul (Paul), of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”
Ananias was scared to visit Paul, having heard of the man’s reputation. Jesus informed Ananias that He had a purpose for Paul. Paul was going to suffer for the sake of Jesus, and he was going to take the name of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. Remember all those times that Paul referred to himself as the apostle of the Gentiles? He didn’t choose that role. He was appointed that role by Jesus Christ.
Galatians 2:8: “(For he (the Holy Spirit) that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision (the Jews), the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)” – Paul
As I said before, Jesus knew that Paul would be persecuted for his conversion and newfound ministry. This is why Jesus said “I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.” Jesus took a Jew (also a Pharisee) who was known for his hatred of believers, a man so extreme that he was dedicated to persecuting them, and Jesus transformed this man into His own apostle who would be given much doctrine concerning God’s grace toward believers. This doctrine was hated by the religious Jews of the day, and this doctrine is still hated by religious people today (Lordship Salvationists, legalists, etc.). Paul knew that the doctrine he delivered to believers would be hated and fought against. Note what Paul said to the church at Ephesus:
Acts 20:28-32: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”
Paul knew that there were going to be religious people, devils in disguise, who would attempt to cause disbelief in the doctrines he taught. Some of these religious phonies would enter in from outside the realm of true believers. Some of these religious imposters would rise up from within. Yes, there would be true Christians who would choose to place themselves under the law instead of under the grace of God. Even the apostle Peter himself, who had walked with Jesus Christ, and who God used to open up the door of salvation to the Gentiles (Acts 10), struggled with the idea of placing Gentile believers under the law. Paul actually had to confront Peter about this subject.
Galatians 2:7-14: “But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision (Gentiles) was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision (Jews) was unto Peter; (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen (Gentiles), and they unto the circumcision (Jews). Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do. But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he (Peter) did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision (Jews). And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?”
Peter was a Jew, but he knew that salvation came by faith in Jesus Christ. Peter did not place himself under the law because of this. However, Peter came to expect Gentiles, who never had the law (Romans 2:14), to behave as though they were Jews, who were given the law. The point is this: If the apostle Peter could stumble into legalism, you better believe that others can and do as well.
Now, let’s think about this rationally. Paul-hating “Christians” say that Paul was an imposter whose mission was to cause people to go to Hell. So basically, Paul pretended to be an apostle in order to create some sort of fake Christianity. But that makes no sense. Paul hated Christianity. Paul was persecuting Christians. Paul was so dedicated to the law that he was terrorizing those who believed in Jesus Christ. And then, Paul switched sides and lost the respect of the religious Jews and the Pharisees. Paul gave up everything he knew for Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3:5-9: “Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”
And not only did Paul give up everything for Jesus, Paul was also ready to die for his beliefs.
Acts 21:13: “Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Folks, if you are willing to die for something, then that “something” is quite real and important to you. You don’t die for a fake cause. You die for something real. Paul did not orchestrate some master plan to corrupt Christianity. Paul hated Christianity, and if he truly wanted to ruin Christianity, he would have continued to slaughter Christians until there were none left. But one day Paul met Jesus Christ, and this changed everything. Paul wasn’t willing to die for a lie he had created. Paul was willing to die for Jesus Christ, because Paul knew that Jesus was the Son of God.
People who try to slander the apostle Paul are doing exactly what the religious Jews in Paul’s day were doing. They were trying to get rid of Paul and his doctrine. Religious people do not like the fact that God saves anyone and everyone who simply believes on His Son. Religious people want to make salvation complicated by adding works, law, obedience, etc. Do you want to know what’s really funny? Paul did not originate the doctrine of salvation by simple faith in Jesus Christ.
John 6:47: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” – Jesus Christ
Acts 15:5-11: “But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them (Gentiles), and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke (the law) upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we (Jews) shall be saved, even as they (Gentiles).”
Newsflash: Paul did not originate the idea of God’s grace. Paul was simply given the details of how God’s grace works so that he could write about it for the rest of us to understand. But some people don’t want you to know this. They want you to think that Paul was a phony who created a false belief system in some master scheme to prevent people from becoming saved. The truth is that these religious people who slander Paul do not like the grace of God, and they do not want people to get saved. This was going on in Paul’s day.
Galatians 2:4: “And that because of false brethren (fake Christians) unawares brought in, who came in privily (secretly) to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage (obedience to the law):”
Folks, religion doesn’t save anyone. Jesus Christ saves. Please take Paul’s advice: Don’t listen to anyone who demands anything more than simple faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.
Galatians 1:6-9: “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” - Paul
2nd Corinthians 11:3-4: “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” – Paul
You have been warned. There are fake Christians out there, and they do not want you to know about the liberty (freedom) you have in Jesus Christ. Don’t listen to just anyone who says they are coming to you in the name of Jesus. If what they say goes against Scripture, you don’t listen to them.
Romans 16:17-18: “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” – Paul
The False Prophetess, Sherry Shriner
As far as Paul-haters go, Sherry Shriner must be at the top of the list. Sherry teaches that Paul was “Satan in the flesh.” She has a web page set up in a black, white, and bright red color scheme in order to make her claims seem even more dramatic. Sherry has compiled a list of accusations against Paul. These accusations vary in nature. Some are based on an intentional perversion of Scripture. Others are based on nothing other than Sherry’s wild imagination, which is controlled by her bias against true Christianity. And isn’t it funny that Sherry has put together all of these accusations? Do you know who else is full of accusations? Satan is known as “the accuser of our brethren” (Revelation 12:10). Satan stands before God “day and night” bringing accusations against Christians. Let’s do the math here:
Paul was a Christian. + Satan is the accuser. + Sherry Shriner accuses Paul of actually being Satan. = The odds are that Sherry Shriner is under the influence of Satan herself, and that is why she is accusing a brother in Christ, and she goes as far as to say that Paul was Satan in order to shift the focus from herself to Paul.
To see the nonsense for yourself, here is the link to Sherry Shriner’s Paul-bashing party:
If I were a false prophet, and I wanted to attack the security of Christians (the confidence of eternal salvation, the comfort of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, etc.), I would seek to take down the apostle Paul. I would focus on using Scripture that was written to the Jews, and I would present it to believers in the age of grace. I would abuse and pervert Scripture to remove the doctrine of God’s grace and put believers under the law. And this is precisely what many false prophets are doing.
The apostle Paul suffered persecution during his ministry. He was beaten, he spent lots of time in prison, and the Jews wanted to kill him. The apostle Paul suffers persecution 2,000 years later, because there are some people out there posing as “Christians” who are actually working for Satan.
The Life of Paul
Let’s consider some things about the apostle Paul.
1. Before Paul knew and believed on Jesus Christ, Paul was a Pharisee who was dedicated to the law and persecuting believers.
Acts 8:3: “As for Saul (Paul), he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.”
Acts 9:1-2: “And Saul (Paul), yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.”
Philippians 3:5-6: “Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.” – Paul’s testimony of his Jewish and Pharisaical background
2. After Paul had believed on Jesus Christ and had begun teaching others about Jesus, Paul suffered persecution. Sometimes Paul was beaten. Sometimes Paul was imprisoned. Sometimes Paul was nearly killed.
Acts 13:50: “But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.”
Acts 14:19: “And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.”
Acts 16:22-24: “And the multitude (of Romans) rose up together against them (Paul and Silas): and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them (Paul and Silas had been whipped), they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.”
Acts 21:27:36: “And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him (Paul) in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place. (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.) And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut. And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul. Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done. And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle. And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people. For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him.”
Acts 23:12-15: “And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy. And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul. Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.”
Philippians 1:7: “Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds (Paul’s imprisonment), and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.” - Paul
Philemon 10: “I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten (led to Jesus Christ) in my bonds (Paul’s imprisonment):” - Paul
3. The reason that Paul was persecuted was because he preached Jesus Christ instead of the law.
Acts 18:12-13: “And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat, Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.”
Acts 21:18-21: “And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.”
Acts 21:28: “Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.”
Galatians 5:11: “And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision (the law), why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross (the good news about Jesus Christ) ceased.” – Paul
4. Paul was so dedicated to his beliefs that he was willing to die for them.
Acts 21:13: “Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Paul was a Jew and a Pharisee that was so loyal to Moses’ law that he was causing believers on Jesus Christ to be beaten, imprisoned, and even murdered. Then one day Jesus Christ revealed Himself to Paul, and eventually Paul found himself to be preaching about Jesus, just like those he had persecuted. Paul was no longer adhering to the law, because Jesus Christ had revealed the truth to Paul that the righteousness necessary for salvation comes by faith in Jesus, not by the works of the law (Philippians 3:9). When Paul was persecuting believers on Jesus Christ, he was surely a hero to the unbelieving Jews, who desired to be religious and follow the traditions of men. Once Paul was converted and was found to be teaching others about Jesus, Paul suffered persecution by the unbelieving Jews, which was what we would call “getting a taste of his own medicine.” Jesus Christ knew this would happen. Jesus took away Paul’s sight for three days before calling on a disciple named Ananias, who was told to go and lay hands on Paul.
Acts 9:10-16: “And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul (Paul), of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”
Ananias was scared to visit Paul, having heard of the man’s reputation. Jesus informed Ananias that He had a purpose for Paul. Paul was going to suffer for the sake of Jesus, and he was going to take the name of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. Remember all those times that Paul referred to himself as the apostle of the Gentiles? He didn’t choose that role. He was appointed that role by Jesus Christ.
Galatians 2:8: “(For he (the Holy Spirit) that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision (the Jews), the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)” – Paul
As I said before, Jesus knew that Paul would be persecuted for his conversion and newfound ministry. This is why Jesus said “I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.” Jesus took a Jew (also a Pharisee) who was known for his hatred of believers, a man so extreme that he was dedicated to persecuting them, and Jesus transformed this man into His own apostle who would be given much doctrine concerning God’s grace toward believers. This doctrine was hated by the religious Jews of the day, and this doctrine is still hated by religious people today (Lordship Salvationists, legalists, etc.). Paul knew that the doctrine he delivered to believers would be hated and fought against. Note what Paul said to the church at Ephesus:
Acts 20:28-32: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”
Paul knew that there were going to be religious people, devils in disguise, who would attempt to cause disbelief in the doctrines he taught. Some of these religious phonies would enter in from outside the realm of true believers. Some of these religious imposters would rise up from within. Yes, there would be true Christians who would choose to place themselves under the law instead of under the grace of God. Even the apostle Peter himself, who had walked with Jesus Christ, and who God used to open up the door of salvation to the Gentiles (Acts 10), struggled with the idea of placing Gentile believers under the law. Paul actually had to confront Peter about this subject.
Galatians 2:7-14: “But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision (Gentiles) was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision (Jews) was unto Peter; (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen (Gentiles), and they unto the circumcision (Jews). Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do. But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he (Peter) did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision (Jews). And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?”
Peter was a Jew, but he knew that salvation came by faith in Jesus Christ. Peter did not place himself under the law because of this. However, Peter came to expect Gentiles, who never had the law (Romans 2:14), to behave as though they were Jews, who were given the law. The point is this: If the apostle Peter could stumble into legalism, you better believe that others can and do as well.
Now, let’s think about this rationally. Paul-hating “Christians” say that Paul was an imposter whose mission was to cause people to go to Hell. So basically, Paul pretended to be an apostle in order to create some sort of fake Christianity. But that makes no sense. Paul hated Christianity. Paul was persecuting Christians. Paul was so dedicated to the law that he was terrorizing those who believed in Jesus Christ. And then, Paul switched sides and lost the respect of the religious Jews and the Pharisees. Paul gave up everything he knew for Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3:5-9: “Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”
And not only did Paul give up everything for Jesus, Paul was also ready to die for his beliefs.
Acts 21:13: “Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Folks, if you are willing to die for something, then that “something” is quite real and important to you. You don’t die for a fake cause. You die for something real. Paul did not orchestrate some master plan to corrupt Christianity. Paul hated Christianity, and if he truly wanted to ruin Christianity, he would have continued to slaughter Christians until there were none left. But one day Paul met Jesus Christ, and this changed everything. Paul wasn’t willing to die for a lie he had created. Paul was willing to die for Jesus Christ, because Paul knew that Jesus was the Son of God.
People who try to slander the apostle Paul are doing exactly what the religious Jews in Paul’s day were doing. They were trying to get rid of Paul and his doctrine. Religious people do not like the fact that God saves anyone and everyone who simply believes on His Son. Religious people want to make salvation complicated by adding works, law, obedience, etc. Do you want to know what’s really funny? Paul did not originate the doctrine of salvation by simple faith in Jesus Christ.
John 6:47: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” – Jesus Christ
Acts 15:5-11: “But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them (Gentiles), and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke (the law) upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we (Jews) shall be saved, even as they (Gentiles).”
Newsflash: Paul did not originate the idea of God’s grace. Paul was simply given the details of how God’s grace works so that he could write about it for the rest of us to understand. But some people don’t want you to know this. They want you to think that Paul was a phony who created a false belief system in some master scheme to prevent people from becoming saved. The truth is that these religious people who slander Paul do not like the grace of God, and they do not want people to get saved. This was going on in Paul’s day.
Galatians 2:4: “And that because of false brethren (fake Christians) unawares brought in, who came in privily (secretly) to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage (obedience to the law):”
Folks, religion doesn’t save anyone. Jesus Christ saves. Please take Paul’s advice: Don’t listen to anyone who demands anything more than simple faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.
Galatians 1:6-9: “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” - Paul
2nd Corinthians 11:3-4: “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” – Paul
You have been warned. There are fake Christians out there, and they do not want you to know about the liberty (freedom) you have in Jesus Christ. Don’t listen to just anyone who says they are coming to you in the name of Jesus. If what they say goes against Scripture, you don’t listen to them.
Romans 16:17-18: “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” – Paul
The False Prophetess, Sherry Shriner
As far as Paul-haters go, Sherry Shriner must be at the top of the list. Sherry teaches that Paul was “Satan in the flesh.” She has a web page set up in a black, white, and bright red color scheme in order to make her claims seem even more dramatic. Sherry has compiled a list of accusations against Paul. These accusations vary in nature. Some are based on an intentional perversion of Scripture. Others are based on nothing other than Sherry’s wild imagination, which is controlled by her bias against true Christianity. And isn’t it funny that Sherry has put together all of these accusations? Do you know who else is full of accusations? Satan is known as “the accuser of our brethren” (Revelation 12:10). Satan stands before God “day and night” bringing accusations against Christians. Let’s do the math here:
Paul was a Christian. + Satan is the accuser. + Sherry Shriner accuses Paul of actually being Satan. = The odds are that Sherry Shriner is under the influence of Satan herself, and that is why she is accusing a brother in Christ, and she goes as far as to say that Paul was Satan in order to shift the focus from herself to Paul.
To see the nonsense for yourself, here is the link to Sherry Shriner’s Paul-bashing party:
justgivemethetruth.com? More like justgivemethelies.com.
Now, let’s take a look at just a few of the accusations that Sherry Shriner has brought against the apostle Paul.
1. ‘PAUL’ BOASTED THAT HE WAS HOLIER THAN JESUS CHRIST
Yeah, and this happened where in Scripture? Sherry Shriner teaches that this occurred in the following verse:
Philippians 3:6: “Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.”
Did Paul say he was holier than Jesus Christ? No. Paul was simply saying that he had been very loyal to the law. Not surprising, since in the previous verse, Paul identified himself as having been a Pharisee, and they were very adherent to the law (They killed Jesus because they believed Him to be against the law.). When Paul said that he was “blameless”, he wasn’t saying that he was not a sinner. Paul was saying that in the eyes of the Pharisees and those Jews adhering to the law, Paul had a reputation for keeping the law. He was blameless before religious men.
Sherry Shriner uses the verse from Philippians to make yet another absurd claim along the same lines:
PAUL made THE LYING BOAST to being SINLESS:
Really, Sherry? Really? Let me show you a verse that Sherry conveniently forgot all about. Did Paul think himself to be without sin? Read the following verse, and then you tell me.
1st Timothy 1:15: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”
Not only did Paul identify himself as a sinner, he actually said that he was the “chief” of sinners. So I guess Paul didn’t think or say he was “holier than Jesus Christ” after all. Was Sherry Shriner ignorant of this verse? No. She knew exactly what she was doing. To make the point abundantly clear, here is another passage of Scripture that Sherry doesn’t want you to consider, written by the apostle Paul:
Romans 7:15-25: “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”
2. ‘PAUL’ BRAZENLY CLAIMED TO BEING THE SON OF GOD
Sherry Shriner claims that Paul actually identified himself to be the Son of God, and this supposedly occurs in the following Scripture:
Galatians 1:15-16: “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:”
Did Paul claim that he was the Son of God? No. Paul claimed that God had revealed to him His Son. This actually happens to everyone who gets saved. No one can get saved unless God reaches out to them.
John 6:44: “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” – Jesus Christ
Now, it is true that Paul had a more dramatic experience than other people who come to believe on Jesus. One day Paul was traveling to persecute more Christians, and all of a sudden, Paul was enveloped with a light from Heaven. Paul fell down and trembled as Jesus Christ began speaking to him. This is what Paul was referring to when he said that God had decided to “reveal his Son in me”. This was simply Paul’s salvation experience. And did you notice what Paul said next? He claimed that the reason God revealed His Son to Paul was so “that I might preach him among the heathen”. If Paul was claiming to be the Son of God, then why didn’t Paul say “that I might preach myself among the heathen”? Paul said he was meant to preach “him”, meaning Jesus Christ (1st Corinthians 1:23, 2:2), meaning Paul did not claim to be the Son of God.
Please note one more thing: While Paul never claimed to be the Son of God, Paul did indeed teach that all believers were the children of God.
Galatians 3:26: “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
Paul taught that believers are sons and daughters of God. I wonder if that would be considered blasphemy by Sherry Shriner. Hopefully not, since Jesus also taught this concept.
John 3:5: “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit (the Holy Spirit), he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
3. ‘PAUL’ PREACHED ANOTHER GOSPEL.
Sherry Shriner notes that Jesus Christ preached the gospel of the kingdom. This is true. Sherry claims that Jesus was identified with this gospel in Matthew 4:23, Matthew 24:14, and Mark 1:14. This is true. Good job, Sherry. You got some information correct. Here’s what Sherry does not seem to understand, even though I believe she does understand it and simply pretends not to in order to teach lies. The gospel of the kingdom was for the Jews. The Jews had been promised a kingdom and a king. Jesus Christ was that King. Jesus Christ spread the good news of the kingdom to the Jews when He was on earth. Did you read “Dividing the Word” part one? This should be familiar to you then. Jesus focused His ministry on the Jews. The gospel of the kingdom was never meant for the Gentiles, because it was promised to the Jews. Once the Jews rejected Jesus and crucified Him, the gospel of the kingdom was put on hold. It will return during the Tribulation, which Jesus made very clear when he was describing the days leading up to His Second Coming (Matthew 24:14). So what is going on in the meantime? There is another gospel in place to fill the gap. This gospel is known as “the gospel of Christ” (Romans 1:16). This gospel is the good news that if you believe on Jesus Christ, you will be saved. And no, Paul did not originate this gospel. You can thank Jesus Christ for that (John 3:16, 3:18, 6:40, 6:47, 6:51, etc.). Jesus foretold that this gospel was coming, but it couldn’t be instituted until after Jesus had been crucified. Please follow along with the trail I make here: John 7:38-39: “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”
Hebrews 9:16-17: “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.”
Matthew 26:28: “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” – Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ had to die before the New Testament could be put into place. This New Testament put the gospel of the kingdom on hold, and it will stay there until the Tribulation arrives. Did Paul preach another gospel than the one that Jesus Christ preached? Yes, because the times had changed. The age of grace had commenced, and Jesus Christ personally appointed an apostle for this period of time. His name was Paul, and he was meant to take the Gospel of Christ to the Gentiles. Paul did not create this gospel. Paul was simply given more of the details of it by God, and he wrote those details down so that future generations could understand how God’s grace works during the age of grace.
When you rightly divide Scripture, and you understand who Scripture was speaking to/meant for, then all of this is quite simple to understand. Sherry Shriner does not rightly divide Scripture, and she does this on purpose in order to teach lies.
4. ‘PAUL’ BLASPHEMOUSLY BOASTED THAT HE WAS GOD, THE FATHER
Sherry Shriner claims that the apostle Paul said the following:
“For I BECAME YOUR FATHER”
And Sherry claims that this quote is taken from 1st Corinthians 4:15. Well, not surprisingly, that’s not what my Bible says. 1st Corinthians 4:15: “For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.”
Did Paul say that he was God the Father in the previous verse? No. Paul was comparing himself to a father because through the Gospel of Christ, Paul had introduced children into the family of God. Paul was not an actual father, but he had produced children for God by spreading the Gospel of Christ. People who believed on the Gospel of Christ were made God’s children, thus giving Paul a type of a father role.
Now, it is true that Jesus said the following:
Matthew 23:8-9: “But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.”
Jesus was speaking to the Jews, and He was talking about those ever-problematic religious scribes and Pharisees. Jesus was saying that it was wrong to call someone “Rabbi” or “Father” simply because of some religious position they held. Jesus was not saying that you shouldn’t call your biological father “Father.” Now this is all beside the point really, because you can note for yourself that Paul never told anyone to call him “Father.” Paul was using the comparison to a father in order to describe how he had led the Corinthian believers to their spiritual birth into the family of God. Paul used another comparison later.
2nd Corinthians 11:2: “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”
Here, Paul compared himself to someone presenting a bride to be married, because believers on Jesus Christ are the future bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:28-32). You see, Paul was using illustrations. Paul never said he was God the Father, and Paul never asked to be called “Father.” Hey Sherry Shriner. Maybe if you would stop using a false Bible (since you’re clearly not using the King James Version), you could get the correct information. I doubt that would help you much though, because you’re still a liar. And I understand why you want to use a false Bible, seeing as how Satan was the mastermind behind creating them (Read my page “Repentance 101”), just as he is the mastermind behind your “Christian” façade. Let me ask you something. If Paul claimed to be God the Father, then why did Paul word the following verse the way he did?
Galatians 3:26: “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
Why didn’t Paul say “ye are all my children”? It looks like Paul did not claim he was God the Father after all.
5. Jesus Said: Keep the Sabbath (Mark 2:27), circumcise male children (Luke 2:21), Paul Said: Circumcision is not necessary (Romans 2:26) that is going against what the Christ said in Luke 2:21.
Mark 2:27: “And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:”
Did Jesus say people should keep the Sabbath in this verse? No. Sherry Shriner lied. Jesus actually declared Himself to be “Lord also of the sabbath” (Mark 2:28). This meant that Jesus Christ was bigger than a simple holy day, which was just a part of the law, and which was also a sign between God and the Jews (Exodus 31:12-17).
Luke 2:21: “And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.”
Did Jesus say that male children should be circumcised in this verse? No. Sherry Shriner lied again. Jesus was circumcised because He was Jewish, and it was a Jewish custom to circumcise male children. Apparently Sherry Shriner sees what she wants to see in Scripture, or she lies and hopes that people will not check her references.
Let’s take this a step further. Sherry Shriner says that Paul taught that circumcision was not necessary, as though Paul originated the concept. Is that correct, Sherry? Maybe you should have read the following:
Acts 15:5-11: “But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them (Gentile believers), and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke (the law) upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.”
The apostles gathered to discuss the role of the law in the lives of Gentile believers. Peter stated that Gentile believers only needed to have faith in Jesus Christ to be saved. This meant that Gentile believers did not need to perform the works of the law, and circumcision is part of the law. Then the apostles decided to write letters to several of the Gentile churches.
Acts 15:22-24: “Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren: And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:”
Hey Sherry, are you sure that Paul was the one who decided that circumcision was not necessary? Because according to Scripture, all of the apostles agreed on this. Well I guess your accusation looks pretty dumb now, doesn’t it? You claimed that Paul went against what Jesus taught in Luke 2:21, even though the apostles came to an agreement on the unnecessary nature of circumcision well before Paul wrote about it, and Jesus made no statement about circumcision being necessary in Luke 2:21, where Jesus was still a baby.
There are many other accusations made by Sherry Shriner against the apostle Paul, but by now, you can see that none of it amounts to anything. It’s all a bunch of hot air. There are religious phonies out there who like to create controversies in order to keep people debating false issues instead of resting in the truth. Some people have the apostle Peter on a pedestal, while they have the apostle Paul marked as an imposter. The bottom line is this: Peter was an apostle to the Jews, while Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles. There were twelve apostles to the Jews, and this was meant to line up with the twelve tribes of the Jewish nation. The Gentiles were given just one apostle. God used Peter to open up salvation to the Gentiles for a very special reason: If Peter had not first opened that door, then people like Sherry Shriner would say that salvation was not offered to the Gentiles. God let Peter pave the way, and then Paul took his rightful position as the apostle of the Gentiles, while Peter directed his ministry toward the Jews.
Galatians 2:7-8: “But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision (Gentiles) was committed unto me (Paul), as the gospel of the circumcision (Jews) was unto Peter; (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)”
Were Paul and Peter that different? No. Even some of their wording was the same.
Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” – written by Paul
1st Peter 1:5: “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” – written by Peter to Jews who had believed on Jesus Christ
There is also a notable similarity between the teachings of Paul and James. Keep in mind that James was another apostle to the Jews, and the book of the Bible he wrote was directed at Jews (James 1:1).
Galatians 5:5: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage (to the law).” – written by Paul
James 2:12: “So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.” – written by James to Jews who had believed on Jesus Christ
Conclusion
Folks, be careful about who you listen to. There are lots of fake Christians out there. Some like to attack eternal salvation. Some like to attack the Pre-Tribulation Rapture. Some like to attack the apostle Paul. Why do they do these things? Because they don’t want you to have any security. They don’t want you to know just how safe you are if you have believed on Jesus Christ. They want you to be fearful and doubting. Don’t buy into their lies. Sherry Shriner uses bold, unsupported claims and eye-catching, unsettling colors on her web page devoted to bashing Paul. These are tactics devised to be as dramatic as possible. Sherry needs to use drama, because she needs to distract you from the obvious fact that she is lying.
I would like to leave you with a story from the book of Acts.
Acts 19:13-17: “Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.”
It’s funny how the evil spirit recognized Paul, yet Sherry Shriner, who claims to be a Christian, does not recognize Paul, and instead teaches that Paul was “Satan in the flesh.” Sherry Shriner, to you I say the following:
Jesus I know, and Paul I know. But who are you?
Now, let’s take a look at just a few of the accusations that Sherry Shriner has brought against the apostle Paul.
1. ‘PAUL’ BOASTED THAT HE WAS HOLIER THAN JESUS CHRIST
Yeah, and this happened where in Scripture? Sherry Shriner teaches that this occurred in the following verse:
Philippians 3:6: “Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.”
Did Paul say he was holier than Jesus Christ? No. Paul was simply saying that he had been very loyal to the law. Not surprising, since in the previous verse, Paul identified himself as having been a Pharisee, and they were very adherent to the law (They killed Jesus because they believed Him to be against the law.). When Paul said that he was “blameless”, he wasn’t saying that he was not a sinner. Paul was saying that in the eyes of the Pharisees and those Jews adhering to the law, Paul had a reputation for keeping the law. He was blameless before religious men.
Sherry Shriner uses the verse from Philippians to make yet another absurd claim along the same lines:
PAUL made THE LYING BOAST to being SINLESS:
Really, Sherry? Really? Let me show you a verse that Sherry conveniently forgot all about. Did Paul think himself to be without sin? Read the following verse, and then you tell me.
1st Timothy 1:15: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”
Not only did Paul identify himself as a sinner, he actually said that he was the “chief” of sinners. So I guess Paul didn’t think or say he was “holier than Jesus Christ” after all. Was Sherry Shriner ignorant of this verse? No. She knew exactly what she was doing. To make the point abundantly clear, here is another passage of Scripture that Sherry doesn’t want you to consider, written by the apostle Paul:
Romans 7:15-25: “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”
2. ‘PAUL’ BRAZENLY CLAIMED TO BEING THE SON OF GOD
Sherry Shriner claims that Paul actually identified himself to be the Son of God, and this supposedly occurs in the following Scripture:
Galatians 1:15-16: “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:”
Did Paul claim that he was the Son of God? No. Paul claimed that God had revealed to him His Son. This actually happens to everyone who gets saved. No one can get saved unless God reaches out to them.
John 6:44: “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” – Jesus Christ
Now, it is true that Paul had a more dramatic experience than other people who come to believe on Jesus. One day Paul was traveling to persecute more Christians, and all of a sudden, Paul was enveloped with a light from Heaven. Paul fell down and trembled as Jesus Christ began speaking to him. This is what Paul was referring to when he said that God had decided to “reveal his Son in me”. This was simply Paul’s salvation experience. And did you notice what Paul said next? He claimed that the reason God revealed His Son to Paul was so “that I might preach him among the heathen”. If Paul was claiming to be the Son of God, then why didn’t Paul say “that I might preach myself among the heathen”? Paul said he was meant to preach “him”, meaning Jesus Christ (1st Corinthians 1:23, 2:2), meaning Paul did not claim to be the Son of God.
Please note one more thing: While Paul never claimed to be the Son of God, Paul did indeed teach that all believers were the children of God.
Galatians 3:26: “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
Paul taught that believers are sons and daughters of God. I wonder if that would be considered blasphemy by Sherry Shriner. Hopefully not, since Jesus also taught this concept.
John 3:5: “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit (the Holy Spirit), he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
3. ‘PAUL’ PREACHED ANOTHER GOSPEL.
Sherry Shriner notes that Jesus Christ preached the gospel of the kingdom. This is true. Sherry claims that Jesus was identified with this gospel in Matthew 4:23, Matthew 24:14, and Mark 1:14. This is true. Good job, Sherry. You got some information correct. Here’s what Sherry does not seem to understand, even though I believe she does understand it and simply pretends not to in order to teach lies. The gospel of the kingdom was for the Jews. The Jews had been promised a kingdom and a king. Jesus Christ was that King. Jesus Christ spread the good news of the kingdom to the Jews when He was on earth. Did you read “Dividing the Word” part one? This should be familiar to you then. Jesus focused His ministry on the Jews. The gospel of the kingdom was never meant for the Gentiles, because it was promised to the Jews. Once the Jews rejected Jesus and crucified Him, the gospel of the kingdom was put on hold. It will return during the Tribulation, which Jesus made very clear when he was describing the days leading up to His Second Coming (Matthew 24:14). So what is going on in the meantime? There is another gospel in place to fill the gap. This gospel is known as “the gospel of Christ” (Romans 1:16). This gospel is the good news that if you believe on Jesus Christ, you will be saved. And no, Paul did not originate this gospel. You can thank Jesus Christ for that (John 3:16, 3:18, 6:40, 6:47, 6:51, etc.). Jesus foretold that this gospel was coming, but it couldn’t be instituted until after Jesus had been crucified. Please follow along with the trail I make here: John 7:38-39: “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”
Hebrews 9:16-17: “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.”
Matthew 26:28: “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” – Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ had to die before the New Testament could be put into place. This New Testament put the gospel of the kingdom on hold, and it will stay there until the Tribulation arrives. Did Paul preach another gospel than the one that Jesus Christ preached? Yes, because the times had changed. The age of grace had commenced, and Jesus Christ personally appointed an apostle for this period of time. His name was Paul, and he was meant to take the Gospel of Christ to the Gentiles. Paul did not create this gospel. Paul was simply given more of the details of it by God, and he wrote those details down so that future generations could understand how God’s grace works during the age of grace.
When you rightly divide Scripture, and you understand who Scripture was speaking to/meant for, then all of this is quite simple to understand. Sherry Shriner does not rightly divide Scripture, and she does this on purpose in order to teach lies.
4. ‘PAUL’ BLASPHEMOUSLY BOASTED THAT HE WAS GOD, THE FATHER
Sherry Shriner claims that the apostle Paul said the following:
“For I BECAME YOUR FATHER”
And Sherry claims that this quote is taken from 1st Corinthians 4:15. Well, not surprisingly, that’s not what my Bible says. 1st Corinthians 4:15: “For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.”
Did Paul say that he was God the Father in the previous verse? No. Paul was comparing himself to a father because through the Gospel of Christ, Paul had introduced children into the family of God. Paul was not an actual father, but he had produced children for God by spreading the Gospel of Christ. People who believed on the Gospel of Christ were made God’s children, thus giving Paul a type of a father role.
Now, it is true that Jesus said the following:
Matthew 23:8-9: “But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.”
Jesus was speaking to the Jews, and He was talking about those ever-problematic religious scribes and Pharisees. Jesus was saying that it was wrong to call someone “Rabbi” or “Father” simply because of some religious position they held. Jesus was not saying that you shouldn’t call your biological father “Father.” Now this is all beside the point really, because you can note for yourself that Paul never told anyone to call him “Father.” Paul was using the comparison to a father in order to describe how he had led the Corinthian believers to their spiritual birth into the family of God. Paul used another comparison later.
2nd Corinthians 11:2: “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”
Here, Paul compared himself to someone presenting a bride to be married, because believers on Jesus Christ are the future bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:28-32). You see, Paul was using illustrations. Paul never said he was God the Father, and Paul never asked to be called “Father.” Hey Sherry Shriner. Maybe if you would stop using a false Bible (since you’re clearly not using the King James Version), you could get the correct information. I doubt that would help you much though, because you’re still a liar. And I understand why you want to use a false Bible, seeing as how Satan was the mastermind behind creating them (Read my page “Repentance 101”), just as he is the mastermind behind your “Christian” façade. Let me ask you something. If Paul claimed to be God the Father, then why did Paul word the following verse the way he did?
Galatians 3:26: “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
Why didn’t Paul say “ye are all my children”? It looks like Paul did not claim he was God the Father after all.
5. Jesus Said: Keep the Sabbath (Mark 2:27), circumcise male children (Luke 2:21), Paul Said: Circumcision is not necessary (Romans 2:26) that is going against what the Christ said in Luke 2:21.
Mark 2:27: “And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:”
Did Jesus say people should keep the Sabbath in this verse? No. Sherry Shriner lied. Jesus actually declared Himself to be “Lord also of the sabbath” (Mark 2:28). This meant that Jesus Christ was bigger than a simple holy day, which was just a part of the law, and which was also a sign between God and the Jews (Exodus 31:12-17).
Luke 2:21: “And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.”
Did Jesus say that male children should be circumcised in this verse? No. Sherry Shriner lied again. Jesus was circumcised because He was Jewish, and it was a Jewish custom to circumcise male children. Apparently Sherry Shriner sees what she wants to see in Scripture, or she lies and hopes that people will not check her references.
Let’s take this a step further. Sherry Shriner says that Paul taught that circumcision was not necessary, as though Paul originated the concept. Is that correct, Sherry? Maybe you should have read the following:
Acts 15:5-11: “But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them (Gentile believers), and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke (the law) upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.”
The apostles gathered to discuss the role of the law in the lives of Gentile believers. Peter stated that Gentile believers only needed to have faith in Jesus Christ to be saved. This meant that Gentile believers did not need to perform the works of the law, and circumcision is part of the law. Then the apostles decided to write letters to several of the Gentile churches.
Acts 15:22-24: “Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren: And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:”
Hey Sherry, are you sure that Paul was the one who decided that circumcision was not necessary? Because according to Scripture, all of the apostles agreed on this. Well I guess your accusation looks pretty dumb now, doesn’t it? You claimed that Paul went against what Jesus taught in Luke 2:21, even though the apostles came to an agreement on the unnecessary nature of circumcision well before Paul wrote about it, and Jesus made no statement about circumcision being necessary in Luke 2:21, where Jesus was still a baby.
There are many other accusations made by Sherry Shriner against the apostle Paul, but by now, you can see that none of it amounts to anything. It’s all a bunch of hot air. There are religious phonies out there who like to create controversies in order to keep people debating false issues instead of resting in the truth. Some people have the apostle Peter on a pedestal, while they have the apostle Paul marked as an imposter. The bottom line is this: Peter was an apostle to the Jews, while Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles. There were twelve apostles to the Jews, and this was meant to line up with the twelve tribes of the Jewish nation. The Gentiles were given just one apostle. God used Peter to open up salvation to the Gentiles for a very special reason: If Peter had not first opened that door, then people like Sherry Shriner would say that salvation was not offered to the Gentiles. God let Peter pave the way, and then Paul took his rightful position as the apostle of the Gentiles, while Peter directed his ministry toward the Jews.
Galatians 2:7-8: “But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision (Gentiles) was committed unto me (Paul), as the gospel of the circumcision (Jews) was unto Peter; (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)”
Were Paul and Peter that different? No. Even some of their wording was the same.
Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” – written by Paul
1st Peter 1:5: “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” – written by Peter to Jews who had believed on Jesus Christ
There is also a notable similarity between the teachings of Paul and James. Keep in mind that James was another apostle to the Jews, and the book of the Bible he wrote was directed at Jews (James 1:1).
Galatians 5:5: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage (to the law).” – written by Paul
James 2:12: “So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.” – written by James to Jews who had believed on Jesus Christ
Conclusion
Folks, be careful about who you listen to. There are lots of fake Christians out there. Some like to attack eternal salvation. Some like to attack the Pre-Tribulation Rapture. Some like to attack the apostle Paul. Why do they do these things? Because they don’t want you to have any security. They don’t want you to know just how safe you are if you have believed on Jesus Christ. They want you to be fearful and doubting. Don’t buy into their lies. Sherry Shriner uses bold, unsupported claims and eye-catching, unsettling colors on her web page devoted to bashing Paul. These are tactics devised to be as dramatic as possible. Sherry needs to use drama, because she needs to distract you from the obvious fact that she is lying.
I would like to leave you with a story from the book of Acts.
Acts 19:13-17: “Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.”
It’s funny how the evil spirit recognized Paul, yet Sherry Shriner, who claims to be a Christian, does not recognize Paul, and instead teaches that Paul was “Satan in the flesh.” Sherry Shriner, to you I say the following:
Jesus I know, and Paul I know. But who are you?