We Are Servants Of The One We Obey (Romans 6:16)
Paul's former way of life was Rabbinic Yahudaism.
This teaching authority placed human tradition and men's philosophies above obedience to Yahuah's Word. The one we obey is the one we are serving. We know man does not live by bread only, but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of Yahuah, not false shepherds (chiefs, rabbis, gurus, pastors). When we live by every Word of Yahuah and teach how to love, those false shepherds feel threatened, and maliciously attack the obedient.
Yahuah says His people will know His Name (YashaYahu / Is. 52:6).
Paul hunted the Natsarim for years because they were uttering the Name of Yahuah in the assemblies. The road to Damascus took the former man Shaul on a new mission. Yahusha put him on a mission to teach the Name, and made Paul take the besorah to the guyim. Through great hardship, Paul was used by Yahusha to turn many people away from their former paganism.
Lawless men do not understand Paul's letters, but twist them.
Galatians 1:9-14: "As we have said before, and now I say again, if anyone brings a besorah to you beside what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or Yahuah? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I should not be a servant of Mashiak. And I make known to you, brothers, that the Besorah announced by me is not according to man. For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but through a revelation of Yahusha Mashiak. For you have heard of my former way of life in Yahudaism, how intensely I persecuted the assembly of Yahuah, and ravaged it. And I progressed in Yahudim piety beyond many of my age in my race, being more exceedingly ardent for the traditions of my fathers."
Serving traditions of men makes us friends with men, and lends support to their lawless behavior. Doing the Word of Yahuah brings us out of the darkness, and those who knew us well in our former life wonder what has happened to us. Our will has been reset to live the rest of our lives in obedience, not serving the mind of flesh:
“For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the desire of the guyim, having walked in indecencies, lusts, drunkenness, orgies, wild parties, and abominable idolatries, in which they are surprised that you do not run with them in the same flood of loose behaviour, blaspheming, who shall give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” - 1 Peter 4:3-5
-Lew White
Comments