This summer, we’re looking at four people in the Bible, their stories of redemption, and what we can learn about God’s transforming power.
Our last in the series focuses on the Apostle Paul, whose radical shift from persecutor of Christians to powerful evangelist left an incredible legacy for believers everywhere. Read more from Billy Graham about how the least likely people can become the greatest witnesses for Christ.
Saul—also called Paul (Acts 13:9)—thought he had it all together. “A Hebrew of Hebrews,” he kept the law, followed Pharisaical customs, and held a high position in Jewish society (Philippians 3:5, ESV). Saul approached God based on self-righteousness and works, so when Jesus Christ came with His message of grace, he railed against it.
“He grew up convinced that Jesus was a liar and a fraud, and that His followers were both deceived and dangerous to society,” Billy Graham said.
Even at the moment that God interrupted his life, Saul was “breathing threats and murder” on the way to persecute and imprison Christians (Acts 9:1, ESV).
“How could God ever forgive someone like that?” Billy Graham asked.
In spite of the hatred in Saul’s heart, God had a plan to use him as a bold apostle to take the Gospel to the world.
As Saul walked down the road, approaching Damascus, a bright light shook him to the core. A voice asked him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4, ESV).
Read more about Paul’s conversion in Acts 9:1–19.
“And on that Damascus road, Paul was converted,” Billy Graham said. “He became the greatest Christian that has ever lived.”
This moment marked a dramatic change in his life, from extremist to evangelist, from misled to missionary.
Saul started using his Roman name, Paul, when witnessing to the Gentiles, and throughout the rest of his life, he travelled thousands of miles to share the Good News, enduring beatings, shipwrecks, and imprisonment all for the sake of Christ. He also wrote letters to churches, encouraging and instructing his fellow believers.
“God not only forgave Paul, but also sent him into the world to tell others about the new life Christ offers to all who put their trust in Him,” Billy Graham explained. “Later Paul wrote, ‘I … do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God’” (1 Corinthians 15:9, NIV).
Of the 27 books in the New Testament, 13 are attributed to Paul, and countless people have come to faith as a result of his obedient ministry.
What Does Paul’s Story Have to Do With You?
Paul’s transformation is easy to see. The road to Damascus sent his life in the opposite direction. That’s what Christ does: He finds us in our brokenness and transforms us to be completely different people. Paul’s life shows us that experiencing Christ changes everything about us, down to our deepest desires.
“After he encountered Christ on the Damascus road, he loved what he had so fervently hated,” Franklin Graham explained. “At last, he could see evil as evil and good as good. His values were straightened out because his nature had been changed by the redeeming grace of God.”
Faith in Jesus is not about behaviour modification. Paul tried that, following Mosaic law down to the minutest detail. Christ cares about the heart, and He will transform us when we come to Him in repentance and faith, fully yielded to Him. Have you surrendered every area of your life to Him?
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
—Ezekiel 36:26, ESV
Go Deeper
Read more from this series.
Part 1: Zacchaeus
Part 2: The woman at the well
Part 3: King David