Just Say "When"

Paul is reminding the Galatians of his bio.  The message he preached to them during his visit wasn’t some manmade concoction, but personally given him by Christ Himself (Gal 1:11-12).  As he had done when he was with them, he confesses his background as the lead persecutor and terminator of Jesus’ followers (Gal 1:13-14).  

The apostle then describes the process of his conversion.  But he doesn’t start with the divine mugging on the highway outside of Damascus.  He goes back, WAY back.  Back before he was born.  “But when He who had set me apart before I was born…” (v15).  

God’s selection of Paul began before his birth.  He uses the Greek verb αφοριζω/aphorizo, which literally means to mark off a boundary.  It also means to choose or set apart for a special purpose.  God handpicked Paul before he was a gleam in his mother’s eye.  

This is the theological idea of election.  Election is God’s sovereign choice of those for salvation regardless of any merit, qualifications, resume or accomplishments on their part.  When the Lord drafts someone before birth, there’s not much the draftee brings to the table.  Election is all based on God’s goodness and grace.  Paul is telling the Galatians that Almighty God put him on His team despite his self-righteousness and sin.

Paul relates how the Lord “called me by His grace” (v15).  If we missed it when he wrote of being “set apart,” he wants to make it clear that this was about God placing His apostle-to-be under the waterfall of His undeserved kindness.  God called Paul.  

This brings us to another big theological idea: effectual call.  When God calls, people answer “yes.”  When God calls, people respond positively.  When God calls, people never RSVP “no.”  Later, Paul will write to the Romans about this breathtaking process.    “For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.  And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified” (Rom 8:29-30).  

Just as he describes to the Galatians, Paul’s point here is that God is behind it all.  He’s the One doing the work.  He’s the One knowing, selecting, calling, justifying and glorifying.  That’s grace.  

The apostle eventually comes to that fateful day outside of Damascus when God “was pleased to reveal His Son to me” (v16).  Notice that long before that the Lord Paul apart and called him.  To get the full picture of what God is doing, we need to do a little grammar work.  Verses 16-18 are actually one long sentence.  

Let’s diagram the sentence and put the subject with the verb.  “But when He...was pleased to reveal His Son to me…”  Paul says that the timing of the events on the road were not only God’s idea but it made Him happy.  Don’t miss “when He.”  Not only does everything happen for a reason, but everything happens at a particular time for a reason.  Throughout the Bible we see God moving according to His calendar.  He works when He pleases.  A quick search of the phrase the “appointed time” shows that it appears 26 times in Scripture.

Timing is everything.  And God’s timing is perfect.  He’s never early.  He’s never late.  He is the Who behind not only the What, the How, the Why, the Where but the When.  For some reason that Paul doesn’t explain, it put a smile on God’s face to reveal His Son to Saul the Terminator as he was rolling into Damascus on his black ops mission against Jesus’ followers.

While God didn’t explain the timing, He did explain the reason for the midday mugging.  “That I might preach Him among the Gentiles” (v16).  This was Jesus’ specific assignment for the man from Tarsus.  Actually the the Greek in verse 16 is interesting.  

The ESV uses “preach.”  It’s actually the verb form of Gospel (Gr. ευαγγελιζω/euangelizo).  Once again, Paul gets back to the basics of the Good News.  He uses either the noun or verb form of Gospel over and over in this emergency epistle to Galatia.  He says that Christ has called him to spread the Good News “among the Gentiles.”  Actually, the original Greek uses the word εθνος/ethnos.  

Paul says that Jesus sent him to people of every ethnic group in the world, not just Jews.  God was swinging the door wide in offering salvation to the entire world through Jesus.  And Paul was His handpicked ambassador to spread the news.  So you could actually translate this phrase in verse 16 as “that I might Gospel Him among the ethnic groups.”  The English is awkward but effective.

Paul tells us that once Jesus got ahold of him outside of Damascus, he didn’t go running to anyone to confirm what Christ told him personally.  “I did not immediately consult with anyone” (v16).  Since he got his assignment straight from Jesus, the apostle sees no reason to get someone else to sign off on it.  

He goes on to say that he made the intentional decision to not “go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me” (v17).  He pulls no punches.  He clearly sees himself as an apostle.  He understands that he is one of those personally picked by Jesus to represent Him with full authority.  

Instead of going to Jerusalem, Paul “went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus” (v17).  He’s talking about Nabatean Arabia, a desert wilderness that stretched from just outside of Damascus to the Sinai Peninsula.  We don’t know what happened during his Arabian retreat.  

I think Jesus used this time to personally disciple Paul in this radical Gospel to non-Jews.  Could this be where he had his amazing vision of heaven (2Cor 12:2-4)?  Something happened in the desert.  We just don’t know what.  It will be cool to find out. 

©2012

Jay Jennings

 

Enduring Election

“Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory” (2Tim 2:10).

Attack ads on TV. Divisive political rhetoric. Zero talk of real issues. Must be an election year. So let’s just cut to the chase. I hate election years. Not dislike. I’m talking full on H-A-T-E. Yeah, I know. “Hate” is such an ugly word. But I’ve come to the conclusion that you can always tell when a politician is lying. Their lips are moving.

It seems like each election cycle gets worse. You come to the final choices for each party in just about every race and you go, “Really? These knuckleheads are the best we can do?” I participate in the election but I also must endure it. I’m Jay Jennings and I do NOT approve of this message!

If you feel the same way, Paul has some VERY good news for you. There’s another kind of election that we can all get behind. “Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they may obtain salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory” (v10). The apostle is a campaign worker and he’s giving every ounce of his energy to the cause. But it’s not on behalf of any political candidate. He’s enduring it all so that those God chooses can fully realize a relationship with Jesus. This is one election I can really get excited about!

As unpleasant as an election year can be, it’s nothing compared to Paul’s situation. He finds himself locked up in a Roman prison (2Tim 1:8, 16; 2:9). Insert “crooked politician in prison” joke here. But this is really no laughing matter for the former Pharisee. He’s on Death Row (2Tim 4:6-7). He writes to his buddy Timothy for two simple reasons. One, he knows he must pass the baton of ministry to the young pastor (2Tim 2:1-4:8). Two, he desperately wants to see Tim one last time (2Tim 4:9, 21). 

The first word we see here in verse 10 is “therefore.” While we’re tempted to blow right by it without thinking, it’s an important connector between what the apostle has just said and what he’s about to tell us. As the old saying goes, “Anytime we see ‘therefore,’ we have to stop and ask, ‘What is it there for?’” 

The original language here (Gr. δια τουτο) actually pulls back the curtain of Paul’s motivation. So let’s back up a just a skosh. He’s devoted his life to preaching the Gospel (2Tim 2:8). It’s the whole reason he suffers in the slammer. But while he’s locked up, God’s Word is on the lam (2Tim 2:9). The apostle tells Tim his time behind bars is worth it because of what’s going on. We’re about to find out the reason for the election season.

“Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect” (v10). Paul uses the Greek verb `υπομενω here, which means to remain behind or stay when others leave. It’s the idea of refusing to flee. Standing your ground. Persevering. Bearing bravely and calmly. Folks look at your situation and wonder, “What in the world are you still doing here?”

Check out a handful of times NT writers use the word. Dr. Luke drops it when Joe and Mary head back to Nazareth and didn’t realize “the boy Jesus stayed behind (Gr. `υπομενω) in Jerusalem” (Lk 2:43). When troublemakers from Thessalonica found Paul in Berea, believers there smuggled the apostle out of town while “Silas and Timothy remained (Gr. `υπομενω) there” (Acts 17:14). In both cases, folks may be asking, “What in the world are you still doing here?”

But we get the ultimate model of endurance from our Savior. The author of Hebrews tells us that we should be “looking to Jesus, the Founder and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured (Gr. `υπομενω) the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured (Gr. `υπομενω) from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted” (Heb 12:2-3). 

Christ not only endured the cross so that we would know the ultimate joy of a relationship with Him, but He endured so that we could endure! For those who can’t wrap their heads around the Gospel, they wonder why in the world did the Son of God die on a cross. They can’t figure out why in the world His followers often don’t flinch in times of trouble. Because that’s exactly what love looks like. “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures (Gr. `υπομενω) all things” (1Cor 13:7). We endure. It’s what He did. It’s what Paul did. It’s what we should do.

Specifically, Paul preserves through the total package “for the sake of the elect” (v10). The word the ESV translators give us for “elect” (Gr. εκλεκτος) describes something or someone selected or chosen. It’s the one picked out. When folks like Paul use this word, they’re NOT talking about politicians (Well, I guess they could be. If so, it’s just another crazy example of God’s miraculous grace!). In this case, the “elect” are the people God personally picks. The people He chooses. He casts His divine ballot in your favor.

The apostle Jesus nicknamed Rocky writes that God’s people “are a chosen (Gr. εκλεκτος) race” and that He picked us in order to tell others about Him (1Pet 2:9). Paul says that happens when “As God’s chosen people (Gr. εκλεκτος), holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, and patience” (Col 3:12 NIV). When explaining the sequence of events for His incredible return to His posse, Jesus said He “will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect (Gr. εκλεκτος) from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Mt 24:31). Kinda makes an election night victory of balloons and confetti look rather mild, don’t you think?

The shame about it is election in the Bible is just about as controversial as a political election. Relax. We’re not going into some drawn-out discussion of predestination here. Here’s what you need to know when it comes to election and God. We don’t so much choose God as He chooses us! Unlike too many of our political decisions, God is NOT faced with choosing between the lesser of two evils. He doesn’t cast a vote against anyone. He always votes FOR! And He votes FOR YOU because He LOVES YOU!!

Paul reveals to Timothy the entire reason he does it all is so that those God chooses “also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus” (v10). In other words, this election has nothing to do with fundraising. It has EVERYTHING to do with exploring all that God has obtained for you in and through His Son Jesus. Forget those empty campaign promises (the ones elected sure have!). This is a whole lot better than two chickens in every pot, building a wall, or making somebody other than you pay more taxes.

Few people who follow Jesus never really dive into the deep end of the pool of grace. It’s our own fault that we fail to enjoy the full benefits package of a relationship with the Lord. Our Savior came to bring us an abundant and overflowing life (Jn 10:10). As Dr. Phil likes to say, “How’s that working out for you?” Like Paul, God uses you and me to help the elect find out they’re God’s elect. That also includes unpacking what the life of a disciple looks like. This is one open enrollment meeting that won’t put you to sleep! Getting our hands on salvation means unlocking the full benefits of a relationship with Jesus.

Paul tells Tim how God’s selection of His people is done “with eternal glory” (v10).  In other words, this election isn’t about four more years. There’s no reelection campaign. This is one office with NO term limits. Once God selects you as His, you’re His for all eternity! And it’s going to be glorious!!

Now THAT’S a Candidate I can get behind! How about you? Once I’ve placed my trust in Who Jesus is and what He’s done for me, it’s time to campaign on His behalf. Because Christ endured so much for you and me, we should be willing to endure in order to share His message with others. He elected us. He personally picked us. He chose us to alert the elect! I don’t know about you, but that’s WAY better than suffering through another election season on Earth.

Me Third

“Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth which accords with godliness” (Titus 1:1).

Great servant leaders realize they can’t do it alone. They understand the importance training others and eventually handing off the work to someone else. They understand they serve those in authority by serving those they shepherd. In the opening lines of his letter to Titus, the Apostle Paul gives us a classic picture of “Me Third” leadership. “Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth which accords with godliness” (v1). He’s serving God as Jesus’ official representative. The Godhead sends him to serve Jesus’ followers and build up their trust in Him. The apostle doesn’t want to be number one. He’s not looking to be ranked second. His rightful place in the polls is third. 

And now the apostle has handed off the very important project on Crete to his boy Titus. We’ll dig a little deeper into Titus’ bio and his relationship with the apostle down in verse four. At this point, just know Paul understands that he’s not only serving His Savior, the Christ followers of Crete, but also his handpicked replacement for this critical mission. It’s not about Paul. Not even close. This is about making Jesus famous on this Mediterranean island. This is about growing the faith of His followers there. This is about allowing a young gun named Titus to spread his wings as a leader. Yeah, this is NOT about Paul.

A few years back, you never would have never dreamed this kind of servant leadership from Paul. Back then everyone knew him as Saul, one of the rising stars in the Jewish faith. I mean the dude was Hebrew hot stuff (Phil 3:5-6). He was born and raised in Tarsus (Acts 22:3), a town on the southeastern coast of modern day Turkey. He eventually went off to school and studied under greatest rabbis of the day, the great Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). The young stud completely flips out when Jesus and His followers challenge much of what he believes. Saul becomes so passionate about wiping the Way off the face of the planet that he runs the coat check table at Stephen’s stoning (Acts 7:58-60). Before you know it, he begs Jewish leaders to let him go a search-and-destroy mission for the folks who actually believe the Rabbi/Carpenter from Galilee is the Messiah (Acts 8:1-3). As a one-man wrecking crew, Saul doesn’t just arrest Jesus’ followers. He hunts them down and murders them (Acts 22:4). 

That all changed on one of his patented black ops missions to Damascus to rub out another pesky rebel cell. The resurrected Jesus personally blindsides Saul. He simultaneously blinds the man from Tarsus and opens his eyes to the truth of who He is (Acts 9:1-9). Christ turns Saul’s life upside down. He goes from murderer to missionary. Jesus transforms this assassin to an apostle. Just in case you think Jesus can’t turn a life around, remember what He did with Saul. When Christ gets His mighty mitts on you, anything is possible. He specializes in selecting rejects and using them in ridiculous ways (1Cor 1:27-29). He did it with Paul. He can do it with you. 

Paul describes himself as “a servant of God” (v1). In other words, he plays the God card in a very humble way. He doesn’t puff out his chest and say he’s a vice president with the company or some sort of big shot. Nope. He’s a servant. Just in case you’re unclear on just exactly what comes with that position, it does NOT include a corner office, a key to the executive wash room, and private elevator. On the other hand, Paul lets us know that he’s working for the Ultimate Authority. He may only be a servant, but he comes with some serious cred. 

The former Pharisee is also “an apostle of Jesus Christ” (v1). So just what is an apostle? This title has kind of lost its original meaning over the centuries. One reason is that we don’t exactly run into apostles at Starbucks these days. Back in the first century, this word “apostle” (Gr. apostolos) described anyone who was a handpicked delegate serving as a someone’s official representative. In other words, the person doing the sending gives them the same power and authority of the sender. So when the Apostle Paul speaks or writes, his words carry the same oomph as our Savior. He starts a lot of his letters by letting folks know he’s writing as the Lord’s official rep (Rom 1:1; 2Cor 1:1; Gal 1:1; Eph 1:1; Col 1:1; 1Tim 1:1; 2Tim 1:1). And he does it again here. Yeah, so being one of Jesus’ apostles is a pretty big deal. 

While there are no longer any living capital “A” apostles, every follower of Jesus is His official representative. Just as His Heavenly Dad sent Him into our world on the greatest rescue mission the universe has ever seen, He sends you and me. He sends us with His gracious invitation to be part of His kingdom. He sends us with the message of forgiveness and grace found only in Christ. You and I may not be apostles, but He personally sends us out into the world as shiners of His light and spreaders of His salt. 

Paul says God has given him this specific assignment “for the sake of the faith of God’s elect” (v1). In other words, the Lord is using Him to build up the trust of those who have placed their trust in Jesus. On this side of eternity, our faith is going to struggle at times. Like the dad who went running to Jesus to heal his boy, we both believe but desperately need help with our unbelief (Mk 9:23-24). The apostle’s role is to help folks grow their faith in God. Like Hans and Franz, he’s here to pump…you up! Who are those people God has placed in your life to pump up your faith in Jesus? Maybe Christ has put you in a position to build up the trust of others. Never miss a chance to point folks to who Jesus is and what He’s done. As we’ll read a little bit later, faith not backed up by action is dead as a doornail. 

We build up the faith of others by helping them with “their knowledge of the truth which accords with godliness” (v1). By truth, Paul means Jesus. Christ Himself had the audacity to claim He is the personal embodiment of “the Truth” (Jn 14:6). Not just A truth. But THE Truth. So just what is the truth about the Truth? Jesus lived the perfect life we failed to live. He died the death for our disobedience and sin we should have died. He rose to a spectacular new life we don’t deserve. In other words, Jesus did for us what we could never dream of doing for ourselves. 

The truth of Jesus and His Gospel changes everything. It “accords with godliness” (v1). Godliness stands out. The more we trust and obey our Lord, the more we stand out from culture. Do you do what Jesus tells you to do? Does your life of obedience to Christ contrast with the world around you? Do you handle money differently than others? Do you love your family differently from others? Do you work at your job differently than your coworkers? Do you interact with your neighbors differently than the rest of the people on your cul-de-sac? If you’re trying to remember His instructions, they’re pretty simple. Love God. Love others. According to Jesus, that’s the perfect way of obeying everything in the Old Testament (Mt 22:35-40).

We see here that Paul’s bottom line has nothing to do with Paul It’s about serving god. It’s about being sent by Jesus. It’s about building up God’s people. It’s “Me Third.” In college sports, everybody is working their tails off to get to the top spot in the polls. Not Paul. He’s fine finishing third. And in God’s rankings, that’s last. God first. Others second. Me third.

A Draft Day Surprise

“Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness” (v1).

You know you’re a hardcore sports fan when you can wait to watch the draft. Yeah, I confess. But I know I’m not alone. Go ahead. Admit it. You do too. It seems like at every draft there’s some sort of crazy surprise in the first round. Some team takes what seems like a ridiculous chance on some dude you’ve never heard of. Mel Kiper scratches his well-coiffed head. Nobody had him on their draft board! 

Turn back the clock to the first century and you could well be talking about the Apostle Paul. Nobody could have predicted that God would make him a top draft pick. Check out the scouting report on this guy. He was formerly known as Saul of Tarsus. Oh, he has skills. No question about it. “Tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee…as to righteous under the law, blameless” (Phil 3:5, 6b). Sounds like lottery pick material, doesn’t he? 

There’s just one problem. Right in the middle of his resume in Philippians, Paul makes an interesting admission. “As to zeal, a persecutor of the church” (Phil 3:6a). The apostle formerly known as Saul shows up running the coat check table at Stephen’s stoning (Acts 7:58). He gave two thumbs up to this bloody execution (Acts 8:1). At that point, he rolled up his sleeves and took his act on the road. “Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and woman and committed them to prison” (Acts 8:3). When it comes to hunting down the followers of Jesus, Saul’s the baddest man on the planet.

That all changed one day when he and his black ops team headed to Damascus to take out more Christians. Before they could bust the door down and raid the local church, the resurrected Jesus ambushed them just outside the city (Acts 9:1-8). Before he knew what was happening, Saul was blind and hearing the voice of Christ. Jesus took His number one enemy and made him His number one draft pick. One moment he’s persecutor Saul. The next he’s Apostle Paul. From murderer to missionary. Nobody had him on their draft board.

Ever feel like a lost cause? Ever feel like God could never use you? Yeah, I think Saul/Paul’s story pretty much slams the door shut on that argument.

Here in the opening lines of his letter to Titus, the former Saul now humbly refers to himself as “a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ” (v1). Wow. Talk about a 180! By claiming the title of servant, Paul puts himself at the bottom of the org chart. Later in this same letter, he writes instructions to slaves save by Jesus. This is the Greek word doulos. “Slaves are to be submissive to their own masters in everything, they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior” (Titus 2:9-10). Paul lets us know that he’s modeling that submission to the Master. He’s letting Titus know that he’s ready and available for whatever God wants, whenever God wants, with whomever God wants. 

Are you available? Are you ready? With God, it’s not about your ability. It’s your availability. 

Paul goes to say that he’s “an apostle of Jesus Christ” (v1). For those of us who spent a little time in Sunday School, we might make the mistake of thinking an apostle is just another word for disciple (and that an epistle is one of the their wives!). Back in the Greco-Roman world, an apostle was someone appointed by the boss and given full rights and privileges. When you’re talking to an apostle, it’s the same as talking to the boss. So when you’re talking to one of the Twelve, it’s like you’re talking to Jesus Himself. That means that when you’re reading what they wrote under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, it’s like you’re reading something from Jesus. So when Titus opens this note from his mentor Paul, he reads it like it’s from his Savior as well.

Paul doesn’t play the apostle card willy nilly. He does it humbly. He does it appropriately. Even when he does, he sees himself as “the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God” (1Cor 15:9). What a great lesson for the rest of us. This is an awesome lesson of servant leadership. There’s absolutely no reason for any follower of Jesus to get cocky. We’re all simply beggars who’ve stumbled onto the Bread. 

The man from Tarsus lets us in on a big part of his purpose as a servant/apostle. It’s “for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords to godliness” (v1). Or as the Message tells us, “for promoting the faith among God’s chosen people, getting out the accurate word on God and how to rightly respond to it” (v1 The Message). It’s very important to remember that in Paul’s day, the idea that Jesus is the Messiah and He selects non-Jews to salvation was hot off the presses. A huge part of the apostle’s role was to explain this amazing truth, especially to Gentiles (Acts 9:15; 22:21). 

The apostle wanted God’s hand-picked people to know exactly who Jesus is, what He has done, and who they are because of Him. Paul wrote to his friends in Corinth, “For our sake He (God) made Him (Jesus) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him (Jesus) we might become the righteousness of God” (2Cor 5:21). Jesus lived the perfect life that we fail to live. He died the brutal death for our sin that we should have died. He rose to a spectacular new life that we don’t deserve. In other words, we’re just like Paul. Nobody looked at us as draft picks for God. We weren’t on anybody’s draft board. 

Once we know the truth of who He is and what He’s done for us, we know how to live. This is “godliness” (v1). We don’t try to be godly so that Jesus will save us. We’ll never be good enough for Him to come to our rescue. No, it’s the other way around. He saves us and then we respond by living godly lives. We live lives of godliness as an act of worship. We do what He commands because we’re so thankful for what He’s done for us. Paul’s buddy Pete lets us know that Jesus didn’t save us and leave us swinging in the breeze to try and be godly all on our own. “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and goodness” (2Pet 1:3). Christ isn’t simply our Hero who pulls us out of a tight spot. He then gives us all the resources we need to live godly lives.

Paul is a draft day surprise. So are you. So am I. Once Jesus handpicks us, He gives us His power to perform.