Apostle Paul’s books in Bible teaches us great things and his spiritual insights gives us many things to learn and inspires us to be better Christian. Before we learn a great deal about Paul, some facts to know. He was known as Saul before he was saved by God, post conversion he was called Paul
Hebrew Culture - Paul was a Hebrew by birth and a Pharisee by choice. He studied the Mosiac Law under Gamaliel, one of the leading Jewish leaders of the day. Paul (Saul) before conversion to Christ gained the reputation of being a student and teacher of the Law. He passionately loved his people, their customs, their traditions and their beliefs. He hated Christians and the Christian Church and sought to imprison and kill all Christians vigorously.
Understood Gentile Culture - Paul also knew the Gentile world. He was born in the Gentile city of Tarsus and was a Roman citizen. He was well versed in Greek and Roman culture. Yet, being a Jew with a clear understanding of Gentile culture.
After he was touched by God, during his ministry time he wrote thirteen books - Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.
Paul’s Self Centred Life
When you read Galatians 1, Paul gives his life view of how he was and how he is transformed by Christ, this will help us learn how he was transformed from “Self Centred Life” to a “God Centred Life”
'For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. '
“For you heard of my previous life in Judaism.”
Before his conversion to Christ, Paul was a Pharisee and wholeheartedly committed to the Jewish religion of that day which was corrupt and apostate.
The Jews added many man-made traditions in the Halacha
Judaism in Paul’s time was apostate, salvation was based on good works only, concept of salvation by grace through faith thru Christ was non existent.
Paul’s previous education would in no way enable him to think up the gospel of grace through faith in Christ, for Judaism as he believed it, was opposed to the liberty of the gospel.
“How intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.”
Paul had such zeal for Judaism that he persecuted Christians in the name of God, being fully persuaded he was doing God’s will. He went from house to house in Jerusalem, seizing any Christians he could find, dragging them to prison (Acts 8:3 “But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.”).
Paul even voted for the death of Christians (Acts 26:10 “And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.”). He was determined to destroy the church and wipe it off the face of the earth.
“I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.”
Paul, in his fanatical zeal for Judaism”was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers” , he was better acquainted with Judaism than most men of his day.
Paul was in no mental or emotional state to change his mind about Christianity. So deeply was he brainwashed with Jewish traditions that no conditioned reflex or other psychological devices could convert him to Christ.
Paul’s God Centred Life
After God touched him, he describes his transformation
'But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased ' Galatians 1:15
“But when God, who set me apart from birth.”
Paul talks about what God did for him at his conversion. God intervened into Paul’s life in a supernatural way so as to change the whole course of his life.
God’s dealings with Paul here are related to God’s eternal plan that he had which none of us as humans can understand. God with his grace, overruled Paul’s Jewish background, education, fanaticism and blindness to Christ.
Paul was an extra difficult nut to crack, God choose him to do that its impossible for what man can accomplish.
Paul could only explain his conversion by tracing it back to God’s sovereign purposes. At birth, or even while he was still in his mother’s womb, God set him apart to salvation and apostleship. Before Paul made any human choices, God had a plan for his life.
When he means “set apart” it means “to, put a boundary around” or “to mark out.” From God’s standpoint, Paul’s whole life was marked out from the moment of his birth that his conversion and apostleship were planned by God.
“And called me by his grace”
God’s predestined plan gave the grace of God that called Paul to salvation and to his apostleship. Paul in his pre-conversion state deserved nothing from God. He was an enemy of God, Christ and Christians. He neither deserved grace nor asked for it.
Yet grace found him and saved him. Paul’s conversion was supernatural from beginning to the ending ('As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” ' Acts 9:3-6)
Paul had no problem understanding the grace of God after he was touched by God ('But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. ' ) 1 Corinthians 15:10
Paul gives a brief history of his first 14 years of ministry after his conversion to show that this was impossible.
'I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus. Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days. ' Galatians 1:17-18
In this three years of solitude, Paul was learning the gospel of grace from Christ. In this time of seclusion, he meditated on the Old Testament scriptures, on the life and death of Christ and on the experiences of his conversion. He was forming a new theology, for all his learning of the past about works had been shattered by his new discovery of grace. He had been steeped in law, legalism and good works for salvation and it took teaching by Christ Himself to change his mind.
After three years, Paul finally went to Jerusalem, but his stay was only for fifteen days and he saw only two of the apostles. For the next ten years, Paul ministered in the areas of Syria and Cilicia and had no contact with any of the Apostles from Jerusalem. He was completely isolated from the Jerusalem Church. Therefore, his message could not have come from any person in the Jerusalem area other than the holy spirit guiding him and leading him from one place to place.
Paul’s ministry for the first fourteen years was not very significant in the eyes of men, but God was using these years to train and teach this man many things about grace and life. Paul’s main ministry came when he was about forty five years old, and he would be used mightily because God had taught him much in the school of hard knocks.
Lessons we can learn from Paul’s life
God’s super natural touch can transform any tough and hard person.
Once God touched, Legalistic values Gone
Paul was converted to Christ and given his appointment of apostle, he broke completely with all his Jewish background, traditions and religion. When he made this break, it cost him everything in the Hebrew culture: fame, power, influence, wealth.
As Christians, we often have to break with our pagan or religious-works past which was not Christ like. It is never easy to make this break, but it is necessary if we are to be effective for Christ.
Grace bestowed to us But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. ' 1 Corinthians 15:10
God’s grace washed him and transformed him, every day he valued the Grace that was given to him and he references God’s grace thru which he was guided in every day life.
Grace given to us came as a result of Jesus Victory on the Cross, it is so much valuable that cannot be found on the earth, but we treat grace of God so lightly and take it easy.
Effective Ministry - Before any Christian can have an effective ministry, he must spend time learning the gospel of grace.
Grace is the key to really understanding and appreciating salvation and is the great motivator for service for Christ.
Since God took three years to teach Paul the doctrines of grace, how can we justify putting up new converts as elders, deacons, preachers and teachers? It takes time to be an effective instrument of grace.
I am not sure what situations you are in life, Ask Jesus to help you come and transform. once he comes ,all the transformation will happen and old will be gone. The good news is it’s the same Jesus who is alive and well, to touch you and me like how he did for Paul.
Comments