Philippians 3:4-7 English Standard Version

4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

Paul had to let go of what he was to become what Christ needed. Letting go for him was not easy because he was so entrenched in that former life. He thought with all his heart that he was right in his beliefs, so much so that he persecuted anyone that did not agree.

Things have not changed that much since his time. There are many who threaten and even carry out violence because they are entrenched in hatred. All we have to do is watch the news to see it being played out daily.

What we believe drives behavior. Do we hate or do we love? How we express what is in our hearts is either going to be a reflection of our current condition and we that are in Christ change daily. Paul changed instantly and little by little. Paul had his moments of being over zealous in his new life which was a hangover from his former life.

Acts 15:36-41 English Standard Version

Paul and Barnabas Separate

36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Paul seems to be intolerant of John Mark’s reluctance to continue on in a journey that the young man had begun. His attitude caused a division in the ministry. Barnabas took his cousin under his wing while Paul chose Silas who was an unproven commodity but commended by others.

Was Paul impatient with John Mark or did he lose trust in the lad? Either way John Mark did not measure up to the standards which Paul determined was needed to move forward in the furtherance of the gospel. His intolerance did not stop there.

Galatians 2:11

Paul Opposes Peter

But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.

John 3:1-5 English Standard Version

You Must Be Born Again

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

What can we learn from the Old Man named Nicodemus? I call this man the Old Nick because I do believe he came to know salvation through Christ.

John 7:50-51 English Standard Version

50 Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, 51 “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?”

Old Nick tried to defend Christ in front of his contemporaries, unsuccessfully. Being a Pharisee gave him a place to stand and be heard but he wasn’t armed with the truth. The whole truth of God had not yet been revealed. Old Nick was firmly entrenched in the failed doctrine of his order. They all had limited understanding and used the law to gain power and prestige. 

Old Nick recognized that God the Father was on Jesus’ side but had not yet come to understand that He was the Son of God and God in the flesh. He did not recognize Jesus in the scriptures that called Him Immanuel, God with us.

Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

A long history of liturgy does not in and of itself reveal all truth. Knowledge alone is insufficient to bring us to a saving grace salvation. We know that knowledge puffs up, builds the ego. 

Ref. 1 Corinthians 8:1

1 Corinthians 1:26

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.

Not many implies that some were and like Old Nick had to let go of what they knew to become born again.