Conversion is a radical transformation. It’s not hyperbole to say that it is a death and resurrection in union with Christ. Paul described it to the Galatian church like this:
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me (Galatians 2:20).”
Or like this to the Colossian church:
“You have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3).”
Paul’s conversion in the book of Acts is an extraordinary example. He went from “ravaging the church, entering house after house… dragging off men and women and committing them to prison (Acts 8:3)… breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord (Acts 9:1)” to publicly declaring, “I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24).”
But while the circumstances of Paul’s conversion may be more outwardly dramatic than yours, the reality of what has taken place by the grace of God through the Holy Spirit is no less remarkable or pivotal. The old you died and a new you was born… past tense. And yet, that death and resurrection continues to work itself out in our daily lives as a process.
“Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and… be renewed in the spirit of your minds… put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:22–24).”
One of the reasons we gather for worship each week is to spur one another on toward this end. We encourage one another to “put to death therefore what is earthly in us” and “put on the new self which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of our Creator (Colossians 3:5, 10).”
This Sunday we will hear Paul testify to his personal experience of the grace of God s Erik Thoennes preaches Acts 26 and Kenny Clark will be leading us in sung worship. Would you pray for each as they prepare?
See you Sunday, Grace. Come hungry!
Song of the Week
We sing Christ and Christ crucified
In You we’re raised from death to life
We sing Christ and Christ crucified
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!