I did not come up with my views on my own; much credit should be given to authors like Samuel Sandmel, author of "Judaism and Christian Beginnings."
I wonder how many people have the heart of Paul. This man gave his all for the gospel. His own fellow Jews tried to kill him, the Romans put him in prison and eventually beheaded him. He was a servant to all, and the reason why is because he wanted everyone to be saved.
Sinner Paul
1 Timothy 1:15
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
Paul taught that we are new creations in Christ Jesus. He taught that we are saints. However, he also taught that the old man is still with us, corrupt through decietful desires (Ephesians 4:22) and that we must re0new our minds through the Spirit. Renewed to what? Renewed to who we are in Christ Jesus!
The old man of Paul was a Pharisee that followed Rabbinical Judaism, and just as he referred to himself as the worst sinner, he also referred to himself as a Pharisee, for it was in the Pharisee role that he did his worst sins. But did Paul really think of himself as a Pharisee? Did Paul see the new man as a Pharisee? I do not think so.
Paul and his identity in Christ
Here we see the true Paul, how he really thought of himself. He had left his life of Rabbinical Judaism behind, his Pharisee lifestyle behind to be a servant of Christ. He had much reason to boast - but he actually counted all those things as dung compared to his new life in Christ.
He was a Hebrew, but that meant nothing compared the righteousness found in Christ by faith. He was a Pharisee, but that also meant nothing compared to the righteousness found only in Christ - a righteousness that comes from believing. And Paul taught that the only reason we believe is because of grace - the free gift of G-d. He considered anyone preaching a different gospel to be accursed (Galatians 1:8.) It is unfortunate to see how many people claim to know G-d but yet are preaching a different gospel by saying that grace is not enough, or that faith is not enough. These people should be very afraid, for they are believing and therefore preaching a different gospel (for whatever we believe, that is what we will share with others.)
Paul the servant of all men
Paul was someone that could adapt to whatever situation he was in, by the grace of G-d. He was very educated in both Judaic and Greek literature and this helped him to identify with those people while preaching.
One very interesting example of this is in the book of Acts, while Paul is in Athens speaking to some Greek Philosophers. He basically becomes one them, and tells them that they are very religious, and that the true G-d is living among them, allowing them to also live. He tells them that they too, even though they are Gentiles, are loved by G-d. He then quotes from a Greek Poet named Aratus, from his poem "Phainomena" - "We are all His children."
The result of becoming a slave to the Greeks? He made some converts that day! And that is the goal, brothers and sisters. If you really love mankind, then you will become like one them in order to save them. Did not Jesus become sin for us? Did not G-d take on the form of Jewish flesh? How much more should we become like others so that we can identify with them and save some of them!
I will quote this verse again:
I believe that Paul kept the feast days and the sabbath whenever he could, but I do not think he kept following rabbinical Judaism. I do not think Paul studied the Talmud. I do not think Paul considered his religion to be Judaism. I believe he considered himself born again, a new creation - that was his religion. Because he did not follow Judaism, I also believe he did not push Judaism's rules on Gentiles. I believe he gave them the free choice to decide how to live. I think Paul would be mortified at some of the things going on in Messianic Judaism - conversions, animal sacrifices, the divisions between Jew and Gentile. I also think he would be happy to see gentiles interested in the Torah and wanting to learn G-d's Word. I think he would be happy to see both Jew and Gentile leaving pagan churches like Roman Catholicism for a more Torah based church, or a more spirit-filled church. He would want people attending a church or synagogue where the foundation was Jesus alone.
No matter if one is sittting in a Messianic synagogue, or a non-denominational church, we are all worshipping the same G-d. I even feel led by G-d to say that non believers worship Him too - they just do not know about the mediator, Jesus Christ, or they refuse to come to Him through the mediator. Those people, who refuse to come to G-d through the mediator, are theives and robbers and need to submit to G-d's ways of dealing with sin - through the mediator Yeshua.
We are all G-d's children, we all come from one man, and we are all the same. The divisions must come down. We must create our foundations on Jesus Christ, for if anyone builds on a different foundation - even Torah - it will be considered hay and stubble and will be burned and no reward given. That one will be saved as by fire.
Let us have the same heart as Paul and be servant to all.
NASA
1 Corinthians 9:19-23
For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
I wonder how many people have the heart of Paul. This man gave his all for the gospel. His own fellow Jews tried to kill him, the Romans put him in prison and eventually beheaded him. He was a servant to all, and the reason why is because he wanted everyone to be saved.
Sinner Paul
1 Timothy 1:15
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
Paul taught that we are new creations in Christ Jesus. He taught that we are saints. However, he also taught that the old man is still with us, corrupt through decietful desires (Ephesians 4:22) and that we must re0new our minds through the Spirit. Renewed to what? Renewed to who we are in Christ Jesus!
The old man of Paul was a Pharisee that followed Rabbinical Judaism, and just as he referred to himself as the worst sinner, he also referred to himself as a Pharisee, for it was in the Pharisee role that he did his worst sins. But did Paul really think of himself as a Pharisee? Did Paul see the new man as a Pharisee? I do not think so.
Paul and his identity in Christ
From the book of Phillippians:
Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.
Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God andglory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
17Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. Butour citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.
Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God andglory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
17Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. Butour citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
Here we see the true Paul, how he really thought of himself. He had left his life of Rabbinical Judaism behind, his Pharisee lifestyle behind to be a servant of Christ. He had much reason to boast - but he actually counted all those things as dung compared to his new life in Christ.
He was a Hebrew, but that meant nothing compared the righteousness found in Christ by faith. He was a Pharisee, but that also meant nothing compared to the righteousness found only in Christ - a righteousness that comes from believing. And Paul taught that the only reason we believe is because of grace - the free gift of G-d. He considered anyone preaching a different gospel to be accursed (Galatians 1:8.) It is unfortunate to see how many people claim to know G-d but yet are preaching a different gospel by saying that grace is not enough, or that faith is not enough. These people should be very afraid, for they are believing and therefore preaching a different gospel (for whatever we believe, that is what we will share with others.)
Paul the servant of all men
Paul was someone that could adapt to whatever situation he was in, by the grace of G-d. He was very educated in both Judaic and Greek literature and this helped him to identify with those people while preaching.
One very interesting example of this is in the book of Acts, while Paul is in Athens speaking to some Greek Philosophers. He basically becomes one them, and tells them that they are very religious, and that the true G-d is living among them, allowing them to also live. He tells them that they too, even though they are Gentiles, are loved by G-d. He then quotes from a Greek Poet named Aratus, from his poem "Phainomena" - "We are all His children."
The result of becoming a slave to the Greeks? He made some converts that day! And that is the goal, brothers and sisters. If you really love mankind, then you will become like one them in order to save them. Did not Jesus become sin for us? Did not G-d take on the form of Jewish flesh? How much more should we become like others so that we can identify with them and save some of them!
I will quote this verse again:
For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
I believe that Paul kept the feast days and the sabbath whenever he could, but I do not think he kept following rabbinical Judaism. I do not think Paul studied the Talmud. I do not think Paul considered his religion to be Judaism. I believe he considered himself born again, a new creation - that was his religion. Because he did not follow Judaism, I also believe he did not push Judaism's rules on Gentiles. I believe he gave them the free choice to decide how to live. I think Paul would be mortified at some of the things going on in Messianic Judaism - conversions, animal sacrifices, the divisions between Jew and Gentile. I also think he would be happy to see gentiles interested in the Torah and wanting to learn G-d's Word. I think he would be happy to see both Jew and Gentile leaving pagan churches like Roman Catholicism for a more Torah based church, or a more spirit-filled church. He would want people attending a church or synagogue where the foundation was Jesus alone.
No matter if one is sittting in a Messianic synagogue, or a non-denominational church, we are all worshipping the same G-d. I even feel led by G-d to say that non believers worship Him too - they just do not know about the mediator, Jesus Christ, or they refuse to come to Him through the mediator. Those people, who refuse to come to G-d through the mediator, are theives and robbers and need to submit to G-d's ways of dealing with sin - through the mediator Yeshua.
We are all G-d's children, we all come from one man, and we are all the same. The divisions must come down. We must create our foundations on Jesus Christ, for if anyone builds on a different foundation - even Torah - it will be considered hay and stubble and will be burned and no reward given. That one will be saved as by fire.
Let us have the same heart as Paul and be servant to all.
NASA
