What About the Red Letters in the Gospels?
This is one of the most common questions people ask when they first begin to rightly divide the Word of truth.
And the question usually comes from a sincere concern:
“Are you saying we should ignore the words of Jesus?”
Absolutely not.
Every word of Scripture is inspired by God and profitable (2 Timothy 3:16).
The issue is not whether the words of Jesus are true.
The issue is:
To whom was He speaking?
Under what program was He ministering?
And how does that relate to the Dispensation of Grace today?
Right division does not diminish the words of Christ.
It actually helps us understand them correctly.
When Jesus walked the earth in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, He clearly stated the audience and purpose of His earthly ministry.
“But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
— Matthew 15:24 KJV
Notice that carefully.
During His earthly ministry, Christ was confirming Israel’s prophetic kingdom program.
He came exactly as the prophets foretold.
• Preaching the kingdom
• Confirming the covenants
• Ministering under the Law
• Calling Israel to repentance
That is why Jesus told His disciples:
“Go not into the way of the Gentiles…”
— Matthew 10:5 KJV
And Paul later explains:
“Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:”
— Romans 15:8 KJV
That is not an insult to the red letters.
That is simply believing what the Bible says.
But many believers become confused because they assume everything spoken during Christ’s earthly ministry was spoken directly TO the Body of Christ under Grace.
That creates doctrinal contradictions.
For example:
• Jesus taught His disciples to sell possessions and endure unto the end in connection with Israel’s kingdom program.
• Jesus operated under the Mosaic Law during His earthly ministry.
• Water baptism, signs, miracles, and kingdom expectations were all connected to prophecy and Israel’s earthly hope.
But today, God has revealed something that was previously hidden.
The mystery.
The revelation of the Church, the Body of Christ.
And He revealed that message through the Apostle Paul.
“For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles…”
— Romans 11:13 KJV
This is why Paul says:
“Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.”
— 2 Timothy 2:7 KJV
The glorified Christ from heaven revealed truth to Paul concerning the present Dispensation of Grace.
Truth that was:
“Kept secret since the world began”
— Romans 16:25 KJV
That does not mean Jesus is divided against Himself.
It means God’s revelation is progressive.
• Prophecy concerns Israel and the earthly kingdom.
• Mystery concerns the Body of Christ and heavenly places.
The same Lord Jesus Christ who ministered to Israel on earth later revealed the mystery from heaven to Paul.
So yes —
Jesus absolutely speaks to us today.
But He speaks to us today through the revelation He gave to Paul for the Body of Christ.
That is why believers today find their doctrine, walk, identity, and calling primarily explained in Romans through Philemon.
Not because Paul replaced Christ.
But because Paul was chosen by Christ.
The red letters are still Scripture.
They are still true.
They are still profitable.
They show us:
• Christ’s character
• Israel’s kingdom program
• The prophetic hope
• God’s faithfulness to His promises
But the direct instructions for the Church today are found in Paul’s epistles.
That is where we learn:
• Our heavenly calling
• Our identity in Christ
• The mystery of the Body of Christ
• Justification by grace through faith alone
• Our position in heavenly places
And what is the gospel for today?
“That Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day:”
— 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 KJV
Not law.
Not kingdom preparation.
Not covenant performance.
Grace.
Pure grace.
Sadly, many believers mix Israel’s kingdom instructions with the mystery program and end up confused about salvation, water baptism, endurance, signs, and Christian living.
But right division brings clarity.
It allows every verse to stand exactly where God put it.
The red letters are not less important.
They are simply part of God’s prophetic program with Israel.
And today, God is building the Church, the Body of Christ, under the ministry committed to Paul.
The issue is not:
“Do we believe Jesus?”
The issue is:
Do we believe Jesus enough to recognize the distinct ministry He later revealed from heaven through the Apostle Paul?
That is not rejecting Christ.
That is following His revealed pattern for this present Dispensation of Grace.
