Paul was given the task via the Holy Spirit's inspiration of writing down a large portion of the doctrines of the church.

Yes. According to Paul. Do you know what circular logic is?

Me: "I don't think Paul was a true disciple of Christ. I think he was a false prophet."

You: "But he can't be a false prophet, because he clearly says he isn't one right here."

Me: "..."

He had been trained as a pharisee, which would have been useful for being very familiar with OT scripture.

And what did the Pharisees believe? Who did they worship? Who did Jesus say they worshipped/followed? These were not merely Old Testament scholars, my friend. These were Talmudic Jews. If you don't know what's in the Talmud, I suggest you research it.

However, it was the ascended Christ who had to "re-teach" Paul what the OT says concerning Christ.

According to Paul.

Paul was the main missionary to the gentile world.

Yes. And in my opinion, a false missionary, going about teaching Old Testament idolatry with a Christian spin.

The only way that we sinners can be righteous is in the righteousness of Christ himself and his perfect and complete works culminating in his sacrificial death upon the cross. No cross, no forgiveness.

Says Paul.

In Genesis, Abel is said to be righteous and Cain is said to be "of that Wicked one," Satan. And how can we know? Cain brought an offering of the best fruits he had grown. Abel brought a lamb from his flock. God did not accept Cain's offering. It was the work of his own hand, not of faith in the blood of the Lamb of God. Cain was so jealous of Abel and so angry, he killed Abel. Trusting in any portion of our own works for salvation is self-righteousness and condemns us. God requires perfection, and that perfection is found in Christ alone. This is why I do not believe in "decisional regeneration," for one is not then trusting in Christ only, but trusting in a decision one made, ie, a work.

Says you, based on your understanding as a Pauline Christian.

Different churches teach different works one must perform in order to ensure salvation. This is anti-gospel.

Says you and Paul.

The only "Good News" for me is the one that says Christ did absolutely everything necessary for my salvation. If it depended upon myself in anyway, well, I would just fail. Probably the first day. No, make that the first hour. Well, actually, I'm sure I would mess up within the first minute.

Ah. Pious bragging masked as humble self-deprecation. Lovely.

Christ is the one and only God-Man

Maybe according to you. But not according to Christ. At least not how I read what he says in John chapter 10: "Jesus said to them, 'I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?' 'We are not stoning you for any good work,' they replied, 'but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.' Jesus answered them, 'Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods"’? If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside—what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”

Pretty pesky word Jesus keeps throwing in there ("works") huh? Also pretty pesky scripture he decided to quote if in fact you and Paul are right and we're a bunch of pathetic dung beetles who should be worshipping Jesus like an old Testament idol.

and he alone lived a perfect and sinless life

Given that perfect is a subjective term, this statement is meaningless to me. Is a rose with one thorn or two more perfect? It all depends on the preference of the person you're asking. What makes you think you aren't perfect? Because you sin? And what evidence do you have, other than Pauline dogma, that Christ himself never made any mistakes growing up?

Anyway, like I said, I don't buy Paul's take on Jesus. I just don't. So you can quote Paul until you're blue in the face. Remember, Christ said these false prophets, these wolves in sheeps clothing, these whited sepulchres would manage to deceive even the elect. With all the self-deprecating you've done so far I doubt you'd arrogate yourself to be one of them. So what makes you think you haven't been deceived yourself?

Food for thought. Take care.

Paul was given the task via the Holy Spirit's inspiration of writing down a large portion of the doctrines of the church.

Yes. According to Paul. Do you know what circular logic is?

Me: "I don't think Paul was a true disciple of Christ. I think he was a false prophet." You: "But he can't be a false prophet, because he clearly says he isn't one right here." Me: ...

He had been trained as a pharisee, which would have been useful for being very familiar with OT scripture.

And what did the Pharisees believe? Who did they worship? Who did Jesus say they worshipped/followed? These were not merely Old Testament scholars, my friend. These were Talmudic Jews. If you don't know what's in the Talmud, I suggest you research it.

However, it was the ascended Christ who had to "re-teach" Paul what the OT says concerning Christ.

According to Paul.

Paul was the main missionary to the gentile world.

Yes. And in my opinion, a false missionary, going about teaching Old Testament idolatry with a Christian spin.

The only way that we sinners can be righteous is in the righteousness of Christ himself and his perfect and complete works culminating in his sacrificial death upon the cross. No cross, no forgiveness.

Says Paul.

In Genesis, Abel is said to be righteous and Cain is said to be "of that Wicked one," Satan. And how can we know? Cain brought an offering of the best fruits he had grown. Abel brought a lamb from his flock. God did not accept Cain's offering. It was the work of his own hand, not of faith in the blood of the Lamb of God. Cain was so jealous of Abel and so angry, he killed Abel. Trusting in any portion of our own works for salvation is self-righteousness and condemns us. God requires perfection, and that perfection is found in Christ alone. This is why I do not believe in "decisional regeneration," for one is not then trusting in Christ only, but trusting in a decision one made, ie, a work.

Says you, based on your understanding as a Pauline Christian.

Different churches teach different works one must perform in order to ensure salvation. This is anti-gospel.

Says you and Paul.

The only "Good News" for me is the one that says Christ did absolutely everything necessary for my salvation. If it depended upon myself in anyway, well, I would just fail. Probably the first day. No, make that the first hour. Well, actually, I'm sure I would mess up within the first minute.

Ah. Pious bragging masked as humble self-deprecation. Lovely.

Christ is the one and only God-Man

Maybe according to you. But not according to Christ. At least not how I read what he says in John chapter 10: "Jesus said to them, 'I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?' 'We are not stoning you for any good work,' they replied, 'but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.' Jesus answered them, 'Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods"’? If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside—what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”

Pretty pesky word Jesus keeps throwing in there ("works") huh? Also pretty pesky scripture he decided to quote if in fact you and Paul are right and we're a bunch of pathetic dung beetles who should be worshipping Jesus like an old Testament idol.

and he alone lived a perfect and sinless life

Given that perfect is a subjective term, this statement is meaningless to me. Is a rose with one thorn or two more perfect? It all depends on the preference of the person you're asking. What makes you think you aren't perfect? Because you sin? And what evidence do you have, other than Pauline dogma, that Christ himself never made any mistakes growing up?

Anyway, like I said, I don't buy Paul's take on Jesus. I just don't. So you can quote Paul until you're blue in the face. Remember, Christ said these false prophets, these wolves in sheeps clothing, these whited sepulchres would manage to deceive even the elect. With all the self-deprecating you've done so far I doubt you'd arrogate yourself to be one of them. So what makes you think you haven't been deceived yourself?

Food for thought. Take care.

Paul was given the task via the Holy Spirit's inspiration of writing down a large portion of the doctrines of the church.

Yes. According to Paul.

He had been trained as a pharisee, which would have been useful for being very familiar with OT scripture.

And what did the Pharisees believe? Who did they worship? Who did Jesus say they worshipped/followed? These were not merely Old Testament scholars, my friend. These were Talmudic Jews. If you don't know what's in the Talmud, I suggest you research it.

However, it was the ascended Christ who had to "re-teach" Paul what the OT says concerning Christ.

According to Paul.

Paul was the main missionary to the gentile world.

Yes. And in my opinion, a false missionary, going about teaching Old Testament idolatry with a Christian spin.

The only way that we sinners can be righteous is in the righteousness of Christ himself and his perfect and complete works culminating in his sacrificial death upon the cross. No cross, no forgiveness.

Says Paul.

In Genesis, Abel is said to be righteous and Cain is said to be "of that Wicked one," Satan. And how can we know? Cain brought an offering of the best fruits he had grown. Abel brought a lamb from his flock. God did not accept Cain's offering. It was the work of his own hand, not of faith in the blood of the Lamb of God. Cain was so jealous of Abel and so angry, he killed Abel. Trusting in any portion of our own works for salvation is self-righteousness and condemns us. God requires perfection, and that perfection is found in Christ alone. This is why I do not believe in "decisional regeneration," for one is not then trusting in Christ only, but trusting in a decision one made, ie, a work.

Says you, based on your understanding as a Pauline Christian.

Different churches teach different works one must perform in order to ensure salvation. This is anti-gospel.

Says you and Paul.

The only "Good News" for me is the one that says Christ did absolutely everything necessary for my salvation. If it depended upon myself in anyway, well, I would just fail. Probably the first day. No, make that the first hour. Well, actually, I'm sure I would mess up within the first minute.

Ah. Pious bragging masked as humble self-deprecation. Lovely.

Christ is the one and only God-Man

Maybe according to you. But not according to Christ. At least not how I read what he says in John chapter 10: "Jesus said to them, 'I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?' 'We are not stoning you for any good work,' they replied, 'but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.' Jesus answered them, 'Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods"’? If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside—what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”

Pretty pesky word Jesus keeps throwing in there ("works") huh? Also pretty pesky scripture he decided to quote if in fact you and Paul are right and we're a bunch of pathetic dung beetles who should be worshipping Jesus like an old Testament idol.

and he alone lived a perfect and sinless life

Given that perfect is a subjective term, this statement is meaningless to me. Is a rose with one thorn or two more perfect? It all depends on the preference of the person you're asking. What makes you think you aren't perfect? Because you sin? And what evidence do you have, other than Pauline dogma, that Christ himself never made any mistakes growing up?

Anyway, like I said, I don't buy Paul's take on Jesus. I just don't. So you can quote Paul until you're blue in the face. Remember, Christ said these false prophets, these wolves in sheeps clothing, these whited sepulchres would manage to deceive even the elect. With all the self-deprecating you've done so far I doubt you'd arrogate yourself to be one of them. So what makes you think you haven't been deceived yourself?

Food for thought. Take care.