Have you ever been introduced to a crowd of people before? Sometimes the introduction is quite favorable and other times not so favorable…but of course, that all depends on the beliefs of the people to whom you are being introduced. Right? For example, on April 7, 2022, Col. Allen West was invited to the University of Buffalo. The title of the lecture he gave was called “America is not racist – Why American Values are Exceptional.” His introduction to the student body was explosive. A large group of students gathered outside the hall and yelled to try and drown out the speaker. The conservative student who invited Col. West was chased on campus by a group of roughly 200 students. As they pursued her, they yelled things like, “Go get her. Go capture her. Get the girl in the red dress.” This group was also heard chanting “No peace,” “Target practice,” and other threatening slogans. This introduction really made an impression on a specific segment of the student population!
In the book of Acts, we have another explosive introduction. Saul is introduced to us in a setting not so favorable to believers; however, to those surrounding him he was a hero of sorts! Saul’s hero status would be a humbling reality in the years to come. The setting of Saul’s introduction is the stage of the first martyr of the New Testament, Stephen’s stoning. Saul is transformed just a short time later. If he were to be introduced to the same coat holding crowd in a few days, he would not have been as well received. Saul’s meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus completely transformed him from a persecutor and oppressor of Christians to a preacher of the gospel.
It was Jesus that transformed Saul. We will always be changed when we meet with Jesus! The believer must never lose sight of the massive change Jesus Christ brought (and continues to bring) to their life!
Saul is Introduced
Saul’s first mention in the book of Acts is in chapter 7. We find him hanging out at a riot. This mob of law breakers were trying to come up with a reason to stone Stephen (7:57-58). Saul was a safe place for the mob to lay down their coats during the stoning. Saul was in full agreement with their choices (7:58-8:1).
As Saul’s introduction continues in chapter 8, we read of his aggressive actions. Acts 8:3 uses the word “haling” when describing Saul’s interactions with Christians. This is the same Greek word used in:
John 21:8--“dragging the net with fishes”
Acts 14:19--“and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead”
Acts 17:6- “And when they had found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, these that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;”
Rev. 12:4 – “And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth:”
If we jump ahead in the book of Acts, we see Paul’s transformed testimony in Acts 22. Consider the years that have passed since his introduction. Saul’s conversion was in 34 AD and (Acts 9:1-9) this arrest in Acts 22 was in 57 AD. 23 years have passed! Consider God’s continued transforming work in Paul….and do not forget that this unruly mob just beat him up with little understanding of any possible crime. They also took no time to verify the facts. Stop and read Acts 22:1-5 and then consider these basic facts:
Paul is in Jerusalem, speaking to a large group of Jews who just tried to kill him.
The Roman soldiers intervened while the mob from the temple were beating up Paul.
The Roman soldiers took Paul to the castle but allowed him to speak to the Jews from the top of the stairs.
The mob became silent, stunned to hear him speak in their tongue. Stunned to learn he himself was a Jew. Afterall, he was accused of polluting the holy temple! (Acts 21:28)
With this context, Paul begins to demonstrate amazing love for his would-be murderers. He does not curse them. He does not turn from them in disgust, in anger, or with a bitter spirit. Instead, he shares his own spiritual journey with them. He tells them about how he came to know Jesus Christ. Paul returns to his back story when witnessing to others. He never forgot where he was when he met Jesus!
4 Things to Never Forget about My Salvation
1. MY GIFT
I am a sinner saved by grace. MY sin required my need for God’s saving grace just as the sin of others require the saving grace of Jesus for them. Eph. 2:5, 8-9; Titus 3:5.
Without Jesus, I deserve judgement. Without Jesus, I too would spend eternity separated from God in hell. It’s all about Jesus! Jn. 3:18; Rom. 6:23; Heb. 9:27; Rev. 20:11-15.
Jesus died for me. He also died for those who sin differently than I do! Jn. 3:16-17; Rom. 10:9-10, 13.
I did not save myself from judgment. Jesus paid it all! I need Jesus! Jn. 14:6; Acts 4:12; I Tim. 2:5; I Pet. 2:21-25.
2. HIS MERCY
I have received more mercy than I could ever show another person. How could I possibly refuse mercy for another? Ps. 103:17; Lam. 3:22-23; Lk. 6:36-37; Col. 3:12.
3. I WAS DESPERATE
I was once in desperate need of someone sharing the gospel with me. I had no hope of saving myself and I did not even know what I really needed until someone showed me truth in the Bible. Praise God they did! What keeps me from doing the same for others? Matt. 28:19-20; Mk. 16:15; Acts 1:8; Acts 26:15-18.
4. OBEDIENCE
To share the saving grace of Jesus with others is a matter of faith and obedience. True obedience is not motivated by guilt, or by looking at the lives of others, or by endeavoring to be good enough to obtain the favor of God! True obedience flows out of the love that comes from true relationship with Jesus.
“My obedience to God never earns His favor, it merely exhibits that He has already given it and is motivating a return love from the heart in response to His love. That obedience always has good results, as it honors Him, enlarges my faith, blesses others, and yields godly fruit.
The only sustainable motive for obeying Jesus is love. We love Him because He first loved us, and our obedience grows out of return love and gratitude. That kind of obedience never runs out of increasing motivational energy, because His mercies are new every morning.”
Cary Schmidt, Pastor
Author of “Done,” “Stop Trying,” “Live Lighter Love Better,” & more.
Someone that crosses my path this week is depending on my obedience to share the gospel…and they don’t even know they are hoping for me to obey God. Matt. 7:24-27; Jn. 14:15; Acts 5:29.
Do you remember the life from which Jesus saved you?
Adolph Menzel created a painting titled Frederick the Great’s Address to His Generals Before the Battle of Leuthen. This historical piece depicts Frederick’s speech to his generals in December 1757 during the Seven Years’ War before their famous battle in Silesia against the Austrians.
Menzel worked on it from 1859-1861, but never finished it. The monumental painting contains the background and the generals standing in a semi-circle, but the main figure of Frederick the Great was left blank. Menzel’s famous painting is a picture of many lives. The background of career, interests, pursuits and achievement is complete. The faces of significant people like family, friends, and colleagues are clear and present. But the central and most important figure is left incomplete—Jesus. Jesus Christ has been given a name that is above all others and rightly deserves to be the focal point of our lives. Likewise, the centrality of Christ in life is the greatest need of every person. May we never foolishly allow Him to be a blank figure in our crowded lives. (Source: Pulpit Helps, May 2008)
The believer, we must never lose sight of the massive change Jesus Christ brought (and continues to bring) to our lives! Jesus does the needed transforming work in my life. Jesus is the answer. Jesus is my true need! So, may I urge you, dear reader, lift high Jesus and His word (the Bible). Give church attendance the same priority that Jesus gives church attendance (Heb. 10:24-25). Give prayer the same priority Jesus gives prayer (Lk. 18:1; I Thess. 5:17). Give Bible reading, Bible memorization, and Bible meditation the same priority that Jesus gives to them in His word (Josh. 1:8; Ps. 1:2; 119:105; Matt. 7:24). May we all cease pursuing our own agenda and reasoning away the Bible. Instead, may the church realign its priorities with God’s priorities and discover deeper relationship with Him — a relationship that satisfies more than any other known to mankind. Come to Jesus and live!