Expect Change

Paul of Tarsus, by Rembrandt

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. [James 1:22 KJV]

No – Paul didn’t write that one.  But in what I’m thinking about today, that verse does go with Paul as I consider why I am called a Christian.

Followers of Jesus were given the name Christian (Acts 11:26) by others in Antioch, and Paul was there.  It is obvious they were “doers of the word” because people soon were saying they were “These that have turned the world upside down” Acts 17:6). That’s one reason I am a follower of Christ today.  The changes brought about by people of faith.  Particularly, Paul.

I have seen changes made in people’s lives – tremendous changes – when they’ve come to Christ.  I have seen these doers of the word.  None that I’ve seen, though, made the switch as Paul did.  As he described himself:

Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. [Philippians 3:5-6 KJV]

His desire to protect Judaism against the onslaught of the upstart followers of a false messiah was more than evident.  He was a young man, zealous in his religion when he watched Stephen die, consenting to his death (Acts 8:1).

And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. [Acts 7:58 KJV]
As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. [Acts 8:3 KJV]
And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. [Acts 9:1-2 KJV]

What would it take for a man with such deeply held beliefs to change so completely that he would write:

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, [Philippians 3:7-8 KJV]

First, it is necessary to find out if what he was raised believing was true.  And, I could accept that it was.  The God of Abraham, of Isaac, of Jacob who became Israel was, is and evermore shall be the one true God.  Then why did Paul accept that Jesus of Nazareth, son of Mary and Joseph, was the promised Deliverer, the Messiah?

That takes a lot of study, both in the original Covenant and the New Covenant.  God did not reveal His entire plan to Adam, to Noah, to Moses, to the judges, kings or prophets.  He has not revealed all to mankind even to today. As Paul quoted from Isaiah 64:4:

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. [1 Corinthians 2:9 KJV]

Paul, more than any of Jesus’ followers, knew the scriptures.  He knew the Torah.  He knew the prophets, quoting from them often.  From those prophecies and his own encounter with Christ, he changed enough not only to turn his own life upside down, but to help Christ do the same for the world.  Thus, if the life, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus, Christ, can change Saul into Paul, how can we neglect learning of them?  Not simply because they changed a world, but because they changed the life of one man – and another, and another, and another.

How have we changed?