~ Paul’s Self-Understanding Changed as
He Matured~
Key Principle
~ As a Christian grows they focus
less and less on themselves and more and more on their Savior—Jesus
Christ. One of the reasons is that as we
grow more like Christ we increasingly realize how sinful we are. With that in mind look at the example we find
in the Apostle Paul’s writings.
Paul’s Progression
~ To come to a saving knowledge
of Christ Paul had to acknowledge that he was a “sinner.”
Apostle
~ After becoming a minister of
The Gospel Paul called himself “an apostle” (Galatians 1:1 and other references).
Paul actually used this identification
at the start of a number of his epistles.
Least of the Apostles
~ As Paul progresses in his
Christian maturity he refers to himself as “the least of the apostles” (1
Corinthians 15:9).
Least of the Saints
~ Still later, Paul references
himself as the “least of the saints [least of the early believers]” (Ephesians
3:8).
Chief of Sinners
~ As he continued to mature in
his knowledge of Christ and his own sinfulness he referred to himself as “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.
However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ
might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on
Him for everlasting life” (1 Timothy 1:15-16).
Comments ~ If you look at the progression of Paul’s view
of himself the progression is related to the order of the books he wrote. In his latest books he has an increasing
appreciation for the vast gulf between his nature and God’s nature. As any Christian grows in his sanctification
they increasingly realize how sinful they are and how holy God is. The typical result of this realization is to
increase in the growth of true humility causing one to rely increasingly on
God’s strength rather than their own.
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
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