Wrestling with Self Forgiveness (Part 7)

Understanding God’s grace is the foundation of self forgiveness. One of the greatest villains in the New Testament became one of its greatest heroes by God’s grace. He initially went by Saul of Tarsus. The first time we meet him is when an angry mob has decided to stone Stephen, a gospel preacher. Saul held the coats of the men who threw the rocks (Acts 7:58). Acts 8:3 says, “As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.” Jesus appeared to Saul on the road to Damascus to stop his persecutions. He directed Saul to Ananias who baptized him to wash away his sins (Acts 22:16). He became a promoter of Jesus, but his past haunted him.

In Philippians 3:4-6, Paul recalled his life as the Pharisee Saul: “ If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.” He had so much pride! Yet, it was a wasted effort. What got him beyond the mental paralysis of past failure? It was God’s grace in his Savior, Jesus Christ. He said: “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him…” (Philippians 3:7-10). In 1 Corinthians 15:10 Paul wrote, “But by the grace of God I am what I am.”

God bless you, and I love you.

Kevin Cauley