Who Am I Part 2 (Paul)

1 Timothy 1:15–16 (ESV)

15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

Jesus came into this world to Save us the sinner

Jesus shows his Patience through our forgiveness

We have to stop hiding our sinful past and let God use it to prove his love.

Paul teaches us to use our checkered past to show God to prove his clear forgiveness, but lets look at it deeper. and address the fear of going from Wrenched to Righteous

Acts 8:1–3 (ESV)

1 And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him.

3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

We see Paul approved the death of Stephen and thought it was righteous to do.

We see him wanting to continue the work.

We all have a past that we wish we could change, but God will use your past for change.

Acts 9:1–6 (ESV)

1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.

4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”

This is Paul’s Conversion This is his wake up moment.

Remember this On his walk to Damascus to imprison Christians, and we can assume that they knew someone was coming. and they knew who Saul was.

Acts 9:19–22 (ESV)

19 and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.

20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?”

22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

God will use your past to greatly change your present.

God will ask you to stand in the place that you fell in.

Let God take your wrenched past and make it a righteous present