The Apostle Paul

The gospel of grace

Tonight we talk about the gospel!

Yes, I know, we are supposed to be talking about Paul – and we are, but how can you talk about Paul and not demonstrate what the gospel of grace really is.

Perhaps the best example of the revelation that Paul was given of “salvation by grace – not by works, but unto good works,” is his own life...

In a way, Paul has become sort of a household fixture..Some of his sayings are so common they are almost cliché’

Like the battle cries,

“to live is Crist, to die is gain”

or, “I count all lost for the Excellency of knowing Him…”

But I like this one better, “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought

as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. (1Co 13:11)

Imaging with me, Paul’s frame of mind

as we look back down the tunnel of time

and consider his life from the beginning;

After being just a boy between 10 and 13, he was sent away from his family, down the river along the coast, then a 2-day journey on horse to a strange new town – Jerusalem, to study a (failed and compromising) system of works for 6 years under the best teacher at the best school,

After coming back home, top of his class, as a Pharisee of Pharisees, Jew of Jews, even a zealous persecutor of the Christians who would die for a hope he didn’t have...

Php 3:5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, [of] the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a

Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were

gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

After being knocked off his “high-horse” to the ground on the road to Damascus Blinded by the pure light of the truth, (Acts 9:3-9)... such a revelation to him he became instead, “the chief of sinners.”

(1 tim 1:15, 1 cor 15:9)

After counting the cost of

following Christ; the rod 3 times, given 39 stripes 5 times, 3 shipwrecks, being stoned and left for dead, in perils and pain, weary, hungry, cold and naked... but now glorying in his infirmities (2 cor 1:22-30)

After having learning to be content

(phil 4:11-13) and now calling being, “troubled, perplexed, Persecuted, cast down, always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body” a light, momentary affliction...

After letting go of all his amazing accomplishments and position in the Jewish works based system with its works-based self-esteem, he says, (knowing both sides of the coin,) “I count it all loss for the excellency of knowing him”- the intimate communion of, and conformity to the impossible knowing of the infinite knowledge, and the possessing of – even being possessed by, the great All in All –

After realizing that the only hope any of us has is “Christ in us the hope of glory” and that this is indeed something that will one day be fully realized when we finally see him as He is because we will finally be like him...

After all this, He says of suffering, (I) “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: (Col 1:24)

And of pressing on “...but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil 3:12-14)

Is he not also an example to follow?

1st Cor 4:16, Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me, as I also am of Christ.

1st Cor 11:1 Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.

Who is Paul? The historical timeline• Born between 1-4 AD• Paul was from the city of Tarsus in Cilicia, now Southern Turkey. • (Acts 21:39) It was a great city with its great university and intellectual

climate, leading even Athens as a center for philosophy. • It was a multicultural cosmopolitan metropolis. • The river cydunus ran through it out to the coast of Palestine.

• His parents were religious Jews, and also roman citizens • From the tribe of Benjamin • Meaning of the "Son of the Right hand" Barnes notes explains "The right hand

is the seat of power• In the divided kingdom, god gave one tribe to David – that tribe was

Benjamin

• Paul’s father was a Pharisee• Paul himself was born a Roman citizen, (Acts 22:28)

• He was schooled by Gamaliel in Jerusalem at the Hillel school. • Acts 22:3 , 26:4• Probably at 10-13yrs of age in 14AD• Acts 5:34-35 Gamaliel advised the Sadducees to leave peter and the other

apostles alone.• Paul returned home after perhaps 6 years of school to learn a trade

• Paul’s trade was as a tent maker. Acts, 18:Z• He remained home until he was 30 when he returned to Jerusalem at the

bidding of Barnabas whom he had met 10yrs earlier. This was the beginning of Paul’s ministry

• He aspired to be a Sadducee • and was probably married as having a son was a requirement.

• He was a Pharisee and son of a Pharisee. • Acts 23:6, Phil 3:4-6 (in 32)

• And a persecutor of the church. (School days) • Acts 6-7, 8:1-3, phil3:6 (Jn 33-34?) Acts 8:1-3, 9:1-2, 26:9-13

• Until he had a very dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus. • Acts 9:1-19, gal 1 (in 34?)

• He was then an Apostle. • Rom 1:1, gal 1:16, 1Ccor 15:4-9, act 9:6-19,

• He was sent to the to the gentiles • Act 9:15

• For 14yrs he was discipled. • 35-45AD not much is known

• He also learned his great revelations from God, not man • Gal 1:11-16

• Brought into active ministry and discipled by Barnabas. • Acts 11:26. In 46 AD?

• He was at the council of Jerusalem in 48 AD to resolve the gentile requirements within the new church

Paul’s conversion; Acts has 3 accounts. Acts 9, 22, 26Rom 1:5; 1st Cor 5:8; 1st Cor 9:1; 2nd Cor 4:6; Gal 1:12-17; Phil 3:12As 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.”The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 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. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.—Acts 9:3–9, NIV

Paul’s revelationsThat Christ was risen and lord of all

In the epistles, the term, “Jesus” is used 17 times, But, “Lord” is used 146, plus 97 more if counting proper names

It wasn’t only a designation of authority, AND function, Or an acknowledgement, but a proper name. 1 Cor 8:4-6, 1 Cor 12:4-6, 2 Cor 13:14 trinity.

Grace, not works • Gal 2:21, if righteousness is by the law, Christ died in vain.• Gal 5:4 if justified by law, Christ is of no effect, you have fallen from grace.• Eph 2:5-10 saved by grace, through faith, not works – you can’t boast!• 2 tim 1:9 saved and called by grace, not works.

The mystery of the church• Eph 1:8-10, He made known to us the mystery that all are gathered into one• Eph 3:3-4,9 the mystery made known to me that I should make all men see• Eph 5:32, that marriage was an unknown picture of the church since creation• Eph 6:19, pray for me to speak boldly the mystery of the church• Col 1:25-27, I am made a minister of the mystery, unto gentiles, that the

hope of Glory is Christ in you• Col 4:3 pray that God would open a door for the mystery –for which I am in

bonds

Grace and Church was for all men, gentiles too

• Rom 11:11-31 – gentiles grafted in• Eph 3:4-6 the mystery, revealed by the Spirit, that Gentiles were co-heirs• Eph 1:10 that all are gathered into one, in Christ• Gal 3:28, Col 3:11, Rom 10:12 no Greek/Jew, circumcised/not

circumcised

Eph 1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; [even] in him:

That he was the chosen vessel to bring this revelation to the gentiles• Acts 9:15, Chosen unto God to bear Gods name to gentiles• Acts 26:16-18, I appeared to thee to make thee a minister... sent to the

gentiles• Rom 1:5, we received grace and apostleship to call nations unto obedience• 1 Cor 11:23 a minister of Christ – at great cost• Gal 1:6-12 preaching of true gospel from God. v16 separated by God to

preach to heathen• Eph 3:7 made a minister of gospel to gentiles• 2nd Ti 1:11 I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the

Gentiles.

That he was the chosen vessel to bring this revelation to the gentiles• Act 13:45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled

with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, [saying], I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

That he was to establish the church(s)

in form and function, • Gal 1:8, accursed is anyone preaches another gospel than ours, which we got

from God• 1 Cor 3:10 the master builder of the church • Tit 1:5 “Set in order things wanting – ordain elders”• 1st Tim 3:14 that you know how to behave in the household of God

1Ti 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

Paul’s calling

Eph. 3:8-12: To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.(NKJV_

Paul’s calling

Consider again the nature of Paul’s upbringing. He was top of his class in everything, ethnically, religiously, academically… His zeal to persecute the threat to all he believed and hoped in led him to consent to the death of many Christians, particularly Stephen. And now he is called to preach Christ as the messiah and to establish His church – the very people he had tried to stomp out – talk about unmerited favor. No wonder He called himself “chief of sinners” and was so constrained to live and die for the Lord

After his conversion he is, “Paul, the Apostle”

Vines- one sent forth. Strong’s – “set apart” An ambassador of the gospel, commissioner of Christ, messenger- he that is sent

Interestingly, all but 3 of Paul’s books (Philippians, Philemon, Hebrews) begin verse one with Paul identifying himself as, “an apostle of/by the will of Jesus Christ)

Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 2nd Ti 1:11

The cost / the preparation for his calling - Hardships and suffering

Shipwrecked at least 3 times 2 cor 11:25, acts 27Five times whipped with 39 stripesThree times with the rodOnce stoned and left for deadHe “Learned” contentment through sufferingA Roman prisoner for nearly 6 years total in 3 separate occasionsEventually beheaded

Paul’s three missionary journeys, and books he wrote along the way

1. In 47-49 or 45-47 Acts 13:4 -14:28 1.separated out, and sent with Barnabas and John Mark2.Cypress Asia Minor, S. Galatia 3.Possibly wrote Galatians from Antioch

2. In 50-53 Acts 15:36-18:22: 1.Asia miner, Corinth, Macedonia, Ephesus Achaia, Greece - with Silas2.Wrote 1-2 Thess from Corinth

3. In 53-57 Acts 18:23-21:15; 1.S. Galatis, coastal Asia, Macedonia, Achaia, Greece2.Wrote 1 Cor from Eph, 2 Cor from Macedonia, Gal from Eph, Romans from Corinth

4.Perhaps Paul made it to Spain also? 1.Rom 1:10; 15:24, 28; 16:1,3,5 ?

Paul’s 13 books; in generally 3 groups

(early, mid, late)“Early” church letters –

establish doctrine – (fix doctrinal error and deal with sin)

•Gal - 47-50 or 55 – from Antioch, or from Ephesus•1-2 Thess - 52-53 - from Corinth•1st Cor – 57 - from Ephesus•2nd Cor - 57 – from Macedonia•Rom - 57-58 – from Corinth

“Mid” Prison letters – (establish churches and their eternal purpose)•Philippians, Colossians. Ephesians, Philemon 62-63 –

• from house arrest in Rome after two years in the cesarean prison• (prison letters delivered by tychicus, slave onesimus of philemon from colose’)

“Late” pastoral epistle (to individuals)•1 Tim – 65 – from Macedonia while free from jail•Titus – 65 – from Macedonia•2 Tim – 66 – from Rome•Heb - 67 to Hebrews in

• Some of late question Paul’s authorship of Hebrews – clement of Rome did not• Hebrews 13:24 those in Italy greet you (62-63, or 67)• 2nd Tim 4:6 my time of departure is at hand.• Heb (like Col) is about the supremacy of Christ in all, but written to a Jewish audience

3 or 4 imprisonments (total 5-6yrs)There was a short incident in the Philippians jail with Silas late 49 Acts 16:16-34

In 58-60AD cesarea in Judea, saved from a temple riot by a guard – Acts 21:15-26:32• 2 yrs here before he appeals to Caesar• Appeals to Caesar and taken to Rome, but shipwreck and bit by a snake

61-63AD Roman prison/house arrest Act 27-28:30• Prison letters written during this time in Rome• Acquitted and set free in 63

67AD Roman prison 67 – beheaded by Nero• 1st and 2nd Tim written from Rome, before his last imprisonment and death• Wrote Hebrews from Rome in 64-65 after 1st prison, or 67 in last prison-context of during great

persecution

Note: Jerusalem sacked in 70AD

Paul’s missionary strategy:

10 Stages, and 3 phases• Missionaries commissioned - Acts 13:1; 15:39-40

• Audience contacted – Acts 13:14-16; 14:1; 16:13-5• Gospel Communicated – Acts 13:17-41; 16:31• Hearers Converted – Acts 13:48; 16:14 - 15• Believers Congregated - Acts 13:43• Faith Confirmed – Acts 14:21-22; 15:41• Leadership Consecrated – Acts 14:23 • Believers commended - Acts 14:23; 16:40• Relationships Continued – Acts 15:36; 18:23• Sending Churches Convened – Acts 14:26-27; 15:1-4

Three Phases of Paul's mission strategy:

It is not an absolute pattern that is cut-n-dried and executed from step to step, but with careful observation, especially understanding Paul’s calling, we can see a shifting of gears through the years as Paul fulfills his ministry.

1st phase - forming churches (missionary trips / early letters)•Preach the gospel message in a big busy place•Gather elect professors into “a church” and teach them doctrine until they fully understand the gospel and its implications.•Leave someone competent in charge and move on to repeat the forming of churches•While in a new place repeating the pattern, reach back and further “establish” the churches in sound doctrine•This is where he began to write letters (2nd and 3rd missionary journeys)

Other details:• Paul targeted major metropolises. All his key church plants were on a Roman

road or a sea port. These were in “multi-national cities. The strategy was to preach the gospel in the most public place with the most diverse traffic – thus creating potential missionaries of those who were saved then went back home, either to the country side, or even back to their own country.

• Also – He preached in the synagogues first – to the Jews first. Again, there were Jews, but also many gentile proselytes, and also other “god fears.” These were people who had an understanding of “one God”, and a sense of reverence... Paul targeted both the largest and the broadest of these audiences that he could find for the initial evangelistic casting of the net...

• After the Jews kicked him out of the synagogues, he went to natural and neutral place, homes or renting a hall. The home strategy was a very big deal. Most early churches were in homes, and involved “whole households –intact and in order”. Very powerful. Also, when a newly converted family was converted and a church gathered in their homes with Paul teaching (daily) can you imagine the initial impact of such an immersion of both doctrine and life?

This is Paul’s frame of reference for the biblical effective churchianity... I.e. Ephesians 4

• Paul always developed a team in both spirit and in function – no lone ranger Christians or missionaries. He also brought young disciples with him on his rips, sometimes keeping them alongside for years until planting them somewhere strategic. Again, this is a pattern for biblical church discipleship and ministry

• After teaching the foundational truths and making sure there was some type of mature leadership he would move on, but always remaining in contact, writing letters, are turning, and sending others. He never let them flounder alone unattended.

2nd phase – establishing churches in the gospel (prison letters)• Expounding on the finished work gospel of grace• Correcting doctrinal errors (gal)• Dealing with sin (cor)

3rd phase- establishing “house order” in the churches (pastoral letters)• Leadership• Codes of conduct• Missionary mindset find those who will find others

And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men,

who shall be able to teach others also. 2Ti 2:2

A few questions to take home;• Is this type of missionary strategy normative? • Is it what we have now? • Are our present results the same? • Is there a connection?

• Are these type of “house churches” legitimate still? What about the big expert led - corporate types we now have, • are they valid?• effective?

• If Paul came and set up another church today, in our culture, do you think he would do anything differently than what he did “back in the day”?

If I can show an eternal principle based on God’s design and His purpose, with explicit commands in scripture, and positive examples, and you can refute it, is it morally binding?

Are Paul’s missionary methods “normative”?• How do we differentiate between culture and principle?• How do we determine if/when culture is “unchristian?

About Ephesians;Paul was given to the church to reveal, both in teaching and in example, the reality of Christ in us – the hope of glory, that salvation could not come by the law, but only by grace, and through faith. This faith brought us in to the church where neither Greek nor Jewish background mattered – just Christ crucified; that this new life in us, and to which we are called, is to be developed in the context of the body that we have become and been adopted into, and its life- nurturing relationships, the fullness of Christ that is in and among us.

Ephesians is the foundational statement of this reality (1- 3), and of its expression from the church to the family (4-6)...

Given to us by Paul, who would know.

About Paul and his exampleSaul, as the one with the best “Grade AAA Christian flesh” becomes Paul, “the chief of sinners”, teaching Grace alone, NOT works... He was given to us to usher in the new covenant with its provisional centerpiece, the church of God in Christ. (that’s us, folks)Could God give us a more clear example of what salvation is really all about than the life and teaching of Paul?

Christ was a picture of who God was to us. Paul is a picture of what this means and looks like in application

2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8 [We are] troubled on every side, yet not distressed; [we are] perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you. 13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; 14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present [us] with you. 15 For all things [are] for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward [man] is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding [and] eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen [are] temporal; but the things which are not seen [are] eternal.

Php 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.