The BIG Picture (Shorts)

In Romans 11:13, when Paul says, "I magnify mine office," he is emphasizing the significance of his God-given role as the apostle of the Gentiles. The word magnify here carries the idea of giving weight, glory, or recognition to something—not for personal glory, but to highlight the importance of his ministry. Paul is addressing the Gentiles and explaining that, although Israel has temporarily fallen into unbelief, God is using his ministry to the Gentiles as part of His greater plan. By magnifying his office, Paul is drawing attention to the fact that his apostleship is divinely ordained, carrying great responsibility in God’s purpose—particularly in provoking Israel to jealousy so they too may turn to Christ (Romans 11:11-14). Paul does not take his calling lightly; he recognizes that being sent to the Gentiles is a crucial part of God's redemptive work. He wants both Gentiles and Jews to understand that his role is not secondary but central to God's unfolding pla...

Paul was a chosen vessel of Jesus Christ. He tells of his calling saying, "I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles." Friends, that's the title and the office Jesus Christ gave him. What was his office? Apostle of the Gentiles, given to him by Jesus Christ. Paul continues to say the following in Rom.15:16, "That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost." Now answer this: You know what makes Gentiles acceptable to God and sanctified by the Holy Ghost? The ministry given to Paul! Wow! Outside of Paul's ministry, you and I were a bunch of strangers and foreigners to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world, Eph.2:12. Then, in Eph.3:2-3, Paul tells us that the dispensation of grace was given to him for us that he may make known to us the mystery doctrine for the Bo...

Many Christians believe that when Christ ascended to heaven, He stopped speaking. However, Paul reveals that the things he wrote were the "commandments of the Lord", 1Cor.14:37. After Israel's rebellion, God temporarily set aside Israel, and raised up a new apostle, Paul. From heaven, Christ gave Paul a new revelation concerning His heavenly ministry to the Body of Christ, Gal.1:11-12. Paul became the apostle to the Gentiles, Rom.11:13. Paul's words, as revealed to Him by Christ, are spoken of as "commandments." When God commands something, He expects us to obey it. In past dispensations, commands were given that were valid then, but not for today's obedience. For example, the Bible commands man to eat only fruit and veggies, then allows for meat with fruit and veggies, then certain foods to be eaten, and finally, all food can be eaten. Thus, it is essential to determine which commands God would have us obey today. Paul's epistles are the commandmen...

COMMENT: You said the New Covenant was a promise God gave to Jews. So then, why was Paul, a minister to the uncircumcision, a minister of the New Covenant? ANSWER: With the Abrahamic Covenant, it meant that all Gentile blessing must come through Israel. Israel was supposed to fulfill this (Isa 42:6, 49.6; Zech 8:20-23), but this required the entire nation to repent, which Peter preached at Pentecost. But they refused and later stoned Stephen. Right after this, God saved Paul to be the apostle of the Gentiles. The 12, therefore, never had a ministry to Gentiles. Paul thus became proxy Israel and served in the three roles Israel was supposed to occupy. Paul became the light to the Gentiles (Act 13), the minister of the New Covenant (2 Cor 3), and the priest of the Gentiles (Rom 15:16). We become partakers of the New Covenant; the indwelling Holy Spirit and the forgiveness of sins through Paul’s gospel. Thus, all blessing and doctrine for us comes through the revelation that the risen Lor...

“For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:” Rom 11:13. Upon inquiring the average church member, “Who is your apostle?,” we will receive one of three answers: (1) the 12 apostles, (2) Jesus, or (3) “apostle” so-and-so who leads a local church or ministry. Unfortunately, none of these common replies are correct; yet church tradition perpetuates such ignorance. Paul is God’s apostle (sent one) to us Gentiles (Rom 15:16; 2 Tim 1:11). If we want to learn what God is doing and saying to us today, we go not to Israel’s apostles and prophets, for they speak of what God did in time past and what He will do in the ages to come. Only Paul’s epistles, discuss what God is doing today in the Dispensation of Grace. We study all the Bible, but only Paul’s epistles speak of us. Jesus Christ said if we are to accept Him, we must accept whom He sent to us (Jn 13:20). If we are to honour this, we must accept the Apostle Paul, or we reject Christ (1C...