5 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;
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. - Philippians 3:5-6
When Paul opens up about his life he tells us he fell behind in no aspect of Jewish religion. Jewish children were raised to know God, at least what the parents knew about God. As small children they sang all the Jewish songs and went to school to learn the law and ways of the Jewish people. They woke up with it on their minds and it was ingrained in them.
Gentiles were different in that day, they were not taught the things of God. They served idols and worshiped everything under the sun including the sun.
But the point is when Paul begins to talk about being raised in his family we need to understand how hard that would be to give up. It is said that Paul came from a fairly well to do family. Paul had a very educated background (it took money to do so) and had studied under Gamaliel. But watch Paul as he says all his knowledge would mean nothing at this point. It is like when one of our celebrities gets religion (thank God they do) and everyone is so jubilant. We should be because it is a soul saved, but as far as their celebrity status that's a different story. God is no respecter of persons and their celebrity can be more of a distraction than a draw. We will lift them up but the father treats them no different than he would treat you it doesn't matter their status or what they know it's useless to the father. He is no respecter of persons. Just because I can sing or dance or act is that the gospel. We appreciate those things and the talents but they do no more than you do as far as reaching people with the gospel.
So everything that made Paul Paul had to be given up inorder to move on in God. All his religion and training to be a good Jewish child all had to be given over to the understanding of his new life. The new life is what he expounds on in the passage. Knowing the new life is the pinnacle of all understanding, "apprehend that which he was apprehended for." We can call it new life understanding, or the mind of Christ, or revelation, or knowing God. You say it how ever you want to say it but it is a new knowledge that has nothing to do with old Knowledge.
New knowledge is mind transforming, life transforming, revolutionary is the word that fits mind renewal. We all know what revolution is, it changes from one to the other, change being the optimal word. "Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind."
As believers grow (spiritually) they will see how a renewed mind allowed for that spiritual growth!
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. - Philippians 3:5-6
When Paul opens up about his life he tells us he fell behind in no aspect of Jewish religion. Jewish children were raised to know God, at least what the parents knew about God. As small children they sang all the Jewish songs and went to school to learn the law and ways of the Jewish people. They woke up with it on their minds and it was ingrained in them.
Gentiles were different in that day, they were not taught the things of God. They served idols and worshiped everything under the sun including the sun.
But the point is when Paul begins to talk about being raised in his family we need to understand how hard that would be to give up. It is said that Paul came from a fairly well to do family. Paul had a very educated background (it took money to do so) and had studied under Gamaliel. But watch Paul as he says all his knowledge would mean nothing at this point. It is like when one of our celebrities gets religion (thank God they do) and everyone is so jubilant. We should be because it is a soul saved, but as far as their celebrity status that's a different story. God is no respecter of persons and their celebrity can be more of a distraction than a draw. We will lift them up but the father treats them no different than he would treat you it doesn't matter their status or what they know it's useless to the father. He is no respecter of persons. Just because I can sing or dance or act is that the gospel. We appreciate those things and the talents but they do no more than you do as far as reaching people with the gospel.
So everything that made Paul Paul had to be given up inorder to move on in God. All his religion and training to be a good Jewish child all had to be given over to the understanding of his new life. The new life is what he expounds on in the passage. Knowing the new life is the pinnacle of all understanding, "apprehend that which he was apprehended for." We can call it new life understanding, or the mind of Christ, or revelation, or knowing God. You say it how ever you want to say it but it is a new knowledge that has nothing to do with old Knowledge.
New knowledge is mind transforming, life transforming, revolutionary is the word that fits mind renewal. We all know what revolution is, it changes from one to the other, change being the optimal word. "Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind."
As believers grow (spiritually) they will see how a renewed mind allowed for that spiritual growth!
