Burnishing Bigotry - 3rd edition

*03) While Paul says we are to worship Jesus himself as the only Son of God (see Acts
24:21, Acts 16:31, Acts 17:18, Acts 18:5, Acts 18:28, Acts 19:17, Acts 28:23, Acts 28:31, Acts 9:20-22,
Romans 1:4, Romans 4:5, Romans 5:8 + Romans 6:5, Romans 3:21-24, Romans 5:18, Romans 7:25,
Romans 8:3, Romans 8:9, Romans 14:9, 1 Corinthians 2:2, 2 Corinthians 4:5 + 5:15, Colossians 2:9 +
Colossians 3:1-2), Jesus repeatedly informs us that we are not to worship himself, but rather are
to solely honor his Father in Heaven (see Mark 10:18, Mark 13:31, Luke 6:46-47, Matthew 11:6,
Mark 12:28-31, John 3:17, John 10:26, John 12:26, John 13:15, John 5:41, John 7:6, John 12:44-45, John
13:35, John 18:37, John 14:6, John 14:15, John 15:4 et al) …
*04) While Paul creates an entirely new ―Gospel‖ of atonement by equating it with Jesus'
resurrection and our required worship thereof (see Acts 13:30-38, Acts 17:3, Acts 17:31b, 1
Corinthians 15:13-14), Jesus clearly defines his ―Good News‖ – his ―Gospel‖ – as Salvation in the
present moment via selfless acts of Love (see Matthew 10:7 + Matthew 24:12-14) …
*05) While Paul promised a Heaven that exists elsewhere, in which only the ―worthy‖
reside for eternity after their deaths (see Acts 17:31a, Romans 8:18, 1 Corinthians 1:7, 1 Corinthians
14:1-3, 1 Corinthians 15:19, 1 Corinthians 15:23-28, 1 Corinthians 15:50, 2 Corinthians 4:14-17,
Philippians 1:23, Philippians 3:13-14, Philippians 3:20 & 1 Thessalonians 1:10), Jesus makes it very
clear that his Kingdom of Heaven is right here & right now – available to everyone in every
moment of our lives (see Matthew 3:13, Matthew 19:23-26 + Matthew 20:23, Matthew 22:32, Matthew
24:26-28, Mark 13:34-37, Luke 17:20-21, Luke 17:22-24, John 3:18, John 3:3-9, John 5:25 + John 7:6 +
John 12:31, John 10:34 + John 14:12 + John 18:36 et al) …
*06) And while Paul states that Salvation comes from being subservient to Jesus (see
Acts 15:20-29 + Acts 16:4 + Acts 13:39, Romans chapter 4, Romans 5:10 + Romans 7:4, Romans 9:32 +
Romans 8:24-25, 1 Corinthians 1:8-9, Galatians 2:16, Galatians 2:21, Philippians 3:9, 2 Corinthians 5:7 +
2 Corinthians 1:10), Jesus notes over & over again that our Salvation comes solely from actively
& selflessly caring for others (see Matthew 4:17, Matthew 21:43, Mark 1:15, Mark 5:36, Mark 8:34-35
+ Mark 9:35 + Mark 10:21 + Mark 10:43-45, Mark 12:34 + Mark 13:5-6 + Mark 13:23 + Mark 15:31,
Luke 6:27-31, Luke 6:35-36, Luke 6:46-49, Luke 8:15 + Luke 9:23-24 + Luke 10:27-28 + Luke 12:35,
Luke 14:12-15 + Luke 18:20-22 + Luke 22:26, John 4:24, John 5:39-40, John 6:63, John 6:53-58 + John
8:31 + John 10:38 + John 12:25, John 13:10 + John 13:34-35 + John 14:23 + John 15:8, John 15:12-17,
John 17:26 et al).
In conclusion then, while I make no
boastful assertion that Jesus is right and Paul is
wrong, I most certainly do remind Christians &
non-Christians alike that the teachings of the two
men are most certainly not compatible, that a
choice between their two gospels must be made,
and that it might be wise to err on the side of
following (i.e. emulating, & thereby enlivening) the
teachings of Jesus and gently discarding those of
Paul (wherever they contradict those of Christ).
― Everyone who does not abide in the
teaching of Christ, but goes beyond it, does not have
God; whoever abides in the teaching has both the
Father and the Son.‖ ~ 2 John 1:9
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