Assault Against The Faithful Series

“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 and glory 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.” [1]

For the entirety of service before the Risen Saviour, the Apostle to the Gentiles was cognizant of the person he had been when Christ found him. Knowing the person he had been, Paul ever after marvelled at the grace he had received from the God who redeemed him. Perhaps you can relate to Paul. Perhaps you were an individual who had a decidedly unrighteous life when Jesus found you. And even if you imagine you were not such a bad person, you know that sin had sullied your life, making the death of God’s own Son mandatory if you were to be redeemed.

It is a sordid fact that remarkable pedigrees sometimes mask a sordid character. That was certainly the case for the Apostle to the Gentiles. He could produce a curriculum vitae that was the envy of Jewish zealots everywhere. When the documentation was examined, however, his pedigree revealed him to have been a bigot; Saul was a bitter and pernicious individual despite a superficial and pious religiosity. Despite whatever accolades he might have received from his peers, Paul knew there was nothing commendable in his background.

Writing a young theologue who pastored in Ephesus, Paul would write of his experience, “I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 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. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen” [1 TIMOTHY 1:12-17]. Amen, indeed!

REASONS FOR CONFIDENCE IN THE FLESH — Paul ticked all the right boxes to advance within Judaism. He testified, “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” [PHILIPPIANS 3:4b-6].

Few of us are prepared to practise being candid when it comes to revealing certain aspects of our lives. Our natural tendency is to emphasize the portions of our life that we believe will garner praise, or we at least believe the revelation of that facet of life won’t embarrass us. Those individuals who do emphasize the negative facets from their past are often guilty of attempting to make the event or the proclivity into something positive rather than seeing the past as the sordid mess it actually is. Far too many of the testimonies of those who converted to Christ after a period in which they were guilty of gross lese majesté against the Lord God will give a testimony that sounds suspiciously like glorification of the violence, the filth, the degradation that once marked their lives. Their “testimony” is more about what they did than it is about what Christ accomplished in them. It is as though the wrong-doing generated excitement that should be praised!

Jesus warned the Pharisees, and thus, He warns us, if we will listen to His words, “God knows your hearts. For what is highly prized among men is utterly detestable in God’s sight” [LUKE 16:15 NET BIBLE]. Isn’t it interesting to witness the testimony of some people? Listen to what is said, paying particular attention to how they describe themselves. What is exalted in their testimony speaks of what is especially prized in their life. And what they prize is often of no worth in the sight of the Living God.

Let me speak pointedly and plainly to this matter. When you give your testimony of grace—and I trust you do testify to the grace of our Saviour, don’t ever forget that you are to exalt Christ as Master over life. You are not called to exalt what you were or the evil in which you once reveled. If there is any exaltation to be delivered, let it be the exaltation of Christ as merciful. Glorify the Name of the Son of God. In a best case scenario, whatever resides in your past that seems worthy of your boasting, see it for what it actually is.