From Terrorist to Evangelist

We know that the conversion of Saul, from terrorist to evangelist and from murderer to martyr, is one of the evidences in the Bible for the truth of the Gospel. It is almost Exhibit A in the New Testament that salvation is only by grace through faith, and not through good works. Why? Paul was a Pharisee of Pharisees, a young man who stood head and shoulders above others in his zeal for following the law, in his passion for doing good works for God. Paul writes to Timothy, saying, “I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent.” But, he said, “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.” He is not saying that God showed mercy because of something He saw in Paul! But that Paul is a perfect example, like the rest of us, that there is no merit whatsoever in us but perfect merit in Christ who took our place. If you are in Christ, it is because God displayed perfect patience in calling you before you were even in your mother’s womb, and saving you at the time of His choosing. That’s the Gospel. 

Notice what Paul says about his conversion in Galatians. First, he says that Jesus set him apart before he was born. Before Paul entered his mother’s womb, God had ordained that Paul would know Jesus. And think of this. God endured with patience as Paul advanced in Judaism and in works-righteousness. And the same misplaced zeal that Paul grew skilled in to advance works-righteousness, the false gospel, would be employed by the Spirit, this zeal, in a new Paul to advance the Kingdom of God and salvation by grace through faith! I love the story CS Lewis tells in his book, Surprised by Joy of a teacher he had in school who was nicknamed “The Great Knock,” and “Kirk.” William Kirkpatrick was a brilliant tutor who trained Lewis as a young man in logic, clear thinking, and analysis. And Kirk was an atheist whose rationalism formed Lewis in that same mold. Until Jesus, who had set CS Lewis apart before he was born, gave the light of the Gospel to him. And then? Lewis’ training in logic and clear thinking prepared him well to become one of the greatest defenders of the Christian faith in his day. Here’s the truth, saints. Nothing is wasted with God and all that you have learned and all that you have suffered become the tools God uses in you to be salt and light in the world.  

Second, Paul says that not only was he set apart before birth but at the right time, God “was pleased to reveal his Son to me.” God revealed Christ to Paul so that He could reveal Christ through Paul. It is the same for you and me! Ironically, Paul was called by Jesus to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles, the very people Paul would have avoided like the plague before his conversion. Notice also that your Bible may have a footnote that says the Greek there is actually “in.” God revealed his Son, not just to Paul, but in Paul. Salvation is only ours when we have Jesus in us. “Christ in us, the hope of glory.” 

You don’t have to be a terrorist to have a miraculous conversion. Any conversion of any soul is a miracle. Neither do you have to be “blinded by the light” to be saved. You just have to meet and surrender to the One who is light.  

Only Jesus.