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against those who "desire to make a fair show in the flesh" yet, while so utterly
repudiating circumcision, he writes:
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a
new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy,
and upon the Israel of God" (Gal. 6: 15, 16).
We can be sure that Paul's fight was for "the truth of the gospel". He was not a
fault-finder; rather would he exercise that toleration which turns a blind eye upon matters
of small account. When the blow fell, one realized that it was merited; the subject was
serious; that fundamentals were at stake. He cared for no party; "neither circumcision
availeth anything, nor uncircumcision"; he travailed again in birth for the forming of
Christ; he stood upon the same level as the outcast Gentile--"Be as I am, for I am as ye
are"--that is, dead to the law, and alive unto God through Christ (Gal. 2: 19).
Who could be angry at impatience which exhibited such patent selflessness? Whether
in gentleness, forbearance, or impatience this man sought only the believer's highest and
best.
#12.
Separate Features: Tender Grief.
pp. 199, 200
"Here we see . . . . . that grief for the sins of others, which moved him to tears when he
spoke of the enemies of the cross of Christ, `of whom I tell you even weeping'."
(Conybeare and Howson).
The man who could stand as Paul stood before the Council at Jerusalem (Acts 15:;
Gal. 2:) must have had the heart of a lion. In the man who could endure for Christ's sake
that list of troubles about which Paul so reluctantly speaks in II Cor. 11:, there was
enough material to have made a dozen heroes. The man who spoke as Paul spoke at
Mars' Hill; who was willing to preach the gospel at Rome; who, in spite of rejection and
betrayal, stood unashamed at the end of his course; who could say, "None of these things
move me"; that man, by the grace that was given him, was as firm as a rock and as true
as steel. But while opposition and misrepresentation left him undismayed and unmoved,
the many failings and follies of his family in the faith often brought tears to his eyes.
The fact that the Apostle drew near to the close of the early ministry that he had
received and was about to enter into the ministry which was associated with bonds and
afflictions (Acts 20: 23), by no means indicated that "tears" would be a new experience
and learned only in prison, for, in summarizing the ministry that had occupied
Acts 9:-20:, the Apostle could say:
"Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations,
which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews" (Acts 20: 19).