GraceLife Thoughts – Paul and the Pagans

Grace Thoughts

GraceLife Thoughts – Paul and the Pagans

Jesus Christ called Saul of Tarsus (Paul) to become His “apostle to the Gentiles.”

… he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. Acts 9:15

For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles… Romans 11:13

… for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 1 Timothy 2:7

… to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 2 Timothy 1:11

Paul took the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire sharing the Gospel of Christ with Gentiles and Jews – primarily with Gentiles. What we find in the Book of Acts is that Paul had to deal with the hypocrisy of Jews and the paganism of the Gentiles. While hypocrisy has been a problem in American churches for centuries, paganism in churches is more recent. That’s our current focus.

Paul “navigated” well through the paganism of the 1st century Roman Empire. How did he do it? He stayed on the narrow road that led through the narrow gate. The people of Iconium were ready to worship Paul and Barnabas as gods, but Paul wouldn’t allow the pagans to do that (Acts 14). It led to the people stoning Paul and leaving him for dead. However, God protected Paul and he lived on to continue preaching the Gospel to pagans and Jews. Paul’s message was clear – “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” When Paul returned to Antioch, Syria, after his first missionary journey, Paul reported that God “had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.”The Gospel of Christ overcomes paganism when it (the Gospel) is practiced and preached correctly.

One of the best-known examples of how Paul dealt with paganism is found in Acts 17. That’s where he was traveling alone in Athens. The pagans thought he was “a proclaimer of foreign gods,’ because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.” Some of the philosophers invited Paul to speak to them at the famed Areopagus. What Paul said in Acts 17:2-31 is an excellent example of how he explained Christianity to pagans. He didn’t give in to their philosophies for a minute.