"You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion—how I violently persecuted God’s church. I did my best to destroy it. I was far ahead of my fellow Jews in my zeal for the traditions of my ancestors."
~Galatians 1:13&14 NLT
We are told in scriptures that Jesus said, "I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Trying to go against the church is going against Christ himself. That was Paul before his conversion. According to the Pharisees and temple priests, followers of the Way (Jesus Christ) seemed to be leading people astray and away from all the Jewish traditions. Hence they tried by all means to silence them. Paul whose name before his conversion was Saul was so zealous about God that he persecuted the church.
"And I persecuted the followers of the Way, hounding some to death, arresting both men and women and throwing them in prison." ~ Acts 22:4 NLT
The story of Paul is such a wonderful testimony of God's patience and mercy. Even with his history, God called him. He chose to reveal to him his secret plan and made him an apostle of the gentiles. The church of God (the body of Christ) is one of the most powerful organism (organization doesn't quite seem like a good term), being against it, is being against Christ himself. May we know and be convinced, no one in this world is too deep that God's hand cannot reach and save. No one has too much baggage that Jesus cannot trade it for his light, easy yoke. Apostle Paul is such a great example. God showed him so many things/ secrets that prophets of old didn't get the privilege to know, but God showed them to Paul.
"I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning." ~Ephesians 3:9 NLT
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