I doubt if any would question the statement that Paul was the greatest Christian of all time. More than any other person, he reflects the mind of Christ. The scope and effectiveness of his writings and labors for Christ are almost beyond description. Other than Jesus Himself, no other person has affected the history of the last two thousand years more than Paul.
Yet, more than any other person he recognized his weakness and short comings, 1 Timothy 1:15, 2 Corinthians 12:9. Paul, I don’t think ever fully understood why God placed him in the ministry. In fact, as he faced this tremendous responsibility, he cried out in 2 Corinthians 2:16, “Who is sufficient for these things.” He found his answer in 2 Corinthians 3:5
What God did for Paul, He can do for any one who is fully committed to His will. It was all of God and none of Paul. The Ford company, before they had a better idea, had a slogan that said, “When better cars are built, Ford will build them.” If there is ever another Christian like Paul, you can be sure that God will make him so. 1 Corinthians 15:10, Paul is the greatest trophy of God’s grace you can find. When you consider what Paul was and what he became, you have to admit that only the grace of God could perform such a miracle. Paul is a challenge to all of us. If God could do it once, He can do it again, only if one is willing to become clay in the hands of the Potter. Look at Galatians 1:23-23
I. Let’s Consider the Past Condition of Paul, v. 23
1. Saul of Tarsus was one of the prize products of Judaism. The son of a Roman Jew. Probably a man of wealth, thus Saul had every advantage which an affluent father could give to him.
a. Philippians 3:5-6, a deeply religious man, devout.
b. Acts 22:3, trained at the feet of Gamaliel, one the greatest Jewish teachers of his day. Acts 5:34
2. Acts 7:58, here is the first historical introduction to Saul of Tarsus.
a. Stephen was being stoned to death.
b. Saul was consenting which means well pleased, Acts 8:1
3. Immediately thereafter there started a great persecution against the Christians in Jerusalem. The ringleader was Saul, Acts 8:1-3; Acts 22:4
a. 1 Timothy 1:13, Paul described himself as a blasphemer
b. He was out to wipe even the name of Jesus off the face of the earth.
4. Acts 9:1, He ran out of Christians in Jerusalem and got permission to go to Damascus and wipe them out there.
5. You see, he regarded Jesus as an imposter and an enemy of the Jewish faith.
a. He believed what had been said in Matthew 28:12-15
b. He was determined to put an end to this entire movement.
6. Had the Lord not intervened, who can tell what might have happened to this infant church.
II. Let’s Note His Present Commitment
1. What do you suppose made this tremendous change? Look in Acts 26:13-19, Paul met Jesus.
2. Someone once said Paul’s experience was an epileptic seizure suffered during a thunderstorm. If so, then we should pray for an epidemic of such.
3. He met Jesus and his experience became one of the greatest witnesses to the bodily resurrection of Jesus form the grave.
a. Paul did not expect, even want to see Jesus alive. His attitude was the very opposite.
b. He saw Him and he believed in Him. Notice his very first question, Acts 22:10
4. Soon he was preaching the gospel in Damascus, then in Jerusalem, Cilicia, Antioch, uttermost parts of the earth.
5. He was stoned, beaten, imprisoned, shipwrecked, persecuted but his labor of love for Christ did not cease.
6. This transformation can be explained by no other means than the grace of God. 1 Corinthians 15:9-10
III. Let’s Note His Pattern for All Believers
1. 1 Timothy 1:2-16
2. Paul is saying that despite what he had been, by the grace of God he became what he now is. And he is a pattern.
3. Suppose Paul had rejected Christ. He would have spent His life battling God. Then oblivion, but he didn’t.
4. What did Paul think of his choice? Philippians 3:7-8, 2 Timothy 4:6-8. He never regretted it for one minute.
5. Paul was a prime example of the gospel he believed in and preached, are You?
