Radio Transcript

Broadcast Date – October 28, 2001 on KCXY (Y95) - 95.3 FM

The apostle Paul wrote, "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God" (Romans 1:1). Friends, let’s consider for a few moments the significance of the phrase, "separated unto the gospel of God." Friends, a separation involves a division or detachment. Separation involves isolation. When Paul was separated unto the gospel, he was set apart, or sanctified, for the particular purpose of preaching the gospel. With these definitions in mind, what were some of the things involved in Paul’s separation?

Paul was separated from someone or something. First, Paul separated himself from his father’s beliefs. Paul’s father was a Pharisee, a person who took great pride in his strict adherence to the law of Moses. Listen to Paul’s words, recorded in Acts 23:6: "But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question." Friends, did you notice Paul’s words, "the son of a Pharisee?" But when Paul came to knowledge of the truth, he broke away from his father’s beliefs.

Likewise, if we learn that our parents’ beliefs are in opposition to that which we read in the Bible, we ought to be willing to separate ourselves from our parents’ beliefs. Jesus said, "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me" (Matthew 10:34-39). Unfortunately, many people continue in their error because of their unwillingness to disappoint their parents. Sadly, they choose to disappoint Jesus instead.

Second, Paul was separated from his own past beliefs. Prior to his conversion, Paul was zealous of the law to the extent he sought to prohibit the preaching of the gospel and destroy the church. When Stephen was falsely accused of speaking blasphemous words against the law of Moses, Paul (Saul) was present when Stephen was stoned (Acts 6:13).

Likewise, we must be willing to separate ourselves from our own past beliefs when we find we are in error. Many people, because of numerous reasons such as selfishness or pride, continue to practice error even after learning the truth. Friends, we all understand it is often very difficult to say, "I was wrong." But often times those very words need to be spoken in order for a person to abandon his erroneous beliefs and practices.

Third, Paul was separated from the law of Moses. Prior to Paul’s conversion, Paul possessed both a thorough knowledge of and love for the law. "Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless" (Philippians 3:5-6). After learning the truth, Paul was willing to separate himself from the law. "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ" (Philippians 3:7).

Likewise, we ought to be willing to separate ourselves from the law of Moses. At first, this idea seems all too obvious. But friends, when we observe the religious world around us we notice that many today practice what they do in matters of religion because they have failed to realize that the old law was nailed to the cross. Practices such as the keeping of the Sabbath or wearing of priestly garments are practices that have been carried over from the law of Moses. Notice Paul’s words recorded in Colossians 2:14: "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross." As Christians, we have become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that we should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead (Romans 7:4). That’s right friends; Paul wrote that, as Christians, we have become dead to the law. How do we know this includes the commandment to observe the Sabbath? Let’s look a little further at Romans 7:7: "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet." From Paul’s words we know that the law to which we have become dead included the ten commandments, recorded in Exodus 20:1-17. Among these ten commandments was the commandment to observe the Sabbath.

Fourth, Paul was separated from the sinful things of the world. As Christians, we are not to be conformed to the world, but rather we are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, thus presenting our bodies as living sacrifices to God (Romans 12:1-2). We are to seek those things that are above, rather than those things that are on the earth (Colossians 3:2). We are to mortify our members which are upon the earth, such as fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: (Colossians 3:5). When Paul wrote we are to mortify our members that are upon the earth, he meant we are to put them to death. Friends, death always involves a separation. When we mortify our members that are upon the earth, we put them to death or separate ourselves from them.

But friends, Paul was not only separated from something, he was also separated unto something. Notice Paul’s words to the church at Rome, recorded in Romans 1:1: "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God".

What was included in Paul’s separation unto the gospel? First, Paul’s separation unto the gospel included his obedience to the gospel. Paul, in his letter to the Christians at Rome, wrote concerning the necessity of obedience to the faith. "By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name" (Romans 1:5). Notice further in Romans 6:17: "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you." Here Paul uses the word faith to mean, not a person’s personal faith, but rather the system of the faith, the gospel, and the sum of all the scriptures teach. Obedience to the gospel is necessary in order for a person to be purified of his sin. Notice Peter’s words in I Peter 1:22: "Seeing ye have purified your souls…" How Peter? How did this purification take place? "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently." Those persons who refuse to obey the gospel will one day experience God’s vengeance. Concerning the time when Christ will come again, Paul wrote, "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (II Thessalonians 1:8).

Second, Paul was separated unto a willingness to teach the gospel to others. Notice Paul’s words to the church at Rome. "I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also" (Romans 1:14-15). After this conversion, Paul devoted his life to preaching the gospel of Christ to others.

Likewise, we as Christians ought to possess that same willingness to teach others. To Timothy, Paul wrote: "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also" (II Timothy 2:2). Of course, we can’t teach others something that we ourselves do not know. That’s just one reason it is so important for us to study the Bible. Paul wrote, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (II Timothy 2:15).

Third, Paul was separated unto a willingness to defend the gospel. After his conversion, Paul strove diligently to defend the very gospel he had once attacked. Notice Paul’s words, recorded by Luke in Acts 22:4: "And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women". Paul did not let the possibility of persecution prevent him from preaching the gospel to others. "Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches" (II Corinthians 11:23-28). Likewise, we are to be prepared to defend the gospel before others (I Peter 3:15).

Fourth, Paul was separated unto a willingness to be governed by the gospel. Many people want to be saved by the gospel. If you ask people if they want to go to heaven, the only sensible reply would be "Of course." But many of these same people have no desire to submit to the gospel. Christianity demands that there be a change in attitude and actions. To the church at Corinth Paul wrote, "Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ" (I Corinthians 11:1). As Christians, we are to be willing to be governed by the gospel of Christ because it is Christ who has all authority (Matthew 28:18).

Rod Halliburton