MEETING 2: EVERYONE

WORKOUT

THE WORST OF THEM ALL

While Saul was traveling to a town called Damascus as part of his attack against the first Christians, he had an incredible encounter that would change his life and the course of history. A blinding light brought him to his knees. A voice from Heaven followed:

“‘Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?’ ‘Who are you, lord?’ Saul asked.

And the voice replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.’” — Acts 9:5–6

Saul obeyed Jesus. His sight was restored, and he spent the next few years growing closer to God and studying Christ’s teachings. Saul (who became known as Paul, his Roman name) began ministering across the region. Even as he rose to prominence in the church, he never forgot the radical way he came to faith in Christ.

“This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—and I am the worst of them all.” — 1 Timothy 1:15

Jesus picked Paul even when he was still doing wrong. He made him a new person and gave Paul a passion and a calling. Paul would write the majority of the New Testament letters, which would impact the world for generations to come.

Q: Describe a time when you received something you didn’t think you deserved. How did that make you feel about yourself and the person who gave you that gift?

Q: Have you ever seen someone go through a similar transformation as Paul?

If so, how did that impact your view of God?

WHAT EVERYONE NEEDS

So how was Paul able to be saved? Before we can answer that, it’s important to understand why Paul needed to be saved and why we all need to be saved.

Here’s a brief overview of how it all went down:

• The first created man and woman sinned against God. (Genesis 3)

• Everyone is born with sin. (Romans 3:23)

• God sent His Son to die for everyone’s sins. (Romans 5:8)

• God offers everyone eternal life through Jesus’s sacrifice. (John 3:16)

• Everyone can enjoy a relationship with God through Jesus. (Romans 3:22)

Salvation through Jesus Christ also means we are free of the guilt and shame from our past sins, and we can experience the fullness of life. Saul (who became better known as the apostle Paul) wrote from his personal experience in this powerful explanation to the Christians in Ephesus:

“Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature, we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)” — Ephesians 2:1–5

When life feels meaningless and empty, it’s because we often aren’t living in the fullness of a relationship with God, or perhaps we have yet to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and don’t understand the difference between a life with Him and life without Him. And as Paul can attest, that gift from God (Ephesians 2:8), which is available to everyone through Christ, makes all the difference in the world.

Q: How easy or difficult is it for you to wrap your mind around the fact that salvation through Jesus Christ is for everyone? Explain.

Q: Of the promises discussed in this section, which one is the easiest for you to receive? Which one is the most difficult for you to receive? Why?