The Transforming Power of the Gospel

Acts 9 opens with a striking image of Saul, a man consumed with anger and hatred, "breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord." He was on a mission, armed with letters from the high priest, authorizing him to arrest any followers of "the Way" he found in Damascus and bring them back to Jerusalem in shackles. Saul was relentless in his persecution, a man determined to crush the early church.

But as Saul traveled toward Damascus, something miraculous happened. A light from heaven suddenly flashed around him, and in that moment, everything changed.

A Radical Transformation

When Paul later wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come" (NASB), he wasn't speaking theoretically or in abstract terms. Paul was writing from personal experience, having lived through one of the most radical transformations recorded in Scripture.

Acts 9:1-31 is not just a powerful narrative; it's a testament to the hope and power of the gospel to change lives-radically and completely. Saul, the persecutor of the church, became Paul, the apostle who would go on to spread the gospel across the known world. The old truly did pass away, and new things came in a way that could only be described as miraculous.

The Journey from Saul to Paul

Saul's journey to becoming Paul is a story filled with irony, transformation, and redemption. Here's a glimpse into this profound change:

• Saul the Persecutor Became Paul the Preacher: Saul, who sought to destroy the Way, became Paul, who joined it with all his heart. He went from denying Christ to embracing and preaching Christ with a fervor that matched, if not exceeded, his previous zeal for persecution.

• From Blindness to Sight: Saul was struck blind on the road to Damascus, a physical manifestation of his spiritual blindness. But through the mercy of Christ, Paul received both his physical sight and spiritual enlightenment. He could now see the Amazing Grace of God that had saved a wretch like him.

• From Threatening Death to Preaching Life: Saul once threatened the church with death, but Paul died to himself in Christ so that he might preach eternal life to the church. The man who once instilled fear became a man who brought the message of hope and salvation.

• From Hatred to Love: Saul hated the church, but Paul loved the saints with a deep, abiding love. He became thankful for them, often expressing his gratitude and affection in his letters. The transformation was complete-Saul, who once represented darkness, was translated into the marvelous light of God's kingdom.

Why We Preach the Gospel

The story of Saul's conversion is a powerful reminder of why we preach the gospel, why we hold out Christ before the world, and why the church must never cease from proclaiming the good news. We do so because the gospel has the power to transform lives, to turn Sauls into Pauls.

We must never give up on the Sauls of the world —those who seem far from God, hostile to the faith, or trapped in darkness-because in Christ, they can become new creatures. The old can pass away, and new things can come. This is the hope we carry and the message we proclaim.

The gospel is not just a message of forgiveness; it's a message of transformation. It's about becoming new, about leaving behind the old life of sin and stepping into the new life that Christ offers. And as the story of Saul shows us, no one is beyond the reach of God's grace.

Let's wrap this post up with this last thought...

The Power of the Gospel

The transformation of Saul into Paul is one of the most dramatic examples of the gospel's power. It's a story that should inspire us to continue sharing the good news, to never lose hope for those who seem farthest from God, and to remember that in Christ, anyone can become a new creation.

We preach the gospel because it's the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). We preach the gospel because it's the message that can turn a persecutor into a preacher, a hater into a lover, and the spiritually blind into those who see with eyes of faith.

So, let us never give up. Let us continue to preach Christ to a world in desperate need of His transforming power, knowing that through Him, Sauls can become Pauls. Amen.

Kenneth Beaton