The Apostle Paul became one of the greatest servants of God in the history of the Church.

He carried the Gospel across his known world. He became one of Christianity’s greatest teachers. The Holy Spirit used him to give us a significant portion of the New Testament, including the incredible letter we call Romans.

But Paul was not always Paul. Before he became the Apostle Paul, he was Saul of Tarsus. And Saul was one of the most self-righteous religious dudes you would ever want to meet.

He knew Scripture. He understood religion. He was educated, zealous, and convinced that he was right. He was also terribly wrong.

Saul believed he was doing God a favor by trying to stomp out this new movement called Christianity. He persecuted followers of Jesus. He actively tried to destroy them.

Then one day, on the road to Damascus, God’s mercy showed up. God got his attention. Saul met Jesus, humbled himself, placed his faith in Christ, and was changed by the grace of God.

That should encourage every one of us. If God could do that with Saul of Tarsus, think about what His grace can do with you. And think about what His grace can do with that person you are about ready to give up on.

GOD’S POWER FOR CHANGE

Paul never took credit for what his life became. He wrote: “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry” (1 Timothy 1:12, NKJV).

Paul understood that the secret of his strength was not Paul. It was Jesus. He knew that his life was the result of a relationship with an all-powerful God who had saved him, called him, appointed him, and empowered him.

But Paul also remembered his past. He called himself a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man. He owned it. And if we are honest, most of us have some BC days too: Before Christ days.

There are things in our past that we would rather everybody not know. Some of it we did in ignorance. Some of it, if we are really honest, we knew was wrong and did it anyway.

Yet Paul could say four beautiful words: “But I obtained mercy.”

Oh, mercy mercy me! The next time we become tempted to sit in self-righteous judgment over somebody else’s sin, we would do well to remember the mercy God has shown us.

Sometimes I look at somebody and think, Man, they need Jesus. Then I have to move pretty quickly to this: I need Jesus too.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is still “the power of God to salvation” (Romans 1:16). I cannot change another human heart. Neither can you. But the grace of God can transform the worst of sinners.

GOD’S PLAN FOR SINNERS

Paul describes the grace of Christ as “exceedingly abundant.” His sin was great. God’s grace was greater. It superabounded over all his sin.

No wonder Paul would later write: “But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.”
(Romans 5:20, NKJV). Grace is the only source of pardon for sinful humanity.

Then Paul gives us the entire Gospel in one sentence: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” That is a faithful saying worthy of all acceptance. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

We might benefit from repeating that more often. Before we complain about the weather. Before we complain about work. Before we say something negative about somebody who is making life difficult. Before we decide that a son, daughter, spouse, friend, coworker, or neighbor is hopeless.

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

Some of you have prayed for people for years, and you are getting tired. You are wondering whether they will ever change. Don’t give up. You couldn’t change them anyway. It was never your power that could save them.

The Gospel saves sinners. If Christ could save Saul of Tarsus, and if He could save me, He can save that person too.

GRACE DOES MORE THAN FORGIVE

Paul finishes that great Gospel sentence by saying that Christ came to save sinners, “of whom I am chief.”

And here is where this sanctified old goat gets riled up a little bit. That verse is not permission to say we can be saved by grace while happily living headfirst in willful, public, unrepentant sin. That’s not the Gospel!

Does becoming a Christian mean you will never do anything stupid again? No. I certainly didn’t say that.

But when somebody who belongs to Jesus sins, the Holy Spirit has a way of getting involved. Conviction comes and we find ourselves saying, “Lord, forgive me. I did it again. Help me.”

Paul’s testimony was not that grace gave him permission to remain Saul. Grace turned Saul into Paul.

The Gospel is not merely forgiveness for the guilt of our past. God’s grace also gives us power to walk free from the domination of willful sin.

I like an old expression that captures Paul’s testimony: I ain’t yet what I ought to be, but praise God, I ain’t what I used to be. That’s grace.

GOD’S PATTERN OF GRACE

Paul says his life became a “pattern” for others who would believe. Think of a first draft, a rough sketch, or a preliminary model.

Paul was essentially saying: Look what God did with me. If He can save me, there is hope for everybody.

Imagine facing a serious surgery. One of the most encouraging people you could meet would be someone who had already gone through the same operation, recovered, healed, and was doing well. You would look at them and think: If they made it through, maybe I can too.

Paul’s life says the same thing about grace. Look at him. Grace works.

BE ENCOURAGED

Paul finishes this passage in praise: “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen” (1 Timothy 1:17, NKJV). Say this aloud and give God some unashamed praise!

But perhaps you are reading this and you are not sure where you stand with God. You are not too far gone. You have not done too much wrong. Jesus Christ has come looking for you.

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. That includes you. Confess your sinfulness to God. Acknowledge Jesus Christ as your only hope. Ask Him for forgiveness. Place your faith in Him.

It’s time to move from almost persuaded to altogether Christian.

The same grace that transformed Saul of Tarsus is still changing lives today.

BE ENCOURAGED. God offers grace is greater than all your sin.