In Philippians 3 Paul makes a number of very important conclusions as he looks back over his life and what he had achieved.
“If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.”
Paul is listing for us his reasons for seeing himself as a great man when it came to him being a very important and successful Jew. Fulfilling the requirements of the Law were key to this and so he is boasting about his achievements.
He starts with the fact that even when he was 8 days old he was circumcised having been born into the nation of Israel, God’s chosen people. Of the 12 tribes, the tribe of Benjamin was considered the most important tribe. Being a Hebrew of Hebrews meant that even though he was born in a different land, Tarsus, he still learned how to speak and read Hebrew.
Next, he rolls out the big guns. He was a zealous Pharisee who persecuted Christians because they were viewed by the Jews as a dangerous religious sect teaching lies about God. Lastly, he boasts that when it came to be living a righteous life he was completely blameless. He was the Super Jew.
In other words, Paul is saying that when he was a Jew he was as close to perfect as anyone could be. Until he met Jesus while on the road to Damascus where he was going to persecute the Christians there. He would have captured any men and women who were Christ followers and drag them back to Jerusalem for punishment. He was “still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.”
Suddenly, before he reaches Damascus, there is a flash of light around him and he falls to the ground. Then, he hears Jesus asking him why was Saul persecuting Him? Saul did not know who just flattened him to the ground and so he asked … “Who are You, Lord?” And the answer blew him away.
“I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.”
Jesus tells him to go into the city and wait to be told what he must do. This event rocked Paul’s world. Talk about a change of plans this was a complete 180. Saul is going to Damascus to find Christians to arrest, have beaten and put to death. Now, something totally unexpected happens. He is now blind and being led into Damascus where he is placed alone without sight and he sits there for 3 days with nothing to eat or drink.
I wonder what thoughts went through his mind sitting there doing nothing but thinking about what happened. I imagine that the Spirit of God was speaking into his mind. Perhaps taking the incredible knowledge that Saul had from his knowledge of Scripture and showing him that Jesus was indeed the Christ, the living Messiah.
Years later, when Paul was writing one of his last letters to Timothy who was the pastor in Ephesus he wrote these words;
“It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.” Yet for this reason, I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.”
The Lord had a plan and a purpose for Paul’s life. What I want you to see that that just because Saul was the foremost of all sinners, was a murderer, and a violent persecutor of the Christians, plus as we are told in Romans 7 struggles with every kind of lustful desire, God still had a plan and purpose for his life.
And the same is true for you as well. Years of walking in sexual sin does not mean that Jesus can’t use you. He wants to help you recover so that you can help others recover. It is time we all stop looking back at the failures of our past and fix our eyes on Jesus asking Him what He wants to do in our lives.
More tomorrow …