Why believe Paul’s message?

Important question, because Paul’s message is vital for us today. His message is inclusive.

Paul was paramount to the New Testament. When you read the New Testament, odds are you are reading his writings. In fact, he wrote almost 50% of the New Testament, 13 of 27 books. Paul started 10+ churches around 50 AD and is responsible for much of what Christians believe and teach today.

Paul’s message was consistent, steadfast, clear, simple. Jesus was the promised Messiah, prophesied in the Old Testament. Jesus came for everyone, the Jews, the Greeks, the Gentiles, all people, all nationalities. A different message than the “religious” were used to hearing that day from a passionate man that wholeheartedly believed.

But, Paul was human. Paul was simply a passionate man with a message. Many passionate leaders bring messages to the forefront, moving people and society. Why believe Paul, and, therefore, 50% of the New Testament?

If one studies Acts and Paul in depth, one is sure to have this question. Why should I believe this man? Three answers that can help find stability in Paul and his message.

Why believe Paul’s message?

1. Paul’s testimony. Luke wrote Acts. Per Luke’s testimony, repeated by Paul throughout the New Testament, he was approached by Jesus himself, about 30 years after He died on the Cross. Prior to being approached by Christ, Paul was traveling to find anyone that followed Christ and arrest them, stop them, potentially kill them, like Stephen. Paul’s life abruptly, immediately changes after coming face-to-face with Jesus. For the next 30 years, all he does, literally, all he does, is spread the news of Jesus. Paul went from a murderer of the followers of Jesus to a follower of Jesus, immediately. A radical change in his life. In fact, in his early 60’s, he was beheaded for this belief. Read the details of this event in Acts 9.

Testimonies impact people. When you read or hear a testimony of faith like Paul’s, at a minimum, it causes you to confront your own beliefs. What do I believe enough to die for? There is no more impactful message to give to others than your personal testimony on anything. If I want to learn about a restaurant, I read testimonies of people that have eaten there. That offers credibility. If I am considering a vacation to a foreign country, I want to hear testimonies of those that have traveled there. Their experience gives me a picture of what the place is like. Is there a more impactful way to talk about Christ than to personally share your experience, how He has impacted your life?

2. The faith of Paul was confirmed by the disciples. Paul did not do life, carry his beliefs, in a silo. He walked shoulder-to-shoulder with the apostles who walked shoulder-to-shoulder with Jesus. He knew Peter, James, and John, the three disciples closest to Christ during his time on earth. The apostles had walked with Jesus, they were the leaders of the early church, and they met, confirmed, and were behind Paul. Read Acts 15 for reference.

To not believe Paul is to not believe the apostles. Throughout the New Testament he traveled with them, worked with them, debated with them, and worshipped God with them. He was not divided against the disciples, but he was completely aligned with them and their message.

3. The Cross. To get to the writings of Paul, there are deeper waters one must swim in Scripture. Greater hurdles than the belief of Paul’s message exist in the Bible. The virgin birth happened. A teenage virgin literally gave birth to the child of God. Jesus was crucified and died on the Cross. Three days later, he walked out of a tomb. He was literally in a grave three days and walked out.

Ultimately, Christ has to open one’s eyes to believe in the Cross. If this happens, belief happens. If one believes the Cross, one believes Paul. If one has trouble with the truth of the Cross, Paul’s writings and 50% of the New Testament is up for debate. In fact, all of Scripture is up for debate.

So, if you believe his testimony, the early disciples of Jesus, and the Cross, you believe the message of Paul.

And, Paul’s message is timeless, vital for us today. Through Christ, Paul broke down the barriers of inequality and race. His message was that the Gospel, belief in Jesus, was for everyone. Everyone, nobody excluded. Prior to Paul, and even today, there was exclusive thinking by the “religious” of the day. God only loved, only chose, some. Some, because of their race were excluded. Paul battled this falsehood head on for 30 years until he died.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16

This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 1 Timothy 2:3-6

Inclusive truth.

Paul’s message is centrally about the Cross, about the risen Christ. His message is that the Gospel is available to all. There are no levels, no “religious,” no favorites in God’s eyes. As he says in Romans 3, “there is no distinction among people,” as all fall short of the glory of God. To believe Paul is to believe Jesus. To believe Paul is to be for all of mankind.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness; 2 Timothy 3:16

Impact others. Live generously.

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