Paul’s Hope Of Israel – Part 9

“For the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain” (Acts 28:20). It’s three minutes to midnight

During WWII, a group of scientists worked on the Manhattan Project to build the first atomic bomb. The US dropped two of these bombs on Japan in 1945, effectively ending the war. Afterwards, the scientists became concerned that their invention could be misused as part of full-scale war. They started the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists to educate people about the dangers of atomic or nuclear weapons. In 1947, the magazine printed a Doomsday Clock, set at seven minutes to midnight. They designed this symbol to serve as a visual reminder so that government would not have too much control over nuclear weapons. Ironically, the builders of the first atomic bombs feared the future use of these weapons once they realized the power and destructive force they had created. The scientists changed their beliefs and became the equivalent of converted scientific pacifists. They made a plan and took action to teach the world the lessons they had learned.

Per the Bulletin of Atomic Sciemtists in 2015: “Unchecked climate change, global nuclear weapons modernizations, and outsized nuclear weapons arsenals pose extraordinary and undeniable threats to the continued existence of humanity, and world leaders have failed to act with the speed or on the scale required to protect citizens from potential catastrophe. These failures of political leadership endanger every person on Earth.” Despite some modestly positive developments in the climate change arena, current efforts are entirely insufficient to prevent a catastrophic warming of Earth. Meanwhile, the United States and Russia have embarked on massive programs to modernize their nuclear triads — thereby undermining existing nuclear weapons treaties. “The clock ticks now at just three minutes to midnight because international leaders are failing to perform their most important duty — ensuring and preserving the health and vitality of human civilization”.

Paul’s hope is your hope.

The Apostle Paul is known for having become the greatest example of conversion in the Bible. He grew up highly educated in the strictest branch of Judaism. Paul learned the letter of the law from the best of the rabbis in Jerusalem. The book of Acts says that Paul was educated at the feet of the prominent Pharisee, Gamaliel, who was well respected by all (Acts 5:34; 22:3). Paul would have spent his youth learning and studying the Hebrew Bible in preparation for being a scribe, synagogue leader or Rabbi. He was a Roman citizen from Tarsus and had moved to Jerusalem to study. When he was older, his life changed dramatically on a journey to persecute Christians. Jesus stopped Paul in his tracks with a blinding light and told Paul how much his life would change.

In the span of just a few days, Paul changed from being the chief persecutor of early Christians, to being the main proponent for the new faith. What didn’t change was his great “hope of Israel”, which he kept with him throughout his ministry. Paul’s hope was the same as all Jews — to be part of God’s kingdom on earth. This would fit with what Abraham, David and Isaiah all experienced. But with his new discovery, Paul now focused on the return of Jesus as Messiah and not his former Jewish expectation of Messiah (1 Thess 1:10; 2:19; 4:14). He wrote: “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven. …and the dead in Christ will rise first” (1 Thess 4:16).

The just shall live by faith

Protestants credit Martin Luther for changing Christian teaching about faith and works. About 1520, Luther wrestled with church abuses and his own sinfulness. He was taught that faith alone could not save him, but that works were needed as well. He eventually came to the conclusion that this isn’t true as he meditated at length on Paul’s words in Romans: “The just shall live by faith” (Rom 1:17). Luther’s discovery and protest against the Catholic Church led to the Reformation in the Middle Ages. Paul’s quote from the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk was also repeated in Gal 3:11 to reinforce that no person can be saved by works, by following the Jewish law. Paul learned and applied the life-saving lessons of grace, forgiveness, faithfulness and righteousness and made these key elements in his teaching. He changed to believe that mankind is justified by faith, and salvation is given by God’s grace (Rom 3:28; 5:1-2).

Paul became an ambassador for Christ and a preacher to Gentiles, who are anyone who is not a Jew as in Gal 2:9. He became the key voice that Jesus used to build his church. Prior to Paul, Jesus’ followers were reluctant to preach to Gentiles (Acts 10:28), because they were considered physically and spiritually unclean. Jews were not even supposed to eat a meal with Gentiles to avoid spiritual contamination! Since Abraham, the Hebrew law had taught that the only way to salvation for men was to be circumcised (Gen 17:9-13; Lev 12:3). Anyone who was not circumcised was considered unworthy of God’s promises (Gen 17:14). Paul’s travels and writings helped to change this teaching.

Paul used his scholarly skills to preach what he called ‘the mystery of Christ.’ He repeated this many times (Rom 16:25; Eph 1:9; Col 4:3) including: “In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ” (Eph 3:4). Paul taught that the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus was, indeed, such a mystery because no one expected the promised Messiah, or Christ, to do this. The Christ was expected to act like a lion, and not like a lamb. He was supposed to be a priest, not a sacrifice himself. He was thought to come as a King, not as a suffering servant. Paul preached “Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles” (1Cor 1:23).

Paul also taught that baptism into Jesus Christ is essential for salvation (Acts 19:4-5; Rom 6:4-5; Gal 3:27; Col 2:12). He was baptized immediately upon understanding the gospel message, and he baptized many others. Circumcision is no longer required for salvation, but circumcision of the heart is what matters and is required (Rom 2:25-29; 1Cor 7:19).

Paul’s inspired hope

Paul had a vivid hope that was perfected by his interaction with Jesus. Our Lord first spoke to Paul on the road to Damascus, as he was called out of darkness, both literal, for he was blinded, and spiritual. Jesus later spoke to Paul in visions and dreams, guiding him to preach about Jesus wherever he went (Acts 18:9-10; 2Cor 12:2-9). Paul obeyed Jesus’ command “to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light… so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me” (Acts 26:18).

Although Paul became the leading Apostle and missionary for Jesus, he continued to have a hope, and not a guarantee, of his reward. Paul was saved in the past tense (2Tim 1:9; Titus 3:5), saved in the present tense (1Cor 1:18; Acts 2:47), and he hoped to be saved in the future (1Cor 15:2; 1Thess 2:16). Even Paul wrote that his personal salvation was conditional on remaining obedient to his faith and master. He wrote: “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it… I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:12-14). See also 1Cor 9:27; 2Tim 2:10-12; Gal 5:4; Rom 11:22; Heb 3:12-14; Heb 6:4-6.

Near the end of Paul’s life, he endured a dangerous trip to Rome as a prisoner. Once there, Paul was a witness for Christ to Caesar’s household as predicted by Jesus (Acts 23:11). While in chains, Paul called together a meeting of the leading Jews to explain his situation and share his common Hope of Israel with them. All Jews believed this same hope, which was first given to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Later David, Isaiah and many Jewish prophets repeated the same hope of a Kingdom of God based in Israel. This hope included a Messiah, who Paul now proclaimed to be Jesus. It was this hope, which all Jews believed, that Paul emphasized as he appealed to his brethren. It’s the same hope that believers continue to profess today.

Paul’s gives us his last will and testament: “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand” (2 Tim 4:6). Due to intense persecution under Nero, Paul knew that his death would come soon, for he was already in prison. That’s why he wrote a very personal letter to the young man Timothy as support for Timothy’s faith and warnings about apostasy. But Paul’s greatest gift to his followers came when he said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day — and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Tim 4:7-8). May each of us live to be faithful and confident, just as Paul was concerning his place in the great Hope of Israel.

“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” Martin Luther King.“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1Tim 6:12).

“God is not glorified in any transaction upon earth so much as in the conversion of a sinner.” Archibald Alexander.

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people” (Titus 2:11).

The Bible says:

• Paul’s hope is in righteousness by faith. Rom 1:17; Rom 3:22; Rom 4:3
• Paul taught that the Gospel is available to Jews and Gentiles. Gal 3:27-28; Rom 3:22; 1 Cor 12:13
• Paul’s hope of Israel is our hope too. Acts 13:32; Acts 26:6