By Arthur J Licursi

This paper is for maturing Christians who ‘know’ Paul’s Grace truth for this Gentile age of “the dispensation of the grace of God.” We know we have already been provided with all that we need as seen in the now revealed written “word of truth” applying to us in this age.

¹⁶ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: ¹⁷ [so] That the man of God may be perfect [complete], *throughly [not ‘thoroughly;] furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (KJV).

(*Note: The KJV word ‘Throughly’ [Grk. exartizo] refers to ‘proceeding from inside,’ obviously referring to the supply of the life of “Christ IN You” (Col. 1:27).)

Paul ‘KNEW’ the Lord’s Overarching Plan and Will for him and us During This Present Age. We all could agree that Paul wrote of heretofore unheard-of information that he received directly from the ascended Christ in heaven … “by revelation of [from] Christ” for his (Gal 1:12) and our learning. He received such revelation progressively from his time in the Arabian desert after his conversion and even perhaps when he was caught up to heaven (cf. 2Cor. 12:2-4). Paul said he has revelations, plural.

With the knowledge of total truth for today, Paul had come to a ‘Know So’ way of living by the grace of Christ and “the word of truth.” As we read of this formerly hidden ‘secret’ plan of God, which Paul called “the mystery” (Grk. musterion, meaning, a God-secret], in Paul’s epistles, we see how that Paul just ‘made decisions.’ He made his decision KNOWING He was doing the overarching will of God… and worked it out however Paul saw fit to work it out; always in accord with the revealed truth.

Likewise, Paul essentially is telling us the Lord has fully equipped us with His written “word of truth” for us today (2Tim. 3:16-17) and we have Christ’s life within us. With that, the Lord entrusts us, now as intelligized believers, To Apply His Word as we see fit. We live in accord with our knowledge of the Lord and what He is doing on the earth today through us as the members of “His body.”

So, since we KNOW the truths of Paul’s epistles written to the Gentile “body of Christ” we don’t need to try and discern His will through signs, fleeces, the weather or any such external things outside of His written word. We Have His word, and with that we have His overall will, His plan and His purpose for this age of “the grace of God.”

We also have Christ’s “Spirit of life” we know He may say NO! when necessary. We have record of Paul being stopped by the Spirit on multiple cases. We know that, no matter what, even if we may go wrong, He is faithful to us. “¹³ If we believe not [distrust Him at any time], yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” (2 Tim. 2:13) We are assured that “all things are working for the good to the that love God and are called according to His purpose.” (Rom. 8:28). We know that even though there may be three doors of choice, no matter which door we may choose… He is behind that door. All this is God’s training of us for one day we will “reign with Him” (2Tim. 2:12) in “the heavenly places” in “the ages to come”

Let’s consider from Scripture just how Paul made decisions in his daily life. First, Paul made decisions based upon his knowing and believing “the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” was living in him and also that come what may… ‘God is for him.’ Paul knew, like us, that God is “is able to keep” him and that he was “sealed” and securely unto his eternal destiny in “heavenly places.”

¹² For the which cause I [Paul] also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I KNOW whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day [of our Rapture to heaven]. 2 Timothy 1:12 (KJV)

Paul prayed, no doubt, but we never find any reference to Paul … in anguish trying making his decisions. We never see Paul asking things like this; ‘Oh, God keep me in the center of your will.’ This is because Paul KNEW God’s plan and what God was doing in this age of grace; so, he just trusted as he lived and worked in accord with to that understanding.

Having the foregoing understanding, we can now note how that Paul … decided and did as he saw fit to do. Note Paul’s words below, how that he “determined [decided],” “thought it good to,” and “supposed it necessary.” We also note that sometimes Paul even changed his mind. You perhaps might read the verses below in their fuller context.

¹ But I [Paul] determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. 2 Corinthians 2:1 (KJV)

¹ Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we [Paul and company] thought it good to be left at Athens alone; 1 Thessalonians 3:1 (KJV)

²⁵ Yet I [Paul] supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. Philippians 2:25 (KJV)

Likewise, we as grace believers today also should ‘Know’ what God’s interest is and what He is doing in this age, as well as what He is not doing, though He did it in time past. We know the Lords will by knowing what God is doing… as seen in the word of God during this age of “the dispensation of the grace of God,” under God’s grace economy. Thus, this we do. So, when His word “rightly divided” (2Tim. 2:15) says ‘do this,’ we do ‘this,’ likewise we know what “the word of God” says not to do. We have Christ’s all empowering life and we have His words of authority vested in Paul’s ministry toward us;

“³⁷ If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I [Paul] write unto you are the commandments [instructions] of the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 14:37 (KJV)

Paul’s instructions for us are very clear as seen here.

“¹⁷ This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, ¹⁸ Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: ¹⁹ Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

²⁰ But ye have not so learned Christ; ²¹ If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: ²² That ye put off concerning the former conversation [manner of living] the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; ²³ And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; ²⁴ And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

²⁵ Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. ²⁶ Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: ²⁷ Neither give place to the devil. ²⁸ Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Ephesians 4:17-28 (KJV)

Thus, we follow Paul’s way of Living by ‘KNOWING’ … as we work out all things as it seems right to us … ‘knowing by the Spirit within us,’ and always In Accord With His Written Words. Consider here some of Paul’s guided decisions. If we do not discern restraint by the Spirit within us… then we do as seem fit. God trusts us in this.

Acts 16:6 They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia;

Acts 16:7 and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them;

Acts 19:21 Now after these things were finished, Paul purposed in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”

Acts 20:22 And now, behold, bound by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there,