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Saul of Tarsus wanted nothing to do with those of "The Way", except to destroy them. Saul of Tarsus, just as we all, no more asked to be transformed, born again than he or we ask to be born into the world.

Amen! Great post. Scripture is filled with instruction that clearly gives us the path of our faith -- from God to us. We don't reach up to God. God reached down to us and quickened us by His Spirit. He gave us a new heart, turned our eyes from the darkness to the light, opened our ears to His word, and cleansed us of our sins by the sacrifice of His Son.

"Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee" -- Psalm 65:4
"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you." -- John 15:16

I liked the response, at his confirmation, the 10YO son of dear friends at church gave, a 10YO who had participated in a year long study of Romans I led with a small group, pretty deep stuff for a 10YO. When asked how he was saved, he responded, "I did my part and God did His part." When the pastor asked him what he meant by that, he replied, "I did all the sinning and God did all the saving."

He got it.

But don't tell anyone that truth, it's a secret.

Soli Deo Gloria