Saul's conversion is a excellent word-picture of God's redemptive love; even the "chief of sinners" qualified. Saul, on his way to Damascus to find and arrest Christians, regardless of gender, for the purpose of extradition to Jerusalem to stand trial for heresy, encountered a great blinding light, which hindered his aggressive and destructive agenda. As he fell to the ground in bewilderment, distinctly hearing, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" Saul responds, "Who are You, Lord?" In turn the Lord replied, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting..." To persecute Christians, the body of Christ, was tantamount to persecuting Christ Himself. While this brief encounter Saul was given exact instructions to enter Damascus to meet the Lord's servant. Being humbly led by the hand because of his blindness, Saul was led to Ananias, who after three days graciously baptized him in water, and then laid his hands upon him to receive the Holy Spirit. It was here where Saul's ministry purpose was first revealed to him. Now with a Divine directive, Saul's campaign of persecution ends, and the church enjoys a time of peace, and large growth.
Now, why would God call person like Saul in the first place? Saul, later known as Paul, was truly not person who would have garnered the front page of a G.Q. Magazine. A bodily article of Paul explains why, as he entered the city of Iconium on his first missionary journey. Onesiphorus, a city elder standing at the gate, sees Paul approaching and detects "a man of small stature, with a bald head and crooked legs, in a good state of body, with eyebrows meeting, and a nose somewhat hooked..." It was distinct Paul was not chosen for his bodily appeal. The next distinct demand is - did God pick Paul for his scholastic abilities? according to Paul's own words he was, "advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers." He stood above his class, as person today graduating from their class with "highest praise" honors of summa cum laude. No, Paul was not chosen for his scholastic request for retrial either, although God used it to form our theology. I believe God pick Saul for the same infer he chooses you and I today, to display His Glory straight through weak and cracked vessels. Saul would come to be God's:
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Chosen instrument to carry [His] name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the population of Israel." -Acts 9:15
Paul's was given a Big mandate, but if he was to fit into his new role he had to come to be something else, and he did. The name Paul truly means "small or little". God took Saul, a man of great pride and promise, and reduced him to smallness. In return, Paul became so efficient throughout his 30-year plus ministry, saturating the regions of Asia Minor, Macedonia, Achaia, and Rome with the gospel of Christ until there was no more place for him to preach (Romans 15:23). In God's kingdom only small population can be used to do great exploits.
Paul's contributions to Christianity were large to say the least. There are three major contributions worth mentioning:
1. Paul laid a strong theological foundation
Paul wrote the majority of epistles to the church. In these letters he expounded upon the theological themes we study today. One of his crowning revelations was that believers were "justified by faith" (Acts 13:39); no longer bound by the law but recipients of a gospel of grace.
2. Paul fought for church unity
The great divide happened with the membership of the Gentiles into the church, and how they would fellowship with the Jewish-Christians (Acts 15). Some Jews believed Gentile converts needed to be circumcised in accordance with the Law of Moses in order to fellowship with them. Paul intervened on many occasions opposing such views, even rebuking Peter in public (Galatians 2:12-16). Paul won a decisive victory in Jerusalem over this divide, and continued to preach and teach a gospel of unity.
3. Paul left an indelible imprint upon culture
Paul was accused of "turning cities upside down" (Acts 17:6) throughout his missionary journeys. "Turning cities upside down" is a metaphor that denotes changing the usual culture, the way of doing things. everywhere Paul traveled he divided cities in two (Acts 14:4); some vehemently opposed him, while others became his devout converts. One thing is for sure, Paul's imprint on culture is undeniable, and changed the policy of history.
Today, Paul stands as a pillar among Christianity's great men and women, laying the foundation you and I now firmly stand upon.
Latino Townhall's blog: http://latinotownhall.wordpress.com/
Saul's (Paul) Conversion, Calling and Contributions
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