Paul: Mission and Message

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:13, 14, NKJV).

(Overview and commentary on: Paul: Mission and Message- Lesson 12)

Karakia Timatanga | Opening Prayer

He hōnore, he korōria ki te atua

All honour and glory to our maker

He maungārongo ki te whenua

Let there be peace and tranquillity on earth

He whakaaro pai ki ngā tangata katoa

Goodwill to mankind

Āmine.                                  

Amen

Saturday | Sabbath | Hātarei

The verse for this week is a good one to put to memory. There is one thing that Paul wanted to know and that was to know Christ and the power of His resurrection (Phil 3:10-12). He didn't have the resurrection yet, but he knew that one day it would be his. In the mean time he would keep things in perspective and look to do those things God had called him to do. There are some very pleasant things in life that are worth remembering and cherishing. There are other things that need to be forgotten and put behind. These things don't help us, they drag us down. It is best to leave them with God. At some stage in his life Paul had to put a lot of evil deeds behind him and get on with what God wanted. Every day small things go wrong that we would perhaps have done differently if we could re-live them. These things need to be put behind us too. (Ps 55:22)

Sunday | Rātapu

Greeks and Jews
Paul talked about things that got in the road of Greeks and Jews believing. Yes signs and wisdom got in the road for many but not for all. Are there stumbling blocks within our own culture? Yes possibly. I think there are more stumbling blocks for Adventists than there are for Christians in general. Can we see them or are they unrecognisable? I will suggest a few. Feel free to agree or disagree.

Entertainment +/ Consumerism
Alcohol +/ Food +/ 'Recreational' drug use
Wealth +/ Property
Science + Technology
Sports + Leisure
Work +/ Status
Time
Fear

and perhaps the biggest stumbling block of all - US - YOU and ME (blundering, inconsistent, arrogant, opinionated, unwise Christians).

Monday | Rāhina

Soldiers and Athletes

Ancient Olympics

What I like about Paul's writings is the way he connected his audience with the contemporary culture of his day. This is the way that we should connect the gospel with those who don't believe yet. Without a doubt if Paul had been alive today he would some how have connected the All Blacks, Richie McCaw and the Rugby World Cup to God and Jesus. Jesus, or the spiritual life was the focus of all Paul's illustrations.

I suspect that Paul's illustrations about running and soldiering would have gone down well with his Gentile audience. It may not have gone down so well with a Jewish audience who would have found athletics not in keeping with their faith and traditions.

Tuesday | Rātū

Paul and the Law

As an Adventist I accept Schantz and Thompson's (2015) interpretation of the law but I am prepared to examine other explanations that have evidence from within the Bible. As Christians we should always be willing to test our ideas and see if they are robust enough to withstand scrutiny. If the idea is not robust enough to withstand a thorough examination it is not worth holding on to. God has endowed us with the ability to think and He expects us to actively to pursue truth (Jn 14:6) which can at times place us in some discomfort if we have to let some idea go that we have held for a long time. Changes in our thinking may change the way we behave and that can also put us in a place of tension.

The Mitzvot

An understanding of the law and some of the verses associated with it have not necessarily been understood well by Adventists and as a denomination we are well versed in law. When Jews talk about the law they are often speaking of the 613 laws and do not necessarily separate them from the ten commandments. We on the other hand have taken the ten and not necessarily considered the other 613. It is unfortunate that we cannot interrogate Paul further - unfortunately he's not here and we have to do the best we can.

Schantz and Thompson (2015) say "the ceremonial laws, detailing how one approached God through priesthood, Hebrew sanctuary, and sacrifices, ceased to be valid after the crucifixion." I accept this but, then we (Adventists) are left with a bit of a theological problem with regard to observing the restrictions around what food we eat. We argue well that these are health laws and that our bodies are the temple of God's spirit but the point remains that these are not part of the ten.



Paul may have viewed converts to Christianity quite differently in his expectations as to their observance of Jewish laws (Paul the Apostle and Judaism, n.d.). We know this was the case with circumcision (Gal 6:15; 1 Co 7:19; Col 2:11; Col 3:11). We also know that Paul circumcised Timothy (Acts 16:3) and practised Jewish ritual when called upon by the elders at Jerusalem (Acts 21:17-27). The explanation for this apparent inconsistency is that Paul expected Jews to observe all of the Mitzvot laws but not the Gentiles.

As an Adventist, ten is quite enough. I am also glad that God does not change (Mal 3:6; Num 23:19).

Wednesday  | Rāapa

The Cross and the Resurrection

For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor. 2:2, NKJV)

Well, actually Paul believed in a lot more than this but this was his starting premise.

He also believed in the physical resurrection and outlines its importance to Christianity. (1 Co 15:12-13; Rom 6:4; Rom 8:11; 1 Co 6:14; 2 Tim 2:8; 1 Co 15:14-20) These texts are so important please read them. I am a Christian because I believe Jesus was raised from the dead.
For us so far removed in time in place from these events there is still sufficient reason to believe if you wish to examine the evidence you might wish to start with Lee Strobel's book 'The Case for Christ'.

Any understanding of Christianity that defines itself differently is not the gospel or the Christianity of the Bible. Leave it well alone or turn your mind to doing something else because the gospel without the resurrection is useless.

Wikipedia (Paul the Apostle, n.d.) sums up Paul's message well in six points:

1. God sent his Son.2. The Son was crucified for the sins of humanity.3. After being dead three days, the Son was raised from the dead, defeating death.4. The Son would soon return.5. Those in Christ will live with him forever.6. Followers are urged to live by a set apart (sanctified) standard—"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Schantz and Thompson (2015) round this message out with three brief and vital points:

1. Only God has immortality (1 Tim 6:16);
2. Immortality is a gift from God to the saved (1 Thess 4:16);
3. Death is a sleep until Christ returns (1 Thess 4:13-15; 1 Cor 15:6). 

Thursday | Rāpare

Getting Along

John Mark (Orthodox icon)

Paul was a great Christian leader, missionary and apostle but he had his flaws too. He was quite hard nosed and goal driven which lead to the falling out with Barnabas over John Mark (Acts 15:38-41). Barnabas was nicknamed the 'Son of Encouragement' (Acts 4:36). It was Barnabas who initially introduced Paul to the Jerusalem church (Acts 9:26-27). Would the world have known Paul if it hadn't been for Barnabas? It is difficult to say - but we all need to remember that our accomplishments are never quite our own. We get there because of others. It seems that Paul and Barnabas may have reconciled at a later point (1 Co 9:6). In this disagreement it seems that Barnabas was right and Paul was wrong. Paul later works with Mark again (Col 4:10) and then we finally see Paul writing - "Get Mark he is helpful to me" (2 Ti 4:11). Thank God for Barnabas from time to time even Godly leaders need to be brought back to earth. One more thing - there is also reason to believe that John Mark may have been the author of the gospel that bears the name (Longenecker, 2012). Thank God once again for Barnabas!

Considerations for practise

1. Did Jesus rise from the dead as Paul has said?
2. If your answer is Yes what are you going to do about it? 

If your answer is No this also has implications.

Closing Prayer - Karakia Whakamutunga

2 Corinthians 13:14 (NIV)

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Kia tau ki a tātou katoa te atawhai o tō tātou Ariki, a Ihu Karaiti me te aroha o te Atua, me te whiwhingatahitanga ki te wairua tapu, ake, ake, ake, āmine.


Next week. Must the whole world hear? - Lesson 13.



References

Longenecker, D. (2012, December 18). Who wrote Mark? In Patheos. Retrieved from http://www.patheos.com/blogs/standingonmyhead/2012/12/who-wrote-mark.html

Paul the Apostle (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved September 12, 2015, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_the_Apostle

Paul the Apostle and Judaism (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved September 12, 2015, from 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_the_Apostle_and_Judaism

Schantz, B. & Thompson, S. (2015). Biblical Missionaries. Adult Sabbath School Quarterly 3Q. 2015. Silver Spring: MD: Pacific Press.

Strobel, L. (1998). The case for Christ. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House.