Why did the Apostle Paul face so much opposition?
Paul faced opposition because his message made salvation too simple: faith plus nothing rather than faith plus something. The early requirement involved repentance, baptism, and faith, not faith alone; Paul’s teaching of imputed righteousness for the Body of Christ clashed with those insisting on added requirements.
Les explains that before Paul, early Acts believers were still adherents of the Law of Moses and had the added responsibility of repentance and baptism plus their faith. Faith alone would not cut it in those early chapters. Then, as Les says, along comes the Apostle Paul, and this is why he had so much opposition: Paul’s message was faith plus nothing, while others insisted on faith plus something, such as repentance, baptism, or speaking in tongues before salvation. Les compares this to Abraham, who was saved by faith plus nothing and had imputed righteousness. Members of the Body of Christ also have imputed righteousness, making them just like Abraham—a privilege no one else in God’s economy had.