The Manner of Paul

BEGINNING TEXT: Acts 17: 1-10

PAUL, A PATTERN FOR CHRISTIANS: 1 Corinthians 4:6; 11:1; 1 Timothy 1:16

PAUL IS AN INTERESTING CHARACTER TO STUDY INDEED.

PAUL'S MANNER IS DESCRIBED AS:

1. REASONING OUT OF THE SCRIPTURES (Acts 17:2)

2. OPENING AND ALLEGING THE SCRIPTURES (Acts 17:3)

3. PREACHING JESUS CHRIST (Acts 17:3)

4. "TURNED THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN" (Acts 17:6)

5. "TO DECLARE UNTO YOU ALL THE COUNSEL OF GOD" (Acts 20:27)

6. SHARING HIS CONVERSION EXPERIENCE WITH OTHERS (Acts 22:26)

7. "LIVED IN ALL GOOD CONSCIENCE BEFORE GOD" (Acts 23:1)

8. "BELIEVING ALL THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN" IN THE WORD OF GOD. (Acts 24:14 says, "in the law and the prophets". Paul believed the scriptures that God provided for him. To follow his example, you believe the scriptures that God provided for you, the Authorized King James Bible.)

9. HE BELIEVED GOD (Acts 27:25)

10. HE WAS EVERYWHERE SPOKEN AGAINST (Acts 28:22)

11. "TEACHING THOSE THINGS WHICH CONCERN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST" (Acts 28:31)

12. WITH ALL CONFIDENCE (Acts 28:31)

13. "A SERVANT OF JESUS CHRIST" (Romans 1:1)

14. UNCONCERNED ABOUT MAN'S JUDGMENT (1 Corinthians 4:3-4)

15. FOLLOWER OF CHRIST (1 Corinthians 11:1)

16. CONTEMPTIBLE AND RUDE IN SPEECH, YET NOT IN KNOWLEDGE (2 Corinthians 10:10; 11:6)

17. NOT A MAN PLEASER (Galatians 1:10)

18. "CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST" (Galatians 2:20)

19. BOLDLY TOLD THE TRUTH (Galatians 4:16)

20. "SET FOR THE DEFENCE OF THE GOSPEL" (Philippians 1:17)

21. "PRAYING ALWAYS" (Colossians 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 3:10; Philemon 1:4)

22. "I HAVE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT, I HAVE FINISHED MY COURSE, I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH." (2 Timothy 4:7)

When a man follows Paul, "as his manner was", there are seven things that happen (see beginning text):

1. SOME WILL BELIEVE AND CONSORT WITH HIM

2. OTHERS WILL NOT BELIEVE

3. THE SECOND GROUP IS FILLED WITH ENVY

4. THEY GATHER A COMPANY OF LEWD FELLOWS

5. THEY SET PEOPLE ON AN UPROAR

6. THEY ACCUSE BIBLE BELIEVERS OF TURNING THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN

I was looking for a church one time. I called a Baptist church (in 1989) and asked if they used the King James Bible. He answered, "Yes". I asked if they believe the King James Bible is the word of God. Then, he replied, "No, there aren't any Peter Ruckman churches around here!" That was a church that professed to believe (in their printed statement of faith) that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, infallible word of God. But when you ask which Bible they mean, you find out they don't believe any Bible is infallible. They believe that only the original writings are inspired. (That of course is as non-Biblical as an infallible pope. See the article "The Certainty Of The Words Of Truth".) Some people get offended so easily when you try to find out what they really believe about the Bible. And if you believe the Authorized Version is the infallible word of God, they will call you a 'Ruckmanite', even if you have never heard of Peter Ruckman. This is the seventh thing that happens:

BIBLE BELIEVERS ARE CALLED A SECT OR A CULT (RUCKMANITES) AND ARE EVERYWHERE SPOKEN AGAINST.

Who is Peter S. Ruckman? He is a man who follows Paul. He opens and reasons out of the scriptures, is not a man-pleaser, declares all the counsel of God, boldly tells the truth, is rude in speech (yet not in knowledge), and is set for the defense of the gospel, preaching and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ. Dr. Peter Ruckman is the president and founder of Pensacola Bible Institute in Pensacola, Florida. He has authored The Bible Believers Commentary Series, Theological Studies, and several other helpful books and booklets. In his books, he defends the authorized King James Bible against its critics. Bible critics and even some Bible believers don't like Dr. Ruckman because he obeys Titus 1:13: "Rebuke them sharply". Some people have never read Titus 1:9-13, I guess. Notice that Paul agreed that those deceivers are "liars, evil beasts, slow bellies". Why get mad at a Christian who follows Paul and talks just like Paul and our Lord Jesus would talk if they were here on earth today? Why? Because they are just like the Pharisees in the time of Christ who were angered by his speech against them and set out to kill him.


DEFINITION OF A RUCKMANITE:

A RUCKMANITE IS SOMEONE WHO FOLLOWS RUCKMAN.
RUCKMAN FOLLOWS PAUL. THIS MAKES US PAULITES.
PAUL FOLLOWED CHRIST. THIS MAKES US CHRISTIANS.
A CHRISTIAN IS A DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST.

So, if some crybaby Bible critic calls you a Disciple of Jesus Christ because you believe the King James Bible is the word of God, just say,
"THANKS FOR THE COMPLIMENT!"