Our Awesome God

Saul's Life Before Christ

God bless and welcome to this week’s fellowship.  Today is Sunday, May 18, 2025, and it’s a great day to walk with our heavenly father.

This week Jan will be reading from the book of Romans chapter ten. Verses one through 15.  So get comfortable and listen to God’s spoken word.

Romans 101 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)

7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

How shall they hear without a preacher.  And how shall they preach except they be sent.  That is our joy, to have been sent, or ordained, to preach the wonderful Word of God.

This week’s opening song is a mix of “Awesome God and God Only Knows”.  Here it is being performed by;  A week away cast.  This is a beautifully put together mix.  So sit back and listen.

(2:24)

“Awesome God” was written by Richard Wayne Mullins and released in 1988.  "God Only Knows" was Written by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher and released in 1966 by The Beach Boys.  I first heard this mix while watching the Netflix Movie; “A Week Away”.  I highly recommend watching this movie, if you haven’t already.

Today we are going to see a picture of the power, and grace, of God.

We’re going to look the record of the Apostle Paul before he received the revelation to write the letters to the various churches.  We are going to begin in Ephesians chapter three.  Paul was not always the great Apostle that wrote these letters; the books of the new testament that are known as the Pauline Epistles. (Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, Timothy, Titus, Philemon)

Ephesians 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

Verse one starts out by Paul saying, “for this cause”.  This can also be stated as “because of this grace”.  The grace he is speaking of here is what is contained in chapter two. 

Ephesians 2:14 For he (Christ) is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us

Because of this work by Jesus Christ, Paul had the ability to write what is contained in the book of Ephesians.  Here is an expanded translation of verse one of Ephesians three.

Because of this grace, of Christ within, the habitation of God, I, Paul, am handcuffed to Jesus Christ and am an ambassador to and for you Gentiles.

You have probably heard me use the phrase: “God, in Christ, in you” before.  That’s what Paul is referring to here in verse one.  And the grace of God knows no bounds. 

Look at the book of Acts chapter 8.  As I stated, before Paul was an Apostle, he was Saul who persecuted the church.  And he did it with pleasure.

Acts 8:1 And Saul was consenting (approving and taking pleasure in) unto his (Stephen’s) death. And at that time there was a great persecution (in any way whatever to harass, trouble, or molest) against the church (ekklēsía, we have seen this word in the past, a gathering of citizens called out in an assembly; as regarding the church, an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting)  which was at Jerusalem (The church in Jerusalem referenced here is not a specific building.  It is the entire body of Christian Believers in and around Jerusalem)

Now verse 3: As for Saul, he made havock (to ravage, devastate, ruin, or destroy) of the church (what church, look at the context, the church, the body of believers, at Jerusalem), entering into every (not in the original text) house (houses, plural), and haling (dragging off) men and women committed them to prison. (to deliver up one to custody, to be judged, condemned, punished, scourged, tormented, put to death)

I would not have liked to be a Christian in Jerusalem back then.  Imagine a group of soldiers, or law enforcement officials, breaking into your home today and taking you off to be imprisoned, or even killed, because of your faith.  Here in the United States that would not happen.  But for many of our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world it is a real possibility.  That’s why we need to pray for the entire body of Christ; not just your church of choice.

Anyway, back to Saul.  Look at Philippians chapter three.  Here we see his place in Jewish hierarchy.

Philippians 34 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

5 Circumcised the eighth day (Four thousand years ago Abraham was instructed by God to circumcise males on the eighth day), of the stock (Nation) of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin (in the NT all the persons descending from one of the twelve sons of the patriarch, Jacob), an Hebrew of the Hebrews (a patriarch of the jews); as touching the law, a Pharisee (Jewish group or sect distinguished by strict observance of the traditional and written law, at least 30 years old)

6 Concerning zeal (excitement of mind, passion, fervor of spirit), persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless (beyond criticism; faultless).  (He always did things according to Jewish Law)

Circumcised the eighth day.

Genesis 1712 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.

13 He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.

14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

By law a leader in the Jewish faith had to be at least 30 years old.

Numbers 41 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

2 Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers,

3 From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.

In Acts chapter nine we see that because of his standing as a Pharisee he was given the authority to do what he did to the church.  He had the ability to speak directly to the High Priest.

This is why Paul could say; “touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless”.  

Turn to Acts chapter nine.  Look at what Saul had the ability, and authority, to do.  It’s crazy how much power the religion he followed had at that time.

Acts 91 And Saul, yet breathing out (one greek word and the only place it is used in the Bible.  That should indicate the power Saul had because of the backing of the religious leaders of the time) threatenings (Strong’s defines this as threats, terrorizations, that include a situation of perplexity or distress) and slaughter (literally to killing or murder) against the disciples (student, follower; a committed learner and follower, in the NT usually of Jesus Christ) of the Lord, went unto (he went to visit is the text.  Visit indicates some length of time spent with another.  When my siblings come to visit we spend literally hours talking.) the high priest (chief of the priests.  One accorded highest rank or office.)

Ol Saul must have been somebody to be able to visit the leader of his chosen religion.  Now verse two.

a.  2 And desired (aitéō, demand or require.  Like a checking account.  You now you have $200 in your account.  So if you write a check for $100 you are making a demand for your money.  It was the same here with Saul and the high priest.  Saul knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt that he could require, or demand, the letters he needed.) of him (the high priest) letters (epistle, a written message) to Damascus (Damascus was 130 miles northeast of Jerusalem.  In verse 8 we learned that Saul was persecuting the church in Jerusalem.  Now he was intent on doing the same thing in Damascus.  To us today 130 miles isn’t that far.  We can drive it in under 3 hours.  But back then the fastest transpiration they had was camels.  However, most of the time they simply walked.  Usually with a large group of people for protection against robbers.  And at night to avoid the heat of the day and to be guided by the stars.  The average person walks at 3 miles per hour.  Assuming there were 12 hours in the night, they could walk 36 miles.  So from Jerusalem to Damascus was nearly a week long journey.)  Now let’s continue in verse 2.  Saul was getting letters to Damascus: to the synagogues (Jewish places of worship.  As with our churches today, there may have been quite a few in the Damascus area.  I did a search of Baptist Churches near me on the internet, and found 18.  All less than ½ hours’ drive from my home.) , that if he found (this doesn’t mean that he would come upon them by chance.  It means that he would diligently search out.  This was what he did in Jerusalem the we saw in chapter 8 verse 3.  He entered in houses, homes, plural)  any of this way (what way?  The disciples from verse one.), whether they were men or women (it didn’t matter to Saul who he found in his house to house search.  Any one old enough to believe, man, woman, or child), he might bring (to lead by laying hold of, and this way to bring to the point of destination: like an animal being led) them bound (tied with rope or chains) unto Jerusalem. (Saul was truly dedicated to his pursuit.  Not only was he going to spend some time traveling to Damascus from Jerusalem; but now he was going to go back dragging along hostages.  I would imagine that would slow down the return trip considerably)

Saul’s visit to the high priest would be like me having the standing to go to the Pope in the Vatican and getting letters to all the Catholic Churches in and around Boston to seek out and torment any Baptist I found.  To the point to actually have the legal authority to put them to death.

But even though Saul was among the major persecutors of the church, he became the person God chose to reveal the greatest secret to.  The secret God had kept before the overthrow of the world.

Let’s get back to Ephesians chapter three.  I am going to read verses 1 through 6.  First the King James Version.  Then after that I will read the expanded version.

Ephesians 31 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel

Now the expanded version.

Ephesians 31 Because of this grace of Christ within the habitation of God I Paul am handcuffed to Jesus Christ and [and] an ambassador to and for you Gentiles.

2 Since I am assuming that you heard and understood the administration of the grace of God because God’s grace because God’s grace which was given to me is for your benefit.

3 For by word of knowledge, word of wisdom, and discerning of spirits [revelation], the Mystery was made known to me by God, even as I wrote briefly in Romans 9:25 and 26 and 16:25 and 26 and in I Corinthians 2:1-16 and 4:1,

4 with a view that you are able to understand exactly and fully grasp my understanding of the Mystery as it relates to Christ in you,

5 that Mystery, which in all other preceding ages was never declared or made known to anyone (sons of men), but just now in this generation was revealed to God’s holy apostles and to His prophets by the spirit by revelation:

6 (here it is, the secret God had kept since before the overthrow of the world) that the Gentiles are joint heirs, sons of the inheritance, joint members of Christ’s Body and joint possessors in the household, due to the promise of God that was fulfilled in Christ Jesus, the good news of the greatest of all truths, previously hidden but now revealed and known,

How far back did God keep this secret?  Since before the world began.  Remember Genesis 1:1, in the beginning.  Since before even then.

2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began

Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

1 Corinthians 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

God was merciful and didn’t judge or condemn Saul.  He did what his son had taught:

John 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven

And there you have it.  A picture of the power, and grace, of our awesome God.

Let us pray:

Dear heavenly Father,  Thank you for this day you have blessed us with.  Thank you for your love.  Thank you for not condemning us when we fall short.  Thank you for your word and the ability we have to come together with it as a family.  Thank you for blessing everyone watching this presentation.  Bless them and their families with love, health, peace, and the hope of the return of Christ.  And thank you for working so powerfully with Jan and me as we reach out to bless, edify, and guide your people.  Thank you for all these things in the wonderful name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Now:

The Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means.The Lord be with you all.The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.(2 Thessalonians 3:16 & 18)

And May The LORD bless you, and keep youMay He make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto youAnd May He lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.(Numbers 6:24-26)

And remember, Jan and I love you; we pray for you every day, and we’ll be back next week.