… For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism,
Summary: Paul’s words in this passage give us pause for thought. If you could take a “before” and “after” picture of yourself before and after meeting Jesus, what would be different?
Paul’s complete sentence reads, “For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.” (Galatians 1:13)
I wanted to pause for a moment to consider this phrase. What was Paul’s “previous way of life?”
Was Paul any different after he met Jesus than he was before? The best answer I can think of to that question is “Yes and no.” Yes, Paul was the same person after meeting Jesus because he still had all the zeal, energy, knowledge, and devotion to God that he had before. “No,” because Paul’s understanding of Scripture had changed completely. Everything old was new for Paul.
I sometimes ponder the difference between Paul’s understanding of faith in his “previous way of life” and after. His faith as a Pharisee was tied to the laws of Moses. He had “faith,” but it was mostly faith in his own ability to keep the Law. After meeting Jesus, he discovered a different kind of faith; faith in God’s love.
Paul’s writings are hard to understand because he has a lawyer’s brain. He likes to explain things in detail, but sometimes details distract from the bigger picture.
Picture, if you will, the legalistic structure of Judaism compared to the elegant simplicity of faith in Jesus Christ. In both cases, God wants to have a heart connection with us. With Judaism, God describes that heart connection by describing how people who love God act. Unfortunately, this gave rise to an entire class of people who specialized in acting righteous, even though their hearts were far from God (Isaiah 29:13).
With Christianity, God made it very simple. Jesus said, “I know my sheep and my sheep know me …” (John 10:14)
That’s it.
Well, not exactly. Jesus did say, “If you love me, keep my commands.” (John 14:15) Wait, what?!? Is following Jesus just like following Moses?
This difference is what Paul struggles to teach us about Jesus. There is a difference between living by faith in the Law and living by faith in Jesus. Jesus wants us to live a righteous life, but our relationship with God is not conditioned on how well we follow the Law. It is conditioned on how well we know Jesus.
Application: Get to know Jesus better each day.
Food for Thought: How does knowing Jesus change us from our “previous way of life?”
How does knowing Jesus change us from our “previous way of life?”
It changes us into a target. Matthew 5:10-12.
Tim,
Thank you! That is certainly a change. 🙂
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
(Matthew 5:10)
Moving towards the Light (John 8:12) is always perceived as a threat to those who choose to remain in darkness.
I like that “T.” I like that we are targeted by God’s love and purpose. The cross had us as a goal.
I also like your devotion brother. I like the application – get to know Jesus better each day.
It is a relationship in which He is Lord. Am I following Him? Do I love Him? Is He my Savior only – or also my Lord, my King? Not just in what I mouth, but also in what is a true conversion in my heart?
I think these are questions to help guide us from our previous way of life into His arms. In the previous way of life I was lost without a shepherd, now I have the Good Shepherd Whom I can follow and know. John 10: 11, 27 – 28.
Amen, Rich.
Recognizing our Lord as our Shepherd is a comfort. The Shepherd is always at work watching over his sheep. Our salvation rests on his shoulders, not ours.
Knowing Jesus means knowing that sin has separated us from God, but that Christ has made it possible to walk in His Spirit. Walking in the spirit means knowing that our previous way of life is not God’s way of Life. The previous way of life is walking in ignorance, rebellion, and fear. God’s way of Life is walking in truth, submission, and peace.
Thanks Chris!
Going from rebellion and fear to submission and peace is a good description of the difference.
12-28-2023, How does knowing Jesus change us from our “previous way of life?”
When Jesus walked on the earth, people weren’t always great about loving everyone and realizing everyone is equally loved by God, but Jesus shows us what it means to love each other by the way He treated everyone. Pharisee, prostitute, thief, Jew and Gentile, male and female, are equal in His eyes. Today, Jesus resides in the heart of every believer, and continues to love all people in the world. As we follow Jesus, allow Him to sit on the throne of our lives, we will see others the way He does, see Jesus at work as we experience His loving all people through us.
.
John 3:17, For God did not send His Son into the WORLD to condemn the WORLD, but to save the WORLD through Him.
John 16:8, And when He comes, He will convict the WORLD in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.
Thank you, Ron!
I feel like you are pointing us to that one critical word that sums up God and what he wants from us and for us: Love.
Definitely, His love knows no bounds. Hate the sin as we love the sinner!
Ron