{"id":44700,"date":"2021-01-12T11:16:43","date_gmt":"2021-01-12T08:16:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=44700"},"modified":"2025-05-07T20:45:10","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T17:45:10","slug":"so-that-i-may-be-an-example-to-those-who-will-believe-later","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2021\/01\/12\/so-that-i-may-be-an-example-to-those-who-will-believe-later\/","title":{"rendered":"SO THAT I MAY BE AN EXAMPLE TO THOSE WHO WILL BELIEVE LATER"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Praise the Lord Jesus! You are welcome as we study the Word of God together.<\/em><\/p>\n

The life of the Apostle Paul stands as a powerful testimony of how God’s grace can transform even the worst of sinners. His story is not just historical\u2014it’s a message of hope for anyone who feels beyond redemption.<\/p>\n

Before encountering Christ, Paul (then known as Saul) lived in open rebellion against God. He described himself as a “blasphemer, persecutor, and violent man”<\/em> (1 Timothy 1:13, NIV). He didn\u2019t just live a sinful life privately\u2014he actively opposed the followers of Jesus. The spirit of the antichrist, the spirit that opposes God and His Messiah, was already at work in him (1 John 4:3). Paul himself was a type of antichrist, resisting everything Christ stood for.<\/p>\n

He played a major role in the persecution of the early church. For example, when Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was stoned to death, Paul stood by in approval, guarding the clothes of those throwing the stones (Acts 7:58). He wasn\u2019t passive in his opposition\u2014he led efforts to imprison and execute believers. His reputation for violence was so great that Christians fled whenever they heard he was nearby (Acts 8:1\u20133; Acts 9:1\u20132).<\/p>\n

But God’s mercy reached him.<\/p>\n

On the road to Damascus, where he was going to arrest more Christians, Jesus personally appeared to him. Paul was struck blind and heard the Lord say, \u201cSaul, Saul, why do you persecute me?\u201d<\/em> (Acts 9:4). In that moment, Saul came face to face with the truth: to persecute the Church is to persecute Christ Himself. That encounter was the turning point. Through the grace of God, Saul was transformed from a destroyer of the faith into its greatest advocate.<\/p>\n

Paul later wrote:<\/p>\n

\n

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.”<\/em>
\u20141 Timothy 1:12\u201314 (NIV)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Paul didn\u2019t hide his past. Instead, he used it to magnify the patience and grace of God. He said:<\/p>\n

\n

“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners\u2014of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.”<\/em>
\u20141 Timothy 1:15\u201316 (NIV)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

God chose Paul not because of his past but despite it. This shows a key theological truth: God doesn’t look at how far you’ve fallen, but how willing you are to repent and follow Him today. God isn\u2019t limited by your past\u2014He is interested in your response to His call now.<\/p>\n

Paul emphasized this again in his letter to the Corinthians:<\/p>\n

\n

“For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them\u2014yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.”<\/em>
\u20141 Corinthians 15:9\u201310 (NIV)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

This shows another theological truth: grace is not just unmerited favor\u2014it is also empowering<\/em>. It not only forgives the sinner but equips them for service. Paul was not just forgiven; he was transformed and empowered to labor for the gospel with extraordinary passion and endurance.<\/p>\n

What does this mean for us today?<\/strong><\/p>\n

It means that God is ready to begin with you right where you are. No matter how far you’ve gone, His grace is sufficient. If you truly repent, trust in Jesus, and obey Him, He can lift you up to great spiritual heights\u2014even beyond those who seemed to be ahead of you in the faith. God is not partial (Acts 10:34). He doesn\u2019t favor one person over another based on past experiences or religious background.<\/p>\n

When you truly turn away from sin and commit to living a new life in Christ, His grace begins to work in you immediately. He will raise you up, level by level, day by day\u2014just as He did with Paul.<\/p>\n

So, believe in Jesus sincerely. Live as someone who has genuinely repented. Be diligent and faithful in your walk with God, and you too will become a testimony\u2014an example of what God can do with a life surrendered to Him.<\/p>\n

Paul is proof that anyone who truly turns to Christ can be used by God in mighty ways. You too can be such an example.<\/p>\n

Shalom.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Please share this good news with others. And if you\u2019d like to receive regular Bible teachings via email or WhatsApp, feel free to send us a message at +255693036618 or +255789001312.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n