I belabor again the matter of belaboring things. For when found contending the matter of our experiences in Christ being both intensely and exquisitely personal, there is no choice to it. We must go, as we must go. Nor am I ashamed of this matter of seeming paradox or apparent contradiction how that God, through Christ assembles us to, with, and even in one another, and to no less measure than we are in Christ. As much as we are of and in Christ, we are no less of and in the body, together.
This is itself a marvel to consider, such a particular fashioning, such a personal marking of ownership that, apart from the spirit that binds us to one another, we might all easily conclude…each is made too differently from the other to fit…yet it is precisely this work and working that both causes us to fit, and reveals our fitting. The stamp of ownership, the mark of purchase is upon each, regardless of how differently these matters (even so personally wrought in us and to us) might otherwise appear. The same spirit is all and only what is distributed for any recognition, no matter appearances as discerned otherwise. And learning to recognize the Christ of God as He is, even in His body, is both our calling and delightful portion.
And of course, God forbid we fail to recognize a one as our brother Paul. Though some may argue his calling was too particular, his assignment too distinguished, his office of such manifest difference to all or any other that he is himself beyond consideration (as both no more nor less a part of this body than any other) and as such is “off limits” for personal consideration…there is but one question, “did he?” The question is simple. Who, in all scripture we have as one won to Christ, is more forthcoming about his personal estate, his personal struggle(s), his confessions of weakness and yes, sometime fear and doubt about whatever things he mentions, than he?
And since this is raised to some contention the counter contention could easily be raised…why consider him then “more” than any other? Why find him (or some of his revelations) worthy of “more probing” more discussion, more observation, then? Surely we could say sheer volume or weight of writing, or matters of depth in exposition. But then, do you see, if we consider all “of that” weighty stuff so worthy of consideration…this itself adds weight to anything we might also consider as sort of personal confession of his, no less. Or do you (or I, or we,) still thinks in terms of some is wheat, others stuff is well, more chaff-like? God knows, we may. Do we?
God knows…if he is indeed “deep”, then all comes of that depth. His fears. His doubts. His labors and struggles. His self confessions. Be careful then (who can say such!?), for how many have been comforted (have you?) by such word as “My grace is sufficient for you” while having no regard to discarding those trials through which such provoking of seeking came…to hear them? Yes, indeed, Paul tells us much about himself. And the way of his seeking after the Christ and in its effects upon him. We are caught then, aren’t we in this matter, even as we are (and no less as we are) made captives of Jesus Christ and to one another. Christ’s exceptionalism, preeminence, or [sic] exceptionality (God forbid), should never keep us from considering Him to all depth. God forbid we care to remain ignorant of whom and what we eat as life. And:
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
And if we believe (do we?) Paul was given to speak and write according to that same spirit of Christ given and received, even as things of life to us, then surely all recorded is worthy for taking in.
Even such matter as:
For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
Mentioned. And in this context of coming to question (as some man might in finding such prevalence of sin when seeking after Christ) “is Christ then a minister of sin?”
But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid! For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
It was as it has to be, and had to be settled to Paul, as it must no less to us that, there being no sin in Jesus the Christ, there can be no ministry of it from Him.
Think for a moment, saint. Think of any or any place in which you may have once held misgiving about the Lord and His gospel. Think even if you can, and God allows, of those places of your strongest objection if possible. Did you ever think Jesus accursed? A cursed one? A blasphemer, a carrier and promulgator of all un-righteousness and dissuader of persons to the most perverse of leading…that you sought disciple’s deaths…as one might seek to wipe out a cancer?
You know, even some of the most “hardened” atheists I have ever spoke with still concede (in their feigned magnanimity) “Jesus said some pretty good stuff”. But Saul of Tarsus? Spare none, kill or imprison them all. Of course you know this. Paul had a quite particular view of that man named (and called) Christ by His disciples…and strenuously went about (thinking he was doing God’s work) to wipe them out wherever they be found. Sin? This was its deepest working to him. Perverting the way of God, delivered to the “Jews”…even to the perverting of Jews, and Jewery.
Now in this context, when such matter of sin and sinner(s) arises (to Paul, no longer that Saul) in consequence discovered when seeking after the Christ of justification, can we see what was settled to Paul…completely…that there can be no consideration that Christ is the cause of sin found? Yes, he would not rebuild to that place once torn down, once so completely settled to him that to do so would itself be the fuller measure of transgression displayed…to now attribute sin to Christ. Yes, to him as settled as settled could be to a man that there is neither unrighteousness, cause of stumbling, nor anything of any unsavory nature issuing from Christ. And lest we forget, it is the Paul (once Saul) who had to have an entire disposition uprooted and set aright by God’s revelation of His Christ.
That we all know of this, have easy access to the scriptures testimony about this once Saul, should not diminish appreciation nor be casually taken of God’s work of persuasion and convincing. And that, no less toward us who believe, such power is in exercise.
Yes, we will come to places of deep upsetting at times, places of such seeming desolation at our seeing, even despairing of ourselves that we may (God forbid) hold something against the Christ as a fault of His, in bringing us to such seeing and knowing.
God forbid!
One may say that whole matter:
But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners
Is something neither to you, about you, or for you, but that Paul was perhaps writing to some other particular man, but not you. Well enough. And that even any matter of raising it (as in these few words and pages) is of no consequence to or for you. God forbid I disagree.
But for those few (even if only one other) that finds some place of relating to it, be comforted to know you are neither alone nor without…relatives there. As need be keep pressing on past all other dissuasion to a lie in the persuasion of that truth whose power is working in all, no less toward you, in you, and for you, than it was in Paul.
Indeed Paul is very, very special. Assigned to carry a full testimony, and unashamed to share it.
For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
If you are in any way convinced toward “yes, but it was for him alone in his specialness”. Then how wrong he would be found to have shared it. He was not reluctant to speak of things by mention, that he could not mention. He refrained to utter that which is/was unlawful to him in a man’s being:
How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
Of those thins we need not speculate. Of things unspeakable and unspoken.
But of things he has said in his liberty in Christ, it may be well for a soul to hear.
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