Apostle Paul, 4 Evaluations

 ~ Simple Overviews of Paul’s Complicated Life, 2 ~

 

Overview  ~  In the first post we considered three distinct stages in the Apostle Paul’s life.  Each summarizes his view of the Cross of Calvary and who Jesus Christ is. 

 

In this second post look at four evaluations of his own progress by the Apostle Paul as he matured in his Christian faith.

 

Beginning of His Ministry  ~  Look at the progress of spiritual maturity in the life of the Apostle Paul. At the beginning of his ministry he referred to himself as an apostle. “Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God” (Romans 1:1 and others passages).

 

Growing in His Ministry  ~  As his ministry progressed, he called himself the least of apostles. “For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:9-10a).

 

Further Maturing in His Ministry  ~  Then he called himself a sinner. “Sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead. I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me. Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good” (Romans 7:8-12).

 

Late in His Ministry  ~  and later he called himself the chief of sinners. “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief” (1 Timothy 1:15).

 

comment:  It has been my experience that the Godliest senior saints which I have known are always acutely aware of their sinful nature.  Has that been your experience also?

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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