PAUL – ALONE BUT NEVER ALONE

Another one of Paul’s great certainties was the presence of Christ in him. He knew that it was the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ representative on earth, who lived in him. He also knew that the Holy Spirit was Jesus’s “alter ego”, not in any schizophrenic kind of way but as His gift to the church, His own self in them.

Jesus promised, on the eve of His death, that He would send the Holy Spirit, after He had returned to the Father, who would be in them to teach and guide them through life. So close was He to Jesus, that Jesus called Him “another just like me” who would be in them forever.

The Holy Spirit’s presence him meant that he, Paul, was never alone. Even in the loneliness of imprisonment…long journeys in foot accompanied by loyal companions…difficult and dangerous situations he had to contend with…issues in the churches needing divine wisdom… he was essentially alone because his earthly friends were as weak vulnerable as he was.

Through all his tough times, including uncertainties, important decisions, even communication with the beloved churches he had established, he had a “paracletos”, a Helper so close and reliable that he was constantly comforted and assisted.

Paul was also aware of his dependence on the Spirit for every detail of his life as a Jesus-follower. Without the Holy Spirit, he had no power to overcome the pull of his flesh, or to obey the very Word of God he was writing in his letters. It was “Christ in him” that energised his spirit to persevere despite every obstacle. It was he, Paul, in Christ, that was the hope of his own victory over sin and death.

Paul knew the theory… Jesus died for him. He also knew the practice…he died with Jesus. The old Paul ceased to exist the moment he believed in Him. There was a powerful exchange in the spirit realm. He had taken on a new identity, a son of God, in a new realm, the kingdom of God, and his entire life was transformed. He had been delivered from the power and influence of the dominion of darkness and Spirit-empowered to live in the kingdom of light.

So, he wrote…

2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT
[17] “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

And so he experienced this new life…

Galatians 2:20 NLT
[20] “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

He urged believers, then, who still lived in a twilight zone of believing one thing and living another, to take on, in faith and action, this very real transformation.

Romans 6:3-4, 6-8, 10-11 NLT
[3]”… Have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? [4] For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives….
[6] We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. [7] For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. [8] And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him…
[10] When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. [11] So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.”

Just as Paul had learned, so we must learn to make the choices, based on the truth we believe, to put this faith into action.

Romans 6:11-13 NLT
[11]”So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. [12] Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. [13] Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.”

Paul could be who he was, and write what he wrote because the Holy Spirit was as real in him as Jesus was to His disciples on earth.

As with Paul, so with us and all who believe in Jesus for salvation. However, the initiative lies with us. We are the ones who develop the awareness of “Christ in us, the hope of glory,” and cultivate the closeness to the Spirit by acknowledging His presence in us and listening for His voice as we “walk” in this world.

Never alone…yes, but only as we choose to live in His presence and under His authority in every detail of life.