Some Musings on Paul
Paul, a servant of God...according to the faith of God's elect (Titus 1:1) - He is a servant of God, serving his brethren of the faith according to their faith. If they did not have faith he could not serve them as God has called him to serve.
Paul, a servant of God...acknowleding of the truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began (Titus 1:1-2) - He is a servant because of the transforming power and hope of the Truth. He rests in the hope and promises of the infallible God that cannot lie. Being confident of the Truth he goes forth to serve according to the commandment he received (vs 3).
REFLECTIONS ON PAUL'S MINISTRY: His faith is a faith that permiates his life, his faith is a faith that compells him to exhort and encourage others in their walk. Of the 13 books he authored of the New Testament we know he wrote 4 of them to individual people he cared for and 9 of them are written to churches he established. That means 30% of his writings were specifically to a person; the rest of his writings are for the corporate (and local) church body and yet are intrinsiclly personal as well.
Paul's entire purpose in writing, and living, was to glorify God and the best way for him to do this was to come along side his brethren and point them back to Christ. He glorified God simply by helping others glorify God. At the most basic level, his faith was entwined in the building up of others. If Paul had not submitted his life to this calling, the world as we know it could be a very different.
If he had not submitted his life to this calling he may have found it incredibly difficult to continue on in the faith. If he had rebeled against what Christ had called him to it is likely we would never have even heard of him, for the simple fact that a life lived in rebellion is not going to produce fruit. Paul laid down his life, abased himself before the Cross, so that Christ might be lifted up in him.
He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30)
Paul, a servant of God...acknowleding of the truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began (Titus 1:1-2) - He is a servant because of the transforming power and hope of the Truth. He rests in the hope and promises of the infallible God that cannot lie. Being confident of the Truth he goes forth to serve according to the commandment he received (vs 3).
REFLECTIONS ON PAUL'S MINISTRY: His faith is a faith that permiates his life, his faith is a faith that compells him to exhort and encourage others in their walk. Of the 13 books he authored of the New Testament we know he wrote 4 of them to individual people he cared for and 9 of them are written to churches he established. That means 30% of his writings were specifically to a person; the rest of his writings are for the corporate (and local) church body and yet are intrinsiclly personal as well.
Paul's entire purpose in writing, and living, was to glorify God and the best way for him to do this was to come along side his brethren and point them back to Christ. He glorified God simply by helping others glorify God. At the most basic level, his faith was entwined in the building up of others. If Paul had not submitted his life to this calling, the world as we know it could be a very different.
If he had not submitted his life to this calling he may have found it incredibly difficult to continue on in the faith. If he had rebeled against what Christ had called him to it is likely we would never have even heard of him, for the simple fact that a life lived in rebellion is not going to produce fruit. Paul laid down his life, abased himself before the Cross, so that Christ might be lifted up in him.
He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30)
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