Faith Journey on Paul

Meanwhile in Jerusalem... Chapter 5, Part 2 of 2
The Sanhedrin, the chief judicial council, finally decided that Christ would die because the people were believing in Him and following Him. John 11:45 says, "Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him." This disturbed the council because they were afraid this following would spread and ultimately they would lose their position within Roman rule.

In 48 we read, "If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation."

And, based on their pattern of leading and controlling it is evident that it was their place more than their nation for which they were most concerned. I wonder too, if their style of leading was influenced by the current Roman rule and naturally their selfishness satisfied Roman authority. Perhaps the Sanhedrin's form of religiously oppressing their peoples satisfied Roman authority because it maintained "peace" while the Romans continued to seek their own agendas. These Jewish leaders own selfishness and passion for power did not contradict the greater greed that was occurring within the spread of the Roman Empire.

And then we see prophecy fulfill itself through the words of the high priest, Caiaphas. The sovereignty of God is incredibly demonstrated when those who oppose Him most, are used to carry out His plan. In the mind of the high priest he thought he was issuing his own decision within his own power and position, when he determined that these acts of Christ were reason for death. And with this decision, the chief priests and Pharisees set out to kill Him. How little did they know that the will of God was being executed that day and they, in their blind and self-consumed ways, were being used by the hands of their creator. John 11:50 records the words of Caiaphas, the high priest, it is better “that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”

These may have been the ideas of the chief priests or the pharisees, but we know the Father ordains all things. This was what God allowed. Unfortunately for them, they were the ones who carried out the direct plans. And while I, too, have participated in this execution process each time I choose to abdicate my responsibility to His work and His way of doing things, I can’t help but thank Him for keeping my heart from hardening. And I passionately pray that I will surrender anew to Him, and that when I become selfishly consumed in my agenda and my fears that I will surrender those habits of my heart onto the altar so that I would be known as a woman who loved her God.

Next these Pharisees were reaching their goal as we read the full account in John 18 and 19. They, by night because they were afraid of the crowds, brought him to Pilate, the Roman governor. They proceed through a series of mock trials in order to have him crucified, the most horrific means of death at that time in history. And to reinforce their hypocrisy they waited outside the palace so that they would remain ceremonially clean and would be allowed to partake in the Passover.

These teachers and peers of Saul were threatened by Christ because of their fear that He would take over their positions and power. Yet the irony that seems hard to grasp is humbling. For had their eyes been open and their hearts prepared would they have truly crucified the long-awaited Messiah that they had so passionately... studied versus loved. Perhaps somewhere it became only a scholarly search, an indulging of the mind versus a genuine heart search. We mustn't underestimate the grip and voracious pursuit of our enemy, Satan, and how he will use our self-interest to drive us away from a relationship with the Father.

The Lamb of God was sacrificed. John 19:30 reads, When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. It was at that moment when the climax of history had been reached. Here we see how the work of the cross was accomplished when he was resurrected.

In Luke 24:1-6, it says 1On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6He is not here; he has risen!" Salvation or justification was finished.

Yet, it is there at the cross that we often tend to hang out and struggle with fleshly indulgences versus vehemently seeking to surrender these temporal passions. We must move to the empty tomb and recognize the power that is ours to be embraced. For we are called to be holy as he is holy.

In fact Philippians 1:6 says, 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. He began the good work and now we wait, work, and watch for Him to return. And, it is this work that we must embrace. In the sense that we seek to be found as workman worthy of our calling we must work, not for the purpose of redemption. For that work of redemption is truly complete. Rather the process of sanctification is becoming like minded with Him and reflective of Him in a worshipful pursuit.

Passion and devotion is worthy of our efforts. We, too, must like Saul allow Him to change us from the inside-out. In future chapters, we will see how Saul did just that. So that ultimately we ensure that our devotions remain uncompromising to the cross and its redemption, the resurrection and its power, and finally His return and its finality.

Do you know whose you are? And, do those around you know as well?

Faith Journey on Paul

Meanwhile in Jerusalem... Chapter 5, Part 1 of 2
In Chapter 5 of To Live As Christ, Beth Moore moves from how the Jewish traditions and law strangled to where we see what was actually occurring in Jerusalem while Christ was there. Remember Saul, perhaps, had returned to Tarsus while Jesus was engaging with the religious zealots. Specifically, she looks at three groups: Herodians, Sadducees, and Pharisees.

The Herodians were said to have been influential, supported Herod, and endorsed his interest in Greek life. The Sadducees were a small group of wealthy Jews who didn't believe in angels and later didn't believe in the Resurrection. And, then the Pharisees were the largest of the groups, who led in the synagogues, and were extremely religiously conservative.

John the Baptist was the first to begin shaking up the world of these zealots. For, he was the one who was out preaching and paving the way for the Messiah. Who was this guy that was distracting their followers and professing 11"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." Matthew 3:11

In their hearts they were not listening to John's heed, perhaps too caught up in themselves and their "calling" that they missed out on the Messiah whom they had studied. Instead of their hearts, it had all stopped in their heads. According to verse 30 it says"But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John." Luke 7:30
Oh, Lord how convicting we get so caught up in our "calling" that we don't see You and the sheep you've called us to feed.

And, then Jesus came. If John didn't rock their boat enough, the Son of God steps into history. Their hard, proud, self-righteous hearts did not see Him. In the flesh, yes. But, their hearts would not receive Him. Granted, he did not gloss things over. He said it like it was. And they weren't willing to listen, let the Great Physician step in, and undergo the heart surgery necessary that would determine their destiny. Could He be standing before you and me today, reaching out to draw us to the altar?

Nicodemus represented those Pharisees who secretly believed. John 3:2 says, "He came to Jesus at night and said, 'Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." And, we see that others too, along with Nicodemus, were cautious in their faith. In John 12:42 it says,"Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue." And because of their fear of man they silently witnessed "the biggest miscarriage of justice ever known to man." So, here we see within this group of Pharisees that Paul had studied amongst, some who were controlled by fear and others who were controlled by jealousy and pride.

Faith Journey on Paul

Continuing in the Beth Moore study of “To Live as Christ,” I read in chapter four and restate in the following narrative how the Pharisees were Strangled by the Law.

“If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;…as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.” (Philippians 3:4-6) Saul, though a contemporary of Jesus, probably completed his education in Jerusalem and then headed back to Tarsus for a time as Teacher of the Law, while John the Baptist was “preparing the way” for Christ who would have taught in the same assemblies where Saul had been.

And, while teaching there, Jesus would have stood before many who influenced Paul. Though he experienced such positive influences as the renowned and godly Gamaliel, unfortunately the Pharisees and the members of the Sanhedrin, those whom Christ had confronted, would have been among Saul’s instructors and classmates. The Pharisees, originally were referred to as those of genuine piety and devotion to God and while exceptions did exist amongst the religious group, moreover they had already become more accurately perceived for hypocrisy and cynicism.

From Matthew 23, Beth shared what this hypocrisy looked like. In verse four, their behavior was demanding more from others than they expected from themselves. Next, in verse five, there religious actions were insincere and were used to impress those around them. In verse six, we learn how they loved to be the center of attention. Then, in verse thirteen their hypocrisy would keep them from entering the kingdom and how they sought to prevent others from entering as well.

In summary true, godly people will courageously seek the spotlight that reveals their weaknesses, their sin. This light like a laser performing heart surgery will probe but will also strengthen those who demonstrate such humility. And just when one is tempted to pull back because of their own striking resemblance to the Pharisee, we read in Matthew 23:37 Jesus’ cry to draw back even those whose sin is self-righteousness. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing”. We see his love for them in spite of their sin. As it says in Romans 5:8, “while we were yet sinners, He died for us,” and in Ephesians 3:18 we are asked whether we will ever be able “to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.”

Beth reflects that perhaps, Saul began with innocence from his upbringing in Tarsus and upon arriving in Jerusalem. He was not naive in the sense of worldliness for he was raised in the heart of a secular, Roman society. Rather, perhaps he was innocent of the hypocritical, religious frauds that he would grow to emulate. And, the law that soon became his god came from removing the love from obedience.

And, then we learn about the concept of "identity boundaries" where we as humans cloister together separating ourselves from those who are different. The Pharisees had become so focused on their own agendas that they had forgotten their main objective, to love and worship God.

It is for this reason that caused Saul so much misery. He had passionately become a persecutor of the church. I can’t help but to think of times when the church, the human element, fails; and there is reason to passionately pursue change. But to persecute… to tear down, rather than to dive in, surrendering our own pride, and love one another, spur on one another, confront graciously and assertively; and ultimately to seek joy, peace, and His lost sheep for the kingdom. Perhaps, one of Satan’s greatest feats is when he distracts us as Christians by dividing us so that we are ineffective for the primary purpose of building up the kingdom. We know he was miserable from what we read in Philippians 4:6 when he followed the law without fault.

The Jewish people, with their daily and Sabbath rituals, were “strangled by the law.” According to Isaiah 29:13, “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.” And, again before we allow ourselves to become crippled by our own inadequacies and similarities, thus resembling “modern-day Pharisees;” let us hear His cry “to give us hearts of devotion, not heads full of religion.”

Faith Journey on Paul

Chapter 3 At the Feet of Gamaliel

Continuing through the Beth Moore study of the life of Paul, I learned about how he grew in his training at the feet of Gamaliel.

His father, wanting to give Paul the best education, would have continued his education by sending him to Jerusalem which was the center of Jewish learning.

Paul said: Acts 22: 3"I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today."

Romans 16:13 is the only mention we know of a maternal figure in Paul's life. 13Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.

Paul grew up in a Gentile city and would have witnessed the actual division between both the Gentiles and the Jews. A wall prevented the "defiling heathen" from entering the inner sanctuary. Such prejudice must have angered Paul later when he spoke against the division as we see in Ephesians 2:14, "For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility...."

It was in Jerusalem that Paul studied under Gamaliel, an esteemed teacher and rabbi and the grandson of the "great" Hillel. While many of the pharisee's fell short of knowing the spirit of the law, much of Hillel's teachings were consistent with what Christ taught. For example: "Judge not thy neighbour until thou art in his place; ....what is unpleasant to thyself that do not to thy neighbour; this is the whole Law, all else is but its exposition."

Gamaliel was so well honored that he was referred to as "the beauty of the law." One thousand students attended the rabbinical college while Saul/Paul studied in Jerusalem. Consider the intensity of such a passage as Galatians 1:15 "But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace." Only He, God, in all His power could orchestrate the timing of such paths crossing as both Gamaliel and Paul. For Paul would surely need such an influence of grace as this teacher. Through Gamaliel the seed was watered though it would not be harvested until many years later, and after so much pain! In such as the latter, God's timing continues to be a mystery though perhaps it is a historical replay of how pride shows itself before the fall.

"Gamaliel was clearly a remarkable man-the first to whom the title Rabban (Master) was given." And, we see in Acts 5:38-40 how Paul was influenced by Gamaliel's passion,
38 "Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God. 40His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go."

1 Corinthians 8:1-3, "We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. 3But the man who loves God is known by God." Though it took many years before Paul came to this understanding, we too ought to seek not only knowledge, but love. And, "Let every study of the Word of God increase your love for the divine Author!"

*Quotes from and summary of, To Live as Christ by Beth Moore

Faith Journey on Paul

Continuing in my reading of Beth Moore's To Live As Christ, my curiosity remains peaked of the lives these Pharisee's led. No doubt, the temptation to grow in knowledge outside of the authority of the Holy Spirit can lead to an arrogant, self-righteous attitude, behavior, and character.

Ch. 2 The Childhood of a Pharisee's Son
Proverbs 22:6 "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." This passage was passionately executed by the Hebrew father in particular. It embodied one of the sternest commands of God's Law.

Philippians 3:5 gives us a peak into the childhood of Paul, himself, when he says "5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee." Nothing but a Hebrew worldview would have influenced him. He was sheltered in the utmost respect. According to The Code of Jewish Law it was the fathers responsibility to train in the practice of all precepts (Biblical or Rabbinical) and to guard their children from any "forbidden act."

The temptation to attach a negative connotation to the name Pharisee should be moderated. As the Christian is often perceived negatively because of those who have distorted its true identity, the Pharisees have come to be known as religious, proud, and hypocritical. In a noble sense they were passionate in their religious life, austere in ideals, and sought to be holy in life.

Paul warns the passionate follower also to be cautious in Ephesians 6:4 "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."
Perhaps when the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write these words, He used Paul specifically because of his own experience or observations of those around him. Though the Code of Jewish Law condemned overt harshness to children and the Jewish parents saw their children as the greatest of all blessings, the temptation must have been amongst those who sought to showcase their families and children as "godly" and upright.

Children were taught to properly speak prepared responses at the synagogue and to say the Schmone-Ezre (primary prayers of the Jews spoken in the morning, noon, and evening.) They were trained to ask traditional questions during orthodox Jewish Passover celebrations prompting the father to teach them the rich history of Israel's exodus from slavery. They read scripture by five years old, began education at the school of the rabbi by six years old, memorized Deuteronomy 6:4-9 by six, and then Psalm 113-118. By ten years old a Jewish son knew the intricacies of the oral law, steeped and stretched with constant memorization. Between 10-13, a transforming time for any boy, was a true metamorphosis in a Jewish boys life. For by 13, he was considered a son of the law.

The wearing of phylacteries, tefillin, was a practice amongst the most orthodox of Jews. Each morning he would wear these two black leather cubes with long leather straps. One would be worn on his left arm facing his heart and the other was placed in the center of his forehead. The straps on his arm were wound exactly seven times around his arm. The cubes had specific passages from the Torah written on strips of parchment. While these practices may seem strange, they do reflect a passionate attempt to literally interpret the scripture.

An annual observance of the Feast of Unleavened Bread is referred to in Exodus 13:9 "This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that the law of the LORD is to be on your lips. For the LORD brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand." Here we see how the avid Hebrew was seeking to obediently follow such commands. And while "we don't practice the outward expression, we would be wise to share the inward principle."

It seems we, as humans, have an innate desire to passionately approach life with traditions and customs, and seeking ways of expressing our heritage and origin. We long to express ourselves to our "Creator." Though a contradiction can come when we compromise the demonstration of the love of that Creator. Throughout the history of the Hebrews we see God's continuous display of compassion, forgiveness, and love. And this drive of many Pharisees to know the Law of their God fell short when they neglected to know and display the Love of this same God.

Hebrew was not just a religion. Judaism was not just a way of life. It, all, defined who you were, how you thought, and what you felt.

Faith Journey on Paul

I have begun a reading separate from my scripture time that takes a look at the life of the apostle Paul. To Live As Christ written by Beth Moore has already begun to draw more of my thoughts toward who Saul was as the legalistic, zealous pharisee and then Paul, the incredibly passionate apostle of Christ.
Below, five passages gives some origin to his faith journey. Specifically, we see a description of his former self, his destiny from birth, his circumcision distinguishing his devotion to the law, his testimony as a Pharisee and the son of a Pharisee, and then his family's devotion demonstrated by the parchment at the doorpost.

First...
Paul affirms the description of his former self in Philippians 3:5-6...
5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

Second...
Saul is "set apart from birth." Born into an orthodox Jewish home, steeped in tradition, and raised by the letter of the law Saul was the product of a first century Jewish family. Yet, God from the beginning had a plan for Paul. And, nothing would thwart it.

In Galatians 1:15-16 Paul affirms this designation...

15"But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased 16to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man,"
And, somehow I have little trouble believing that Paul "did not consult any man." He never seems as one who moves with the tide of men.

Third...
Paul's circumcision, when he was eight days old, was a sign of the covenant that had been made between Abraham, his descendants, and God.
The covenant that distinguishes his devotion to the Jewish law is recorded in Genesis 17:1-11.

The Covenant of Circumcision

1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless. 2 I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers."

3 Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, 4 "As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. 5 No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. 7 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 8 The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God."

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. 11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.

They knew the Word of Jehovah and they executed it precisely.

Fourth in Acts 23:6 he identifies himself as a Pharisee and the son of a Pharisee.

6Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, "My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead."

This testimony would have been something to observe. Most specifically the expressions on the faces of Sadducees and the Pharisees since many of the Sadduccees were the ones to believe in the resurrection. Here is Paul, a prominent Pharisee, testifying on behalf of the Resurrection.

Fifth...
His family would have prominently displayed the watchwords of the Jewish faith at their doorpost.

These were those watchwords.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Deuteronomy 6:13-21
13 Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. 14 Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; 15 for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land. 16 Do not test the LORD your God as you did at Massah. 17 Be sure to keep the commands of the LORD your God and the stipulations and decrees he has given you. 18 Do what is right and good in the LORD's sight, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land that the LORD promised on oath to your forefathers, 19 thrusting out all your enemies before you, as the LORD said.
20 In the future, when your son asks you, "What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the LORD our God has commanded you?" 21 tell him: "We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt,
but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.

Three priorities of the devout Jew would have included: study of the Torah, marriage, and performance of good deeds.

Each of these five passages give perspective to who Paul was, and though he held back the message of the Gospel from being spread for a time, ultimately God in his omniscience orchestrated it all for his own purposes.