The story of Saul’s transformation into Paul is one of the dynamic stories of the New Testament. Acts 8:1–3 encapsulates the zealous commitment of Saul, the Rabbinic student of Gamaliel, to Judaism, as well as his anti-Christian activity:
Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him (Stephen) to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions … But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.
It is easy to see how and why Saul became a willing “arm” of the Sanhedrin, dedicated to ruthlessly rooting out and imprisoning Christians. It was on the way to Damascus where Saul was ambushed by Jesus:
As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and… he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.” (Acts 9: 3-6)
After his time in Damascus, Saul began preaching the Gospel as relentlessly as he formerly persecuted Christians. Eventually, he began a missional life—a transformed life—and on the island of Crete, he comes to be known as Paul.
Although many would simply say, “Saul got saved!” it’s not that simple. Saul was transformed by his encounter with the risen Lord, Jesus. Whereas the sacrifice of Jesus provides salvation to those who believe, it is in the life of Jesus where the presence and the power of the Spirit transforms us into a new creation. The model Paul gives to us is not one of instantaneous salvation, but rather a life-long process of transformation.
At YTI, the goal we set for our students is not simply “salvation,” but transformation. People have a tendency to question their salvation at times, but they don’t question their transformation. At this stage in its institutional life, Yellowstone is going through a transformation. After 10 years of finding its way—10 years of “cocooning”—the butterfly emerges: Yellowstone has arrived at its next stage.