Session 18

Paul

From Journey To Change

Paul had an outstanding resume for a Jewish person in the first century. Not only was he devout and upstanding in his faith, he was also a Roman citizen and a Pharisee. When we first meet Paul, he’s holding coats for the mob of Jews who stoned the apostle Stephen (Acts 7:58).

Paul’s Jewish upbringing taught him that we are made right with God by following a strict set of rules. If you followed the rules, you were righteous. If you didn’t, you weren’t.

After encountering Jesus on the road to Damascus, Paul’s view of righteousness was forever changed. Paul had been killing Christians for preaching Jesus as the son of God and the only way to heaven. Turns out, they were right. We’re made right in God’s eyes by accepting Jesus as our savior, not because of anything we do or have done (Ephesians 2:8-9).

When Paul began preaching this message saying that salvation came from Christ and not our own behavior, it rocked the religious world. He would go on to share the gospel with thousands of non-Jews all over the known world. Only a change of heart can lead to a lasting change in behavior.

Reflect:

• Are you a rule follower at heart? What is it about following rules that we find so attractive?
• Do you struggle with the idea that you can't earn Salvation? Why or why not?
• Grace changed Paul forever. How has God’s grace already changed you?