A New Man

Two men with the same name – Saul, the first king of Israel, and Saul of Tarsus, the persecutor of Christ and His servants.

In both stories, we read of a new man.

• In the case of Saul, the first king of Israel, David was the new man. Saul was rejected. He was replaced.

The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king … So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah” (1 Samuel 16:1, 13).

• In the case of Saul of Tarsus, it was very different. Saul became the new man. He became Paul the apostle. He was saved by the Lord. His life was transformed by the power of Christ’s love. He became a new creation in Christ Jesus. He had this great testimony: “It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20).

- We don’t need to be like Saul, the first king of Israel – castaway, laid aside as of no further use (1 Corinthians 9:27).

- Each of us can be like Paul the apostle. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, we have more than Paul’s own testimony. we have a call to each one of us. God is calling us to be transformed by the power of Christ’s love. He is calling us to become “a new creation in Christ” – “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone. The new has come!”

• The Power - "the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power" (1 Samuel 16:13).
• The Victory - "I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty ... the battle is the Lord's, and he will give all of you into our hands" (1 Samuel 17:45, 47).
• The Thanksgiving - "I will exalt you, O Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me" (Psalm 30:1).