The Book of Acts gives us the record of the Apostle Paul’s conversion. He was formally known as Saul before his name was changed to Paul. In addition to being a tremendous influence for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, he is also a standard bearer of God’s grace. To see this awesome demonstration of God’s grace on Paul’s life, we must know a little bit about Paul’s history. We have to know what ‘Saul’ was all about. One of the worse things that we can do is constantly bring up stains about a person’s past. This can be so damaging to their lives. Sometimes it is necessary for a person to leave the place where everyone knows them in order to give themselves a fighting chance for growth and progress. Knowing this gives us the framework of appreciating the environment Paul had to navigate to carry out his assignment for the Lord. As Saul, Paul was notorious for disliking Jesus Christ and his followers. Most followers of Christ knew Paul’s history, yet he was still able to make such a lasting impact that we are studying and enriched by his epistles today. This is all because of God’s extraordinary grace.
Act 9:1-2(NLT) tells us, “1 Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. 2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.” We can see from this passage that Paul was adamantly against the followers of Christ and wanted them persecuted, imprisoned, or dead. This all changed one day when he was in route to Damascus to carry out the mission that he sought permission from the priest to engage.
It was on the road to Damascus that Paul was confronted by the Lord Jesus Christ. A light from heaven was shining around Paul and the he heard the voice of Jesus ask, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” Jesus Christ is the head and we are the body. Therefore, the persecution that Saul inflicted on the followers of Christ were looked upon by Christ in a very personal way. Persecuting the body is the same as persecuting Christ. Those that were with Paul were dumbfounded because they heard the voice but didn’t see who was talking. Utterly shocked by what he had experienced, Saul was blind when we picked himself up from the ground. He had to be led to Damascus by those who came with him.
We are sometimes shocked by the events of our lives as well. Extreme sickness and disease, heartbreak and heartache, crippling financial woes, broken marriages, dysfunctional relationships, addictions and habit patterns that are so negative they put the devil to shame; these are just a few remnants of darkness and fear that encapsulate the lives of many people. As believers, Jesus Christ doesn’t want us to condemn ourselves because of these things, but he demands that we recognize that these conditions are not representative of God’s Kingdom. We endure them because of the sin Adam and Eve committed in the Garden of Eden. They disobeyed God, and because of this, humanity was transferred out of the Kingdom of God and into satan’s kingdom of darkness.
I have often heard believers say that God caused them to be sick or to be placed in a position of discomfort, lack, or loneliness. They believe He is punishing them for their wrongdoing. This is not the truth at all. It is exactly what the devil wants us to believe, because the devil doesn’t want us to trust in God’s mercy and grace. We must know beyond knowing that the devil doesn’t want a son or daughter of God to assume their rightful place of authority and dominion. Desiring them to remain in his kingdom of darkness, he tricks and blinds them, so their minds are full of doubt and lies.
Colossians 1:11-14(NLT) tells us, “11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, 12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.” God has lovingly extended His grace to all of us, but not all of us accept it. And because we do not accept God’s grace, we cannot enjoy the tremendous bounty and blessings it provides.
We were totally lost in sin, and many still are. We were doomed to eternal darkness, poised to live in the unspeakable chambers of hell and torment. Because of what God did through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, those of us that have been saved through God’s grace will never, in all of time and eternity, see hell. Romans 6:23 tells us that the wages or payment due for sin is death, but the free gift of eternal life is through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We have turned our backs on God many times. We have not been all that He has called us to be and have sinned continually, but because of God’s unconditional, unlimited love and grace, we were rescued from darkness and transferred into the Kingdom of God through Christ.
The Apostle Paul tells us in 2Timothy 1:9(NLT), “For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.” Our sins deserve death, but through God’s love, we have received sonship rights in Christ. God, Himself, has made us heirs to the rich inheritance of His glory. It is the greatest privilege and honor of our entire existence to be covered by God’s extraordinary grace, and we must live out our days acknowledging and being thankful for it.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“God’s Extraordinary Grace”, written for victoryinjesuschrist.life© 2019. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
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