The Pauline Revelation
Galatians 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
Galatians 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Paul's Gospel
The Pauline revelation refers to the unique body of truth revealed by the Holy Spirit to the Apostle Paul concerning the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul’s understanding of the gospel, the believer’s inheritance in Christ and who the believer is in Christ is unveiled in his teachings, which he refers to as “my gospel.”
Salvation by Grace
The message of salvation by grace through faith is a message that Paul brought forth in his letters to the churches. The understanding that righteousness is by faith in Jesus Christ and not by the works of the law is part of the Pauline revelation. It is Paul who traces this righteousness of faith back to Abraham, who he calls the father of us all, pointing to the scriptural reverence that Abraham believed God, and it was counted or imputed unto him for righteousness, and that this same imputed righteousness is available to the believer by faith in Christ.
Romans 4:23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
Romans 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
Romans 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
The Old and New Covenants
Paul’s gospel is a gospel that unveils the believer’s relationship with God through Christ as the result of the redemptive work of Christ at Calvary. It makes a contrast between the Old and New Covenants. The book of Hebrews speaks of the covenants, though it is not clear that Paul wrote Hebrews.
Hebrews 8:6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
Hebrews 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
Many believers are unclear about the differences between the Old and New Covenants. And consequently, they often attempt to live in the New Covenant under the standards and the dictates and rules of the Old Covenant, which causes frustration and can result in difficulty in laying hold of the blessing of the New Covenant.
Free from the Law of Moses
Under the New Covenant, believers are set free from the Old Covenant demands of righteousness received from doing the works of the law, and they receive the righteousness that is given to them freely by faith in Jesus Christ, by grace, not by earning it, but receiving it by God’s unmerited or unearned favor.
Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Romans 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
In this article we merely wish to point out that there is such a thing as the Pauline Revelation. And from here we will begin to look at the teachings of Paul given in the epistles that he wrote to the churches. We will begin by looking at the book of Romans, the letter addressed to the church in Rome, and we will start with Paul’s message about the descent of man into depravity.
Descent into Depravity