Morality of Paul's Converts

A careful analysis of the texts of Paul's letters shows that in every church there were two main groups of converts: those who were baptized and those being instructed for baptism. Such analysis also makes it possible to determine which parts of each letter were directed toward converts being prepared for baptism and those already baptized. Baptism was the rite by which converts were forgiven of their past sins whereby they were made righteous, with the obligation to remain sinless for the day of Christ's return. Baptized converts became members of a renewed covenant community of God from which persons who continued to sin were expelled. Paul was always more concerned with how converts behaved than with what they believed about Christ. Paul remained a Jew even after he became a member of the group of Jews who accepted Jesus as the Messiah. Consequently, his primary message for Gentiles was faithfulness toward God, along with the moral probity of those who believe. Paul eventually developed beliefs about Jesus the Messiah as the Son of God and Lord, in order to win Gentile converts to faithfulness toward God. Being made righteous, the original meaning of Paul's word usually translated as &quote;justified,&quote; brings out the depth of Paul's emphasis on the morality of converts. Faithfulness toward God and moral probity are the primary messages in the letters of Paul; therefore, there emerges from this study a concern on the part of Paul for the moral life of believers not heretofore recognized. In turn, the vague doctrine of justification by faith in Christ, is no longer cogent for the twenty-first century.