1 Corinthians 15:10 English Standard Version (ESV) But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.
Paul confesses here that it was hard for him to give up his old ways. He was hated and distrusted by these new Christians who had not found their way in faith. It took years before Paul shed the personality of Saul the oppressor. Some never forgot.
It is normal to remember the deeds of those who have wounded us before they came to Christ. According to Christ’s own words we have to forgive them and welcome them into the family of God. If others could do that for us, we owe it to them to do the same.
Leviticus 26:40-42 English Standard Version
40 “But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers in their treachery that they committed against me, and also in walking contrary to me, 41 so that I walked contrary to them and brought them into the land of their enemies—if then their uncircumcised heart is humbled and they make amends for their iniquity, 42 then I will remember my covenant with Jacob, and I will remember my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.
Just because it is old school does not mean it is any less true. God is a God that does not change. We are the ones that are changed. That means learning to do things God’s way.
John 14:6 English Standard Version (ESV) Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
This is such a blessed verse to those who have placed their faith in Christ and a curse to those who say they can know god without Christ. Notice the use of the little g in spelling out God. If you do not know the One true Christ, you cannot know the One True God.
We will be hated for believing that, shunned and rejected for insisting on it and that is what Christ said would happen.
Matthew 10:22 English Standard Version (ESV) and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
What does it mean to you to be saved?