Paul’s Radical Commission and Radical Gospel

Listen as Ed Underwood teaches on Acts in episode nine of the Recentered on the Word podcast.

Over the years, I’ve taught the epistles of Paul to thousands of believers in different contexts—local churches, missions conferences, Bible conferences, leadership conferences—and I’ve discovered that many believers feel uncomfortable with Paul’s radical message of grace.

Some have wondered where Paul got his teachings of salvation by grace, through faith, plus nothing. Was he teaching in reaction to Jewish legalism? Did he become a little sensitive to his persecutions and overreact?

The gospel is indeed radical, but it didn’t come from the Apostle Paul. It came from the lips of the Lord Jesus when He commissioned Paul on the road to Damascus. A lot is at stake. Failure to clearly understand the doctrine of salvation invariably leads to preaching a false or perverted works gospel. God unquestionably saves those who come to Him despite a fuzzy or errant gospel, but that does not make it a good thing or an acceptable error. A healthy life demands a healthy birth, and there is only one way to a healthy new birth—a correct Gospel!

When asked, “What must I do to be saved?” Make sure the gospel is clear.