The Spirit's Work in Conversion

But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord,

went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus,

so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women,

he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 

Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus,

and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.

(Acts 9:1-3 ESV)

He likely thought he was enlightened. But he was blinded by darkness . . . long before he was blinded by the light. Goodness knows he was plenty religious! Saul of Tarsus sought to do God’s will, he just couldn’t see it.

He’s not alone. There are people still blinded by religion. But eyes open wide when people “see” Jesus through the truth of His Word and the Holy Spirit.

Saul had an impressive resumé. He was widely known across Hebraic Judaism of his day (Acts 26:4). He was zealous, well-educated in the Law as a Pharisee (Acts 26:5), and was advancing in privilege, rank, and power. Plus he had the benefit of being a Roman citizen (Acts 22:27-28). He thought he wielded the sword of righteousness in obedience to God’s will. However, he was guilty of persecuting Christians. Therefore, Jesus by extension (Acts 9:4).

On one such mission to Damascus, a heavenly light blinded Saul for 3 long days (Acts 9:3, 9). But through it Jesus dramatically revealed Himself and the Father’s will to him—expelling the darkness that had blinded him. It truly was a miraculous and complete conversion (Acts 9:17-20). Only then was he able to truly see the path and purpose for his life (Acts 9:15-16; 22:14-21; 26:16-19). Only then did he have power to partner with Jesus in completing His gospel mission.

Jesus called Saul out of his sin, rebellion, and pride to repentance, surrender, and mission. The Spirit utterly transformed his vision . . . his heart . . . his life. Paul, testifying of himself that he, having received mercy from God as foremost of sinners, was changed from blasphemer to an apostle of Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 1:13-15).   

A master theologian—first developed under the renowned Gamaliel (Acts 22:3) but redeemed and retrained by Jesus and the Spirit—Paul was an apostolic ambassador for Jesus to the Gentiles and the Spirit’s vessel to pen over 20% of the New Testament.

The Spirit shines the light of the Lord and His Word into the darkness still. “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).

Jesus, the Light of the World (John 8:12), shines in our hearts through the Spirit. His is the supernatural work of converting, transforming, and sanctifying saints to discipleship and ambassadorship of the King of Glory. Praise be!