It has been my privilege and pleasure to take you on 00:01:36.62\00:01:39.39 this journey in the footsteps of the great apostle Paul. 00:01:39.43\00:01:42.38 I trust that your understanding of the world of which 00:01:42.42\00:01:45.34 he lived, has been both deepened and broadened. 00:01:45.38\00:01:48.45 I pray that your faith has been enriched as you have 00:01:48.49\00:01:51.56 traced his journey. 00:01:51.60\00:01:53.67 In this final episode, we want to review where 00:01:53.71\00:01:56.58 we have been and then to examine the legacy 00:01:56.61\00:01:59.45 of this great apostle. 00:01:59.48\00:02:01.32 From his birth place in Tarsus, which was the residence 00:02:01.35\00:02:04.45 of Mark Anthony in the center of Stoic philosophy, 00:02:04.49\00:02:07.45 to the great city of Jerusalem where he was sent to 00:02:07.48\00:02:10.41 complete his education, being schooled at 00:02:10.44\00:02:12.99 the feet of Gamaliel. 00:02:13.02\00:02:14.71 We have traced his journey to the ancient city of 00:02:14.75\00:02:16.85 Damascus, this emerald green oasis in the midst of the 00:02:16.89\00:02:20.80 Syrian Desert which is the oldest continuing inhabited 00:02:20.84\00:02:24.72 city in the world. 00:02:24.75\00:02:26.25 Here he saw a vision of Jesus and was converted, 00:02:26.29\00:02:28.81 being baptized in the river. 00:02:28.85\00:02:31.39 When things got to hot in the city, he escaped by being 00:02:31.42\00:02:34.25 let down through a window, in the wall, 00:02:34.28\00:02:36.68 in a leather basket. 00:02:36.71\00:02:38.50 Then we followed Paul up to Antioch, the third largest 00:02:38.54\00:02:42.18 city of the Roman empire. 00:02:42.22\00:02:43.67 This is where members of the sect called 'The Way' were 00:02:43.71\00:02:47.17 first called Christians. 00:02:47.20\00:02:49.00 He joined Barnabas here in a teaching ministry and from 00:02:49.04\00:02:51.91 this city he was sent out on three missionary journeys. 00:02:51.95\00:02:54.58 We have traced his journey through the provinces of 00:02:54.61\00:02:57.70 Asia, Macedonia and have visited Roman colonies in 00:02:57.73\00:03:00.79 Pisidian Antioch and Philippi. 00:03:00.82\00:03:03.38 And we have explored the great city of Thessaloniki 00:03:03.41\00:03:06.12 where he planted a church, and to whom he wrote two 00:03:06.16\00:03:09.04 letters, the first of which is considered to be the 00:03:09.07\00:03:11.92 first piece of the New Testament. 00:03:11.95\00:03:14.52 Then we followed him to Athens, the intellectual and 00:03:14.56\00:03:18.68 cultural center of the ancient world. 00:03:18.71\00:03:21.03 Where he proclaimed the gospel in the synagogue and 00:03:21.07\00:03:24.30 on Mars Hill. 00:03:24.33\00:03:27.47 Then we on to Corinth, the great Roman city that was 00:03:27.51\00:03:31.32 25 times the size of Athens. 00:03:31.35\00:03:34.58 Paul lived here for a year and a half and the gospel 00:03:34.61\00:03:37.37 penetrated the darkness of this immoral city, 00:03:37.40\00:03:40.37 reaching all levels of society, including the director 00:03:40.41\00:03:44.61 of public works, Erastus whose inscription we noted 00:03:44.64\00:03:48.81 in the plaza of a theater. 00:03:48.85\00:03:51.08 We have followed Paul's footsteps to the fabulous city 00:03:51.11\00:03:54.72 of Ephesus in Asia minor where there was a great riot 00:03:54.76\00:03:58.33 in the theater and a tremendous revival in the 00:03:58.37\00:04:01.12 hearts of the people. 00:04:01.15\00:04:02.67 Of course we have followed his footsteps on this road. 00:04:02.71\00:04:06.47 The most important road to Rome of all, the Appian way. 00:04:06.51\00:04:10.08 That connected the capital city with the major port down 00:04:10.11\00:04:13.65 on the bay of Naples at Potts Wally. 00:04:13.68\00:04:16.14 Yes Paul sailed many places by ship. 00:04:16.18\00:04:18.57 We visited some of the finest sports in the Roman empire. 00:04:18.61\00:04:21.88 Including Caesarea, built by Herod the great himself 00:04:21.92\00:04:25.60 and named after his patron Augustus Caesar. 00:04:25.64\00:04:29.06 In addition we went down to Seleucus Piraeus, 00:04:29.09\00:04:32.47 the Port of ancient Antioch. 00:04:32.51\00:04:34.85 Paula Barbara sailed from this port on their first 00:04:34.89\00:04:37.78 missionary journey out to the island of Cyprus. 00:04:37.81\00:04:41.40 Then we went to that picturesque port Attaleia, 00:04:41.44\00:04:44.99 that beautiful spot to where he came on 00:04:45.02\00:04:47.88 the coast of Pamphylia. 00:04:47.92\00:04:49.79 And we visited the beautiful port of Alexandria in Troas 00:04:49.83\00:04:54.31 from which Paul sailed on multiple occasions. 00:04:54.35\00:04:57.30 Then we went down to the beautiful village of Assos with 00:04:57.34\00:05:01.10 those lovely temple of Athena dominating the hillscape. 00:05:01.14\00:05:05.85 Then we went over to Nicopolis, a fine port in Macedonia. 00:05:05.89\00:05:10.56 Then we visited the great port of Corinth. 00:05:10.60\00:05:13.74 The twin harbored city with the Port of Cenchraea 00:05:13.78\00:05:18.09 on the Aegean, and the Port of Lycian on the Adriatic. 00:05:18.13\00:05:21.93 And of course we have been down to Potts Wally there 00:05:21.97\00:05:25.63 in modern Naples where Paul sailed when coming to the 00:05:25.66\00:05:29.29 great city of Rome. 00:05:29.32\00:05:30.89 Paul was the most prolific author of the New Testament. 00:05:30.93\00:05:34.50 Penning at least 13 of the 27 books. 00:05:34.53\00:05:37.55 He wrote 9 letters to churches, 4 letters to individuals 00:05:37.59\00:05:41.81 and they believe he also wrote the letter to the Hebrews. 00:05:41.85\00:05:45.45 Paul was the most prolific author of the New Testament 00:05:45.48\00:05:49.04 one of the impact of his teachings down 00:05:49.08\00:05:51.96 through the centuries. 00:05:51.99\00:05:53.40 While countless millions have been blessed by his 00:05:53.44\00:05:55.80 teachings, some questioned his teachings about the role 00:05:55.84\00:05:59.90 of women and also the holding of slaves. 00:05:59.93\00:06:02.80 Many people are troubled by passages like 00:06:02.84\00:06:05.68 1 Corinthians 14. 00:06:05.71\00:06:08.92 Why would Paul say that women must remain silent in the 00:06:25.75\00:06:29.15 church, and if they any question to wait until they got 00:06:29.19\00:06:32.55 home to ask their husbands? 00:06:32.58\00:06:34.79 Do you remember where Paul was sending this letter? 00:06:34.83\00:06:38.10 To the church of Corinth, that fabulous city there on 00:06:38.14\00:06:41.34 the edge of the Aegean and Adriatic, with the twin harbors. 00:06:41.38\00:06:45.28 Do you remembered the mountain Acrocorinth that towered 00:06:45.32\00:06:49.19 above the city? 00:06:49.23\00:06:50.33 Do you recall what temple dominated that site? 00:06:50.36\00:06:54.16 Yes it was a temple of Aphrodite. 00:06:54.20\00:06:56.55 Remember there were over 1000 pagan priestesses who were 00:06:56.58\00:07:00.96 actually 1000 temple prostitutes who practiced their 00:07:00.99\00:07:05.33 religion in the city of Corinth 00:07:05.37\00:07:07.31 every evening they would make their way down from the 00:07:07.35\00:07:10.24 summit and come in to the city to ply their trade and 00:07:10.28\00:07:13.14 practice their religion of immorality. 00:07:13.17\00:07:15.68 Paul wanted a clear distinction between the worshipers 00:07:15.71\00:07:19.74 of Aphrodite and the worshipers of the Christian church, 00:07:19.78\00:07:23.78 and so he said they should not speak in the church. 00:07:23.81\00:07:27.02 In addition he said, as the law also teaches, 00:07:27.06\00:07:30.87 Paul was Jewish through and through. 00:07:30.91\00:07:33.79 In the synagogue there was a clear distinction between 00:07:33.83\00:07:36.94 men and women, as a matter of fact orthodox means 00:07:36.97\00:07:41.14 separated, an Orthodox synagogue men and women are 00:07:41.18\00:07:45.31 separated, they sit in separate sections. 00:07:45.35\00:07:48.84 In ancient times they often would have women sitting at 00:07:48.87\00:07:53.03 the rear of the synagogue behind a veil 00:07:53.06\00:07:56.46 called the gallery. 00:07:56.49\00:07:58.70 Can you imagine the confusion in the church, 00:07:58.74\00:08:01.51 or in the synagogue if a woman wanted to ask her 00:08:01.54\00:08:04.24 husband a question and she shouted, honey, can you ask 00:08:04.27\00:08:07.77 him what he means by that? 00:08:07.81\00:08:09.51 It would have been very confusing, Paul said instead 00:08:09.55\00:08:13.18 let her ask her husband when she goes home. 00:08:13.22\00:08:16.71 Yes there were clear distinction in both society and 00:08:16.75\00:08:20.58 in Judaism between men and women. 00:08:20.62\00:08:23.23 This was reflected in the writings of Paul. 00:08:23.26\00:08:27.26 In addition Paul did not want there to be any confusion 00:08:27.30\00:08:31.00 about the worship of Aphrodite, in the city of Corinth, 00:08:31.03\00:08:34.70 and the worship of Jesus Christ in the church. 00:08:34.73\00:08:37.80 Some have also been concerned about Paul's legacy 00:08:37.84\00:08:40.83 regarding slavery, did he encourage the holding of slaves? 00:08:40.87\00:08:44.31 Many people questioned verses like Colossians 3:22. 00:08:44.34\00:08:50.65 Did Paul actually endorse slavery? 00:09:04.54\00:09:07.23 Again we need to examine the cultural context of the times, 00:09:07.26\00:09:11.34 at this time less than one third of the people were 00:09:11.37\00:09:14.12 living in the Roman empire were actually citizens. 00:09:14.15\00:09:16.83 Slaves counted for many of the professional classes including 00:09:16.86\00:09:20.96 tutors and physicians. 00:09:20.99\00:09:23.67 Paul did not do a direct frontal attack on this popular 00:09:23.71\00:09:27.06 practice of the Roman empire. 00:09:27.09\00:09:28.76 But he did tell Christian slaves to honor their masters 00:09:28.80\00:09:32.87 as if they were honoring the Lord. 00:09:32.91\00:09:35.80 And he wrote to a Christian slave owners, that they should 00:09:35.84\00:09:39.11 treat their slaves justly and fairly for they too are 00:09:39.15\00:09:43.75 subject to their Master, the Lord of heaven. 00:09:43.78\00:09:46.41 In Rome Paul met a runaway slave named own Onesimus. 00:09:46.45\00:09:50.33 Onesimus was converted and became a follower of Jesus 00:09:50.36\00:09:54.21 and ministered to the needs of Paul. 00:09:54.24\00:09:56.01 Paul sent Onesimus back to his owner Philemon in Asia. 00:09:56.05\00:10:01.92 The penalty for a runaway slave was execution. 00:10:01.96\00:10:06.61 Death, how did Paul instruct Philemon to treat this 00:10:06.64\00:10:11.88 runaway slave Onesimus? 00:10:11.91\00:10:14.56 Can you imagine turning upside down a social 00:10:35.28\00:10:37.30 order like that? 00:10:37.34\00:10:38.73 Paul says don't have your runaway slave executed, 00:10:38.76\00:10:41.90 don't even have him beaten, instead receive him back 00:10:41.93\00:10:45.70 again, not as a slave but it's a dear brother in Christ. 00:10:45.74\00:10:49.17 While Paul did not directly attack the issue of slavery 00:10:49.20\00:10:52.65 in the Roman world, he did lay out principles that would 00:10:52.69\00:10:56.10 ultimately lead to it's abolition. 00:10:56.13\00:10:58.47 While some Christians have used the writings of Paul 00:10:58.50\00:11:02.48 to justify the holding of slaves, he actually said in 00:11:02.51\00:11:06.45 his day to treat them as brothers. 00:11:06.49\00:11:09.87 He even instructed Christians slaves and their masters 00:11:09.90\00:11:14.02 to eat from the same table when they 00:11:14.06\00:11:16.55 shared the Lord's supper. 00:11:16.59\00:11:18.43 While some hardhearted Christians can misuse the 00:11:18.47\00:11:21.64 writings of Paul to justify the oppression of women and the 00:11:21.67\00:11:25.57 holding of slaves as personal property, 00:11:25.60\00:11:27.68 Paul was not teaching that. 00:11:27.71\00:11:30.02 As a matter of fact, when he broke to the church of Galatia, 00:11:30.05\00:11:33.10 he put into that letter a ticking time bomb that would 00:11:33.14\00:11:37.07 ultimately turn the social order upside down. 00:11:37.10\00:11:40.87 He wrote in Galatians 3:26. 00:11:40.91\00:11:44.46 Paul had prayed this traditional Jewish prayer every day. 00:12:07.69\00:12:11.63 God I thank you that I am not a Gentile, I thank you that 00:12:11.66\00:12:15.15 I am not a slave, and I thank you that I am not a woman. 00:12:15.18\00:12:18.39 Now he takes this traditional prayer and turns it upside 00:12:18.42\00:12:21.59 down that by saying in Jesus Christ there is no 00:12:21.62\00:12:23.68 distinction between Jews and Gentiles, between male and 00:12:23.72\00:12:29.52 female, between slaves and citizens. 00:12:29.56\00:12:32.92 He says that in Jesus Christ there is a oneness 00:12:32.96\00:12:36.51 of all people, and this oneness alternately would 00:12:36.55\00:12:40.54 destroy the distinctions of racism and bigotry 00:12:40.57\00:12:44.53 and the oppression of women. 00:12:44.57\00:12:46.37 Yes throughout the Roman Empire there was only one place 00:12:46.40\00:12:50.45 where citizens and slaves, were Jews and Gentiles, where 00:12:50.48\00:12:54.01 men and women could come together as equals, as one. 00:12:54.05\00:12:57.82 That was at the table of our Lord Jesus Christ to 00:12:57.85\00:13:01.59 remember the Last Supper. 00:13:01.62\00:13:03.77 Paul was exalting the role of slaves, exalting the role 00:13:03.81\00:13:08.99 of women, exulting the roles of Gentiles, saying that 00:13:09.03\00:13:14.18 when we are in Christ we are all one. 00:13:14.21\00:13:16.79 There is level ground at the foot of the cross. 00:13:16.83\00:13:19.69 Paul teaches the oneness of all, the brotherhood of all. 00:13:19.73\00:13:23.69 Some people have accused Paul of supporting unjust 00:13:23.73\00:13:28.39 societies, indeed in Romans 14, he said to honor the King. 00:13:28.42\00:13:32.27 God has established the governments for the good of the 00:13:32.30\00:13:36.11 people, the Roman world was a very rough world, 00:13:36.15\00:13:39.48 a very difficult world. 00:13:39.51\00:13:41.08 Infanticide was practice here in the city of Rome and 00:13:41.11\00:13:45.07 throughout the empire. 00:13:45.11\00:13:46.68 If you did not have a child did not want it you simply 00:13:46.71\00:13:48.39 discarded the baby, the infant, by tossing it into the ditch. 00:13:48.43\00:13:52.43 In time slaves would come by and pick up your baby and 00:13:52.47\00:13:56.70 raise the baby, not as their own, but as their slave. 00:13:56.74\00:14:00.90 Some have thought that Paul was endorsing the practices of 00:14:00.94\00:14:04.98 the empire, but Paul was not. 00:14:05.01\00:14:07.73 He simply was saying that God has established the King 00:14:07.76\00:14:11.40 as a role of authority to govern society. 00:14:11.43\00:14:14.96 Therefore pray for the King, Paul did not try and lead 00:14:14.99\00:14:19.21 a revolt against the Roman empire, but he put in the 00:14:19.25\00:14:23.82 principles of the oneness of humanity, of the dignity of 00:14:23.85\00:14:28.38 every individual would ultimately break 00:14:28.42\00:14:30.90 the bonds of the empire. 00:14:30.94\00:14:33.18 Paul was the most cosmopolitan of all the apostles. 00:14:35.44\00:14:38.07 He was New Testaments most traveled men and yet there are 00:14:38.11\00:14:41.35 very few cities in this world that give honor to him. 00:14:41.39\00:14:44.74 Although Paul was sent out on three missionary journeys 00:14:44.78\00:14:48.39 from the church of Antioch, this cave church is not known 00:14:48.43\00:14:51.55 today as St. Paul's Church, it's known today at St. Peter's 00:14:51.58\00:14:54.66 Church, and although Paul planted the church 00:14:54.70\00:14:57.49 there in Thessaloniki and sent two letters to it. 00:14:57.53\00:15:00.35 It is not known today as the city of Paul, for Demetrious 00:15:00.39\00:15:05.49 is the patron bishop of that city. 00:15:05.52\00:15:08.42 Although Paul proclaimed the Gospel on Mars Hill, 00:15:08.46\00:15:11.76 before the Areopagus, or the supreme court, today he is not 00:15:11.79\00:15:16.39 the patron saint of Athens. 00:15:16.43\00:15:18.17 That honor goes to Dionysius, the Areopagite. 00:15:18.21\00:15:22.42 Although Paul traveled to create and proclaimed the 00:15:22.45\00:15:25.66 Gospel there, it is Titus who is known as the Bishop of Crete. 00:15:25.69\00:15:29.98 Although Paul lived for three years in the city of Ephesus, 00:15:30.02\00:15:34.28 this city today honors John by the great Basilicas. 00:15:34.31\00:15:38.99 Although Paul came to this city of Rome, and although he 00:15:39.03\00:15:43.23 was arrested and imprisoned here twice, and although he 00:15:43.27\00:15:47.08 was martyred outside the walls, this city is not known 00:15:47.11\00:15:50.89 to be the city of Paul, is known to be 00:15:50.93\00:15:53.46 the city of St. Peter. 00:15:53.49\00:15:55.48 There seems to be a general lack of respect for Paul 00:15:57.79\00:16:00.66 today in the world. 00:16:00.69\00:16:02.25 Although he planted the Gospel throughout the Roman 00:16:02.29\00:16:05.10 world, although he wrote letters to churches throughout 00:16:05.14\00:16:07.91 the Roman world, there are very few places 00:16:07.95\00:16:10.64 that give honor to him. 00:16:10.68\00:16:12.34 Perhaps it is because he was so well-traveled that no one 00:16:12.38\00:16:16.28 lays claim to him, perhaps that was part of God's plan. 00:16:16.31\00:16:20.01 He does not belong to any city, for in reality he belongs 00:16:20.05\00:16:23.71 to them all, this is the legacy of Paul. 00:16:23.75\00:16:27.20 He put Christianity on the map of the Roman world and 00:16:27.24\00:16:31.34 its impact is still being felt today. 00:16:31.38\00:16:34.23 We come here to the Church of the Scala Sancta, or the 00:16:34.27\00:16:39.05 Holy Stairs, reported to be the very stairs that Jesus 00:16:39.09\00:16:43.80 ascended after his condemnation by Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem. 00:16:43.83\00:16:47.99 Legend has it that the Helena, mother of Constantine, 00:16:48.02\00:16:50.99 brought these stairs to the city of Rome 00:16:51.02\00:16:53.59 in the 4th century. 00:16:53.62\00:16:55.25 We have come here to examine the enduring impact of 00:16:55.28\00:16:58.70 Paul's legacy, for in the 16th century a Roman Catholic 00:16:58.74\00:17:02.67 Monk came from Germany to this city seeking peace in 00:17:02.71\00:17:06.61 his heart and assurance in his soul. 00:17:06.64\00:17:08.74 As he ascended the stairs upon his knees, doing an act 00:17:08.77\00:17:13.02 of penance, much like these modern worshipers, 00:17:13.05\00:17:15.95 a verse flashed into his mind written by Paul to this 00:17:15.98\00:17:19.29 city over 1500 years earlier. 00:17:19.33\00:17:22.05 The righteous will live by faith, as that text flashed 00:17:22.08\00:17:27.26 into his mind it rocked his soul. 00:17:27.30\00:17:30.09 Martin Luther discovered that indeed righteousness did 00:17:30.12\00:17:33.92 not come as an act of penance, but it came as a 00:17:33.95\00:17:37.25 free gift from God. 00:17:37.29\00:17:39.25 Let me read to you the verse found in Romans 1:17. 00:17:39.28\00:17:44.10 Yes righteousness is received as a free gift from God 00:17:57.24\00:18:00.55 and is an act of faith. 00:18:00.58\00:18:02.51 This was the key that unlocked the writings of Paul in 00:18:02.55\00:18:05.67 the mind of Martin Luther. 00:18:05.70\00:18:07.48 He rose from his knees and went forth to proclaim the 00:18:07.52\00:18:10.52 powerful good news that we are saved by grace through 00:18:10.56\00:18:13.53 faith in Jesus Christ alone. 00:18:13.57\00:18:16.08 What is the legacy of the apostle Paul? 00:18:16.12\00:18:19.06 Righteousness does not come as an act of penance instead 00:18:19.10\00:18:23.68 it is a free gift of God to those who believe. 00:18:23.71\00:18:27.86 This gift of God results in reconciliation between 00:18:27.90\00:18:32.02 God and the believer. 00:18:32.05\00:18:34.62 Yes it brings peace to the heart and assurance to the 00:18:34.65\00:18:38.11 soul, unfortunately these modern worshipers have not 00:18:38.14\00:18:41.46 yet understood the message of Paul that he sent to this 00:18:41.50\00:18:44.78 church over 1900 years ago. 00:18:44.82\00:18:48.47 When we accept this gift of faith, we find peace with God. 00:18:48.50\00:18:54.65 It does not matter if you are a Jew or Gentile, 00:18:54.68\00:18:57.38 it does not matter if you are slave or citizen, 00:18:57.42\00:19:00.23 it doesn't matter if you are a male or female, 00:19:00.26\00:19:03.00 we find peace with God and our lives are transformed. 00:19:03.04\00:19:06.97 This is the enduring legacy of the apostle Paul, 00:19:07.00\00:19:10.08 the clarity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:19:10.11\00:19:13.40 What is the legacy of the apostle Paul. 00:19:13.44\00:19:16.65 The legacy of Paul was changed lives, it doesn't matter 00:19:16.69\00:19:20.66 who you are, or what you have done. 00:19:20.70\00:19:22.96 No one is too great of a sinner to be beyond 00:19:23.00\00:19:27.64 the grace of our God. 00:19:27.67\00:19:29.39 You remember when we visited the city of Corinth? 00:19:29.43\00:19:32.79 Paul wrote a letter and he mentions how great the 00:19:32.82\00:19:36.15 power of the Gospel is. 00:19:36.18\00:19:38.01 We read about it in 1 Corinthians 6:9. 00:19:38.04\00:19:41.53 We mentioned two inscriptions discovered at the 00:20:11.00\00:20:13.00 theater of Corinth, one was inscribed 'for the girls'. 00:20:13.03\00:20:16.54 A reference to the Temple prostitutes, many of whom 00:20:16.58\00:20:20.06 were touched by the power of the Gospel. 00:20:20.09\00:20:22.14 Then we saw the inscription of Erastus in the theater. 00:20:22.18\00:20:26.59 Erastus was the city treasurer, or director of public 00:20:26.62\00:20:31.00 works of this great Metropolis at Corinth. 00:20:31.04\00:20:33.36 This man of business in stature was also converted. 00:20:33.39\00:20:37.54 His life was changed as he became a follower of Jesus. 00:20:37.57\00:20:41.68 Paul wrote to the church at Rome from Corinth. 00:20:41.72\00:20:44.63 Erastus sends his greetings to the church here in Chapter 16. 00:20:44.66\00:20:48.55 The legacy of the apostle Paul is changed lives. 00:20:56.50\00:21:00.77 The Gospel penetrated all levels of society. 00:21:00.80\00:21:05.03 What is the legacy of the apostle Paul? 00:21:08.20\00:21:10.61 Change lives that experience the peace and assurance 00:21:10.64\00:21:14.60 that comes from being reconciled with God through 00:21:14.63\00:21:18.55 faith in Jesus Christ. 00:21:18.59\00:21:20.49 We have come here to the Abbey of the Three Fountains 00:21:20.53\00:21:24.59 to examine another aspect of the enduring legacy of Paul. 00:21:24.63\00:21:28.83 That changed lives can be filled with hope in the face 00:21:28.86\00:21:33.03 of adversity, we have followed Paul's footsteps 00:21:33.06\00:21:36.73 for over 13,000 miles. 00:21:36.76\00:21:39.35 He had faithfully followed wherever his Lord Jesus had 00:21:39.39\00:21:42.82 led throughout the Roman empire and now his Lord led to 00:21:42.85\00:21:46.25 this place outside of the walls of Rome. 00:21:46.28\00:21:49.54 It was a place of execution in the first century. 00:21:49.58\00:21:53.69 From Paul's first letter to his last, he constantly 00:21:53.72\00:21:57.80 emphasized the theme of hope. 00:21:57.83\00:22:00.48 This is his enduring legacy. 00:22:00.51\00:22:03.08 In his first letter he sent to the Young church there 00:22:03.12\00:22:07.23 in Thessaloniki, he wrote to encourage them to be filled 00:22:07.27\00:22:11.35 with hope in the face of adversity. 00:22:11.38\00:22:14.59 He wrote in chapter 4:13. 00:22:14.63\00:22:17.06 A member of the Young church at Thessaloniki had died. 00:22:26.22\00:22:29.99 The church was devastated, but Paul wrote to them that 00:22:30.03\00:22:33.76 they might be informed and filled with hope. 00:22:33.80\00:22:36.50 What is the basis of that hope? 00:22:36.53\00:22:39.11 Paul wrote to the Thessalonians and thus to us all about 00:23:06.10\00:23:10.37 this blessed hope, when we believe in Jesus by faith 00:23:10.41\00:23:13.82 we will have peace with God and no longer never have 00:23:13.86\00:23:17.23 to be afraid of death. 00:23:17.27\00:23:19.16 This teaching is the enduring legacy of the apostle Paul. 00:23:19.20\00:23:23.00 Paul wrote five letters, or five epistles from the city 00:23:23.03\00:23:26.79 of Rome during his imprisonment. 00:23:26.83\00:23:29.11 These letters contain some of the most wonderful, precious 00:23:29.14\00:23:33.37 passages is to be found in our Bible today. 00:23:33.41\00:23:35.76 When Christians would be martyred in the Circus Maximus, 00:23:35.79\00:23:39.62 or in the far reaches of the Roman empire, they would 00:23:39.65\00:23:43.67 recall Paul's faithfulness, how he followed his Lord 00:23:43.71\00:23:47.70 here to this place of execution. 00:23:47.73\00:23:49.63 They would remember his words written to the church at 00:23:49.66\00:23:52.86 Philippi, though I want to honor my Lord whether by my 00:23:52.90\00:23:56.06 life, or by my death. 00:23:56.10\00:23:58.21 They would recall his words sent to the 00:23:58.24\00:24:01.46 church in Corinth, listen. 00:24:01.50\00:24:03.68 Yes Paul's life was filled with problems and difficulties. 00:24:22.29\00:24:26.68 He was beaten and mistreated, he was unjustly condemned 00:24:26.71\00:24:31.06 and sentenced to death, here outside the walls. 00:24:31.10\00:24:34.71 Yet his life was tempered with hope, he believed that 00:24:34.75\00:24:39.91 death was not the only end, that there was more. 00:24:39.95\00:24:43.15 Standing in this very special place, I am reminded of 00:24:43.18\00:24:47.68 Paul's legacy that can best be summarized in the last 00:24:47.71\00:24:52.18 letter that he penned. 00:24:52.21\00:24:53.90 He said it to his son in the Gospel Timothy. 00:24:53.93\00:24:56.30 We read about it in chapter 4. 00:24:56.33\00:24:58.45 What was the legacy of the apostle Paul? 00:25:25.12\00:25:27.25 The clarity of the Gospel, when we accept Jesus Christ 00:25:27.28\00:25:31.82 by faith, we experience peace and 00:25:31.85\00:25:35.38 reconciliation with God. 00:25:35.41\00:25:37.38 What is the legacy of apostle Paul? 00:25:37.41\00:25:39.98 That no one is too great a sinner to be reached 00:25:40.02\00:25:42.81 by the power of the Gospel, and such were some of you. 00:25:42.84\00:25:45.86 What is the legacy of the apostle Paul? 00:25:45.89\00:25:48.24 The blessed assurance that death is not final. 00:25:48.28\00:25:51.83 There will be a sure and certain event of the 00:25:51.86\00:25:54.68 resurrection of the dead when Jesus Christ 00:25:54.71\00:25:57.50 returns the second time. 00:25:57.53\00:25:59.40 Martin Luther, like countless millions of people 00:25:59.44\00:26:02.66 experience the peace that comes from surrendering 00:26:02.70\00:26:05.89 oneself to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. 00:26:05.93\00:26:08.10 Countless millions of Christians down through the ages 00:26:08.14\00:26:12.12 have found comfort and assurance from the writings of 00:26:12.15\00:26:16.10 Paul about the blessed hope. 00:26:16.14\00:26:18.63 My question to you, at this very special spot, 00:26:18.67\00:26:23.33 and the end of our journey, have you experienced the 00:26:23.36\00:26:27.83 peace that comes from surrendering your life to the 00:26:27.87\00:26:32.30 Lordship of Jesus Christ? 00:26:32.33\00:26:34.06 Have you consciously and intentionally surrendered 00:26:34.10\00:26:38.12 your life to Him? 00:26:38.16\00:26:39.81 You too can have this peace, all you have to do is 00:26:39.85\00:26:44.00 surrender to Him, it doesn't matter who you are or 00:26:44.04\00:26:48.71 what you have done, and 'such were some of you'. 00:26:48.74\00:26:53.38 Have you experienced the blessed hope, the hopeful 00:26:54.87\00:26:59.50 assurance that death is not the end? 00:26:59.54\00:27:03.44 You see the reality is that we are all traveling in a 00:27:03.48\00:27:07.32 very sure and certain direction toward the grave. 00:27:07.35\00:27:11.12 But Paul wrote that we might have hope, hope that goes 00:27:11.15\00:27:15.77 beyond this old world. 00:27:15.81\00:27:17.98 Yes you can have peace and you can have hope if you will 00:27:18.02\00:27:22.56 surrender your life to the Lordship of Jesus. 00:27:22.60\00:27:25.45 In this very special spot where Paul's earthly journey 00:27:25.48\00:27:29.71 ended, I want to encourage you to pray with me just now. 00:27:29.74\00:27:34.06 Father in heaven, in this very special spot where Paul's 00:27:34.10\00:27:38.58 earthly journey came to an end, we want to thank You for 00:27:38.61\00:27:43.09 the testimony of his life, how he faithfully followed You. 00:27:43.12\00:27:47.56 Give us a heart that wants to follow you completely 00:27:47.59\00:27:51.38 and fully and may we experience the joy like Paul 00:27:51.42\00:27:55.13 had of following wherever You go, no matter what the cost, 00:27:55.17\00:27:59.39 is my prayer in Jesus name, Amen. 00:27:59.42\00:28:02.38 Well it has been a very special joy to travel in the 00:28:02.41\00:28:05.54 footsteps of Paul and I want to thank you for joining 00:28:05.57\00:28:08.66 me in this very special series. 00:28:08.69\00:28:10.52 I want to encourage you to continue following in the 00:28:10.56\00:28:14.37 footsteps, not of Paul the apostle, but of Jesus Christ 00:28:14.41\00:28:18.64 Himself, one day soon and very soon I hope that we can 00:28:18.67\00:28:22.87 meet there by the throne of God. 00:28:22.91\00:28:24.66 Perhaps to talk with Paul, perhaps to reminisce about 00:28:24.69\00:28:28.00 this series that we have shared together. 00:28:28.03\00:28:29.86 Well from here at the Abbey of the Three Fountains, 00:28:29.90\00:28:33.44 outside the city walls of Rome, I want to wish you 00:28:33.47\00:28:36.98 God's blessing and God's speed. 00:28:37.01\00:28:40.23