Character Study of Paul

Character Study of Paul

What was Paul’s definition of the Christian life? 

Paul viewed the Christian life as a holy life that was brought about by the blood of Christ alone and lived out through the Holy Spirit. He states over and over throughout his various letters that salvation does not come through works, but through faith in Christ’s work alone (Rom1:17; 6:23; 2:29; 3:27,28; Gal 1:15,16; 5:1-4; Col 1:13; 2:8-20).  He viewed the Christian life as a life that was lived in freedom through the Spirit (Rom 8:1-16 Gal 5:13-16). Yet, this life was not be lived doing whatever the individual desired. Rather, it was to be marked by the fruits of the Spirit and love for others (Gal 5:22-26; Phil 2:1-15; Col 3:12-17). That person was to live a life filled with love, which was the most important thing of all (I Cor 13-14:1; Phil 1:9; Eph 3:17-19; 5:1,2). Paul lived this out by faithfully choosing to love the people he ministered to. Despite the fact that he was often treated wrongly, he still chose to love people through speaking the truth to them, praying for them and encouraging them in the Lord (Acts 14:1,5-7,19-22; II Cor 6:11-13; II Cor 12:15; Eph 1:15-20; Phil 1:3-5; 3:1; 4:1; I Thess 1:2,3; 2:12; 3:1-3). 

What was Paul’s understanding of missions?

Paul saw missions as something that was essential to the early church and something that required a great cost to live out. Paul himself, along with many of his coworkers, experienced many rewards as a result of their mission work. They saw many men and women come to the knowledge of Christ and also performed  great miracles and signs through the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:12,42-43,48; 14:3,21; 15:12; 16:32; 19:11,12). Yet, Paul also experienced many difficulties due to his mission work. He was forced to flee from cities, stoned, thrown in jail, beaten, hated by many people, held in prison in Rome, and was compelled to give up freedoms for the sakes of those he was ministering to (13:45; 14:5,6,19; 16:22-39; 17:5-7; 18:5-7; 21:30-36; 27:1). On more than one occasion Paul mentions in his letters that he has gone through these many persecutions for the gospel of Christ ( I Cor 4:10-13; 9:19-23; 15:30,31; II Cor 6:3-10 I Thess 2:2,3). He also mentions several times that he has gone to the effort of making sure that he is not a burden to anyone, trying to provide for himself while doing mission work. Even though he knew he had a right to receive help from those that he was ministering to, he chose to give up his rights to those benefits so that he would not burden them (I Cor 11-16; I Thess 1:9-10; II Thess 3:6-10). Paul knew that there was a cost to mission work and he was willing to live it out throughout his life. 

Are there sacrifices  you have made/may make that are similar to Paul? 

Paul made himself look like a fool because he chose to preach the message of the cross with simplicity. He acknowledges that the cross is considered foolish to those who are headed for destruction but to those who are being saved it is the power of God (I Cor 1:17-19). As I think about my life and the places where I have to chose to crucify my own desires and follow Christ’s, I realize how foolish my life ends up appearing. I have seen places in my life where God has asked me to look like a fool by taking up a cross and following after Him. To the logical mind those crosses make no sense and I take the name of a fool. Paul was aware that to live a life for Christ will bring you to a place where in some way or another you are going to end up looking like a fool and I can totally relate with that. Yet, it is in that place that God gets the most glory because He uses seemingly foolish things to confound the wise.

Are there areas of Paul’s teaching that God is asking you to apply to your life? 

As I read Galatians, I found myself convicted regarding my attempts to rely on my own efforts to earn favor with God. Paul states that we are made right with God because of our faith in Him, not our obedience to the law (2:16). He also asks the Galatians why, if they already received the Spirit because they believed in Christ, are they trying to become perfect by their own human efforts. God revealed to me that there was an area in my life where  I was trying in my own efforts to obey His command and basing my standing with Him on my performance of that command. God reminded me that His acceptance of me is based on what He did and not what I do and that apart from His Spirit I can’t do anything. It is His Spirit that enables me to keep His commands. After realizing this and repenting of it, God revealed to me how easy it is to keep His commands when His Spirit does the work and you are no longer relying on your strength. In order for me to continue to live this out, I feel like one of the best things that I can do is stay in the word. It is the word that reminds me that salvation and God’s favor are gifts that are given to me. It is the word that corrects me when I forget this. I want to continue to use His word and  focus specifically on His work for me.