And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. (1 Timothy 1:12-13)

What God’s Mercy Will Do

Saul of Tarsus was a very angry man with a religious jealousy unmatched by anyone of his day. Many of the Jewish leadership wanted to destroy those who followed after Jesus of Nazareth. Still, Saul made it his life’s work to exterminate men and women who gave their allegiance to the man from Nazareth. As an influential man with great authority, Saul traveled from city to city seeking out the disciples of the Way. He placed men and women in chains with no regard for their lives. The historian Luke says that Saul wreaked havoc on the church. It was a perilous time to be a follower of Jesus.

When Paul stood before King Agrippa, he recounted his life story as a young man dedicated to the Law of Moses. He was zealous for the law as a devoted Pharisee with few men his equal. The tribe of Benjamin was always known as fierce warriors. Saul honored the tribal example of zealousness. He believed himself to be blameless concerning the righteousness that is in the law. No one could stand in his way. Saul punished the disciples of Christ often in every synagogue, compelling men and women to blaspheme the name of their Savior. No Christian was safe in a foreign city because Saul went after them there.

The first victim of Saul’s terror against the church was a disciple named Stephen. Saul listened to Stephen’s defense before the council until he and others could take no more. They gnashed at Stephen with their teeth in pure anger and hatred before bodily dragging the innocent man out of the city and stoning him to death. As each stone broke the bones of Stephen and slowly murdered the saint of God, Saul stood to the side, holding the garments of the executioners with an approving and authoritative posture. He felt justified in killing this man. After the death of Stephen, Saul found any opportunity to vote for those condemned to die. And many were sentenced to death. Then, he turned his attention to the church in general.

With threats and murderous intent, Saul went to the high priest in Jerusalem, seeking authority to travel to the northern city of Damascus to root out the many Christians found in the city. Receiving letters of authority, Saul assembled his soldiers and prison wagons to bring back from Damascus those who gave allegiance to Jesus. He was ready to arrest any man or woman who defied him. His plan was working to destroy the remnants of the followers of Jesus. As he traveled along each day, his desire grew more to end this blasphemous movement of followers who taught Jesus of Nazareth was the long-awaited Messiah.

Just outside the city of Damascus, the life direction of Saul took a remarkable turn. He met the One whom he had been persecuting. Obedient to the heavenly vision, Saul went into the city and remained in the home of those he came to arrest for three days. On the third day, Ananias gave Saul something he would never forget – mercy. It was not mercy from Ananias or the disciples of Christ but the joyous mercy of a forgiving God. Ananias told Saul to arise and be baptized to wash away his sins. And his sins were numerous and public.

Luke does not say where Saul was baptized, but it was a body of water. Rising from the waters to the joyful faces (and shocked faces) of the Damascus Christians, Saul realized what had occurred moments before. Through the grace of God, Saul of Tarsus was given an opportunity to repent of his sins. Confessing his allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ from the town of Nazareth, Saul was baptized in water, and all his sins were washed away. He never understood completely how that happened because of all he had done against the church, but he had experienced the mercy of God without measure.

Paul would later write that he was the chief of sinners, but he knew that was an exaggeration. All sin and fall short of the glory of God, but Paul viewed his life for the terrible things he did against the kingdom of Christ, and the Lord gave him mercy. What God’s mercy did for Saul was to remove all he had done as far as the east is from the west. God would remember the sins of Saul no more. As the man from Tarsus rose from the watery grave, he felt the power of mercy overflow with eternal blessings of peace.

There is nothing that God will not forgive if a man is willing to repent and change his life. Saul, or as he is known as the apostle Paul, had much to forgive, but mercy cleansed him from his sins. He knew when he died, he was saved. The man who persecuted the Christians was saved. Mercy. How great the mercy of God. Embrace it. God is willing. Repent. Find the mercy of God.