I am going to addressing a meme shared by Muslim apologist Paul Bilal Williams. The meme seeks to pit the Lord Jesus against the blessed Apostle Paul by implying that they didn’t preach the same Gospel. Here’s what it says:
OBSERVE – What the Lord Jesus Christ preached:
And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good
thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why
callest thou me good? there
is none good but one, that
is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS. Matthew 19:16,17 (KJV)
OBSERVE – What the Apostle preached:
and brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And
they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy
house. Acts
16:30,31 (KJV)
THEY’RE NOT THE SAME GOSPEL. (Insightful Quote https://bloggingtheology2.com/2018/12/23/insightful-quote/)
Since Acts was quoted, I am going to also cite from Luke since
both books were written by one and the same author as the following references
indicate:
“Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a
declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, even as
they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and
ministers of the word; it seemed good to me also, having had perfect
understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in
order, most
excellent Theophilus, that thou mightest know the certainty of those things,
wherein thou hast been instructed.” Luke 1:1-4
“The
former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus
began both to do and teach, until the day in which he was taken up, after that
he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had
chosen: to whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many
infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things
pertaining to the kingdom of God: and, being assembled together with them,
commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the
promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly
baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days
hence.” Acts 1:1-5
It is clear from these verses that the same inspired writer who
composed Acts also produced Luke’s Gospel, since both of these writings mention
the same recipient, namely Theophilus, and Acts even refers to the author’s
previous treatise to this same individual.
As such, I am going to see what both Luke and Acts have to say
in respect to the Gospel that Christ and his disciples preached. I begin with
Luke’s version of the Lord’s encounter with the rich young ruler:
“And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall
I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me
good? none is good, save one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do
not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness,
Honour thy father and thy mother. And he said, All these have I kept from my
youth up. Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing:
sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have
treasure in heaven: and
come, FOLLOW ME. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful:
for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said,
How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! For it is
easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter
into the kingdom of God. And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?
And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
Then Peter said, Lo,
we have left all, and FOLLOW THEE. And he said unto them,
Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or
brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, who shall not receive
manifold more in this present time, and
in the world to come life everlasting.” Luke 18:18-30
The Lord clearly teaches that everlasting life does not come by
obeying the commandments, but by giving up everything in order to follow
Christ. And here’s what the risen Lord instructed his Apostles before
physically ascending into heaven:
“And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto
you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were
written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning
me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the
scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ
to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission
of sins should be preached IN HIS NAME among all nations,
beginning at Jerusalem.” Luke 24:44-47
The risen Christ expressly teaches that salvation is to be
proclaimed in his name, i.e., by turning to and trusting in the Lord Jesus,
which is precisely what the Apostles preached according to the book of Acts:
“And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all
the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s,
greatly wondering. And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men
of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or
holiness we had made this man to walk? The God of Abraham,
and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus;
whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was
determined to let him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and
desired a murderer to be granted unto you; and killed the Prince of life, whom
God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. And HIS NAME through faith IN HIS
NAME hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea,
the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence
of you all… Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God
made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the
kindreds of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning
away every one of you from his iniquities.” Acts 3:11-16, 25-26
“And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and
elders, and scribes, and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and
Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered
together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they
asked, By what
power, or by what name, have ye done this? Then
Peter, filled
with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people,
and elders of Israel, if we this day be examined of the good deed done to the
impotent man, by what means he is made whole; be it known unto you all, and to
all the people of Israel, that
BY THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH, whom ye crucified,
whom God raised from the dead, even
by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the
stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the
corner. Neither
is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven
given among men, whereby we must be saved. Now when they saw
the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and
ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had
been with Jesus. And
beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing
against it.” Acts 4:5-14
The Apostles perform a miraculous healing by the power of the
risen Christ in order to prove that salvation only comes by believing/trusting
in the name of the Lord Jesus, since it is Christ who grants repentance and
forgiveness to his people, and to all who would turn to him:
“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and
said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall
we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent,
and be baptized every one of you IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST for the
remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar
off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did
he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there
were added unto them about three thousand souls.” Acts 2:37-41
“Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel,
and forgiveness of sins.” Acts 5:31
“Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip
spake, hearing
and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud
voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with
palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great
joy in that city. But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime
in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out
that himself was some great one: to whom they all gave heed, from the least to
the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. And to him they had
regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. But
when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of
God, and the
name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with
Philip, and wondered, beholding
the miracles and signs which were done… And the angel of the
Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way
that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and
went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under
Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and
had come to Jerusalem for to worship, was returning, and sitting in his
chariot read
Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near,
and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet
Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he
said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he
would come up and sit with him. The place of the scripture which he read was
this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his
shearer, so opened he not his mouth: in his humiliation his judgment was taken
away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the
earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh
the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same
scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went
on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is
water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine
heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the
Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and
they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized
him.” Acts 8:5-13, 26-38
“The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching
peace by Jesus Christ: (he
is Lord of all) that word, I say, ye know, which was published
throughout all Judæa, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John
preached; how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with
power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the
devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did
both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a
tree: him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; not to all the
people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and
drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto
the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the
Judge of quick and dead. To
him give all the prophets witness, that THROUGH HIS NAME whosoever
believeth IN HIM shall receive remission of sins. While Peter
yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came
with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the
Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then
answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized,
which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized
IN THE NAME OF THE LORD. Then prayed they him to tarry certain
days.” Acts 10:36-48
The message of the Apostles and their followers is clear. A
person is saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus through faith in him:
“And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said
unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice
among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and
believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the
Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; and put no difference between us and
them, purifying
their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a
yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able
to bear? But we believe that through
the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.”
Acts 15:7-11
In fact, the reason why the blessed Paul preached that salvation
only comes by believing in the Lord Jesus,
“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that THROUGH THIS MAN is preached
unto you the forgiveness of sins: and BY HIM all that believe are
justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified
by the law of Moses.” Acts 13:38-39
Is because this is the very message that the risen Lord told the
Apostle to preach when he appeared to him in his heavenly splendor!
“Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission
from the chief priests, at midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the
brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them
which journeyed with me. And
when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking
unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord?
And he said, I
am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy
feet: for I
have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness
both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I
will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people, and
from the Gentiles, unto
whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from
darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness
of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”
Acts 26:12-18
Therefore, contrary to what the meme claims, the Apostle Paul
proclaimed the same exact gospel that the Lord Jesus and the rest of the
Apostles and their disciples preached.
What About Matthew?
Now let’s see what happens when we read Matthew 19:16-17 in its
immediate context:
“He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder,
Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false
witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour
as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my
youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect,
go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure
in heaven: and
come and FOLLOW ME. But when the young man heard that saying,
he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Then said Jesus unto his
disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the
kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go
through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of
God. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who
then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but
with God all things are possible. Then answered Peter and said
unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have
therefore? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me,
in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory,
ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And
every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or
mother, or wife, or children, or lands, FOR MY NAME’S SAKE, shall receive an
hundredfold, and
shall inherit everlasting life.” Matthew 19:18-29
Our Lord affirms that everlasting life does not come from
obeying the commandments, but by a person’s willingness to give up everything
for the sake of Christ. Our Lord repeated this message on more than one
occasion:
“He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me:
and he that loveth son or daughter more
than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his
cross, and
followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his
life shall lose it: and
he that loseth his life FOR MY SAKE shall find it.”
Matthew 10:37-39
“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after
me, let him deny himself, and
take up his cross, AND FOLLOW ME. For whosoever will save
his life shall lose it: and
whosoever will lose his life for MY SAKE shall find it. For
what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own
soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man
shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward
every man according to his works.” Matthew 16:24-27
Christ demands that an individual must love him unconditionally,
wholeheartedly, even more than one’s very own life, if that person wants to
obtain salvation.
Matthew is also clear that Jesus came into the world to save his
people from their sins by offering his very own life as a vicarious sacrifice:
“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name
JESUS: for he
shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21
“even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to
minister, and
to give his life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28
“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and
brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all
of it; for this
is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the
remission of sins.” Matthew 26:26-28
Thus, the foregoing affirms that an honest, fair and consistent
reading of Matthew’s Gospel will show that Jesus personally taught that
everlasting life is granted to all those who are willing to give up everything
for Christ’s sake, since the Lord obtained salvation by his sacrificial death
for the sins of all those who would trust in him.
IHS
