Saul of Tarsus was a devout Jew who was strongly opposed to Jesus’ followers. He believed he was serving God by trying to stop them. But everything changed after Jesus appeared to Saul. In that moment, Saul came to understand that Jesus is the Messiah, God’s Son, whom God sent to die and rise again.

After this experience, Saul (now called Paul) realised he had to change how he saw God.  He now understood that God loved the entire world so much that he sent his Son not just to live as a human, but to suffer, die, and rise again to save people from sin. Paul also came to see God as the Father of Jesus—and as his own Father too.

Paul explained this new relationship with God using the idea of adoption. Through Jesus, God adopts us as his dearly loved children. He also gives us the Spirit of his Son, who cries “Abba, Father” deep inside us (Galatians 4:6). Now in union with Jesus and by his Spirit, we can enjoy God’s nearness to us and our dearness to him. And this fuels trustful obedience towards God our Father.

As we live and move within this communion as dearly loved children, God transforms us in the likeness of his Son.  This is always his intention because he wants a large family who are like his unique Son.  It seems God says, I have such delight in my Son that I want many more who are just like him. And, with this in mind, God is always working within us to transform us into the likeness of his Son by his indwelling Spirit.