May 17
Bible Reading: Acts 9
Acts 9:1-2, “But Saul, still breathing threats and murders against the disciples of the Lord…”
I love to read in Christian biographies of how God intervened in the life of a man or woman to save and transform them. There is typically much variety as to the details, but some things remain consistent with all of them. There is a life before conversion, the conversion experience itself, and the transformation that follows. Sometimes the transformation is radical and profound—such was the case with Saul.
The church has known no greater missionary than the Apostle Paul. Countless souls were saved, and churches established because of his missionary endeavors. He authored more books of the Bible than any other man. He was a man of profound theology and was privileged to be given a foretaste of heaven (2 Corinthians 12:2-4). He suffered incredibly for the gospel message he was compelled to preach (2 Corinthians 11:23-28). But he rejoiced in his sufferings as he understood their contribution to his life purpose—to know Jesus Christ better (Philippians 3:10). His life was devoted to ministry (Philippians 1:21-24, 2:17). He fought the good fight and finished the course (2 Timothy 4:7). He has left us all an example worth emulating (Philippians 3:17).
It is amazing then to reconsider who Paul was beforehand. Several passages in Scripture give Paul’s testimony. Collectively, they speak to his radical depravity–something that is true of all of us by nature but not always so obvious (Ephesians 2:1-3; Colossians 1:21).
- Acts 9:1-2, “But Saul, still breathing threats and murders against the disciples of the Lord…”
- Acts 26:9-11, “In opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth…I not only locked up many of the saints in prison…but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them…And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them.”
- Galatians 1:13, “I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.”
- 1 Timothy 1:13, “Though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent.”
Saul was not in any way seeking after Christ. He was engaged in his murderous activities at the time of his conversion. He would have undoubtedly been voted “least likely to be saved,” had any such vote been taken. So repugnant was his reputation amongst the Christians that God had to convince Ananias to go to him after Saul’s conversion (Acts 9:10-14). It was to such a man that Christ appeared. How are we to account for his salvation? Obviously, there was no Pauline contribution to it—no goodness of heart or work of his own, which led up to it. He was headed in the wrong direction when God turned him around. Years later Paul offered this explanation of that which transpired — “But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 1:13a-14). By what means was Saul saved? By the love, grace, and mercy which are found in Christ Jesus. We deserve judgment. Through Christ’s mercy and graced we receive forgiveness instead. The distance between what we deserved and what we have received is infinite and speaks to the “overflowing” grace that worked to save Paul.
At the age of 82, John Newton–that former slave ship captain turned preacher and writer of the hymn “Amazing Grace”–said, “My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things, that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Saviour.”
John Newton
1 Timothy 1:11-17 is Paul’s testimony to God’s saving work. He praises God in its introduction and conclusion (1 Timothy 1:11 & 17). His testimony includes the “trustworthy” saying that, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). Paul explained why he himself was shown mercy: “But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life” (1 Timothy 1:16). In other words—if Jesus Christ could save Paul, He can save anybody. His ability to pardon exceeds our ability to comprehend (Isaiah 55:6-9). Paul’s was a glorious and radical transformation and speaks to Jesus’ ability to “save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him” (Hebrews 7:25). Paul was evermore speaking of the glorious nature of God’s grace. His proclamation of the gospel was not just theoretical, but very personal (i.e., He “loved me and gave himself for me;” Galatians 2:20). “By the grace of God, I am what I am,” he once said (1 Corinthians 15:10). By God’s grace, a hate-filled persecutor was radically transformed into a love-filled Apostle. “Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!”
The God who transformed a hate filled persecutor into an apostle with a heart full of love is able to work a wonderful transformation in any of us!
Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin!
LookingtoJesus 