Inspired Scripture

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God," Let's examine a few things in the light of this premise:

If Peter, James and John wrote inspired scripture then how could they be in the church, which is the body of Christ? That is, when the salvation doctrine you find in what they wrote is in contrast and contradictory to what Paul wrote? To say that another way: If Peter, James and John are IN the church, which is the body of Christ then why does their doctrine pertaining to salvation not line up with Paul's doctrine, but in many cases is contrary to it?

Now you probably need to let that statement sink in for a moment, because every single word in the King James Bible is INSPIRED SCRIPTURE. ALL scripture is inspired, all of the bible is inspired and every word in the bible is inspired. But think about it. The message in all that Peter, James and John wrote is consistent with the endure to the end message of Matthew 24 and other verses in the Lord's earthly ministry. But that message is in contrast to and contrary to the completeness in Christ and the eternal security in Christ that we see in Paul's epistles. Now let's look at a few things. Paul said:

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.

Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Now Peter has a lot to say about living by faith. He talks about the fiery trial of THEIR faith:

1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

But WHERE, in 1 and 2 Peter, in Peter's two books, in the 166 verses contained in the eight chapters of 1 and 2 Peter did Peter say one thing about the gospel of Christ being the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth? Not once. The gospel of Christ, the power of God unto salvation CANNOT be found in 1 and 2 Peter.

But this is what he did say:

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

1 Peter 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

1 Peter 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Now Paul didn't say we, who are in the church, the body of Christ are kept UNTO salvation, instead he said:

Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Ephesians 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Now IS 1 and 2 Peter INSPIRED scripture? Absolutely. Sure it is. The whole bible is. Then what's the problem? The problem is an ERROR on the part of religion and that error is that they fail to rightly divide the word of TRUTH. All of the bible is TRUTH and all of the bible is true and Peter's words are truth, but Paul tells us:

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

In other words, there must be a division somewhere that the Holy Spirit will make plain to someone IF they will simply believe their bible and stop trying to make the bible match their denominational thinking. A man says I am a Baptist, or Methodist, or Pentecostal, or Catholic...by choice. He chose to follow that denomination. But his choice might be his problem when it comes to bible understanding, because unless you choose to be a bible BELIEVER your denominational standards and your denominational thinking is going to be a problem for you. Look at Peter again:

1 Peter 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

1 Peter 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

1 Peter 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

1 Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Paul never said to the body of Christ that the end of your faith would be the salvation of your soul. Paul never told the body of Christ to hope to the end for grace at the end.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Ephesians 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Now let's look again:

1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

1 Peter 2:7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

1 Peter 2:8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

So somebody that Peter writes to, he tells them, in verse five, that they are "built up...an holy priesthood." In verse nine he says that they are a ROYAL priesthood.

Now what is ROYALTY associated with? A KING is it not? As in Jesus Christ being the heir to the throne of David, the King of Israel. But did you know that the idea of a PRIESTHOOD is TOTALLY ABSENT from Paul's epistles? In no way does Paul, anywhere in the 13 epistles he wrote...no where in Romans through Philemon does Paul refer to himself, or to you as a priest.

The idea of a priesthood, or the so-called "priesthood of the believer" is just not there in Paul's doctrine in Romans through Philemon. So there again, you might very well be a member of a religious denomination by default or by choice. But, will you choose to just simply be a BIBLE believer?

Look at our verse again:

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light;

A holy nation? If you think that you are a royal priesthood and a member of a HOLY NATION then you must NOT think that you are a member of the church, the body of Christ, because in the church, the body of Christ there is NO nation, there is NO nationality.

1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.

1 Corinthians 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

There is no nationality in the body of Christ. It is a spiritual body. The body of Christ is NOT a nation, holy or otherwise...and it is certainly NOT a priesthood of believers. The PRIESTHOOD belongs to Israel and to Israel alone.

Isaiah 61:6 But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.

Did you see that? "Eat the riches of the Gentiles." The riches of the Gentiles, one day, are going to belong to Israel, to a HOLY NATION just as surely as the Israelites left Egypt with their gold and silver. The Gentiles will SERVE Israel and be their plowmen and their vinedressers and on and on. Look back in verse five:

Isaiah 61:5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.

So the Gentiles in that doctrine are going to be serving Israel. Israel gets the riches of the Gentiles and the Gentiles do the plowing, the feeding of the flocks and the vine dressing. Take a look at Peter's attitude toward Gentiles:

1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

1 Peter 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

1 Peter 4:3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

Peter wrote doctrine to somebody in his two letters, but her certainly has a NEGATIVE attitude toward Gentiles doesn't He? He writes to some people and tells them they should have their conversation honest AMONG the Gentiles. He warns them against being involved with Gentiles. He is not speaking to Gentiles, he is speaking against them.

Did you know that John, the so-called apostle of love has the same attitude as Peter does about Gentiles:

3 John 1:5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;

3 John 1:6 Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:

3 John 1:7 Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.

So as far as John is concerned people go forth, and apparently should go forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. That's the only thing John has to say about Gentiles. Both Peter and John are very negative concerning Gentiles. Now consider what Paul says:

Romans 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

Ephesians 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

Ephesians 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

1 Timothy 2:7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

2 Timothy 1:11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

Now WHERE did Peter, or James, or John ever say such a thing? Where did we find Peter saying "I speak to you Gentiles?" We just saw a very negative attitude toward Gentiles where Peter is concerned. The same with John. Well then, what about James:

James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

A GREAT DEAL of religious confusion would be avoided if preachers and all the others would read the ADDRESS on the letter. Do the Gentiles have TRIBES? How many tribes of Gentiles are there? When James says THE TWELVE TRIBES, who in the world could he be writing to? ISRAEL...not the church, which is the body of Christ. There are NO TRIBES in the body of Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

2 Corinthians 5:15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

2 Corinthians 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

You CANNOT recognize yourself, or anybody else, as a TRIBESMAN, while at the same time KNOW NO MAN AFTER THE FLESH. It is either one way or the other. James did not write to the body of Christ. James, in the book of James, is writing to tribulation JEWS and they have WORK that they must do:

James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

Can FAITH save him? James' answer is NO.

James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

James 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

James 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

James 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Now keep in mind that James is writing to the 12 Tribes, he is writing to tribulation Jews. It is the same message the Lord taught the 12 in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. But later on, in Acts chapter nine, the Lord appeared to Paul, saved his worst enemy on the planet and made him the first and the PATTERN (1 Timothy 1:16) of something new. Something that before had been a mystery:

Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

Romans 16:26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

Now notice the scripture Paul uses here and how he preaches justification and how it is in direct contrast to what James wrote to the 12 tribes.

Romans 4:1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

Romans 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

A lot of people try to say that what James was saying about Abraham being justified by works was "before men but not before God." That won't work though...how many men were on that mountain where Abraham offered Isaac his son upon the alter? None. He was alone. The salvation doctrine of James is different than Paul's:

Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Romans 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

So you can't have it both ways. You can't work to be justified by works and not by faith alone while at the same time believe on him that justifieth the ungodly and let God count FAITH for righteousness. Paul's message is a message of grace without works. James says, wilt thou know that faith without works is dead? But it is clear from Paul's doctrine that GRACE without works is very much alive and powerful. It is not dead.

Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

See it? No more of works. In time past works were involved. In the future, in the tribulation, works will be involved, just like James wrote. But now, it is no more of works, otherwise grace is no more grace. The book of James is full of works FOR salvation, connected with the salvation presented there.

So all good news is not the same... there is MORE THAN one gospel in the bible. As a matter of fact there are TWO GOSPELS in one verse. Paul calls it that gospel that I preach. Paul went to Jerusalem to see James, Cephas and John in Acts chapter 15.

Galatians 2:2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.

Galatians 2:7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

So you see, James wrote to the CIRCUMCISION, the 12 Tribes, but there was a DIFFERENT gospel committed to Paul.

But notice in 1 John.

1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

How many IF's do you count there? There is an IF in every verse, right. Now there are TWO KINDS of IF in the bible. There is the IF of certainty and the IF of possibility. A language teacher would say that there is the INDICATIVE if and the SUBJUNCTIVE if. Certainty and possibility. All of the IF's in this passage are possibilities. In other words the IF depends on certain CONDITIONS being met. They are ALL uncertainties. They are ONLY made certain if the person MEETS the condition that is stated in the IF.

For instance, in verse 9, IF we confess our sins. Well what if we don't? What if we FORGET just one or two of them? Well, according to the if of uncertainty, it means that you WILL NOT be forgiven of that sin. The verse has a NEGATIVE side as well as a POSITIVE doesn't it?

But that passage in 1 John is quite contrary to what Paul wrote:

Colossians 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

Colossians 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

Colossians 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Colossians 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

Now IF I am complete in Christ, circumcised without hands, the body of my sins PUT OFF, buried with Christ and RISEN with him through faith of the operation of God and ALL trespasses forgiven, then WHAT is lacking in that? What is incomplete about being complete in Christ? 1 John 1: 9 simply will NOT go together with Colossians chapter two. You are either ONE or the OTHER, you cannot be both. So Paul says:

2 Timothy 2:7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

Shouldn't we consider what Paul says. The bible says that he IS the apostle of the Gentiles, the only one.

2 Timothy 2:8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

Now according to Peter's gospel, not Paul's gospel, Jesus Christ was raised up to sit on the throne of David. He is the HEIR to the throne of David, the SECOND COMING King of Israel and of the whole world. Notice:

Luke 1:26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

Luke 1:27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

Luke 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

Luke 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

Luke 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

And THAT is exactly what Peter preached in Acts chapter two:

Acts 2:29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.

Acts 2:30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;

So Peter preached that Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead, and he was raised up to SIT ON DAVID'S THRONE. The heir to the throne of David, the King of Israel. The KINGDOM belongs to Israel and they are a KINGDOM of Priests and an HOLY NATION in the 1000 year reign of Christ on earth. Paul never said that. Paul never refers to the throne of David. He said, "remember...that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to MY GOSPEL." Not "the gospel" or "Mine and Peter's Gospel." The resurrection of Jesus Christ according to Paul's gospel was that Christ was made head over the church, which consists of the JUSTIFIED members of his body. (Romans 4:25 and Ephesians 1:22-23.

The ROYAL Priesthood Peter spoke of is the Priesthood John wrote to in 1, 2 and 3 John and in the book of Revelation.

Revelation 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

The kings and priests are the 12 Tribes that James wrote to who will become that HOLY NATION Peter talked about. They will EAT the riches of the Gentiles, possess the remnant of Edom and all the heathen that are called by the Lord's name in the 1000 year Kingdom of heaven on the earth when the Lord comes again. Notice what James said here:

Acts 15:15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

Acts 15:16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

Here James is quoting a passage in the book of Amos. It is the picture of a deposed king, a king who is gone away on exile, so to speak, but who is going to return and restore all things (like Peter said in Acts 3:21)

Acts 15:17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

There are Gentiles who will be in that Kingdom. You read about them in the judgment scene in Matthew 25. The Gentiles will be coming to Israel's light. Israel will be the kings and priests, the Gentiles the servants. But NONE of that describes the church, which is the body of Christ. All of the doctrine of Peter, James and John has to do with Christ's second coming to rule and reign on the earth. but  Paul says:

Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

The MEEK will inherit the earth, as in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5: 5, but Paul says:

Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Philippians 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

There are TWO bodies of believers to be found in the books called the New Testament, and religion needs to figure out which ONE they belong to and start rightly dividing the word of truth instead of confusing it and scrambling it up. You cannot follow the doctrine of the Hebrews because that doctrine is for Hebrews, to Hebrews, about Hebrews. All of the books of Hebrews through Revelation pertain to Israel.

John 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

His own was Israel. Notice:

Romans 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:

So the ministry of Christ in Matthew,Mark, Luke and John was to Israel. But Israel RECEIVED HIM NOT. They said away with this man...and he was crucified, buried and raised from the dead. In the book of Acts, Peter offers repentance to Israel and preaches the second coming of Christ to rule and reign on the throne of David. But when Israel rejected that message, Israel FELL and was CAST AWAY and Paul says that salvation was SENT to the Gentiles:

Acts 28:28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.

Acts 28:29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.

So the gospel YOUR salvation is not found in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and it is not found in the books of Hebrews through Revelation. It is found in Paul's epistles to the GENTILES. It was Paul who said Christ died for our sins. It was Paul who said he was delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification. It was Paul who said that God made him to be sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Ephesians 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

Ephesians 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

Ephesians 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

Ephesians 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,