Introduction

Let me begin this final sermon in our series with our Scripture text:

What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, "You shall not covet." But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead (Romans 7:7-8).

For the last nine weeks we've been studying the Ten Commandments. Have you ever wondered how someone who grew up in a first century Jewish home and later studied the commandments under one of the greatest Jewish scholars might have thought about them? Well, today, we're privileged to have with us just such a man. His name is Saul. I'm sorry, should we call you Saul or Paul?

Paul's conversion story does not tell the whole story.

Well, I was born as Saul, but I prefer the name Paul—the apostle Paul. Most of you probably think you know me pretty well. You've read a few of my letters. Some of you have heard my story from the time you were old enough to wiggle in your seat in Sunday school. You've cut me out with plastic scissors, colored me with crayons, and stuck me on your flannelgraph boards. You think you know me.

You know the story of what happened to me on the road to Damascus. In Jerusalem I obtained official letters from the High Priest. They authorized me to carry out my mission with the full cooperation of the synagogues in Damascus. My purpose was to go there and weed out both men and women who belonged to this sect called The Way.

What a name, huh? The Way?! I thought, Who do they think they are? For thousands of years the hope of my forefathers had stood the test of time, but ...

Mark Mitchell is the lead pastor of Central Peninsula Church in Foster City, California.