Unfounded Assertions Regarding The Apostle Paul

The passages in First Timothy 1:15, First Corinthians 15:9, and Ephesians 3:8 appear to show the beginnings of spiritual declension in the thinking and attitude of the apostle Paul…at least on first glance! For context the reader should know that First Corinthians was written about A.D. 51, Ephesians about A.D. 60 or 61 and First Timothy about A.D. 63. This provides historical setting that can by tortured manipulation provide a basis for asserting this demeaning idea about Paul. Of course, this is not the case, and for anyone to make these unfounded assertions simply shows a mindboggling ignorance of the Holy Scripture. However, because it is argued by some liberal theologians, it demands a response.

First Corinthians 15:9 says: “For I am the least of the apostles, and am not worthy to be called an apostle…” In Ephesians 3:8 Paul staggers us when he announces that he is least of all saints—and he knew a lot of people called “saints.” But when we read in his First Timothy 1:15 that he confesses to be the chief of sinners, we lose our breath temporarily. For anyone to make these unfounded assertions simply shows a mindboggling ignorance of scriptural knowledge. Any consistent Bible student knows immediately that these verses are statements of Paul’s continued growth in Christ, explained as death to self (at this juncture the reader should read Second Corinthians 11 and take note to what Paul calls “my folly”).

In analyzing the life of the apostle Paul, we become aware that he was greatly influenced by Gamaliel, a rabbi and a Pharisee scholar of the school of Hillel, who, it is believed by many scholars is one of the reasons for Paul’s ability to analyze, illustrate, and allegorize so well (notwithstanding the unction and enablement of the Holy Spirit), as is demonstrated in his speaking and writing. And Gamaliel’s utterance in Acts 5:38-39 is one of the finest examples of godly wisdom in the whole of the New Testament:
And I say unto you: Refrain from these men and let them alone: for if this counsel or work be of men, it will come to nothing: but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; lest haply you be found to be fighting against God. (Acts 5:38-39, KJV)

Obviously, Gamaliel was a believer in the almighty God. He not only manifested an OT Biblical tradition, he believed in the God of the Old Testament. He also exemplified godly caution, regardless of his status as a scholar of the OT Law, for there was the possibility that this “new” message was from God. It is for sure that he did not want to be found fighting against his Creator. But he failed to ascertain that the wheel in the middle of the wheel had rolled into his presence. He did not discern that the water of life had indeed flowed down from heaven and was available to refresh his own soul. He missed the fact that the man Jesus was Very God … To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself … (2 Cor. 5:19)! He was the fulfillment of Abraham’s prophecy that God would provide Himself a burnt offering. That God had indeed robed Himself in human flesh and was there to ratify the truth and saving power of new covenant. Isaiah (40:28-31) cried across the ages, “Hast thou not known, hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, faints not, neither is weary, and there is no searching of understanding…But they that wait on the LORD shall renew their strength…”

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September/October 2025 Printed Newsletter

October 2, 2025

Flooded Marine Reptile

By Matt Miles • October 2, 2025

The Flood during Noah’s day was a devastating judgement against the sin and wickedness of the time. Most people focus on what the Lord did as He saved the eight people and animals on the Ark. Yet while they were being saved, the Flood destroyed the earth and left behind some remarkable things. Geology around the globe shows water burial of plants and animals. Many of the animal remains show signs of drowning and then burial. One particular reptile that shows this is the Ichthyosaurus. From what we can understand, water was her home for everything in life, even giving birth to live young. This well designed creature may even help us trust the Word of God when it comes to the history of the Flood. In our Mobile Museum of Earth History we exhibit a research replica of an ichthyosaur called Stenopterygius quadriscissus . She is from Holzmaden, Germany and is one example of hundreds that have been found in the area. The reason we can so confidently state this fossil is a “her,” when we rarely know for sure about fossil animals, is because she is pregnant. She has three babies present with her remains: one under her tail, one in or near the birth canal, and one still inside. Our fossil is in situ, which means the fossil remains in the rock matrix it was buried in. So, the presence of momma and babies are how they were buried and not articulated in some manner after excavation. This is important to show the rapid, watery burial that must have taken place to lock this scene in the fossil record. The Flood trapped organisms all over the world in different life positions. Sometimes the fossils left behind have shown eating, hunting, sleeping, swimming, nesting, or drowning. When it comes to ichthyosaurs around the planet, there is a significant number of females that seem to be pregnant. They have been found in the fossil record on at least four continents. A fair assumption would be that Ichthyosaurs had a certain time of year they mated and gave birth to young, much like sea turtles today that nest from late spring to late fall depending on the region around the world. So it should come as no surprise that we find pregnant ichthyosaurs all around the world as the Flood lasted an entire year. It would have buried the females that were pregnant near their location of habitat. Evolutionists maintain that ichthyosaurs lived tens to hundreds of million years ago and each of the mothers found in the fossil record just died while giving birth. This is difficult to support in a millions magnitude time scale. That would mean every time a disaster happened, millions of years apart, the right conditions existed to quickly bury ichthyosaurs that just so happened to be pregnant. It just might take some “faith” to trust that “miracle” would happen over and over again through eons of time. Or you can have faith that the Word of God’s history is correct with a judgement of man’s sin bringing global devastation through the Flood during Noah’s 600th year of life. The Word of God is trustworthy, with even the fossil record showing us glimpses of historical evidence in support of our faith. I’m so thankful we don’t need blind faith to trust our salvation! Blessings.

Our God Whom We Serve Is Able

By Ryan Cox • October 2, 2025

14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? 15 …if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” Daniel 3:14-18 In the 6th century BC, three young men stood up for their faith in the one true God, for which someone attempted to kill them. Today, in the 21st century AD, one young man was gunned down for his faith in the one true God. And sadly, Charlie Kirk is not the only one. According to The Esther Project, martyrdom for the cause of Christ is commonplace around the world ( theestherproject.com/statistics ). On average: 322 Christians are killed monthly. 214 churches or Christian properties are destroyed monthly. 772 forms of violence (beatings, kidnappings, etc.) against Christians are committed monthly. 100,000 to 160,000 Christians are killed annually in the 21st century. 1.093 million Christians were martyred between 2000 and 2010. And more than 70 million Christians are believed to have been martyred since the 1st century, with more than half killed in the 20th century alone under communist and fascist governments. And how should Christians respond? Peter wrote, “ if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but glorify God in this name ” (I Peter 4:16). Jesus took this a step further; He told us, “ …love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you ” (Matthew 5:44). Now, as Shawn Grant, minister at Kissimmee Christian Church, FL, preached on the Sunday following the assassination, th at may not be what you want to hear right now, but that is what Jesus has told us we must do. Why? So the world will see the difference Jesus makes! The night of and the days after the assassination, businesses did not have to board up their stores. Police and soldiers did not have to be deployed. There were no riots, no property damages, no police spat upon – only tears, prayers, and a witness to the world that Jesus is the answer. So noticeable is this to the world, there were more international press requests for the Charlie Kirk memorial service than are requested for Super Bowls. Within seven days of his death, Kirk’s ministry Turning Point USA had received over 54,000 campus chapter requests. And most importantly, scores of videos of young people considering or even deciding to give their lives to Jesus have been posted to social media platforms.