Who is Paul the Apostle?
His calling
I welcome and bless you who are here to worship Holy God. During this month, I would like to share about the apostle Paul.
Let’s read together Galatians1
13 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. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother's womb and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles.
After Jesus’s death, His disciple and Apostle Paul spread the Gospel rapidly.
How did small-town Jewish belief spread from Asia, Greece, Rome, Africa,and the world? We may understand the reason if we know more about Paul and the early church.
After Jesus's ascend, "CHRISTIANITY, at first, was preached by Jews to Jews, as a reformed Judaism." And also, The Gospel has a lot of obstacles to reaching outside of Israel to gentile universe.
First, Bible says that man has to circumcise when they believe.
Genesis 17.
9 Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. 10 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised.
Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin.
How painful an experience to men as gentile people. In my case, I can't move at all during the week. I only bear the pain with the medicine. That's not easy to accept that 2,000 years ago, gentile persons. Second Submitting Mosses' law is very uncomfortable. Old Testament classifies clean food and unclean food.
Leviticus 11
1 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 2 Say to the Israelites: ‘Of all the animals that live on land, these are the ones you may eat: 3 You may eat any animal that has a divided hoof and that chews the cud.
Pigs, oysters, shrimp, and blood belong to unclean food believers must not eat. What!!! How delicious the pig was, and how brave he was to drink living deer's blood to the Masai tribe. These two rules are a huge burden to the man and woman who likes to eat meat.
But, the most solid dilemma for Greece and Roman citizens is Jew's chosen pride. Greece built a brilliant modern city and philosophical knowledge at that time. Roma, the most potent imperial country, had a sound law system and colonized Israel. So, a tiny and weak tribe, God can't choose Israel; that is nonsense.
Greece, Roma, and a powerful country cannot accept that. Can you imagine the small country Rwanda religion spread to Belgium, Germany, Europe, and the entire world?
John 1
46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?”Nathanael asked.
Even sincere Jews find it hard to admit messiah Jesus, born in very poor Nazareth, not Jerusalem. Just rural areas like Chagugu, not Kigali, for example.
How did Jesus' disciples and Jew leaders solve these problems?
I will tell you that Paul is the most critical and influential apostle in the Bible.
Who is Paul the Apostle?
He wrote 14 chapters among 27 books in the New Testament. He was born and raised wealthy family, had got a high education learned a lot and also got a Roman Citizenship.
Let's see Acts 22
3 "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.
Yes, his background, his passion as a pharisee Jew for God, is something special. As you know, Jesus and Jewish religious leaders had a conflict at that time. Jewish want to preserve Judaism, but Jesus abolishes old fashion rules. Jesus heals the patients on the Sabbath, eating with a tax collector. Jews wanted their political leader to escape Roman oppression and Rebuild the outstanding Solomon's glory.
Hosanna! Hosana! once the hoorayed crowd was disappointed. Jew leaders hate Jesus' resurrection story. That is nonsense. Deadman can’t revive.
Look once again Act 22
4 I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison.
Yes, Paul can't stand Christian's nonsense Gospel, luring telling to Jews and gentile. So as a high-level Jewish leader, he approves Stone to death, Stephen.
Act 7 54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God……. 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
Yes, his other name was Saul before he met Jesus Christ.
Act 9 1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
He wants to root out the Christians to capture the believers thrown in prison or put them to death if possible. When he enters Damascus to catch the believers, a light from heaven suddenly flashes around him.
Act 9 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" 5 "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. 6 "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes, he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days, he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
Wow! Jesus Christ, almighty God's Son, appears before Saul and calls his name. Have you ever met God, Jesus, or holy spirits in your lifetime? If you experienced that, it must be a wonderful moment. If not, we must be more prayerful.
acts 9
10 In Damascus, there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered. 11 The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying….. 13 "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem 15 But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.
Jesus shows himself to sincere disciple Ananias and calls to persecutor Saul as a chosen instrument. When Saul meets Jesus, his life changes totally. God turned Saul from a killer of Christians into Paul, a lover of Christ and his people."
worship and preachingBack to Galatians1 again
13 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. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother's womb and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles.
He changed and used his talent for the glory of God. His well-educated knowledge and Roman citizenship were used very usefully. When I begin this sermon, I ask how disciples overcome their Old Testament obstacles to the new era's world people.
Look at Acts 15
1.Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." 2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them…. 7 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the Gospel and believe. 8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved……
God uses Paul's philosophical knowledge and wisdom. Peter, Paul, and Banaba work together. As a team, one body, so discovers God's wonder, hidden providence, and will for all worldwide. God calls us. Jesus calls you. Holly Spirits want to use our unique talent. If we meet God, we must change from Saul to Paul. I believe that we can be good instruments for God's glory.
I pray God's blessing and mercy be with you, believers! Hallelujah Amen!
Paul, the apostle's story, will be continued next week. I want you to read the Romans; you can get many blessings next sermon.
I meditate on this sermon with my community.
Reference: The History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russel
Why I Love the Apostle Paul by John Piper
