I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.”
Summary: Life is complicated, and so is the Bible. Sometimes, it helps to simplify things. Hopefully, a simple explanation using a peanut will help us see the value of this passage.
If the ancient world were a peanut, Jerusalem would be the skinny part in the middle. If you hold the peanut upright, the lower half is Judea, and the upper half is where Paul lived and did most of his ministry.
Okay, I know what you are thinking.
“Nuts!”
Fair enough. The peanut illustration is a bit oversimplified. But the point stands. Paul’s ministry was not in Judea. It was mostly in the top half of the peanut, which is rest of the known world.
The churches in Judea had were started by the apostles who had received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Paul had been known to these churches and feared by them when he was persecuting believers. Paul had a reputation.
Now, his reputation for persecuting Christians had changed. People had heard about the change in him. People talked about what happened because … why?
How many people must have prayed for protection from Paul when he was putting people in prison for their faith?
How many people had friends or relatives that ended up in prison because of Paul?
How could God let this happen to his church?
And then, Paul was changed. In an instant, he changed from someone intent on wiping out the name of Jesus into someone who proclaimed the name of Jesus as king and savior.
What did people say when they first heard this?
“Nuts!”
That is crazy talk! Things like that don’t happen. How could someone like Paul (aka Saul) switch from hating Jesus to serving him?
The answer to that is simple: Jesus.
Jesus himself changed Paul from a hater to a believer. Jesus blinded Paul on the road to Damascus and, at the same time, opened his eyes.
Was Jesus glorified by what happened to Paul?
Yes, he was.
Application: If Jesus can change a man like Paul, what can’t he do?
Food for Thought: In 1 Timothy 4:15, Paul writes to Timothy, “Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.” How do the changes God makes in us impact those who see them?
The changes God brings about in us are evident in the fruit found in Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
For someone to see God bring about or purify those qualities in someone else impacts the relationship of the two, fosters foregiveness and hope, and is a testimony to the power and faithfulness of God’s love.
Amen, Chris!
Well said! 🙂
How do the changes God makes in us impact those who see them?
All believers have been convicted of their sin, God’s righteousness and judgement to come. John 16:8 In repentance believers have turned from our sins and received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
Believers who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. Who have not received a Spirit that makes us fearful slaves. Instead, we have been adopted as His own children. Romans 8:14-17, John 16:13
The Holy Spirit, becomes our power to obey God, and will convict our hearts whenever the temptation to return to our old ways comes. As we live in obedience to His will, we begin to be seen as different by those who follow the perverted ways of the god of this world. Family and friends of new believers will often criticize and reject them, or in some cases they may join them.
We remain in these bodies of flesh to grow and minister to this world as people see the light of Christ in each of us.
Matthew 12:30, He who is not with Me [once and for all on My side] is against Me; and he who does not [unequivocally] gather with Me scatters. Those criticize and reject the conviction received, commit he Unpardonable Sin.
Thank you, Ron.
I really like this phrase:
“The Holy Spirit, becomes our power to obey God…”
That is so true! Without God’s Spirit, we are lost. With Him, we are not only saved, but restored, encouraged, and guided.
Yes indeed, Jeff!
Ron
In 1 Timothy 4:15, Paul writes to Timothy, “Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.” How do the changes God makes in us impact those who see them?
Don’t forget how much of an encouragement it is to other believers when they see God at work in someone. Or how faith strengthens faith like 3 cords.