Introduction:
"It's truly remarkable how a minor adjustment can significantly impact. Consider the names Saul and Paul. They differ by just one letter, yet that slight change profoundly affects the individual associated with those names. When Saul encountered God, it wasn't merely an altered letter—his entire life was transformed! Today, we will explore the journey from Saul to Paul and reflect on how an encounter with Jesus Christ can also revolutionize our lives."
**Scripture:** Acts 9:1-6 (Saul's Conversion on the Road to Damascus)
I. Saul: The Persecutor
"Let's start with Saul before his encounter with Jesus. Here was a man with zeal for God, but it was misplaced. Saul was a Pharisee, well-educated, and deeply committed to Jewish law. His commitment to tradition and the law closed his eyes to the truth of who Jesus was. He saw the early Christians, the followers of 'the Way,' as threatening his faith and determined to stamp them out."
**Scripture:** Acts 8:3 (But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.)
"Saul was present at the stoning of Stephen, one of the first Christian martyrs. Acts 7:58 tells us that the people who stoned Stephen laid their coats at Saul's feet. Saul wasn't just an observer—he approved of the execution. He wasn't satisfied with just persecuting Christians in Jerusalem; he went to the high priest and asked for letters to the synagogues in Damascus so that if he found any Christians there, he could arrest them and bring them back to Jerusalem."
**Illustration:** Imagine someone so zealous in their cause that they're willing to travel hundreds of miles to hunt people down. Saul wasn't satisfied with local persecution—he wanted to root out Christianity wherever he could find it. That's the kind of fanaticism Saul had before Christ.
"Saul's zeal was unmatched, but it was without knowledge. He believed he was defending God, but he was fighting against the God he thought he was serving."
**Scripture:** Romans 10:2 (Paul later wrote, "For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.")
II. Paul: The Servant of Christ
"Now, let's move to what changed. One encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus completely transformed Saul. Acts 9:3- 6 tells us that as Saul was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven flashed around him, and he fell to the ground. Then he heard a voice: 'Saul, why do you persecute me?' Confused and terrified, Saul asked, 'Who are you, Lord?' And the voice responded, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.' In that moment, everything changed."
**Key Point:** Saul had been spiritually blind, thinking he was doing God's work. Now, he was physically blinded to illustrate that spiritual reality. Jesus had to bring Saul to the point where he realized his helplessness. Saul's conversion wasn't just about a name change but a heart transformation. His blindness was lifted when he saw the truth of Jesus Christ.
"After this encounter, Saul's zeal didn't disappear—it was redirected. The passion that had driven him to persecute the church now drove him to preach Christ. Saul became Paul, a humble servant of Jesus."
**Scripture:** Acts 9:20 (Paul began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.)
"Notice the immediacy of Paul's transformation. He didn't need years of training or theological education to preach Christ's truth. His encounter with Jesus radically changed his life's mission."
**Illustration:** Think about someone you know who had a dramatic conversion—maybe they were living far from God, pursuing their desires, but when Jesus got hold of them, they became completely different people. That's what happened with Paul. The persecutor became the preacher. The one who tore down the church was now its greatest advocate.
III. The Power of One Encounter
**1. The Meaning Behind the Name Change**
"What's in a name? In the case of Saul becoming Paul, the change was more than symbolic. 'Saul' is a Hebrew name meaning 'asked for' or 'desired.' It's a name of strength and leadership, fitting for a man of Saul's stature. But after his encounter with Jesus, Saul begins to go by his Roman name, Paul, which means 'small' or 'humble.' What a change!"
"Paul embraced his smallness, weakness, and humility before God because he knew that true strength came from Christ. He later wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, 'But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ's power may rest on me.'"
**2. The Grace That Transforms**
"Paul's transformation wasn't due to anything he did; it was purely by the grace of God. In Ephesians 2:8-9, Paul wrote, 'For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works so that no one can boast.'"
"Paul knew this better than anyone. He went from being a man trying to earn righteousness through the law to a man who rested in the grace of Jesus Christ. And that's the heart of the Gospel. Salvation isn't about tweaking our behavior or adding some religious practices to our lives. It's about a total heart change, a new creation in Christ."
IV. A World of Difference with a Small Change
**1. Your Encounter with Christ Changes Everything**
"Just as one encounter with Jesus turned Saul into Paul, that same grace is available today. Your encounter with Jesus may not be as dramatic as a flash of light and a heavenly voice, but it is no less life-changing."
"Jesus said in John 5:24, 'Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.' One small step of faith—believing in Jesus—leads to a transformation as powerful as Saul's."
**2. We Are Called to Be Like Paul**
"As Paul said in Galatians 2:20, 'I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.'"
"We are called to live out the same transformation, to walk in the newness of life that Christ has given us. No matter who we were before or what sins we've committed, Jesus can take us and make us into something new—just like He did with Saul."
Conclusion: From Saul to Paul – A Life Changed by Grace
"Saul became Paul, a persecutor became a preacher, and a proud man became humble. This is the power of grace. This is the power of Jesus. Just as Paul was transformed, so can we be transformed. It doesn't take much—just one encounter with the living Christ. Are you ready for that kind of transformation? Are you willing to let Jesus change everything?"
**Scripture:** Philippians 3:7-8 (Paul counted everything as loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.)
**Closing Thought:** "Remember, God doesn't just change names—He changes hearts. When He gets hold of you, everything changes. Will you let Him?"
Note: My Opinion on the Sermon
This sermon beautifully ties God's grace with the power of personal transformation. The Saul-to-Paul journey is relatable for anyone who has been heading in the wrong direction or struggling with their past. It emphasizes that Salvation is all about grace, which fits perfectly with a no-compromise message. It's not about working to earn favor; it's about receiving the gift of Jesus, and once that happens, everything changes.
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