Paul- A Pattern for Us.

1Ti 1:16  Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 

Paul- a pattern for us.

Is it any wonder a verse I consistently return to in my studying is this--

Rom 7:22  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 

Rom 7:23  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 

Rom 7:24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 

Rom 7:25  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. 

How many of us can relate to these verses? How many of us can relate to Paul whom Jesus Christ gave mercy, that He showed forth ALL longsuffering as a PATTERN for us if we believe in our Savior?

We can relate and we SHOULD be able to relate to Paul because we need to study his life in the shadow of our Savior's life so we may learn from him. He had such a special relationship with our Lord, its beginning alone so incredibly noteworthy.   He wasn't a disciple of our Savior when He lived. We don't even know if he saw Jesus whil Jesus walked the earth. Paul comes on the scene AFTER the death of Jesus. As I think about it, I can't imagine that he didn't even see Jesus because of how notorious Jesus was to the Pharisees. Remember this--

Jesus chastising a Pharisee- Mat_23:26  Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

Luk 18:10  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 

Luk 18:11  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 

Luk 18:12  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 

Luk 18:13  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 

Luk 18:14  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. 

Mat_5:20  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

And now read this--

Act 23:6  But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. 

Php 3:1  Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. 

Php 3:2  Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 

Php 3:3  For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 

Php 3:4  Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 

Php 3:5  Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 

Php 3:6  Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 

Php 3:7  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 

Php 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 

Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 

Php 3:10  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 

Php 3:11  If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 

Circumcised the eighth day of the stock of Israel of the tribe of Benjamin.

A Hebrew of the Hebrews as touching the law- a Pharisee.

Concerning Zeal.

Persecuting the church.

Touching the righteousness in the law.

Blameless.

Paul-- was a very STAUNCH Pharisee - he had to know OF Jesus before He was crucified, yet he did NOT walk with Jesus. He HATED Jesus. He HATED the man- the great pretender, the fraud, the thorn in the side of the Pharisees and all Jews. The hate Paul had for Jesus extended toward any followers of Jesus. When Jesus was crucified and His memory did NOT die with Him, Paul was furious! The zeal of Paul was unchallenged, he wanted all those followers of Jesus taken care of as well. 

How does this relate to us today?

How many of us have in our past a hatred of the things of God? How many of us have thumbed our noses at Jesus and all He stands for only to later repent of such actions, whole heartedly repent of our sins. How many of us have held traditions of men over the truth of Christ? How many of us were very zealous in the truth we once held but knew we had to give up a cherished life because it wasn't Christ's truth? How many have had great truth revealed that countered all we believed in?

We have Paul as our example, our pattern in so many ways. Paul was a man who wanted only the truth and when he was given truth he walked in that truth, but that didn't mean his life was one of ease.

More on this tomorrow, all by the GRACE, the WILL of our Savior, our Lord, Jesus Christ and His love!