For Your Examination

I have known people who say they need no teacher to teach them God's word because they are taught directly by God. Usually these people cite Paul in one place or another, referring to the fact that he was no man's disciple either. While this sounds pretty pious, it was not Paul's attitude.

Paul was not a lone wolf running free from any and all forms of organized Christian teaching and worship. His point on being no man's disciple was issued to demonstrate that the gospel he preached was not the invention of men, but rather, by the revelation of God himself. In fact, he even submitted himself to an examination of his preaching.

"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 2:2)

The apostle Paul validated his message at the ears of the other apostles. When he had opportunity he went to them and had a private conference to share the message he had been preaching to the Gentiles. His motive: To make sure he had not preached error, or would continue to preach error.

So what have we learned in this? First, we see that the gospel was delivered by 

God to men; it is not an invention of men's religions. Second, the gospel was validated by others who had received the revelation from Jesus Christ too.

It takes a lot of courage to lay your faith out for examination. What will you find if you do? Have you been running in vain, or have you believed unto righteousness? 

The truth is, we need each other. We need the church and we need our teachers and pastors. We need to live our faith and have it examined. As the Bible says:

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

And in another place, 

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:" (Ephesians 4:11-13)

With Love,

Jay Silvas