So before we begin to digest the meat of Pauls teachings let
us first find the proper utensils: belief and theology. As to belief all men
have it and all men believe theirs is right. This is a necessity to everyday
living and making decisions; however if we are to be lead into all truth it is
necessary to make ourselves less a solid surface of ice and more a liquid of
water or gas of air to follow the Spirit. In more practical words; we must
approach all scripture study with the understanding that we are without doubt
wrong about many things. Yet fully trusting that as we have been promised the
Spirit will lead us into all truth, and not only this but with full assurance
that he has fully prepared us to do what is set before us now and is preparing us to do what is to come. In
short…our solid belief must be not in ourselves but in Christ in us leading,
guiding, and living through us giving us truth, wisdom, and understanding.
“…there is one body and one Spirit even as you are called in one hope
of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all
who is above all and through all and in you all...” Ephesians 4:5
“…till we all come in unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son
of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of
Christ…”Ephesians 4:13
As to theology, though I am aware of the divisions of
salvation, end times, etc., I am speaking in an all-inclusive term. Simply to
point out that western theology is both linear and systematic; which has merit.
It is often the expectation of this form of theology which can lead to
confusion if applied rigidly. As to the main instance it considers things to
have a beginning followed by a process and ending in a result this leads to a
concept of two points. Pauls theology does not have two points but one for it
is circular not linear. In this way for Paul when you are at the beginning then
you are at the end with the process being in both.
“But with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and
without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world,
but was manifest in these last times for you…” I Peter 1:20
“…of the lamb slain from the foundation of the world…” Revelation 13:8
By this thinking alone Paul can say you know all things and
you are being brought to a knowledge without any conflict in his mind…you are
perfect and you are being made perfect and he does not consider himself to have
attained that perfection all at the same moment. These things we can see easily
enough yet keep it in mind as we explore his teachings. This same man will say
in one place we must submit and in another we are predestined to be conformed
to his image.
“…for we know in part, and we prophesy in part…” I Corinthians 13:9
One last matter about perception it is not always a matter
of right and wrong; often it is just incomplete. The living word is a three
dimensional living thing, and as with any three dimensional thing can be viewed
from six main perspectives with many degrees of variation. If one becomes stuck
at one of these viewing points they may become rigid about description… they
would not be necessarily wrong in their description just incomplete.
