Subscription Lists

Verb tenses - they say more sometimes than all the other words of a sentence. Such was the case when Paul affirmed, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8.38-39). In particular, we will look at the affirmation, “I am persuaded...”

The word persuaded simply means to be convinced, or to trust. But, our focus just now is on the tense of the verb; it is a perfect passive participle. Simply stated, this just means that the argument had been made , the jury was in, and a decision had been reached. As A.T. Robertson put it, Paul was saying, “I stand convinced!”

And of what fact was Paul so thoroughly convinced? Just that absolutely no one and no thing could separate (to put asunder) the believer from the love of God in Christ Jesus! Other systems had failed him, even his own beloved system of Judaism, but his confidence remained unshaken in the facts he affirmed. He had poured his heart and soul into Judaism, but he had been wrong. Now with even greater fervor he poured himself without reservation into the gospel of Christ!

A few years earlier, Paul had been accused in the city of Ephesus by one Demetrius, saying, “Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands.” (Acts 19.26). What ever else might be said about Demetrius and his accusations, that part of his speech was absolutely true; Paul had persuaded people everywhere to turn to the gospel of Jesus Christ and away from every form of error. Such was his fervor in Corinth that Luke wrote that Paul “...reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.” (Acts 18.4). This was no fluke with Paul; it was a way of life. When brought before King Agrippa he argued his case so convincingly that the king stated, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” (Acts 26.28).

To a significantly younger Timothy Paul wrote, “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” (2 Timothy 1.8-12; emphasis mine, jb). To say that Paul was convinced is almost an understatement!

To characterize Paul's detractors: “You think you are the only one who has the truth? What about all these other honest men and women? What about my mother who died in idolatry? Are you saying she was wrong?” Truth needs convinced and convincing adherents! Paul was one of those. May his ilk be multiplied thousands of times over and may the mouth of every milquetoast minister be stopped until he be not almost, but altogether persuaded of the facts of the gospel!

Questions:

1. How do you think Paul might have answered someone making statements similar to the ones characterized in the last paragraph of today's message?

2. What convinced Paul so thoroughly? Tradition? Hearsay? Possibility thinking? Or irrefutable evidence? Why else would he and others march boldly into the face of death each and every day?

3. What does the accusation of Demetrius tell us about Paul's fervor for the gospel?

4. As men mature and they reflect on their lives, sometimes they recant their life-errors? Rather than recant, what did Paul do? What inspired advice did he give Timothy about the standing for the gospel?

"'Winging It" from Stan Smith

Moralism