Paul Schooled Under the Law: Page 079

Paul Schooled Under the Law
 

3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. 

 

4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. 

 

5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished (Acts 22:3-5).
 

6b I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question (Acts 23:6b).
 

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 (Kingdom) church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless (Philippians 3:5-6).
 

Paul had always lived under a strict legalistic system as a Pharisee (Acts 26:5; Galatians 1:14). 

 

His mind needed to be reprogrammed. 

 

Like Christians who are raised up in legalistic churches today, it can be either uncomfortable or it can be liberating to move from law to grace. 

 

Paul had been trained up to believe that when the Lord returned, the Law would be written in his heart, and he would be living in a glorious earthly kingdom, he would be a priest, and the Gentiles would come to God through him and his kinsman. 

 

He found himself in a broken evil world. 

 

God told him that if he would suffer with Christ he would also reign with Him (II Timothy 2:12), 

 

he would be a joint heir of the Son of God (Romans 8:13) 

 

who is heir of all things. He found that most people rejected his message (II Timothy 1:15), 

 

that life was hard and that he was not physically blessed, but challenged when he followed God (II Corinthians 11:23-30).
 

12a If we suffer, we shall also reign with him. (II Timothy 2:12a)
 

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 

 

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 

 

18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Romans 8:16-18).
 

24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 

 

25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 

 

26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 

 

27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fasting often, in cold and nakedness. (II Corinthians 11:24-27).
 

16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting (I Timothy 1:16).
 

During this BUT NOW dispensation of Grace, the sanctification process does not come through the legalistic and sacrificial system of the Mosaic Covenant. 

 

38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 

 

39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses (Acts 13:38-39).

 

There is now a no-performance-based program to receive God’s blessings. 

 

The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23b). 

 

The blood of Christ is the atonement for the free gift, for all of man’s trespasses for all times (Romans 5:8-11, 18). 

 

We are justified by the faith of Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:16) and our faith in His blood atonement (Romans 3:28; Ephesians 1:7; Romans 5:9; Colossians 1:14). 

 

We don’t have self-righteousness but we have been given imputed righteousness, the righteousness of Christ (Romans 4:22). 

 

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (II Corinthians 5:21), 

 

...who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification (Romans 4:25). 

 

He is our Passover, (I Corinthians 5:7) and hath given himself for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor (Ephesians 5:2). 

 

There is now no condemnation for those in Christ who walk after the Spirit. 

 

We may receive retribution from the world for our failings, but God is not punishing us or chastising us. 

 

We are His purchased possession (Ephesians 1:14) bought with a price (I Corinthians 7:23). 

 

He purchased our souls for eternity and we are the object of His grace and love. 

 

He made each individual and wants a continuous relationship with each person. 

 

He gave us His Word so we can know His mind and His great love for us.