Saul (Hyde): Paul (Jekyll)

Acts 9:1 "And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem."

 I hate to continue on the persecution of Christians, but it's evil which made Christianity so appealing! Given the choice of hate and love, love never fails!   Sure, it may appear for a time that evil wins out, but it's short lived.

Saul, the man who was to become the new person, Paul, was animated in his intimidation of the Christians. Picture if you will the anger and animosity of this man toward those whose only crime was to believe in the Jesus who came to share love to the world.

I hate to mix politics and religion; no I don't because we are to turn to the Lord in ALL things, but when I think of Saul at this time, the person who pops to mind is Hillary Clinton. Envision, if you will her blatant intolerance of the things Christians hold dear. Look closely at the disdain and hatred of those things good flare from her eyes. That's how I see Saul. Just as the Lord needs to get a hold of Hillary, that's what Saul needs too!

Saul, not only threatened "slaughter", but was responsible for the killing of many Christians. Saul was a murderer:

1. Saul approved the killing of the first martyr, Stephen. (Acts 8:1)
2. Saul dragged off Christians and put them in prison (Acts 8:3). Surely, where many were put to death and/or died.
3. Saul persecuted many Christians to their death (Acts 22:4).

What would modern Christians say about the likes of Saul? "He's too bad to change." "Telling him about Jesus would be a waste of time!" "He's the enemy; damn him." "He'll get his reward in hell." 

What would Jesus say about Saul?  The same thing he said about the wayward women!

Luke 7:47 "Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little."

Because Saul was a great sinner, Jesus would say "Saul will love me much because I will forgive him of much!" Jesus looks at sinners through a charitable eye. We look at sinners using critical lenses. Never ever give up on evil people because just because in your opinion, they are too evil to be saved.

Saul's name... by coincidence; really? Saul shared the same name as King Saul. Surely the king was for whom he was named. Because Saul was the first king, I'm sure that there were many Saul's in Judea. His name means "prayed for" in the Hebrew.  How are people changed? Caring people pray for them!

If the disciples were practicing what they were taught, rather than hating Saul, they were praying for him!  Now's the time for some honesty. I have trouble loving, not my enemies, but those who I perceive as enemies of Jesus. Sure, his enemies are my enemies, but it's not personal for me. I am offended when people criticize my Savior! Notice how I denigrated Hillary Clinton. I find her mean-spirited and spiteful. It has been commanded that we love even lour enemies. I find that difficult! Some people find it difficult to even love their "brothers in Christ", let alone an enemy! I'm not sure that I have enough faith to believe if I alone pray for Hillary, that she would change, but what if all Christians prayed for her? There is power in prayer!

Saul was the "chief of sinners" (1 Timothy 1:15). He admitted his iniquity yet Christians deny that any sin even exists in our own lives. If people know that we have a spiritual weakness we fear that others will think less of us! Guess what? Your're right. Christians are quick to indict others of things even lesser than what they do. Their own measurement stick is biased in favor of them!

We have established that Saul was a great sinner. Because he was his name implies that he was
"prayed for" by Christians. I'm sure that the most faithful Christians did pray for Saul to change. They had great faith, standing up for what they believed in the face of martyrdom. Their prayers were likely the power that brought Jesus to knock on his door.

Saul was a zealot for persecution. Guess what? Saul became a zealot for Jesus! His M.O. was useful for destruction and death, but Jesus turned that M.O. into fishing for men! Jesus saw promise in what others saw in exasperation.

Saul, of all things, represented the established church. He was a Pharisee and very religious! Never believe that religiosity and love are the same, because religious people who lack love are dangerous people. We still see that in churches today and that "religiosity" is the hallmark of the end-of-time church.

Revelation 3:16 "So then because thou (the Laodicean Church) art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth."

Religious churches mix Christianity with other things. Saul mixed his religion with even death. Because these folks were perceived to be teaching against his God, Saul was merciless! Modern churches do the same thing. Just as Saul had the blessing of the high priest, oftentimes today it's the high priest (preacher) who is the most heretic. (e.g., the Rev. Barry Lynn). Sure, they preach about Christ, but it's not the Christ of the Bible!

Nowadays it's the progressive churches which allow the greatest sins to thrive right there on what is supposed to be holy ground! Little has changed since Saul's time, and in the end, it will get worse. Beware of false prophets.

Saul is an example of "the old creature" or the "old person". What does he need to do? The answer is "change". Men weren't able to change Saul, but tomorrow we'll see that Jesus did! When he does change, he's called by a new name. Jesus calls him Paul, the Roman equivalent of Saul. New creations need new identities. Saul became Paul. Saul was Mr. Hyde, and when morning came, he became Dr. Jeckyll (Paul)! However, the serum used for the transformation is not a concoction, but Holy Spirit!