Paul, a devout Pharisee, was indeed a persecutor of those who followed YAHSHUA’S teachings, as he estimated Him from a human point of view. The outsiders of the Christian faith who persecute them, have no sight to see, neither understanding of the spiritual things to act and judge those for what they are in their faith in God, consequently, they persecute and kill them. They eliminate the Christians from the earth in their erroneous and prideful ways of estimating others for their faith. In Acts chapter eight and nine, we read a report concerning Paul’s persecution of the Christians of his days, where we read much hatred for them: And Saul was consenting to [Stephen’s] death. On that day, a great and severe persecution broke out against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. (vs. 1). Meanwhile, Saul still drawing his breath hard from the threatening and murderous desire against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and requested of him letters to the synagogue at Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way he might bring them bound to Jerusalem (9:1-2). The way that he regarded the Lord YAHSHUA as human and not as God’s Son was reflected on his treatment of the YAHSHUA’S disciples.
A child of God, he who has experienced the new birth in YAHSHUA, is a new creation, born of the Spirit and not of the flesh. YAHSHUA told Nicodemus, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, unless a man is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God. What is born of the flesh is flesh; and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not at My telling you, You must all be born anew (John 3:5-7). YAHSHUA clearly confirms the process of the new birth. Once we are born into the family of God, we are new creation; the old is gone, all is made new, said Paul. That is of great significance in the lives of those who have believed; theirs are the privileges of children of God; theirs are also the behavior that is required to reflect their position as children of God. And as such, they are to behave as God’s own chosen, who are purified and holy an well-beloved, tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling a lowly opinion of themselves, gentle ways, patience, gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has forgiven them; and above all these [put on] love and enfold themselves with the bond of perfectness (Col. 3). A child of God, united by the bond of love that emanates from YAHSHUA Himself, must not regard each other in terms of natural value standard, or from a purely human point of view, as those of the world do, blinded by it, for lacking spiritual discernment. We are knit together as one in our Lord YAHSHUA, Who is the head of the church- one church. We are one body and one Spirit- just as there is also one hope to the calling you received; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of Who is above all, pervading all and in all (Eph. 4:4-5). Paul says, We who are strong [in our convictions and of robust faith] out to bear with the failings and the frailties and the tender scruples of the weak; and not to please ourselves; let each one of us make it a practice to please his neighbor for his good and for his true welfare, to edify him. For Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written, the reproaches and abuses of those who reproached and abused you fell on Me (Rom. 15:1-3).
Light from the Word 