I've been doing a personal research on these argumentative topics and almost all of them are written by Paul or his disciples. Which led me to read on them and found out that Paul was the first preverter of the teaching of Christ and that he is the source of division amongst Christian's. All thoughts are welcome.
Hi HolySun
Not many have done this study.
You're correct actually, but then again, maybe not.
Jesus is God. He is the FIRST ONE we are to listen to. When there's some conflict in scripture, for instance:
Works vs. No Works
we should always go to Jesus and see what HE said. He said to do works.
Then we read Paul. Paul was the first theologian of the Christian faith. He studied for over 3 years before he wrote anything. He interviewed the Apostles and many others. He thought and thought and put everything together. The book of Romans is the greatest book in the N.T. It has all the theology (the study of God) one needs to know to follow the Christian faith.
In Luke 22:20, the Last Supper, we're told by Jesus that we are to drink the wine, His blood of the New Covenant.
The N.C. of Jeremiah 31:31. What exactly was this New Covenant? It took Paul to explain it to us.
The problem is that it's not easy to understand how we are dead to the Law and yet we are to keep the Law.
If we're dead to the Law, why should we keep it? This sounds very simple unless it's studied for a long time and understood really well.
WE ARE UNDER THE LAW. The Moral Law was not abolished. Jesus Himself said this.
So it would behoove us to understand what Paul is talking about.
It's not something that could be done here.
But it's important to understand.
Paul DOES NOT say that we are not to work. He says that WE ARE NOT SLAVES. Big difference.
Most like to ready the first chapters of Romans but do not like the last chapters.
All of Romans must be read. The last chapters tell us what we must DO.
Even though DOING is not what saves us. See --- it's not easy at all.