Walk in the Light head image

Walk in the Light

February 24, 2024

Dr. Paul Cannings

Paul was the most aggressive apostle to address racism. Here are a few examples from the scripture.

  1.        Paul’s ministry was to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15; 15:7), the people the Jews once referred to as dogs.
  2. Some black Gentile brothers anointed Paul for ministry (Acts 13:1-3).
  3. Paul addresses the church in Ephesus about accepting their Gentile brothers without

being biased (Ephesians 2:11-19).

  1. Paul openly confronted Peter about the way Peter behaved towards his Gentile

brothers (Galatians 2:11-14).

  1. Paul was the most vocal during the dispute concerning the Gentiles being

circumcised (Acts 15:1-35).

  1.  Paul is the one who wrote Galatians 3:26-29; “For you are all sons of God through

faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed

yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither male nor

female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are

Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”

  1. Paul’s argument in Romans chapters 3-5 is that we are Jewish or Gentile through

Christ Jesus.

  1. 8. Paul in Colossians 3:11 says, “…. A renewal in which there is no distinction between

Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, and

freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.”

  1.  Paul wrote the book of Philemon instructing a slave owner on how to treat his slave

as a fellowship brother in Christ. Paul calls Philemon who was a slave “our beloved

brother and fellow worker.” “…that you would have him back forever, no longer as a

slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much

more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. If then you regard me a partner, accept

him as you would me.” (Philemon 1:15-17).

 

Remember

 

“Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind, regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:1-5; NASU)

 

“The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. The one who loves his brother abides in the Light (1 John 1:5-8), and there is no cause for stumbling in him, but the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” (1 John 2:9-11; NASU)