A Rebel's Transformation

Introduction

When we hear of someone’s life being radically transformed, our attention is grasped. There are two many examples to name them all but here are just a couple.

Martin Luther—He struggled with many of the Roman Catholic Church’s teachings but became a well respected scholar, professor and even spokes person for the church. But night after night, Martin Luther wrestled with his sin. He agonized over it, then with then he discovered the grace of God in when he read Romans 1:17

Romans 1:17 NASB95

17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”

In a split moment, Martin Luther was transformed from the old man to a new being. His life was never the same and he along with other faithful men lead the reformation movement that brought sweeping changes for the good of the church.

2. Jim’s story is different, he part of the underground crime network in the 1940s, Jim Vaus alongside his boss Mickey Cohen, was hired by the LA Police Department to help search out members of the growing crime network.

The stress of living a double life weighed heavy on him. Faced with his own misery and loneliness he decided to attend a Billy Graham tent crusade. In the midst of the crowd of over six thousand people. Jim heard the gospel and responded in repentance! The notorious mobster turned follower of Christ was born again.

Not everyone’s salvation story is a major criminal turned saint. Everyone’s life transformation story is a little different. Which brings me to the story of the man named Saul. Saul of Tarsus’ transformation is a radical one.

1. The rebel’s soul resists Jesus.

Saul of Tarsus heard the truth from Stephen at Stephen’s stoning.

Acts 7:58–60 NASB95

58 When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 60 Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he fell asleep.

Even though Saul heard these words the very next thing we see in Acts begins with Saul’s approval of Stephen’s execution (Acts 8:1) and the tenacious focus of Saul to bring all Christians down. Acts 8:3 says,

Acts 8:3 NASB95

3 But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.

Saul’s rage against the followers of Jesus was not limited to only a those in Jerusalem, it extended to other cities, even foreign ones. Acts 26:11 he states,

Acts 26:11 NASB95

11 “And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities.

Damascus is one of these foreign cities in which Saul wanted to travel to in order to persecute the church.

Acts 9:1–2 NASB95

1 Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

Saul was repeatedly being exposed to the truth about Jesus but his rage against them burned hotter with each passing day it seemed. “Only the spilling of more blood will satisfy his obsessive hatred of Christians. He wants to liquidate every vestige of Christianity.

Exalting Jesus in Acts The Risen Jesus Confronts Saul (9:1–9)

Only the spilling of more blood will satisfy his obsessive hatred of Christians. He wants to liquidate every vestige of Christianity. The arrest warrants he receives from the high priest, authorizing him to arrest believers, fill him with the hope that others will soon face a fate similar to Stephen’s.

Saul was reveling in the persecution of the church. Those he deemed enemies of his religious system. He loved the legalized murder and abuse he was able to inflict on the followers of Jesus.

Yet, even though his rebellious soul was actively resisting the truth.

When Jesus shows up,

2. The rebel’s soul surrenders to Jesus.

Acts 9:3–8 NASB95

3 As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; 4 and he fell to the ground and 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 get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.” 7 The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus.

Nothing about Saul’s experience is “typical.” We are talking about a murderer who is attacking the church who hates Christians.

Yet, Jesus didn’t give up on Saul. Instead, Jesus pursued Saul.

Jesus’s asks Saul,

Acts 9:4 NASB95

4 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

Saul, doesn’t recognize the voice of the one speaking and asks,

Acts 9:5 NASB95

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

The rebel attacking Jesus’s followers is faced with the reality that Jesus is before him.

Saul’s whole world has been shook to the core. Everything he thought he knew, is in shambles. What then is left?

We cannot expect immediate Christian maturity in the new believer. We celebrate the new life and then walk with them as they journey down the transformed life.

Four practices every Christian should live out:

a. Pray for others lost in their sin.

b. Share the gospel with those lost in sin.

c. Know that God is at work in the lives of those lost in sin.

d. Never give up on those lost in sin.

Conclusion

THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER’S HAND Myra Brooks Welch

‘Twas battered and scarred and the auctioneer Thought it scarcely worth his while To waste much time on the old violin, But he held it up with a smile.

“What am I bid, good folk?” he cried. “Who’ll start the bidding for me? A dollar, a dollar ... now two ... only two ... Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?

“Three dollars once, three dollars twice, Going for three” ... but no! From the room far back a gray-haired man Came forward and picked up the bow.

Then wiping the dust from the old violin And tightening up the strings, He played a melody pure and sweet, As sweet as an angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer, With a voice that was quiet and low, Said, “What am I bid for the old violin?” As he held it up with the bow.

“A thousand dollars ... and who’ll make it two? Two...two thousand, and who’ll make it three? Three thousand once and three thousand twice ... Three thousand and gone!” said he.

The people cheered, but some exclaimed “We do not quite understand ... What changed it’s worth?” and the answer came: “Twas the touch of the master’s hand.”

And many a man with soul out of tune And battered and scarred by sin Is auctioned cheap by the thoughtless crowd Just like the old violin.

But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd Never can quite understand The worth of a soul, and the change that is wrought By the touch of the Master’s hand.

O Master! I am the tuneless one Lay, lay Thy hand on me, Transform me now, put a song in my heart Of melody, Lord, to Thee!—

Saul’s life experienced the tuning hand of the Lord and his life would never be the same as he dedicated the rest of his life for the service of the Lord.

Regardless of how far gone you feel or believe someone is, God’s gift of grace is for all of us indeed.