[This is Part ? of a ?-part study to promote a biblical understanding of church planting called “The Progress of the Gospel.”]
When the time came to start intentional missions to the Gentile world, the Holy Spirit chose Saul. He was an unlikely choice. The Book of Acts reports that “Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison…breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord…”
By his own admission, he “persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons…in one synagogue after another I used to imprison and beat those who believed…not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them…I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities…I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it…a persecutor of the church…a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor…”
But on that day when he and Barnabas left Antioch on the first missionary journey, he had been chosen by Jesus, called by the Holy Spirit, endorsed by Barnabas and commended by the Church of Antioch. In due time, he would be endorsed by Luke—who wrote more of the New Testament than any other human—and even by the Twelve—the God-ordained, foundational leaders of the Church. In the course of human history, it may be that there was never a more radical and world-changing conversion.
And yet, converted he was. He summarized his story well in the opening words of 1 Timothy:
“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.”
Notice that word “example.” Saul—who later changed his name to “Paul” (which means “little”)—was an example of Christ’s mercy. No one—literally, no person ever—is too far gone for the “perfect patience” of Jesus Christ “for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.”
Paul was an example. He became an example in other ways as well. He repeatedly pleaded with new believers and churches, even other leaders, to imitate his example of life and ministry. Re-read these familiar statements before we explore our next important question:
“The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
“Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me. For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church.”
“Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.”
“The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
And there are more. But here is the critical question: What does it mean for us to imitate Paul’s example? How are we to understand these commands—imperatives embedded in the God-breathed Scripture? The key is found in the first missionary journey.
[ continued in 07b: The Missionary Pattern: The Pauline Cycle ]
