Paul was a false prophet: Original sin and the law

Thank you for your reply. These issues are at the heart of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am grateful for this opportunity as I will indirectly be sharing my faith. Prophet - one who utters divinely inspired revelations [1]Paul"Beware of false prophets...you will know them by their fruits" Jesus Mt.7:15a&16a.I agree that people are not hearing from God just because they say they are. However, when considering the veracity of one's testimony, the fruits of one's life must not be ignored. Why did Pro use Jones and Manson to make his point? Obviously based on their fruits, any claims of divine revelation are quickly dismissed and should be. Should we dismiss Paul's claims as easily? Accepting the claims of a leader of the largest religion in the world [2] is different than accepting the claims of a lunatic.Furthermore Paul is not the only one claiming that he is a prophet. It is clear from the record of Paul's miraculous conversion (Acts 9) and his subsequent journeys that Luke, the author, believes Paul is a prophet. We also learn here that none other than Jesus himself commissions Paul; "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel..."(:15-16). What did Peter believe about Paul? "as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures." (2Pet 3:15-16) Peter says: 1. Paul is a beloved brother. 2. Wisdom has been given to Paul. 3. This wisdom is evident in all of Paul's epistles.4. Paul's writings are twisted by untaught people, as are the rest of scripture. Notice the last phrase; "as they do also the rest of scripture". Peter may be elevating Paul's writings to the very level of inspired Scripture. If not, he is at the very least esteeming the writings of Paul. With a perfect opportunity to condemn Paul as a false teacher, Peter instead affirms Paul.Paul is revered by the Christian church and has been for 2,000 years for his sacrificial life and ministry. His contemporaries recognized his calling and supported his work. Indeed they so loved this apostle that they kept his letters, copied, and circulated them. These letters were preserved, recognized as divinely inspired, and included in the N.T. canon. They have been read, memorized, and used by the church to teach and encourage for centuries. You shall know them by their fruits.Pro often uses the O.T. law to make his points. It is relevant to point out that, as a Pharisee [3], Paul was an expert in O.T. law [4]. He himself wrote that the law is "holy" and the commandment is "holy, just, and good" [5]. This expertise and love for the law of God uniquely qualified Paul to help the church in her infancy as she grappled with how the O.T. law should be understood now that the messiah had come. Ironically Paul himself reconciles most of the issues raised by Pro. Not by contradicting the law he loved and believed was inspired by God but by harmonizing the law with its fulfillment.Mt 5:17 " "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill." JesusThe Law The O.T. Law is divided up into 3 main sections: The moral, ceremonial, and civil. [6] The moral law is summed up in the 10 commandments. The ceremonial laws address priestly duties including those pertaining to the sacrificial system. The civil laws were laws that pertained to Israel"s judicial system as a nation. These distinctions are critical to a proper understanding of scriptures. Based on his arguments, it seems my opponent is unaware of these divisions. O.T. and N.T relationship "The New in the Old is concealed, The Old in the New is revealed." This common adage is helpful to interpreting the bible as a whole.In other words, the N.T. brings into focus what was only partly understood by reading the O.T. alone. The O.T. often provided the framework while the N.T. brings clarity. The suffering servant prophecy regarding Jesus from Isa. 53 is an example. When read without the benefit of the N.T., we are left with many questions about this servant. Not the least of which is his relationship to the coming messiah. However we see in Jesus how one man can be the suffering servant and the conquering King. The N.T. brings into focus that which was unclear in the O.T. This is exactly what Philip did in his encounter with the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:25-37).The Ethiopian eunuch was reading from Isa.53. Phillip asked him if he understood what he was reading. He said he didn't. Phillip preached to him Jesus from this O.T. passage. The Ethiopian believed (faith) and was baptized. This passage was not clear by itself but it came into focus as Phillip explained to this man how it was fulfilled in Jesus."For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come" Heb.10:1 .This and a proper division of the law will deflate most of Pro's arguments.1. All of man, thanks to the sins of Adam and Eve, is fallen before God, lost and in need of salvation (FALSE)I accept this as a Christian teaching that is taught most clearly by the apostle Paul. However to prove Paul is a false prophet, it must be shown that this teaching contradicts other scripture. Where are the scriptures that teach men are born holy or without sin? None are provided by my opponent. On the other hand, scripture is replete with verses that speak of man's sinful condition. I will list some. More available upon request.Ps 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.Ps. 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb; They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.Ec 7:29 Truly, this only I have found: That God made man upright, But they have sought out many schemes."Joh 8:34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.Mt 15:19 "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.These verses may not teach original sin with as much clarity as Paul, but they certainly do not contradict Paul. If anything they provide support for this doctrine.2. The reason the Messiah was to come was to redeem the sins of mankind because man was cut off from God (FALSE)Let the reader decide if Matthew John, and Jesus agree with Paul or my opponent's statement above.Mt 1:21 "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins."John the Baptist, upon seeing the Messiah. "behold the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world". Jn.1:29JesusLu 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."Note the exclusive language by Jesus. No One. In the next round, I will show how the righteous O.T. saints were indeed forgiven of their sins and how this in no way contradicts the teachings of Jesus, Paul, or the church. Thanks for your patience. With basic groundwork laid, I look forward to addressing specific verses and supposed contradictions presented by my opponent.Blessings, [1] http://www.merriam-webster.com...[2] http://www.adherents.com...[3] Acts 26:5, 23:6, Phil.3:5[4] http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com...[5] Romans 7:12[6] Chapter 19 of Westminster Confession of Faith; of the Law of God is an example where different aspects of the law are recognized.[6] Chapter 19 of Westminster Confession of Faith; of the Law of Godis an example where different aspects of the law are recognized.