Paul made some incredible claims in his writings. He claims to be the "mater builder", "the Apostle to the Gentiles" and encourages his converts that they should "imitate and follow him". In this short series we will investigate these claims and determine how Paul could say such bold things.
In part #2 I laid out some of the bold and assertive claims that Paul wrote in his letters. Let us now start to investigate how Paul was able to write these things. What qualified him to claim these statements? How credible are they that we should accept them?
Credibility Point #1: Paul is to the the Body of Christ as Abraham is to Israel
The bible is full of patterns and types. There are many instances where things are repeated through the lives of bible characters or through events so as to bring emphasis to something important. This scenario is true within the comparison of both Abraham and Paul who each were the progenitors of primary dispensations within human history. This is God's doing. God had a plan with Abraham and brought about Israel. God had a plan with Paul and brought about the Body of Christ. The fact is that God instituted these two men and their resulting influences upon the world for His greater plan of redemption. Let's have a look at some remarkable similarities within the lives of these two men.
#1
Interestingly, both Abraham and Paul left the city which they were familiar with at the beginning of each dispensation. Abraham was instructed to "Get out..." of Ur and his father's house, as we see in Genesis 12:1, and Paul was on his way to Damascus when he encountered the presence of the Lord and a radical conversion in Acts 9.
Gen.12:1 ... the Lord had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you."
Acts 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
#2
Both were chosen specifically by the Lord to spearhead the start of each program.
Gen.12:2 I will make you [Abraham] a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and IN YOU all the families [nations] of the earth shall be blessed."
Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to him [Ananias], Go! For this one [Paul] is a [divinely] chosen vessel to Me, to bear My name before Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel.
#3
The covenant God made with Abrahams was sealed with the sign of circumcision (in the flesh), whereas the promise given to Paul was that each member in the Body of Christ would be circumcised (in the spirit). How incredible is this!!!
Genesis 17:12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. 13 He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
Colossians 2:11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, ... (Also see Romans 2:28-29)
#4
Abraham declared righteous by faith alone. He is the ONLY character in the Old Testament to have received this honour of God. As members of the Body of Christ, we follow the same pattern and are saved by grace alone, through faith alone!
Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. --- Galatians 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. (Also, Genesis 15:6)
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
#5
The two programs are alluded to by the STARS and the SAND. The restoration of -heaven and -earth (Eph.1:10; Col.1:20 – to bring both together under the headship and rule Christ in fullness of times.)
Genesis 22:17... because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; Rom.4:11-17
Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven;
Ephesians 2:6 raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places...
I'll leave the conviction up to you to determine what you see in the verses and patterns above.
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