THE VISION OF PAUL ON THE CHRISTIAN

Our prayers always reveal a little of our inner being. They show, to a certain extent, our character, our concerns, and the way we see things and the world. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, recorded a prayer, in which we can see how he saw the Christian. This view of the follower of Christ in this text can also be seen throughout his extensive literature. For him, the Christian is not a man or a woman who simply adopted a Christian religion, but one who was reached and transformed by the love and power of God (3.14-21).

In this process God approaches man and allows Himself to be reached by the one who seeks him, accepting Him and transforming man into a son (Romans 8: 9-14,16). He does this because the human being, in his state of Fall, that is, separated from God, finds himself in a degrading condition in both body and soul and spirit. Paul understands this state of corruption as death. That pure, holy, and perfect man, before the original sin, died. That is why he says: "as for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, […] But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2: 1, 4, 5).

For this reason, this transformation is operated in man, not by any power, but by the same power that raised Christ from the dead. This fact, while revealing the devastating effect of Adamic sin, shows God's great love for man. See what the Apostle said when he spoke of the work of God in Christians: "[...] and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms […]” (Ephesians 1:19, 20).

Because of this transformation, which is based on faith, Paul will tell the Corinthians "that whoever is in Christ is a new creation." However, this "new man" subsists in a state of spiritual delicacy, still subject to sin. See what Paul says in his prayer: "I pray that [...] he may strengthen you with power though his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith" (Ephesians 3: 16, 17). Note that the spiritual life in man is not possible without the action of the Spirit. This "helps us in our weakness" (Rom. 8:26) and our response to this "power working in us" is to say yes to his calling, seeking to live under his guidance.

On all that has been said, it is evident that Paul's view of the Christian is not related to religiosity, but to an encounter of man with God. The Christian is that person who allowed himself to be transformed by the Lord through the power of his Word, through prayer and through the action of the Holy Spirit. Paul, before his encounter with God on the road to Damascus, was a religious man, but the fruits of that religiousness were manifested in hatred and violence against the followers of Jesus Christ.

Finally, the Apostle of the Gentiles reveals in his prayer that there is in the Christian a gain of knowledge of the person of God and the love of Christ. Love this "who exceeds all understanding" to the point of giving his life for humanity. Therefore, the spiritual life of the follower of Jesus Christ is not based on fear, on the pressure of the religious group, on the obligation imposed by the dead religion. These kinds of answers do not come from the action of the Spirit of God in men. The life of the Christian is, rather, grounded and rooted in love for Christ.

Antônio Maia – M.Div.

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