Who was Paul?

ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT PERSONS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT IS THE APOSTLE PAUL. PAUL IS NOT MENTIONED IN THE GOSPELS, BUT HE IS DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK OF ACTS.

a) We first read about him at the end of Acts 7.

b) Acts 7:58 describes him as a “young man.”

c) A lot of sermons have been preached about Paul.

d) Tonight I want to also talk about him but approach his from a different standpoint.

e) This man made several statements which begin with “I am.”

2) After Saul became a Christian his life changed and he described the changes by saying “I am.”

3) The verses we want are Rom. 1:14-16; 8:38; 16:19; 2 Cor. 10:2; Gal. 2:20.

4) Each of these passages describe the apostle but they can be related to our lives as well.

5) The first text is Rom. 1:14-16.

a) It is probably best to start with verse 16 and then back up to verses 14-15 — READ verse 16.

b) Here is the first “I am.” Paul told the Christians at Rome that he was not ashamed.

c) When it came to his faith he did not struggle with things like embarrassment and reluctance.

d) These are still the right attitudes for Christians.

e) Children of God should not be ashamed of anything related to Christianity.

f) This includes believing in God and believe the Bible is God’s word.

g) There is no shame in being a Christian.

6) We are not ashamed because of what Jesus said in Mt. 5.

7) The Lord told His disciples how they were like salt and light.

8) These illustrations remind us that we are good for our world.

9) A lot of people who are not Christians do not believe this, but this is still true.

10) For this reason and others Paul was not ashamed.

i) Let’s pick up with verse 15 – READ.

b) Paul was “ready to preach” the gospel to those who had not heard it.

c) Verses 16 and 15 present us with a logical sequence in regard to our fiath.

d) Our first goal needs to be rightful pride of who we are.

e) A second major achievement is learning how to teach others.

f) This morning we considered the importance of knowing God’s word.

g) We have many ways to teach the unsaved, and teaching needs to be an on-going commitment for us.

h) There needs to be a desire to instruct those who do not know the right way to God.

11) The basis for Paul’s confidence and taeching is found in verse 14 – READ.

12) This man had a debt.

13) He was like someone who owed money.

14) Paul refused to be a bad debtor; he would not run off and leave the debt for someone else.

a) Other verses tell us that Paul was a tentmaker.

b) This information suggests that in at least some respects Paul was a businessman.

c) At times he probably had to buy supplies, perhaps on credit.

d) People who bought his tents may have had to delay payment for a short time.

e) Paul urely knew a little something about accounting.

f) As he began this letter he said, “I am a debtor.”

g) If we want a strong incentive in our Christian life this is a good verse to use.

h) After a person has been saved from his or her sins, he or she is a debtor.

i) We owe some things to God.

j) In fact, we can say that we owe everything to Him.

OUR SECOND PASSAGE FOR “I AM” STATEMENTS IN THE LIFE OF PAUL IS ALSO FOUND IN THIS LETTER: ROMANS 8:38.

a) This verse is in the end of the chapter and it tells us about Paul’s convictions.

b) Stated another way, we learn about his level of confidence.

c) Here is what he said – READ Rom. 8:38.

d) The last verse in this chapter completes the thought.

e) Paul was thinking about the “love of God” which is “in Christ.”

f) He said death could not keep him from the Lord and His love.

g) The things of life were not enough of a barrier to separate him from j.

h) Angels and powers didn’t have enough influence to do it either.

i) Height, depth, and all creatures were unsuccessful too.

j) This “I am” expresses confidence and surety about the Christian life and hope.

2) In some of his other writings Paul again said “I know.”

3) This man had no doubt about his faith and the truth of the gospel.

4) Compare this to our day and time.

5) We live in a period of much uncertainty.

6) There are a lot of people who don’t feel comfortable saying “I know” about anything.

7) The Christian can say “I know” and mean it.

8) Christians can know that they are right and that their hope will not fail.

9) We can be fully “persuaded” that we are on the right course if we are following God’s word.

WHEN WE ARE ABSOLUTELY SURE OF SOMETHING WE MAY RESPOND IN ONE OF TWO WAYS.

a) We may be sad. We might be given bad news and we know that the information is right.

b) A second reaction is joy.

c) Because Paul was persuaded about his life in Christ, he had great joy.

d) This thought is found in the final chapter of this book.

2) The exact reference is Rom. 16:19.

3) The ASV does not have the “I am” expression but it is found in the KJV.

4) The KJV says, “I am glad.”

5) The ASV says “I rejoice.”

6) Paul was certainly elated that he had found the truth.

7) In Rom. 16:19, when he spoke about others finding the right way, he said, “I rejoice.”

8) “I am glad that others have embraced the truth of the gospel.”

a) At Goshen we do pretty well with the “I am” of Rom. 16:19.

b) When someone has left the right way but wants to come back, he or she is welcomed.

c) Those who want to become Christians are commended for their decision.

d) There are places where there is not a lot of rejoicing.

e) I and others in this assembly have seen times when a person wanted to be baptized into Christ.

f) Some in the assembly didn’t stay for the immersion.

g) Perhaps they wanted to get a good seat at a local restaurant before the noon rush.

h) Staying may not have been convenient.

i) Even worse, those who left may not have been really interested in the event.

9) These attitudes are signs of spiritual immaturity.

10) When Paul was aware of people who wanted to serve God he said, “I am delighted.”

11) Paul’s example tells us that when someone wants to become right with God, we “rejoice.”

12) Our attitude is to be, “I am glad.”

FOR THE FOURTH PASSAGE ON OUR “I AM” STUDY WE TURN TO THE BOOK OF SECOND CORINTHAINS.

a) We want the second verse of the 10^th chapter.

b) In the KJV Paul again says, “I am.”

c) He used these words to talk about his being present with the Corinthians.

2) He described some of his time at Corinth with three words: “I am present.”

3) These simple words should apply to each one who is a Christian: I am present.

4) Paul was not just listed in the church directory.

5) When he was in the area of Corinth he was both present and active at this congregation.

6) A time in his life when he had some limitations and could not be present.

7) This still happens.

8) As time progresses Christians cannot do what they once did.

9) Age and health problems create limitations.

10) Before this time comes, we can ask ourselves if we are like the apostle.

11) Can we say, “I am present?” I am here, ready and able to serve God and His people.

12) Being present is good, but this was not all that Paul did.

13) We know this because of the final reference, Gal. 2:20.

AS PAUL PREPARED TO FINISH THE SECTION OF THIS BOOK THAT WE CALL GALATIANS 2, HE SAID, “I AM CRUCIFIEDWITH CHRIST.”

a) For Paul the church was not a one item on a list of many.

b) Jesus was not a little part of his life.

c) Paul claimed that he did his best to unite himself with the Lord.

d) He wanted to be inseparably joined with Jesus.

2) The previous verses tell us why this was his desire.

3) He was a debtor who was not ashamed of His Lord.

4) He wanted to “preach” Christ so having Jesus close to him was important.

5) Seeing people come to Christ made him happy.

6) He knew the information about Jesus and the Father is true so his hope was secure.

7) In Gal. 2:20 he then claimed he was welded to Jesus.

a) In a few moments we are going to sing an invitation song.

b) As we do that I would like for us to consider this question.

c) Suppose we were asked to describe our life with a simple sentence.

d) This sentence says, “I am ________ (we fill in the blank).

8) What would go in the blank?

9) Would it be the kinds of answers we find in the life of Paul or something else?

10) One day God will fill in that very blank.

11) We are going to sing a song that uses the words “I am.”

12) If we need help in some area we hope this will be an encouragement to you.