Paul a Debtor by Stephen N. Haskell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Dec 24, 1903

Paul a Debtor

By Stephen N. Haskell

S. N. HASKELL

PAUL was in a pre-eminent sense an apostle of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He preached the gospel through the infirmity of the flesh. Gal. 4:13. He was with the church in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. He was a learned man, a member of the Sanhedrin, and was not obliged to preach the gospel for a livelihood. He was what the world would call a successful man. His position made him honorable among the dignitaries of the nation. He did not preach with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. Of his position after accepting the gospel, he says, “I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.” They were accounted fools for Christ's sake. In the eyes of the world he had exchanged an honorable position for one the world called foolish in the extreme.

He says of himself that he was more than an ordinary minister, and in proof of this states that he was “in labors 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.” This was the apostle's experience in his labors. He was more than an ordinary minister; for in the same degree that he partook of Christ's sufferings, he also partook of his power. Again he said, “Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.”

While in Damascus, the governor, who kept the city with a garrison under Aretas, the king, desired to apprehend him, but he was let down by a wall through a window, in a basket, and escaped out of his hand. There is no Bible writer who suffered more at the hands of his brethren, the Jews, and he was also looked upon with suspicion by his brethren in the church, and yet never one word of complaint escaped his lips. What could lead the apostle to endure all this? What motive actuated him? An answer comes to us in one short verse: “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.” Had the apostle any transaction with these Greeks or barbarians that made him a debtor to them?—No, not in any way; but Christ had done something for him that he had not done for them. Christ had revealed himself to him. He had seen what Christ had done for the world. From the time Christ revealed himself to him ‘on’ the way to Damascus, he felt that for Christ's sake he was debtor to all. The love of Christ constrained him. He determined to know nothing but Christ, and him crucified. He taught the truth in words. He taught it in his life, which had greater power than words.

When the Lord first called him, he said, “He is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: for I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.” Immediately after his baptism he preached in the synagogues that Jesus was the Son of God. He felt it was his privilege to suffer with Christ. He ever felt that for this cause he obtained mercy, that in him first Jesus Christ might show forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to those who should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. The secret of the apostle's success lay in his realizing what the Lord had done for him, and he felt under obligation to others who did not have the salvation which he experienced.

Christ had left glory, come to this earth, lived a life of suffering, and died a shameful death that Paul might live. Christ had pardoned his sins. The veil had been lifted, and he had viewed eternal scenes. He did not count his life dear unto himself. He not only preached, but he taught every man in all wisdom, that all might be presented perfect in Christ Jesus, “whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.” He preferred to die rather than to live for himself. In this lies the success of the Christian. The strength of every Christian laborer consists in seeing and realizing the life of Christ, and coveting his humiliation. Christ is our example. He is our life. The mother of Zebedee's children desired a certain thing of Christ: “Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.” But Jesus answered and said, “Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with.” It is the self-sacrificing spirit that counts in the heavenly courts. “To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.”

It is a privilege, yea, more, it is a precious gift, to suffer with Christ. Said the apostle, “For unto you is it given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.” Of all the gifts that heaven can bestow upon men, fellowship with Christ in his sufferings is the most weighty trust and the highest honor. The reason men are not more successful in winning souls to Christ is because they have not more of the spirit of Christ. They do not rightly view their Saviour, and what it is to serve him. The Christian religion had its birth and swaddling clothes in the manger. The chief cornerstone is the death and resurrection of our divine Lord and Master, who left the royal courts of glory, and came to this earth to die. It is the baptism of the Holy Spirit that is needed, that which baptizes us into the sufferings of Christ. “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

It is those who have made a covenant with God by sacrifice who will be gathered by the angels when Christ comes in the clouds of heaven. It is the heart's surrender that is so much needed. We

should realize the worth of souls, the estimate placed on them by Christ, the price he paid for their salvation. It is then, and then only, that we get a taste of the sufferings of Christ, and the heart is moved by the love of God to do and suffer in their behalf. Upon the true worker will rest the burden of souls. O, for the heavenly anointing that creates a hatred of self-serving, and implants in the heart an unselfish desire for others' happiness! “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” “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,” or in any other foreign field, is the heart language of every true laborer for Christ.