(Notes from Calvary Baptist Church from Pastor David Epstein's Sermon)
Paul writes of the transformation and changes in his life.
Ephesians 1:1-2
1 - He changed his name from Saul to Paul.
2 - He changed his job from a Pharisee to an apostle.
3 - He changed his loyalties (boss) from the Chief Priest to Jesus Christ.
4 - He changed his destiny/purpose from his leadership dictating his destiny, the captain of his own ship to allowing God to lead/guide him.
5 - He changed his friends from the ones who rejected the Messiah to the ones who loved the Messiah.
6 - He changed his world view from no longer trying to be good enough getting other people to like him to his life be given grace/mercy from Jesus.
7 - He changed his address from Jerusalem to a Roman prison. Before he was free but now he is freer through Jesus Christ, true freedom.
For half his life, Saul did not know he needed change. He had been lied to and he lied himself.
"Things are not always what they seem to be."
Saul thought that he was right with God. He thought he was killing for God but he wasn't. He thought he was rich spiritually but he was bankrupted.
Philippians 3:4-11
He was totally diluted.
Now we are connected to God (vs., 10-11).
Paul finally got connected to God with the changes in his life.
Ephesians 4:1-16
Transformation is a change that we have new life. Where there is change we have life. Where there is no change we have no life.
Living as children of light
Ephesians 4:17-5:2
You will find/see proof of life by a change in your life, (4:30 - And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption).
Any one of the above changes can change your life forever.
Paul changed his name.
Saul was his Hebrew name. Someone who was asked prayed for.
Paul was his Roman name. It meant, small, humble.
Why the change?
Not all the Jewish people were Roman citizens but he was.
Our children are lent to us from God to be given back to Him.
Act 13:4-12
Paul is in a spiritual fight. The false prophet Elymas wants to do everything to keep Sergius Paulus away from Christ.
Paul tells Elymas he is a prophet of the devil. This is the first time Paul is referred to as Saul. The power of Elymas was great but God's power was greater. The good guys won.
Why did Paul stop being known as Saul? What does it mean?
He might say he changed his name to commemorate God's grace to keep God's love for people first in his life.
Because Saul meant hatred and brutality, he wanted to make a shift in his life. He wanted people to see the change in his life.
When you change your name you start over. He changed his name so he could minister to the Gentiles. He changed his name because Paul meant small, humble and that is how he was after he changed his name.
God calls us by name and He wants us to connect with people and share His love.
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