Water Made into Wine

The Crushing of Saul into Paul

The crushing of 'Saul into Paul' is not merely a historical account; it is a visceral, Holy Spirit blueprint of our DIVINE transformation--from the inside out.

“But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ.”- (Philippians 3:7-8)

Prepare to confront the shattering of your self-reliance as HIS relentless Grace turns dirty water—our proud, self-sufficient lives—into the potent, poured-out wine of God's love.

“And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”- (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Jesus does not offer a gentle invitation; He summons us to total loss, absolute dependence, and the radical weakness through which God's glory alone can truly shine. Are you ready to be crushed into HIS WINE?

Learn how the stiff-necked, proud Chief of Sinners became the 'Apostle of Grace' through total loss and Divine transformation

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith, which is faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”- (Galatians 2:20)

The Opposite of Peter

If Peter was the impulsive fisherman—all emotion, quick to speak, fast to act—then Saul was his polar opposite:

Peter had:

- No formal education
- No religious credentials
- No social status
- Nothing to lose

Saul had:

- The finest education (studied under Gamaliel, the most respected teacher)

- Impeccable religious pedigree (Pharisee of Pharisees, tribe of Benjamin, Hebrew of Hebrews)

- High social standing (Roman citizen by birth, Jewish elite)

- Everything to lose

Peter needed to be humbled FROM boastful confidence.

Saul needed to be stripped OF everything he was confident in.

Peter’s crushing was about destroying PRIDE IN HIS STRENGTH.

Saul’s crushing was about destroying PRIDE IN HIS ACHIEVEMENTS.

But both had to arrive at the same place:

TOTAL LOSS. COMPLETE DEPENDENCE. ABSOLUTE WEAKNESS.

Only then could God use them.

This is the story of how Saul—who had it all—lost it all, so that Christ could become his ALL IN ALL.

This is the story of water becoming wine.

This is the story of crushing, fermentation, and transformation.

This is the story of grace super-abounding where sin increased.

This is the story of the Gospel of the Kingdom—EDEN—spreading to the Gentile world through the weakest, most broken, most utterly dependent vessel God could create:

Paul, the bondservant of Christ, who took on the sufferings of Christ, died to self daily, and allowed grace to be sufficient in every way—denying Saul (or Paul) any glory or credit.

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THE WINEMAKING PROCESS—A Framework for Understanding

Before we dive into Saul’s transformation, we must understand the WINEMAKING PROCESS—because this is precisely what God did to Saul.

Phase 1: The Grapes (Saul Before Conversion)

Grapes on the vine:

- Full
- Plump
- Proud
- Self-contained
- Thinking they are complete as they are

Saul before conversion:

- Full of credentials
- Plump with achievements
- Proud of his pedigree
- Self-righteous
- Thinking he was complete in the Law

Phase 2: The Harvest (Damascus Road)

The grapes are CUT OFF from the vine:

- Separated from their source
- Removed from their familiar place
- No longer drawing life from what sustained them

Saul on Damascus Road:

- Cut off from his religious system
- Separated from his identity as a Pharisee
- Removed from his comfortable life
- Blinded—unable to function in his old way

Phase 3: The Crushing (Arabia and Beyond)

The grapes are CRUSHED:

- Pressed with immense pressure
- Skin broken
- Juice extracted
- Pulp separated
- Everything that made them “grapes” is destroyed
- They lose their form, their identity, their autonomy

Saul in Arabia and through his ministry:

- Stripped of reputation
- Persecuted by former allies
- Rejected by those he once led
- Beaten, stoned, shipwrecked
- Everything he once valued—CRUSHED

Phase 4: The Fermentation (Transformation)

The crushed grape juice FERMENTS:

- Time passes

- Darkness and waiting

- Chemical transformation occurs

- What was sweet (sugar) becomes complex (alcohol)

- The juice becomes something entirely NEW

- Cannot return to being grapes

- The transformation is IRREVERSIBLE

Saul becoming Paul:

- Time in Arabia (3 years—Galatians 1:17-18)

- Hidden, obscure, unknown

- Internal transformation by the Holy Spirit

- What was prideful (self-righteousness) becomes humble (righteousness of Christ alone)

- Saul becomes Paul—new name, new identity, new nature

- Cannot return to being Saul the Pharisee

- The transformation is PERMANENT

Phase 5: The Aging (Maturation)

The wine AGES:

- Time refines it
- Impurities settle
- Flavor deepens
- Value increases

The longer it ages under proper conditions, the better it becomes

Paul through decades of ministry:

- Suffering refines him

- Pride and flesh die more and more

- Understanding of grace deepens

- Eternal value of his letters increases

- His later writings (Ephesians, Colossians, Timothy, Titus) show maturity far beyond his early letters

Phase 6: The Pouring Out (Ministry and Martyrdom)

The wine is POURED OUT:

- Used for celebration
- Shared with others
- Brings joy to those who drink
- The wine GIVES itself completely
- Poured until the vessel is empty

Paul’s life and death:

- Poured out in missionary journeys

- Shared the Gospel throughout the known world

- Brought joy of salvation to countless thousands

- Gave himself completely—“I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls” (2 Corinthians 12:15)

- Martyred in Rome—literally poured out his blood for Christ

2 Timothy 4:6-“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.”-

The winemaking is complete. The wine has served its purpose. All for the glory of the Winemaker.

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SAUL—THE GRAPES BEFORE THE HARVEST

Saul Had It All

Let’s inventory what Saul possessed BEFORE his conversion:

Religious Pedigree

Philippians 3:5 “Circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee.”-

Breaking this down:

- Circumcised the eighth day = born into covenant, not a convert

- Nation of Israel = God’s chosen people

- Tribe of Benjamin = the tribe that gave Israel its first king (Saul—his namesake); the one tribe that stayed faithful to Judah when the kingdom split; honored tribe

- Hebrew of Hebrews = not Hellenized; pure Jewish bloodline; spoke Hebrew, not just Greek

- As to the Law, a Pharisee = the strictest, most zealous sect; the theological elite

Saul could trace his lineage. He had papers. He had proof. He was LEGIT.

This is like someone today saying:

- “My family came over on the Mayflower”

- “I have Ivy League degrees from three generations”

- “I’m a fourth-generation pastor”

- “I have every credential the religious establishment recognizes”

2. Educational Achievement

Acts 22:3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today.”-

Gamaliel = the most respected rabbi of his generation, grandson of Hillel, member of the Sanhedrin

This is equivalent to:

- Graduating from Harvard, Oxford, and Yale

- Studying under the world’s leading scholar in your field

- Having every academic door open to you

Saul was BRILLIANT. Educated. Trained. Scholarly.

3. Roman Citizenship

Acts 22:25-28-“But when they stretched him out with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, ‘Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman and uncondemned?’ When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and told him, saying, ‘What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman.’ The commander came and said to him, ‘Tell me, are you a Roman?’ And he said, ‘Yes.’ The commander answered, ‘I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.’ And Paul said, ‘But I was actually born a citizen.’”-

Roman citizenship by BIRTH = elite status

Benefits:

- Legal protections
- Right to appeal to Caesar
- Exemption from certain punishments (like scourging)
- Social privilege
- Economic advantages

This is like being born with:

- Dual citizenship (US and EU)
- Diplomatic immunity
- Access to elite social circles
- Automatic credibility in legal matters

4. Zealous Religious Performance

Philippians 3:6 - “As to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.”-

Galatians 1:13-14 -“For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it; and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions.”-

Saul was:

- MORE ZEALOUS than his peers

- ADVANCING BEYOND others

- EXTREMELY COMMITTED to the traditions

- BLAMELESS in external law-keeping

- PERSECUTING THE CHURCH as service to God

In Saul’s mind, he was WINNING:

- Top of his class
- Outperforming everyone
- Gaining recognition
- Serving God with distinction
- Destined for greatness in the Sanhedrin

5. Power and Authority

Acts 9:1-2 - “Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.”-

Saul had:

- Access to the high priest (only the elite had this)

- Authority to arrest believers (legal power)

- Letters of authorization (official documents)

- The backing of the Sanhedrin (institutional support)

- The power of life and death (Acts 26:10 - “I cast my vote against them”)

Saul was DANGEROUS. Powerful. Feared. Respected.

But Did Saul Really “Have It All”?

Here’s the devastating truth:

Saul had EVERYTHING the world and religion said mattered.

But he had NOTHING that actually mattered to God.

He had:

- Religious credentials without relationship
- Zealous activity without love
- Perfect law-keeping without faith
- Power and authority without humility
- Knowledge of Scripture without knowing Christ

Romans 10:2-3 - (Paul later describing his former self and fellow Jews) -“For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.”-

Saul was seeking to ESTABLISH HIS OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS.

And that righteousness was FILTH before God.

Isaiah 64:6-“For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment.”-

Saul’s problem:

He had EVERYTHING in the flesh.

He had NOTHING in the Spirit.

He was FULL of himself.

He needed to be EMPTIED completely.

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THE HARVEST—Damascus Road (Acts 9)

The Moment of Cutting

Acts 9:3-6-“As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground and 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.’ The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.”-

The light from heaven = the glory of God.

Saul—who thought he was serving God—is confronted by the ONE HE’S BEEN PERSECUTING.

The Devastating Questions

Question 1: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting ME?”

Not “Why are you persecuting my followers?”

Not “Why are you hurting my church?”

“Why are you persecuting ME?”

Implication: When you persecute believers, you persecute CHRIST HIMSELF.

Saul learned: The church is Christ’s BODY. To touch them is to touch HIM.

This shattered Saul’s worldview:

- He thought he was serving God
- He thought he was defending truth
- He thought he was protecting Judaism
- He was actually attacking GOD HIMSELF

Question 2: “Who are You, Lord?”

Saul calls Him “Lord” (kyrios) without knowing who He is.

Somewhere deep inside, Saul KNEW this was divine.

The response destroys everything:

“I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.”

JESUS.

The name Saul HATED.

The name he was trying to ERADICATE.

The name he considered BLASPHEMY.

And now this Jesus is:

- Speaking from heaven
- Radiating glory
- Identifying Himself as LORD
- Calling Saul to account

Everything Saul believed was WRONG.

Everything he fought for was REBELLION.

Everything he was proud of was LOSS.

In one moment—ONE MOMENT—Saul’s entire identity COLLAPSED.

The Physical Blindness: A Picture of Spiritual Reality

Acts 9:8-9-“Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.”-

Saul—who was SO SURE, SO CONFIDENT, SO KNOWLEDGEABLE—is now:

- BLIND (physically)
- DEPENDENT (needs to be led by the hand)
- HELPLESS (can do nothing on his own)
- FASTING (three days without food or water)

This is the HARVEST:

Saul is CUT OFF from:

- His identity as a Pharisee
- His confidence in his own righteousness
- His ability to function independently
- His pride in his achievements
- His self-sufficiency

He is now:

- Blind (can’t see his own way)
- Dependent (needs others to guide him)
- Helpless (powerless to save himself)
- Waiting (for God to act)

The grapes have been cut from the vine.

Now comes the CRUSHING.

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THE CRUSHING—Arabia and the Wilderness Years

Ananias: The First Crushing Truth

Acts 9:10-18 - God sends Ananias to Saul.

Ananias is AFRAID:

Acts 9:13-14 “But Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.’”-

Translation: “Lord, this man is DANGEROUS. He’s a killer. He has AUTHORITY. He’s coming to ARREST US.”

But God responds:

Acts 9:15-16 “But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.’”-

Notice what God says:

-“A chosen instrument” = God CHOSE Saul (not Saul choosing God)

-“To bear My name” = Saul’s purpose is to DISPLAY CHRIST, not himself

-“Before Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel” = Saul will go to EVERYONE

-“I will SHOW HIM HOW MUCH HE MUST SUFFER” = the crushing is just beginning

Ananias lays hands on Saul:

Acts 9:17-18 “So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized.”-

“Brother Saul” = a previously persecuted believer now calls Saul “brother”

This is CRUSHING:

Saul—the elite Pharisee, the powerful persecutor—is now:

- Being ministered to by a SIMPLE BELIEVER
- Called “brother” by someone he would have arrested days earlier
- Baptized like a common convert
- Filled with the Spirit (not by his works, but by GRACE)

The scales fall from his eyes—physically and spiritually.

He can see. But what he sees is DEVASTATING:

Everything he was proud of = LOSS.

Arabia: The Wilderness Crushing (Galatians 1:15-18)

Galatians 1:15-18-“But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus. Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days.”-

After his conversion, Paul did NOT:

- Rush to the apostles
- Start preaching immediately
- Leverage his credentials
- Build a platform

Paul went to ARABIA for THREE YEARS.

Why Arabia?

- Desolate wilderness (isolation)

- Far from Jerusalem (separation from his old life)

- Time with God alone (no human teachers)

- Moses parallel (Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness before leading Israel; Paul spends 3 years being crushed and taught by God)

What happened in Arabia?

Paul was CRUSHED:

1. Identity Crushing

Everything Saul was proud of—his pedigree, his achievements, his status—was being CRUSHED by revelation of who Jesus is.

Paul later writes:

Philippians 3:7-8-“But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ.”-

Gain → Loss
Treasure → Rubbish
Pride → Humility

2. Theological Crushing

Everything Saul thought he knew about Scripture was being REINTERPRETED through Christ.

- The Law? Meant to lead to Christ (Galatians 3:24)

- Righteousness? Only through faith in Christ (Philippians 3:9)

- Circumcision? Worthless compared to the cross (Galatians 6:14-15)

- Israel’s calling? Fulfilled in Christ and extended to Gentiles (Ephesians 2:11-22)

God was CRUSHING Saul’s theological system and rebuilding it on CHRIST ALONE.

3. Purpose Crushing

Saul thought his purpose was to:

- Advance in Judaism (Galatians 1:14)
- Gain respect from the Sanhedrin
- Become a great rabbi
- Preserve Jewish tradition

But God revealed:

Galatians 1:15-16 “But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles.”-

Set apart FROM BIRTH = God’s plan for Paul existed BEFORE Paul’s works

Called through GRACE = not earned, not achieved

Reveal His Son IN ME = Christ living in Paul, not Paul achieving for Christ

Preach Him among the Gentiles = Paul’s purpose is to GO TO THE NATIONS (not stay in Jerusalem)

Everything Saul planned for his life = CRUSHED.

God had a DIFFERENT plan—and it required TOTAL LOSS of Saul’s plan.

The Ongoing Crushing: Paul’s “Thorn in the Flesh”

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 “Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”-

Paul had a “thorn in the flesh”:

Theories about what it was:

- Physical illness (eye disease, malaria, epilepsy)
- Chronic pain
- Persecution from Jews
- Spiritual warfare

We don’t know exactly what it was. But we know its PURPOSE:

“To keep me from exalting myself.”

God gave Paul a THORN to keep him HUMBLE.

Why?

“Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations.”

Paul had:

- Seen Jesus in glory (Acts 9)

- Been caught up to the third heaven (2 Corinthians 12:2-4)

- Received direct revelation from Christ (Galatians 1:12)

- Written Scripture under inspiration

Without the thorn, Paul might have become PROUD.

The thorn was GRACE—keeping him dependent, humble, weak.

Paul asked THREE TIMES for it to be removed.

God said NO.

Instead, God said:

“My grace is SUFFICIENT for you.”

Not “I’ll remove the thorn.”

Not “I’ll make you strong enough to handle it.”

“My GRACE is sufficient.”

Translation: “Paul, you’ll never be strong enough. You’ll never overcome this. You’ll always be weak. BUT MY GRACE IS ENOUGH. My power works BEST through your weakness.”

And Paul’s response?

“Most GLADLY, therefore, I will rather BOAST about my weaknesses.”

This is the TRANSFORMED Paul:

- Old Saul boasted in STRENGTHS (pedigree, achievements, status)
- New Paul boasts in WEAKNESSES (so Christ’s power can be displayed)

“When I am WEAK, then I am STRONG.”

This is the Gospel of Grace. This is the Eden principle. This is the wine fully fermented.

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THE FERMENTATION—Becoming Something New

Saul Becomes Paul

At some point in the narrative, “Saul” becomes “Paul.”

Acts 13:9 “But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze on him.”-

From this point forward, he is “Paul.”

Why the name change?

Saul (Hebrew: Sha’ul) = “asked for, prayed for”—linked to King Saul, the first king of Israel who started well but ended in pride and rebellion

Paul (Latin: Paulus) = “small, humble, little”

The name change signifies:

- A NEW IDENTITY (no longer Saul the Pharisee)

- A NEW HUMILITY (from “great” to “small”)

- A NEW MISSION (to the Gentiles, using a Roman name)

Paul later calls himself:

1 Corinthians 15:9“For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”-

Ephesians 3:8 “To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ.”-

1 Timothy 1:15 “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.”-

Notice the progression:

- Least of the apostles (compared to other apostles)

- Very least of all saints (compared to all believers)

- Foremost of sinners (compared to all humanity)

This is HUMILITY deepening over time.

This is FERMENTATION—the transformation from Saul (proud) to Paul (humble) is COMPLETE and IRREVERSIBLE.

The Wine Cannot Become Grapes Again

Paul can never go back to being Saul.

He tried once:

Acts 9:19-25 - After his conversion, Paul preached in Damascus. The Jews plotted to kill him. He had to escape in a basket through the wall.

Acts 9:26-30 - Paul went to Jerusalem. The disciples were afraid of him. The Hellenistic Jews tried to kill him. The believers sent him away to Tarsus.

Paul LOST:

- His reputation among Jews (now a traitor)

- His standing with the Sanhedrin (now an enemy)

- His religious community (now rejected)

- His social network (now isolated)

- His safety (now hunted)

He couldn’t go back. The crushing was COMPLETE. The fermentation was IRREVERSIBLE.

Now he was:

- Rejected by Jews (for following Jesus)

- Suspected by Christians (for his past persecution)

- A man without a country

- An outsider to both communities

He lost EVERYTHING.

And in losing everything, he GAINED CHRIST.

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THE AGING—Decades of Suffering

For the next 30+ years, Paul suffered continuously—and each suffering further refined the wine.

The Catalog of Paul’s Sufferings

2 Corinthians 11:23-28-“Are they servants of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.”-

Let’s break this down:

Physical Beatings:

- 39 lashes (5 times) = 195 total lashes with a whip (designed to tear flesh)

- Beaten with rods (3 times) = Roman punishment (brutal beating)

- Stoned (once) = Acts 14:19-20—left for dead outside Lystra

Near-Death Experiences:

- Shipwrecked (3 times)

- A night and a day in the deep = floating in the ocean, near drowning

Constant Dangers:

- From rivers (flash floods, drowning)

- From robbers (theft, violence)

- From Jews (his own people trying to kill him)

- From Gentiles (Romans, Greeks persecuting him)

- In the city (urban persecution)

- In the wilderness (exposure, wild animals)

- On the sea (storms, pirates)

- Among false brethren (betrayed by supposed Christians)

Deprivation:

- Labor and hardship
- Sleepless nights
- Hunger and thirst
- Often without food
- Cold and exposure

Emotional/Spiritual Burden:

- Daily pressure of concern for all the churches

This is AGING—the wine being REFINED through continuous suffering.

What Each Suffering Accomplished

Each beating crushed MORE PRIDE.

Each imprisonment crushed MORE SELF-RELIANCE.

Each rejection crushed MORE DESIRE FOR HUMAN APPROVAL.

Each danger crushed MORE FEAR OF DEATH.

Each deprivation crushed MORE LOVE OF COMFORT.

Each betrayal crushed MORE TRUST IN MAN.

Until finally, Paul could say:

Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”-

This is a man for whom:

- CHRIST is everything
- DEATH is gain (not loss)
- SUFFERING is joy (not tragedy)
- WEAKNESS is strength (not failure)

This is the AGED WINE—complex, deep, valuable, refined.

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PAUL’S THEOLOGY OF GRACE—The Wine Fully Transformed

Paul’s letters reveal a man who understands GRACE at the deepest level—because he experienced CRUSHING at the deepest level.

1. Righteousness Is By Faith Alone (Romans/Galatians)

Romans 3:28 “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.”-

Galatians 2:16 “Nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.”-

Paul—who tried to earn righteousness through perfect law-keeping—now declares:

YOU CANNOT EARN IT. IT’S BY FAITH ALONE.

Why does Paul know this?

Because HE TRIED. He kept the Law blamelessly (Philippians 3:6). And it was ALL WORTHLESS.

Only someone who TRIED and FAILED can speak with authority about the IMPOSSIBILITY of self-righteousness.

2. Grace Super-Abounds (Romans 5:20)

Romans 5:20 “The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.”-

Greek: “hyperperisseuo” = super-abound, overflow beyond measure, far exceed

Paul—the “chief of sinners”—testifies:

Where MY sin increased (persecuting the church), GOD’S GRACE super-abounded.

The greater the sin, the GREATER the display of grace.

This is the Gospel of Eden: God’s GOODNESS super-abounding over human evil.

3. The Sufficiency of Grace (2 Corinthians 12:9)

2 Corinthians 12:9 “And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’”-

Paul learned:

Grace is not JUST forgiveness.

Grace is:

- Power (to live the Christian life)
- Sufficiency (enough for every need)
- Perfection (completed in weakness, not strength)

You don’t need:

- More strength
- More willpower
- More knowledge
- More effort

You need MORE GRACE.

And grace is ALWAYS sufficient.

4. The Treasure in Jars of Clay (2 Corinthians 4:7)

2 Corinthians 4:7 “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.”-

Earthen vessels = cheap clay pots, fragile, breakable, worthless

The treasure = the Gospel, the glory of God, the knowledge of Christ

Why does God put the treasure in WEAK VESSELS?

“So that the surpassing greatness of the power will be OF GOD and not from ourselves.”

If the vessel were gold, people would admire the VESSEL.

But when the vessel is CLAY, people can only admire the TREASURE.

Paul was the CLAY POT—broken, weak, fragile—so that GOD would get the glory.

5. Crucified With Christ (Galatians 2:20)

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith, which is faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”-

This is the ULTIMATE statement of transformation:

“I have been crucified” = Saul died

“It is no longer I who live” = Saul is gone

“But Christ lives in me” = Paul is a NEW CREATION, animated by CHRIST

“I live by faith” = not by law, not by works, but by FAITH

“The faith OF the Son of God” = even the faith is HIS gift

Saul died on the Damascus Road.

Paul is Christ living THROUGH a broken vessel.

6. All Things Loss for Christ (Philippians 3:7-11)

Philippians 3:7-11 “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”-

“Rubbish” (Greek: -skubalon-) = dung, excrement, garbage, refuse

Everything Paul once valued:

- Pedigree = DUNG
- Education = DUNG
- Achievements = DUNG
- Religious performance = DUNG
- Status = DUNG

Why?

“In view of the surpassing value of KNOWING CHRIST JESUS MY LORD.”

Paul would rather:

- KNOW CHRIST than have credentials

- HAVE CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS than his own

- FELLOWSHIP IN CHRIST’S SUFFERINGS than avoid pain

- BE CONFORMED TO CHRIST’S DEATH than preserve his life

This is a man who LOST EVERYTHING and found that CHRIST IS EVERYTHING.

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THE POURING OUT—Ministry and Martyrdom

Three Missionary Journeys

Paul poured himself out across the Roman Empire:

First Journey (Acts 13-14):

- Cyprus
- Pisidian Antioch
- Iconium
- Lystra (stoned and left for dead)
- Derbe

Second Journey (Acts 15:36-18:22):

- Syria and Cilicia
- Derbe and Lystra (met Timothy)
- Phrygia and Galatia
- Troas (Macedonian vision)
- Philippi (beaten and imprisoned)
- Thessalonica
- Berea
- Athens
- Corinth (18 months)

Third Journey (Acts 18:23-21:17):

- Galatia and Phrygia
- Ephesus (3 years—Acts 20:31)
- Macedonia
- Greece
- Troas
- Miletus (farewell to Ephesian elders)
- Jerusalem (arrested)

Result:

- Churches planted throughout Asia Minor and Greece
- Thousands converted
- Leaders trained
- Letters written (that became Scripture)
- The Gospel spreading like wildfire

All through a WEAK, BROKEN, SUFFERING vessel.

The Imprisonments

Paul spent YEARS in prison:

Caesarea (2 years - Acts 24:27)

Rome (2 years - Acts 28:30)

Likely released, more ministry, then arrested again

Final imprisonment in Rome (2 Timothy written from prison)

Even in PRISON, Paul poured out:

Philippians - written from prison, theme: JOY

Ephesians - written from prison, theme: CHURCH as Christ’s Body

Colossians - written from prison, theme: SUPREMACY of Christ

Philemon - written from prison, theme: GRACE and forgiveness

Paul couldn’t travel. But his LETTERS traveled—and changed the world.

Prison couldn’t stop the wine from being poured out.

The Final Pouring: Martyrdom

2 Timothy 4:6-8 “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”-

“I am already being POURED OUT as a drink offering.”

A drink offering = wine poured out on the altar as an act of worship

Paul sees his death as:

- Worship (offered to God)
- Completion (the wine fully poured out)
- Victory (not defeat)

Church tradition records:

Paul was beheaded in Rome under Nero (c. AD 67), outside the city on the Ostian Way.

The man who once had EVERYTHING:

- Died with NOTHING (no possessions)
- Died ALONE (2 Timothy 4:16 - “At my first defense no one supported me”)
- Died as a CRIMINAL (executed by Rome)
- Died POOR (no wealth, no status)

But Paul died:

- Rich in Christ
- Surrounded by angels
- Welcomed into glory
- Rewarded with a crown
- Having poured out his life completely for the Gospel

The wine was fully poured out. The vessel was empty. The work was complete.

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GRACE IS SUFFICIENT—Paul’s Testimony

Paul Never Took Credit

Throughout his letters, Paul constantly deflects glory:

1 Corinthians 15:10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.”-

“I labored more than all of them” = Paul worked harder than any other apostle

“YET NOT I, but the grace of God WITH ME” = but it wasn’t PAUL working—it was GRACE working THROUGH Paul

Ephesians 3:7-8 “Of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ.”-

“The very LEAST of all saints” = Paul maintained humility to the end

“This GRACE was given” = everything is GIFT, nothing is earned

2 Corinthians 3:5 “Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God.”-

“Not adequate in ourselves” = Paul never claimed self-sufficiency

“Our adequacy is FROM GOD” = God supplies everything needed

2 Corinthians 4:5 “For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.”-

“We do not preach OURSELVES” = Paul refused to make it about him

“CHRIST JESUS as Lord” = Christ is the message

“Ourselves as bond-servants” = Paul is just a slave serving Christ

The Paradox of Paul

Paul was:

- The WEAKEST (constant suffering)

- Yet the STRONGEST (accomplished the most)

Paul was:

- The LEAST (called himself least of apostles)

- Yet the GREATEST (wrote most of the New Testament)

Paul was:

- The MOST BROKEN (crushed repeatedly)

- Yet the MOST USED (planted churches across the empire)

How?

GRACE.

Grace that is SUFFICIENT.

Grace that SUPER-ABOUNDS.

Grace that PERFECTS POWER in weakness.

This is the Gospel of the Kingdom.

This is Eden spreading through broken vessels.

This is water becoming wine through crushing and transformation.

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THE WINE IS POURED—The Gospel Spreads

What Paul Accomplished (By Grace)

Churches planted:

- Antioch
- Iconium
- Lystra
- Derbe
- Philippi
- Thessalonica
- Berea
- Corinth
- Ephesus
- Colossae
- And many others

Letters written (13 books of the New Testament):

- Romans
- 1 & 2 Corinthians
- Galatians
- Ephesians
- Philippians
- Colossians
- 1 & 2 Thessalonians
- 1 & 2 Timothy
- Titus
- Philemon

Leaders trained:

- Timothy
- Titus
- Luke
- Silas
- Barnabas
- Priscilla and Aquila
- And countless others

Souls saved:

- Thousands across the Roman Empire
- Jews and Gentiles
- Slaves and free
- Rich and poor

Theology established:

- Justification by faith alone

- Salvation by grace alone

- The Church as Christ’s Body

- The mystery of Jew and Gentile united in Christ

- The doctrine of the resurrection

- The theology of the cross

All of this through:

- A weak vessel
- A broken man
- A persecuted apostle
- A suffering servant
- A crushed grape transformed into wine

TO THE GLORY OF GOD ALONE.

NOT to Paul’s glory.

NOT to Saul’s achievements.

TO GOD ALONE.

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Water to Wine—The Full Transformation

We return to where we began:

Saul was WATER:

- Clear
- Tasteless
- Common
- Without value for celebration
- Self-contained
- Unchanged

Paul became WINE:

- Rich
- Complex
- Valuable
- Bringing joy to others
- Poured out
- Completely transformed

The transformation required:

-HARVEST (Damascus Road—cut off from the old life)

-CRUSHING (Arabia, persecution, suffering—every ounce of pride squeezed out)

-FERMENTATION (Time, darkness, transformation—Saul dying, Paul emerging)

-AGING (Decades of suffering—refining, deepening, maturing)

-POURING OUT (Ministry and martyrdom—given completely for others)

And at every stage, the answer was the same:

GRACE IS SUFFICIENT.

John 2:1-11 - Jesus’ first miracle was turning water into WINE.

Why?

Because this is what Jesus DOES:

He takes WATER (ordinary, common, worthless humanity):

- Self-righteous Pharisees
- Prideful achievers
- Religious performers
- Those who have “everything” but lack Christ

And through CRUSHING, He transforms them into WINE:

- Humble servants
- Grace-filled witnesses
- Poured-out offerings
- Those who have lost “everything” but gained Christ

The wine at Cana was THE BEST WINE—saved for last.

Paul became the BEST WINE:

- Not because of Saul’s achievements

- But because of the COMPLETE CRUSHING and TOTAL TRANSFORMATION by grace

Paul spread EDEN—the Kingdom of God—throughout the known world:

- The Gospel of Jesus Christ (the Tree of Life)

- The Gospel of the Kingdom (God’s reign established)

- The Gospel of Grace (the absolute GOODNESS of God)

- The Glory of His Grace (displayed through weak vessels)

But first, Saul had to:

- LOSE EVERYTHING (all his “gains”)
- Receive Jesus’ HUMILITY (being made least)
- Receive Jesus’ SURRENDER (not my will, but Yours)
- Receive Jesus’ OBEDIENCE (even unto death)
- All BY FAITH working through GRACE

Which is the absolute GOODNESS OF GOD.

Romans 11:36 “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”-

FROM HIM (the source—God chose Paul)
THROUGH HIM (the means—grace accomplished everything)
TO HIM (the goal—all glory goes to God)

Paul’s life was:

- FROM GOD (called, chosen, set apart from birth)

- THROUGH GOD (grace empowering, sustaining, completing)

- TO GOD (all glory, all honor, all credit)

Saul/Paul received NO GLORY. NO CREDIT.

Only JESUS received glory.

As it should be.

As it must be.

As it will be forever.

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2 Corinthians 4:7 “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.”-

Philippians 3:8 “More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”-

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”-

2 Timothy 4:6-7 “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering…I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.”-

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FROM WATER TO WINE.

FROM SAUL TO PAUL.

FROM SELF-RIGHTEOUS PHARISEE TO BONDSERVANT OF CHRIST.

FROM PERSECUTOR TO APOSTLE.

FROM PROUD TO HUMBLE.

FROM LOSS TO GAIN.

FROM CRUSHING TO GLORY.

All by GRACE.

All for GOD’S GLORY.

All to spread EDEN—the Kingdom of God—to the ends of the earth.

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THE TIME IS NOW. NOW IS THE TIME.

Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!

To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

-Soli Deo Gloria-

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