Who We Were: Who We Will Be

Have you ever read the story of Paul?

Back when Paul was Saul, he hated Christians. He destroyed the church and put God's people in prison. He approved of the execution of Stephen, who was the first martyr. His mission was to destroy the name of Jesus. His name was infamously known.

And then God steps in:

"But Saul still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?' And he said, Who are you, Lord?'' And he said, 'I am JESUS, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.' The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank" (Acts 9:1-9).

He encountered the risen Christ.

There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias whom the Lord came to in a vision. He told Ananias to find a man named Saul and to lay his hands on him and to give him back the sight he lost during his Damascus Road conversion. Ananias had heard of Saul's reputation and the evil he had done to the Lord's people. Could this be the same man?

And to this, God responded:

"GO, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel." (Acts 9:15)

A CHOSEN INSTRUMENT. The one who used to kill Christians and hate them to his core is a chosen instrument of God!?

And Ananias went and laid hands on Saul and immediately scales fell from Saul's eyes and he regained his sight and was baptized. "And he immediately proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, 'He is the Son of God." (9:20).

I mean, have you ever heard a better story!?

I think you have. That story is yours and mine.

Our church has been spending an awesome amount of time dissecting Colossians (written by Paul!) and today we talked through 1:21-23. Check out verses 21-22:

"And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach him."

Sometimes I don't know how to articulate the significance of these verses. It's taken me a long time to get what they really mean: it's taken me a transformation. The 'you' that Paul is speaking to: is me.

Colossians 1:21-22 is the Gospel:

WHO WE WERE: is alienated. Aimless. Doing evil deeds. Worshipping idols. Enemies of God. David Chadwick put it well that we worship creation, not the Creator and that the focus of our worship has become distorted. Jesus came to change our minds.

WHO WE ARE: is reconciled. All our sin was poured onto Him. Now we're sons and daughters! Our identifier is now the Cross of Christ.

WHO WE WILL BE: is holy. Blameless. Above reproach. Perfect. Sin has been traded for a new righteousness. Jesus will PRESENT US before God with pleasure.

I can't even fathom a story like that.

But that's the transformation that takes place when you come humbled before Christ. That's the transformation of Paul, of me, of everyone. That's what happens when God reconciled us to Himself through death on the Cross. That's what happens when you encounter the risen Christ.

The Gospel transforms us.

The Gospel calls us to new life.

The Gospel frees us from who we were and welcomes us into who we will be.

The Gospel is changing us from evil deeds and is sanctifying us to perfection.

Jesus was the ultimate Chosen instrument of reconciliation so we could all be chosen instruments to carry His name.

The Gospel saves!