____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ April 12, 1992 ____________________________________________________ Stepping Off the Ladder of Judaism To Humbly Bow Before the Feet of Christ (Philippians 3:4-8) by Tom Edwards The following gives us a glimpse of Paul's life prior to and succeeding his conversion. He was a man endowed with many highly esteemed qualifications that would have enabled him to live a life of pre-eminence among his race in the world of Judaism. But with all of this going for him, Paul was able to forgo any renown--and sacrifice any other related benefit--in view of something that he considered to be of a far greater value. Let us first examine Paul's Judaic profile and then briefly see his attitude toward this and consider that which he viewed as being of superior worth. (First read Philippians 3:4-8.) ``circumcised the eighth day'' This was in accordance with God's command during the Old Testament times as part of His covenant relationship with His people (Lev. 12:2,3). A Jew to have not had this performed would have resulted in ostracism (Gen. 17:14). In this phrase, we are given a glimpse of Paul when he was just 8-days old and made to consider his participation in this God-given rite. ``of the nation of Israel'' Paul was not just some type of proselyte, but he was a true-blooded Jew. He was from that very special nation that God had chosen to be His covenant people during the Mosaical Age. When in writing to the Romans, Paul declares that it was Israel that had been ``entrusted with the oracles of God'' (3:2). And it was through that same nation that the Promised Messiah had come (Deut. 18:18; Acts 2:29-36). ``of the tribe of Benjamin'' Not only was Paul from the nation of Israel, but more specifically from the tribe of Benjamin. It was from this tribe that Israel received its first King (Saul, 1 Sam. 9:21). Though it was the smallest of all the tribes of Israel, it was the only one that remained more faithful during the divided kingdom, along with Judah. Jeroboam, who took the leadership over the ten northern tribes, had soon led his people astray by establishing his own system of idolatrous worship and thus departing from God. (Later, however, some of the Levites had returned to Judah, after seeing the corruption in the northern kingdom: Jeroboam had arbitrarily--and without the authority of God--selected a new order of priests that were not even of Levitical descent.) Out of the nineteen kings, that reigned in the northern kingdom, not even one was considered good. The southern kingdom, however, in which Benjamin was a part, had several commendable rulers. It is easy to see how one might have a tendency to feel proud about belonging to such a tribe. ``a Hebrew of Hebrews'' It appears that both of Paul's parents were also from the nation of Israel and, therefore, Paul was not a half-breed; rather, he was a true Jew through and through. (Though the Samaritans were half or partially Jewish, they were also partially Gentile and, therefore, greatly despised by the Jewish people--even more so than the way the Jews looked down upon the Gentiles. No one, however, could defame the name of Paul in this way, for he was a ``Hebrew of Hebrews.'') a ``Pharisee'' Paul most likely used this term to express his devotion toward the law of God. The Pharisees had been very strict in their teachings, but Paul was able to conform to whatever teaching they taught and uphold it earnestly. In Acts 22:3, Paul, in his defense in Jerusalem after having completed his third missionary journey, relates that he was ``brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel'' (an instructor in the Law who was highly esteemed by all the people, Acts 5:34) and ``taught according to the strictness of our fathers' law....'' As a Pharisee, Paul adhered tenaciously to these teachings and was not a violator of any of them. ``as to zeal, a persecutor of the church.'' We need to remember that Paul did not do this out of animosity toward God or as some type of intentional rebel who found satisfaction in vehemently opposing the way of the Lord; but rather he persecuted the church, thinking he was doing God's will by striving to eliminate anything that he felt was an obstruction toward or a perversion of the way of righteousness (Acts 26:9-11; 23:1; 1 Tim. 1:12,13). There were probably many other Pharisees that had the same convictions as Paul prior to his conversion, but did not live out those beliefs as fully as they could have--their zeal having been lacking. Paul, on the other hand, was motivated by his convictions to maintain what he believed to be right and destroy anything that would hinder that. Both before and after his conversion, he had always been a man of action. Because of his beliefs, he got up, went out, and became involved in these endeavors; this is zeal manifest. Later, having learned by personal experience, Paul was able to see the same mistakes many of his Jewish brethren were making that he had also formerly made: They had a ``zeal for God, but not according to knowledge'' (Rom. 10:2). ``Zeal'' has been defined as ``eager desire,'' ``ardor,'' and ``enthusiastic diligence.'' Though we need this type of fervor--without knowledge, we could be likened to a new car with a high performance engine, raring to go, but lacking a steering wheel and thus not able to head in the right directions. ``as to righteousness in the Law, found blameless'' How many people of Paul's day would have been able to say the same? As we saw previously, Paul was brought up in the strict ways of Judaism and the traditions that helped him to be a morally fine young man (Acts 22:3). The fact that he was found blameless reminds me somewhat of that rich young ruler who only lacked one thing from being able to obtain God's favor (Matt. 19:16-22). He, too, was a morally good individual who could testify that he had never been guilty of adultery, had never stolen, had never born false witness, had honored his father and his mother, and he had loved his neighbor as himself. Many today would probably classify him as an outstandingly good young man. Though Paul was a strict adherer to the Law and, therefore, lived above reproach concerning it, he still could not be saved by that Law on the basis of his works (Rom. 3:20). For if he could, then Christ died in vain (Gal. 2:21). A sinner can only become blameless before God by his faith and obedience in the gospel which will allow him to benefit from the soul-cleansing power of the blood of Jesus Christ. It is by the Lord's blood that we are justified (Rom. 5:9), but there are conditions that we must first meet (Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38; 1 John 1:7; Heb. 10:24-29). Yes, Paul had the qualifications that would have given him a prominent, honored position in the world of Judaism; but rather than be elevated in this way, he preferred to exalt his Lord instead--even if it meant subjecting himself to ridicule, humiliation, and a life of struggles and persecutions. He, therefore, counted all his worldly achievements, honors, and other attainments that pertained to merely the flesh as ``rubbish'' in contrast to knowing and gaining Christ (Phil. 3:7,8). To reach a plateau of worldly preeminence and acclaim meant nothing to Paul; he had his sights aimed much higher--on the grandeur and blissfulness of heaven itself. Gaining Christ was, by far, the greatest thing that Paul strove to do; and this he did by his thoughts and by his deeds. As he writes in Philippians 1:21, ``For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.'' He had become so deeply entrenched in his service to God that he could say, ''...it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me'' (Gal. 2:20). How many of us can say the same about ourselves? May we each strive to be more like Paul and see the great value in simply being a loyal follower of Jesus Christ rather than expending all our efforts in trying to merely obtain a higher step on the ladder of worldly fame or other vain, carnal pursuits. Wherever we might be on the ladder of self-righteousness, we had better step down in order to humbly prostrate ourselves--like the apostle Paul--at the feet of Jesus, to learn the true meaning of righteousness and value. ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 1314 Montgomery Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________