Acts 26:28-29 NASB [28] Agrippa replied to Paul, “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.” [29] And Paul said,“ I y would wish to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains.” …
2 Cor. 12:2, I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago— whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows— such a man was caught up to the third heaven.
Have you ever asked the question, “Whatever became of so-and-so?” When King Agrippa made the statement about being tempted to become a Christian as Paul shared his testimony, I love Paul’s answer: “I wish that you, and all who hear me this day, might become such as I am…” Paul wasn’t just saying that he would hope they would all pray the sinner’s prayer and have their sins forgiven and a place guaranteed for them in heaven one day; instead, he was saying, “I wish that you would all become what I have become.” What did Paul become; just a forgiven sinner? No, Paul had become a new creation in Christ. That is how Paul identified himself: as a man in Christ. That’s what made him a new creation. His story and his life had now been lost in the life of another, Jesus Christ Himself, and Paul was now living an exchanged life. This is what had become of Paul; he was a totally different person than he had once been, and he wished that all those listening to him that day would become a totally new person in Christ. When we share the gospel with someone, we are giving them much more than just an opportunity to be forgiven, as great as that is, but, much more; we are giving them an opportunity to be literally born again, so they can have a new chance at life equipped with all the resources of Jesus, in union with our humanity, to live a supernatural and miraculous life. Have you, as a Christian, fully comprehended and apprehended what happened to you in your new birth? Are you experiencing the wonders of reigning in life in union with the risen Lord Jesus? Can you, with joyful conviction, tell a lost person that you want them to become what you have become? If you cannot, then you’ve not yet fully apprehended what happened to you when you actually asked Jesus to come live inside of you and to save you all that you’ve done, and all that you had become on your own.