Before the Apostle Paul became a Christian, he was named Saul, and he zealously went around persecuting Christians trying to destroy them. After his salvation, his life made a COMPLETE change, and he was now trying to spread the faith he once sought to destroy. Of course, back in those days they didn’t have the internet, telephones, television, etc., so most news and information was just spread by word of mouth or by messengers who would carry news from one area to others. That being the case, when Paul began his NEW life, and began preaching the Gospel, many people had yet not seen him or met him in person – but they had heard about him. Note what we read in Galations 1:21-22 “Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only were hearing it said, ‘He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.’ And they glorified God because of me.”
Pay special attention to that phrase “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” Paul’s new faith in God made such a profound impact on his life that it CHANGED EVERYTHING for him. He used to seek to fulfill his selfish flesh and desires, yet now he was 100% sold-out to the Gospel…the SAME Gospel that he had sought to destroy! Talk about a radical change, he went from trying to kill people who believed in Jesus Christ to trying to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the entire known world! What once was foolishness to him, was now ALL he cared about!
After his salvation, Paul was able to say “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galations 2:20) He wasn’t the same person any longer – he was CHANGED by the power of the Gospel and the amazing love and grace of Jesus Christ. That’s the same radical change the Gospel should have on OUR lives! It should CHANGE us COMPLETELY…our lives should be SO different than they were BEFORE our faith in God that everyone notices! People all over the region heard about the change in Paul’s life…they could tell he was a NEW CREATURE. What about YOUR life? Do people notice a change in you? A RADICAL CHANGE? That’s the result of TRUE FAITH.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)