5.25 Epistles – The life of Paul shows the sharp contrast between the two kinds of righteousness
It is interesting that God should choose to use Paul to explain the New Covenant revelation of “righteousness by faith” to the Church. After all, he was the greatest enemy of the faith - until he met Jesus. His life shows the complete contrast between the two kinds of righteousness.
Paul describes himself as “a Hebrew of the Hebrews” (Phil. 3:5). He was brought up in Jerusalem “at the feet of Gamaliel,” the most illustrious rabbi of his day (Acts 5:34). Paul outstripped many of his fellow students in his enthusiasm for ancestral traditions and in his zeal for the Jewish law. He lived to fulfill the righteousness of the law.
This zeal found a ready outlet in his assault on the infant church of Jerusalem. The church presented a threat to all that Paul held most dear. Its worst offense was its proclamation of one who had suffered a death cursed by the Jewish law as Lord and Messiah (Deut. 21:22–23). The survival of Israel demanded that the followers of Jesus be wiped out. Paul himself related how he “persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it” (Gal. 1:13).
At the height of Paul’s campaign of repression, he was confronted on the road to Damascus by the risen Christ. In an instant his life was reoriented. The Jewish law was replaced as the central theme of Paul’s life by Jesus Christ. He became the leading champion of the cause he had tried to overthrow.
Paul’s zeal for the law had made him an ardent persecutor. He now saw that his persecuting activity had been sinful; yet the law, instead of showing him the sinfulness of such a course, had really led him into sin. Paul called himself the chief sinner (1 Tim 1:15). Paul learned that it was no longer by keeping the law that a person was justified in God’s sight, but by faith in Christ.
Paul speaks of his pursuit of the two kinds of righteousness in his life. He gave up his pursuit of righteousness of law in order to gain Christ and to have His righteousness that comes by faith. He expounded on this truth so beautifully in his epistles.
(Phil 3:7-9, NKJV)
But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ...that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, which is FROM THE LAW, but that which is THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST, the RIGHTEOUSNESS which is FROM GOD by faith...
Like Paul, we need to stop our pursuit of righteousness that comes through the law, in order to live by faith in the righteousness of Christ.
Paul describes himself as “a Hebrew of the Hebrews” (Phil. 3:5). He was brought up in Jerusalem “at the feet of Gamaliel,” the most illustrious rabbi of his day (Acts 5:34). Paul outstripped many of his fellow students in his enthusiasm for ancestral traditions and in his zeal for the Jewish law. He lived to fulfill the righteousness of the law.
This zeal found a ready outlet in his assault on the infant church of Jerusalem. The church presented a threat to all that Paul held most dear. Its worst offense was its proclamation of one who had suffered a death cursed by the Jewish law as Lord and Messiah (Deut. 21:22–23). The survival of Israel demanded that the followers of Jesus be wiped out. Paul himself related how he “persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it” (Gal. 1:13).
At the height of Paul’s campaign of repression, he was confronted on the road to Damascus by the risen Christ. In an instant his life was reoriented. The Jewish law was replaced as the central theme of Paul’s life by Jesus Christ. He became the leading champion of the cause he had tried to overthrow.
Paul’s zeal for the law had made him an ardent persecutor. He now saw that his persecuting activity had been sinful; yet the law, instead of showing him the sinfulness of such a course, had really led him into sin. Paul called himself the chief sinner (1 Tim 1:15). Paul learned that it was no longer by keeping the law that a person was justified in God’s sight, but by faith in Christ.
Paul speaks of his pursuit of the two kinds of righteousness in his life. He gave up his pursuit of righteousness of law in order to gain Christ and to have His righteousness that comes by faith. He expounded on this truth so beautifully in his epistles.
(Phil 3:7-9, NKJV)
But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ...that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, which is FROM THE LAW, but that which is THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST, the RIGHTEOUSNESS which is FROM GOD by faith...
Like Paul, we need to stop our pursuit of righteousness that comes through the law, in order to live by faith in the righteousness of Christ.
posted by Joshua Lye @ 7:55 PM
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