SEPARATED UNTO THE GOSPEL OF GOD

The apostle Paul wrote, "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God" (Romans 1:1). Consider the significance of the phrase, "separated unto the gospel of God." When Paul was separated unto the gospel, he was set apart, or sanctified, for the particular purpose of preaching the gospel. 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 (Acts 22:3; 23:6). 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).

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.

Third, Paul was separated from the law of Moses. Prior to Paul’s conversion, Paul possessed both a familiarity with 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 3:5-7). 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. Many today practice what they do in matters of religion (i.e. keeping of the Sabbath, wearing of priestly garments, etc.), because they have failed to realize that the old law was nailed to the cross. "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; (Colossians 2:14). 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).

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, or put to death, our members which are upon the earth, such as fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: (Colossians 3:4).

Paul was not only separated from something, he was also separated unto something. "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God" (Romans 1:1). 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 (Romans 1:5; 6:17). Here Paul uses the word faith to mean, not a person’s personal faith, but rather the system of the faith, the sum of all the scriptures teach. Obedience to the gospel is necessary in order for a person to be purified of his sin (I Peter 1:22). Those persons who refuse to obey the gospel will one day experience God’s vengeance (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).

Likewise, we as Christians ought to possess that same willingness to teach others. "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).

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. "And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women" (Acts 22:4). 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 but 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).

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