“A Changed Life"
Acts 20:1-38
And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. [Acts 20:22-23]
Paul’s life was an extraordinary one, from persecuting the church to expanding it “to the outermost parts of the earth.” His was a radical about-face change!
Paul’s life before Christ: “…and they cast him [Stephen] out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.” [Acts 7:58] “Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.” [Acts 9:2]
After Christ twenty years later? He is now on his 3rd Missionary Journey bringing the Gospel to unchartered territories. When Saul met Jesus on the road to Damascus [Acts 9:3-6], he was forever changed. His change of name speaks volumes to his change in person [Paul, means “little one”].
It is good to step back and take a telescopic view of Paul’s life. In Acts 9 he was chaining and persecuting Christians. In Acts 20, he will soon be chained and persecuted himself for the cause of Christ. It is interesting how the Lord oftentimes has us ministering to the very people we were like before coming to Christ. It shows that God’s plan even before knowing Him comes with Divine purpose. Our part is to yield to that purpose.
The life of faith is fundamentally about change. When we are living by faith we are changing [at least we ought to be]; we are being conformed into the image of Christ. And while salvation is an instantaneous work, transformation is a lifelong process. The doctrinal terms for these are Justification and Sanctification, respectively, and both require faith.
“Justification is the means; sanctification is the end. Justification is for us; sanctification is in us. Justification declares the sinner righteous; sanctification makes the sinner righteous. Justification removes the guilt and penalty of sin; sanctification removes the growth and the power of sin.” [J.V. McGee]
The two, however, Justification and Sanctification, equate to change! We are changed instantaneously when we believe on the name of Jesus; we are being changed progressively as we follow Him. Faith, however, is the common denominator. “The righteous shall live by faith,” and “without faith it is impossible to please God.”
