”But hyper-abounded the grace of our Lord, with the faith and love in Jesus Christ.”
-Yes, amazing grace. Wonderful grace. Greater grace. We sing about it - as we should. Grace one-ups mercy, takes it to another level. Not only do I NOT get what I do deserve, but I GET what I do not deserve. Undeserved favor. It’s the curve on the great heavenly entrance exam. And we’re not just talking about a few points, just a little dab’ll do ya. This is the ultimate, most unbelievable grading-on-a-curve in the history of ever. This stuff gets slathered on like it’s going out of style. A massive curve. Hyper abounding grace, that’s what Paul calls it. It overflowed, a mighty river of blessing rising up and over its banks in a torrent of breathtaking goodness. And it’s for each and every one of us. With Paul-then-Saul, the Lord took this enemy of the Cross and forgave him and blessed him and gave him power and divine revelation and gifts of teaching and evangelism and apostleship. The Lord actually spoke to Paul and appeared to him. And put him into service. And used him to bear incredible fruit for the Kingdom. There’s no telling this side of eternity how many lives were directly impacted by his ministry - not to mention the countless millions down through the ages who have been influenced by both his writings and the lives of those who follow them. One life, seemingly out of control and beyond the reach of even the Lord Himself, profoundly and eternally transformed. Truly amazing. Grace.
-And Paul of course found more than grace in Christ Jesus. He found love. And faith. One view is that he discovered the Lord’s great and infinite love for him, a sinner, and the inexhaustible faithfulness with which the Lord stands by His people. Another view is that Paul saw undeniable proof of God’s grace in his life in the fruit of love for God and others in place of cruelty and of faith in the place of unbelief. Both views are valid. On the one hand, we see God’s grace opening up a whole new life-changing understanding of Who He is and what He is like, and on the other, we see Paul-then-Saul’s hot mess of a life completely obliterated by that same grace. Both are true. Both happened for Paul, and both can happen for you. And me.
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