Does focusing on what Jesus said from heaven take away from what He said on earth?
No, it does not take away from what Jesus said on earth. However, what He said from His Ascended Place in Glory carries more weight for us today than what He said to the Jew under the Law. Everything Christ says from that ascended place is through the Apostle Paul.
Les addresses the question directly: he does not take away from what Jesus said on earth. But he explains that what Christ said from His Ascended Place in Glory carries a lot more weight for us today than what He said to the Jew under the Law. He further states that everything Christ says from the Ascended Place in Glory is through the Apostle Paul. This connects to the mystery or secret that had been kept secret and was revealed to Paul alone from the Ascended Christ, with Deuteronomy 29 in view.