Quick Reference for Paul’s Contrary Teachings

jesus
Sermon on the Mount by Carl Bloch (1877)

A quick reference to guide you from not falling into the pit of false teachings by modern churches and denominations that use Paul’s letters even to reject Christ’s teachings! It is important to remember that Paul wasn’t even qualified to be an apostle (Acts 1:21-22), yet repeatedly claimed himself as an apostle (Eph 1:1; Gal 1:1; 1 Cor 1:1).

Paul’s TeachingsChrist’s Teachings
Salvation is by grace (Eph 2:8-9)Salvation by keeping God’s commandments (Matt 19:16-19; Rev 22:14).
We can’t earn our salvation (Eph 2:8-9)We must be worthy to attain salvation (Luke 20:35-36)
Grace of God is the gospel (Acts 20:24)Kingdom of God is the gospel (Matt 9:35; Matt 24:14; Mark 1:15)
Paul being the master builder built his own foundation and called it as Jesus (1Cor 3:10-11)Christ’s teachings are the foundation (Luke 6:46-49)
We are adopted by God for which we have no part to play to become His son (Eph 1:5)We must be born of God to become His son (John 1:13; John 3:5) and free from sins to dwell in His house (John 8:34-36)
Faith is imputed for righteousness (Rom 4:5-12)Even killing the wicked is imputed for righteousness according to Scriptures (Ps 106:30-31). Faith is not imputed for righteousness but obedience is required (Matt 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)
We are predestined according to the purpose of Him (Eph 1:5,11)We will be taken away from Christ by the Father for bearing no fruits (John 15:2)
Where sin abounds, grace abounds more (Rom 5:20)Grace is conditional (Matt 22:1-14), reversible (Matt 18:21-35) and expiring (Luke 13:6-9)
Paul was appointed as a teacher (2Tim 1:11)Jesus Christ is our only Teacher (Matt 23:10)
Commandments of God brings death (Rom 7:7-25)Commandments of God brings life (Matt 19:16-19)
Sin dwells inside him and blames his wrongdoings on his sins (Rom 7:17-23)We need to be sinless (John 8:34-36) and even cut off our body parts (Matt 18:8-9) and keep our garments undefiled for our names to get not blotted from the book of Life (Rev 3:4-5).
Christ had abolished the law (Eph 2:15)Christ did not come to abolish but to fulfil the law (Matt 5:17)
None is righteous (Rom. 3:10-12)God the Father declares Job, Daniel and Noah as righteous (Ezek 14:14,20). Christ declares Nathanael with no deceit (John 1:47). Paul lied that none is righteous by misquoting Psalms 14:1 & 53:1 which are references to atheists.
Doctrine of unconditional election (Eph 1:4-8; Rom 9:11,15, 21)Doctrine of cutting off from Christ (John 15:2; Matt 7:21-23)
Grace is irresistible (Rom 9:16)Grace is conditional (Matt 22:1-14), reversible (Matt 18:21-35) and expiring (Luke 13:6-9)
Perseverance of the Saints or Eternal Security or Once Saved Always Saved (Phil 1:6)No one can snatch from God’s hand (John 10:27) except the Father Himself will take away from Christ for bearing no fruit (John 15:2)
Progressive sanctification, meaning slowly transforming like Christ every day and it is a life long process (2Cor 3:17-18)Perfect Sanctification, meaning you must be sinless to live in Christ’s house and to get your name not blotted from book of life (John 8:34-36; Rev 3:4-5)
Circumcised is a debtor to keep the whole law (Gal 5:3)Circumcision is not from Moses but the patriarchs (John 7:22)
Not to fulfil the lust of the flesh (Gal 5:16)Not even to lust, if require pluck the eyes out to avoid lust (Matt 5:28-29)
Peter, James and John must go to the circumcised and Paul to the uncircumcised (Gal 2:7-9)All the eleven disciples of Jesus including Peter, James and John were commanded to go to all nations (Matt 28:16-20).
The law is not of faith (Gal 3:12)The law includes faith (Matt 23:23)
No one can be justified by the law (Gal 3:11)The humble tax collector was justified in the Temple (Luke 18:14) according to the law (Lev 26:41-42)
Christ did not send to baptise (1Cor 1:17)Baptise in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. (Matt 28:19)
It’s okay to eat things sacrificed to idols (1 Cor 8)Not to eat things sacrificed to idols (Rev 2:14,20)
Pray everywhere lifting up your hands (1 Tim 2:8)Pray privately in secret not to be seen by others (Matt 6:5-6)
God loved us while we were still sinners (Rom 5:8)God loves only those who keep His commandments (John 14:21)
Christ is Lord of both the dead and the living (Rom 14:9)God is not the God of the dead, but of the living (Matt 22:32).
Only those who cannot exercise self control must marry (1 Cor 7:9)It is better only for eunuchs to not marry (Matt 19:12)
Jesus became a life-giving spirit (1 Cor 15:45).I am not a spirit (Luke 24:39)
Wide gate and easy way just by calling on Jesus name and believing in Him in heart (Rom 10:9-13)Narrow gate and difficult path by obeying Jesus Christ (Matt 7:13-14)
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Sarah
3 years ago

This is…disturbing, to say the least
.

siemen
2 years ago
Reply to  Sarah

even a murderer has his own way to justify himself. Do not get disturbed,faith in Christ teaches the Truth. I met a man who was arguing that Apostle Paul was a mad man.
Grace comes into force after Jesus death on the cross. If law is everything why he need to accept that humiliating, painful, disgraceful death on the cross.

Avadi
3 years ago

We’ve got to be careful as we analyze these scriptures. It’s easy to get mixed up since our English translation has been obscured from the original Hebrew. There are many Hebrew idioms and meanings that were lost in the literal translation to Greek, and then to English.

For example: when Jesus talks about “entering life” in Matthew 19, he is not talking about being saved from sin, like Paul is in Ephesians 2. He is talking about entering the “Kingdom of Heaven (or the Kingdom of God),” which meant “become a believer or disciple.” We are saved (from sin) by putting our faith in Christ; we enter into the Kingdom (discipleship) by obeying his commands.

As far as eating food sacrificed to idols is concerned, we must look at the context of both passages you presented to understand that we are free to eat food that has been sacrificed (as long as it doesn’t cause a brother to stumble), but we are not free to engage in the worship of idols in the form of eating food sacrificed to them. Big difference. On one hand, we recognize the fact the food was sacrificed means nothing because,
” “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” ” (1 Corinthians 8:4),and therefore, we can treat it as if it were any other food (if we and those around us do not have a weak conscience, as it explains in 1 Corinthians 8). But on the other hand, we do not partake in the idol worship that goes with eating food sacrificed to idols. God knows our motives.

We can study in this manner all the scriptures presented here. Rest assured these are not contradictions, but merely faulty English translations which we wrongly take at face value. It’s all about context and learning the meaning that was originally intended. Unfortunately, we cannot only read the English translation of the Bible and expect to understand what God is saying. We must go back to the Hebrew (not the Greek).

——
Main Sources:

“Understanding the Difficult Words of Jesus” – David Bivin

Blueletterbible[dot]org

Bobbie Escobedo
2 years ago
Reply to  Avadi

I agree! This chart really could cause alot of problems with many believers.

anne
3 years ago

does praying in church lifting of arms/hands go against praying in secret as per bible?

Maryse
2 years ago

Perhaps someone can explain this to me, women will be saved by child bearing.
1 Timothy 2:15, NIV: “But women will be saved through childbearing–if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.”
To me this scripture alone contradicts many of Pauls teachings. Does this mean a barren women will not be saved?
Or that grace only saves men but women, childbearing and on condition she continues in faith and love and so on? So women are saved on conditions and not confessing Jesus as Lord or grace according to Pauls teachings for men. Wow sounds like the dude hates women.

Jayce
2 years ago

2 Peter 3:13-16
New International Version
13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

I had a question on a different discussion and you referenced me here. This is the Apostle Peter, one of the twelve. I agree on sinlessness, but this…come on, 90% of the verses are out of context. This is just one passage of many that validates Paul.

Glen
8 months ago

Both teachings are correct from Jesus AND Paul. Why are you sooo selective in your choice of verses when Paul himself summarises his message = New King James Version Act 26:20

but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, AND do works befitting repentance.