Why would God save Saul of Tarsus, a man who murdered Christians?
In Acts 8, Saul agreed with the people, and they stoned Stephen—the first person martyred because of his belief in Jesus. Saul locked up the saints and put them to death, trying to force them to blaspheme Jesus’s name.
Paul acknowledged he did these terrible things after his conversion on the road to Damascus.
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
The grace of God can reach anyone, even Saul and you, no matter what you’ve done.
God called Saul to become a child of God and made him an example for us. God changed Saul’s name to Paul later. This story shows us that God is a good and loving God and can redeem even the worst sinners. I’m sure you aren’t worse than this man.
And even if you are, no matter what you’ve done, God will save you if you turn to Him and repent by accepting His offer of grace in John 3:16.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
The only way to heaven is to accept the offer—Jesus led a sinless life and sacrificed Himself so that you can have eternal life.
If God changed a murderer to a missionary, He can change you too.
There’s no sin that God can’t save you from; you can do no good work to earn salvation.
Do you remember the criminal dying on the cross next to Jesus in Luke 23:42-43?
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The criminal was dying and didn’t have time to complete any good deeds—this clearly shows that salvation is a free gift when you surrender your life to Jesus as your Savior.
So now that you know the answer to why God saved a man who murdered Christians is because He loves us, won’t you ask Him to be Lord of your life?
A SINNER’S PRAYER:
Dear Jesus, I believe in you. I believe you are the Son of God, that you died for my sins, and that you were buried and rose again as written in the Bible. Please come into my heart so I can have eternal life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and help me live the way you want me to. Forgive me for my past sins. Guide me in my future so I can live my life for You. Amen.
Jesus is knocking on the door of your heart; won’t you let Him in?
Great post! I like “There’s no sin that God can’t save you from; you can do no good work to earn salvation.” I agree that God gave us Saul/Paul to understand that there is no sin Jesus didn’t die for. There is forgiveness for even the worst of sins!
My favorite salvation story is the man on the cross next to Jesus—he did nothing except repent and believe, and he’s in heaven.
Great Post! I like “There’s no sin that God can’t save you from; you can do no good work to earn salvation.” I believe God gave us Saul/Paul to help us understand that there is no sin Jesus Christ didn’t die for. God will forgive any sin if asked!