| What I Can Learn From . . . , Part 18: Paul |
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| Written by David Lawrence |
| Monday, January 09 2006 00:00 |
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I remember once studying Romans with a gentleman who sought to prove my beliefs false. Suffice it to say that he only confirmed them. In the course of the study he announced that Paul was not to be identified with my beliefs. He used terminology that I refrain from publishing here, but many of you can guess just exactly what he said. Well, Paul was guided by the Holy Spirit to write what he did, and his writings inform much of what I believe. Of course, the remainder is informed by what the other writers contributed, for Scripture alone should be the basis of our faith system. And I disagree with the gentleman. Paul believed in sovereign grace, and Paul authored much of what we term as the “doctrines of grace.” First, we can learn from Paul the doctrine of the radical fallenness of man. Paul labeled himself the worst of sinners and pointed out his persecution of the Church of Jesus Christ as he delivered both men and women to death (1 Tim. 1:15, Acts 22:4). It is Paul who not only writes of the fact that we are dead in sins and there is no one who does good, but it is Paul whose life of defiance of Christ and hatred of Christ and His cause exemplifies it. Second, we can learn from Paul the doctrine of election. Paul realized that he was chosen by God from before his birth to be a Christian and do the work to which God called him (Gal. 1:15). Paul not only writes about this glorious doctrine in many of his letters, but his miraculous conversion on the road to Damascus is a clear example of God calling His own. A friend of mine came quickly to accept the Biblical teaching on this subject when he admitted that he had always wondered why what was true of Paul was not also true of himself. Third, we can learn from Paul the beautiful doctrine of definite atonement or particular redemption. Paul realized that Christ died for him in a personal way (Gal. 2:20), not to make salvation a possibility, but to give Himself for Paul in love. He knew that if salvation depended on his obedience, as he writes in the next verse, Christ died for nothing. But he died for Paul. And he died for all his people. Fourth, we can learn from Paul the doctrine of the effectual calling. Paul was not disobedient to the heavenly vision (Acts 26:19), but became a believer. Immediately he addressed Jesus as “Lord” (Acts 9:5). Paul was a believer, and believers do not pursue disobedience. Paul would write much about God’s calling, such as his statement in Rom. 8:29-30 that those whom God has called he justified and glorified, but his life serves as an excellent example of one whom God effectually called. Finally, we can learn from Paul the doctrine that God preserves His own to eternal life. He wrote that nothing can ever separate us from the love of God in Christ in Rom. 8, and it is obvious that nothing did in Paul’s life. He wrote probably his last words to Timothy fully assured that he would receive the crown of life (2 Tim. 4:7-8). |
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