More Than Changed - Saul Of Tarsus

When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer!

Acts 9:26

Walid Shoebat has quite a testimony. Shoebat was a Palestinian terrorist who hated everything that didn’t fit with his radical Muslim agenda, including the nation of Israel, the West, and Christianity.

Shoebat was transformed when he came to faith in Jesus Christ. Although he once acted out a message of hatred and anger, he now lives in love and forgiveness.

Not surprisingly, many people, including some Christians, have viewed Shoebat’s conversion and the message he speaks today with a jaundiced eye, wondering if he is for real or if he has some hidden agenda.

The apostle Paul would understand how Shoebat must feel.

After his conversion experience, Saul endured that same kind of skepticism. His incredible encounter with Jesus changed the direction of his life forever, but some believers who heard his new message couldn’t quite believe their ears.

Wasn’t this the same Saul that violently persecuted Christians in Jerusalem and was on his way to do the same in Damascus?

Yes and no!

Saul was transformed into someone quite different than when he had left on this trip. He was now Paul, the man who wrote, “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Paul knew a little something about becoming a new creature. In an instant, he was transformed from a hateful, threat-making enemy of Jesus Christ into his most vocal follower.

When Jesus saved you and welcomed you into his eternal family, he also changed you into a living testimony of God’s power to transform a man into someone new.