Post by foxjj on Jul 28, 2022 7:11:09 GMT
The Changed Life Of Saul.
Saul of Tarsus was an enemy of the early Church because, as an ardent Jew, he believed that those who followed Jesus of Nazareth had turned away from The Almighty and deserved punishment. Consequently, he persecuted them even onto death. However, after his Damascus road experience, he became known as Paul and an advocate for the Gospel of Jesus taking dangerous journeys and enduring personal persecution. Paul also wrote encouraging letters to Churches that he had started. These letters have been passed down to us as Scripture, expounding on the Lordship of Jesus, of which the following is an example:
“3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,” (Ephesians 1:3-9 NIV)
What a reversal, the one time persecutor now teaches that believers were chosen in Christ Jesus before we were born. No wonder he starts this portion of Scripture offering praise to our Heavenly Father. Because of Paul’s writings we can know that Almighty God knew each one of us before time began - which is beyond natural understanding. Because you and I have accepted the salvation message of the Gospel we are “adopted to sonship through Jesus Christ”. This means that we are redeemed from a sinful world becoming children of God. For indeed I know that I am a sinner, saved only by His Grace, which is the paramount of the "spiritual blessings in Christ."
Out of a heart filled with love and gratitude, Paul served his Lord by bringing the message of hope to the lost, which is the Gospel of salvation revealed in Jesus Christ. As with Paul, we are mindful of the eternal hope our Savior revealed when He said: "In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."(John 14:3-4) It is only through accepting The Cross that we are made "holy and blameless in Gods sight," and thereby become eligible to spend eternity in His presence. Therefore it is with a heart filled with gratitude that we say with Paul: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Today, let us give thanks for changed lives.
John Joseph Fox.
Saul of Tarsus was an enemy of the early Church because, as an ardent Jew, he believed that those who followed Jesus of Nazareth had turned away from The Almighty and deserved punishment. Consequently, he persecuted them even onto death. However, after his Damascus road experience, he became known as Paul and an advocate for the Gospel of Jesus taking dangerous journeys and enduring personal persecution. Paul also wrote encouraging letters to Churches that he had started. These letters have been passed down to us as Scripture, expounding on the Lordship of Jesus, of which the following is an example:
“3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,” (Ephesians 1:3-9 NIV)
What a reversal, the one time persecutor now teaches that believers were chosen in Christ Jesus before we were born. No wonder he starts this portion of Scripture offering praise to our Heavenly Father. Because of Paul’s writings we can know that Almighty God knew each one of us before time began - which is beyond natural understanding. Because you and I have accepted the salvation message of the Gospel we are “adopted to sonship through Jesus Christ”. This means that we are redeemed from a sinful world becoming children of God. For indeed I know that I am a sinner, saved only by His Grace, which is the paramount of the "spiritual blessings in Christ."
Out of a heart filled with love and gratitude, Paul served his Lord by bringing the message of hope to the lost, which is the Gospel of salvation revealed in Jesus Christ. As with Paul, we are mindful of the eternal hope our Savior revealed when He said: "In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."(John 14:3-4) It is only through accepting The Cross that we are made "holy and blameless in Gods sight," and thereby become eligible to spend eternity in His presence. Therefore it is with a heart filled with gratitude that we say with Paul: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Today, let us give thanks for changed lives.
John Joseph Fox.
