Now about the apostle that probably killed the most Christians in history. I love Saul of Tarsus/Paul as he is the person in the Bible that I can mostly relat too. So many people quoted Paul when I started my journy as "Child of God" and so many things they said about Paul was just 100% against what I needed to hear.
Let me explain... people would quote Paul saying.... I am the chief sinner.... And they love to quote this one... the things I do not want to do that I do, and the things I want to do I do not... meaning Paul does not want to sin, but he does... and that just baffled my beliefs. I could not accept the fact that a apostle of God stil do sin.
Then I went to God, and sked.... Lord what is going on? Why is it so against everything that I believe when Paul is quoted by these sinners yet Christians, like me. I am the same than these people, I lso do the things I do not want too.... I sin though I do not want too. But why is it I feel Paul did not do as we do. Why is it that I feel PAul is telling a lie. Because Lord, was Paul not filled with Your Spirit? Please help me.
Then I read... This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Now I SAW GOD'S Word and I understood... Jesus came to save sinners, of whom Saul was chief.... Saul was the chief sinner, Paul was the chief SAVED sinner. And what is the difference? Jesus is the difference!
Come let us loof at the two men, Saul of Tarsus, and Paul of Jesus! Saul was approached by Jesus when He said... Saul, Saul why persecuteth thee me!But his was not the first time Jesus spoke to Saul... Just like when all of us also got our calling. Our calling is NOT the first time we hear God! Remember that the Lord said that He will send His Holy Spirit to REPROVE the WORLD of sin. John 16:8. Well when Saul was sill part of the world, the Holy Spirit did reprove him of the sin in persecuting Jesus! That is why the Lord said... It is hard for you to kick against the pricks. Acts 9. So Saul did kick against the reprove of the Holy Spirit, but now Jesus was starting to execute His salvation on Saul. Salvation is non existing if the man is not changed from sinner to holy man. Proof...Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
We all know that Jesus said to Ananias that Saul was chosen to become Paul, an apostle that will be the VESSEL to carry the gospel to the gentiles. God will NEVER use a sinner to represent Him, He has his holy men of God to do ALL He wants done... 2 Peter 1:21... So Saul had to be made holy FIRST. and God did this through Ananias...
Now the man Paul... How many Christians did the man named Paul persecute? NONE! Not one! How many Pharisee and Sadussee and Scribes did Paul please.... NONE Not one. So Saul the chief sinner, is now Paul the chief SAVED sinner, and a chosen vessel to save thousands of gentiles with the Gospel he once persecuted! Look at the change of heart, it is truly 100% From a murdering pharisee killing the just, to a man that gives HOLY LIFE to LOST worldy souls!
Saul killed people that had the Holy Spirit in them, Satan's will.... And Paul baptized people with Holy Spirit, to receive everlasting life... God's will. And that is how GOD'S will will be done in ALL He saves.
Did Paul lie to say or implicate that he still do the things he does not want too. Saul wanted to kill and destroy, and HE DID! But Paul? Did Paul want to kill and destroy? NO! And HE DID NOT! So why did Paul say the things I want to do I do not and the things I want not to do that I do.... DID HE LIE? No! But many like I without understanding will think so.
Look what Paul says here... For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? First thing you have to notice here is.... Paul does not wnat to be judged a sinner! WHY YET AM I ..... Why do you judge Paul as a sinner? Why Cobus why? Because I understand not.... And I will stop this very moment to judge Paul a sinner, because he is a saved sinner, busy doing WHAT GOD CALLED HIM FOR! God called Paul to carry His God's-spell (Gospel) to the gentiles of which these Romans Paul said these things too were part off!
When I realised how stupid these Romans were in their doings and how far apart this community were in spiritual levels I understood Paul had to speak on all levels of spiritual growth in ROME! Some are saints, on meat! Others were babies on milk, and some needed no more food they were just about FULLY grown.
It was the same with Jesus and His disciples. Some people only understood the P/preacher when H/he tlaks to them like children. The other GROWN UPS would understand if H/he speaks in grown-up language. Jesus and Paul experienced the same with the people they preached too. And because the Holy Spirit of God was the Teaching Spirit in BOTH Jesus and Paul, the Teaching was PERFECT! Every person that had ears to accept the Truth would get the message 100% for fitment to the heart of that person. Be it a baby on milk ar the last little peace of meat to COMPLETE the MATURE IN CHRIST... the perfect man!
Some in Rome were perfect... Romans 1. Other struggled to LAY DOWN THE SIN... these are the ones Paul had compassion with by saying.... I know you feel like the things you do not want to do, that you do...etc. Paul was putting himself in their shoes and explained to them that they should not fear... Because the same GOD that gave the other Romans and Paul the grace and apostleship for the obedience to the faith...Romans 1: 5... Is the Same Christ Jesus that Paul was preaching to them, and He is Faithful... For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
And this gave me Cobus hope...... Just like it did with the Romans that battled to lay down the sin! God's POWER will manifest in me if I believe. And these Romans also had to be strengthened in their BELIEF!
Then I realised all the people that did not believe that sin can be overcome 100% used those verses to justify their sins, as many before them. Their is NO justification for sin, only GOD can get rid of sins of our past, and only God can overcome sin here on earth, that is why they NEEDED to be CRUCIFIED for the world, and the world for them....
Paul said...For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. To be crucified is to ENTER into Christ! And Christ Jesus into you... the NEW CREATURE! The perfect man! Rebirth/baptism of Holy Spirit/Born of God/clothed with Christ/holy man/God's Child/ bretren of Jesus. All these things are ONE FINAL TOUCH FROM GOD! God's glorification in a SAVED SINNER! Amen!