The Change

Conversion is the changing of direction and focus through repentance - It’s the beginning of the change process of salvation which is proven true through sanctification.

18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.

For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

9 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord,

Last week we saw how the gospel was advanced out of Samaria to begin its infiltration toward the ‘end of the earth’

Now we see at the same time the gospel is advancing there is active opposition to its advance

“Breathing threats. . .” - only NT occurrence of the word - used as an idiom

still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

Saul is on his way to Damascus - a major city in Syria 135 miles north-northeast of Jerusalem.

Damascus had a high population of Jews and this is the first mention of Christians in a city outside of Israel.

Saul seemed to have some information that there would be Christians in Damascus - or followers of ‘the Way.’

He gets official extradition papers from the high priest that would allow him to bring these Christians back to Jerusalem in order to bring

First of four truths about gospel conversion:

Gospel conversion is for everyone (including the religious). (1-2)

Last week we saw how the gospel changed a proselytized Jewish Ethiopian who was a high-ranking politician in a pagan land.

This week we will see the gospel change a highly religious Jewish Pharisee.

No amount of moral or religious behavior can earn you God’s salvation.

In the middle of sin is “I”

You can’t “date” God - I’ll do all the actions of being in relationship with God but not ever commit ‘me’ to ‘He.’

submitting the choices and direction of MY life that is aimed at MY glory to instead be focused on HIS glory

ILLUST - the guy who dates a girl for decades - does all the things a guy ‘in a relationship’ would do but he never commits to reorient his will, decisions, and directions of his life for the ‘we’. - Girls, dump him!

Religion can only make you conform, but only the gospel can transform. (JD Greear)

The gospel did for Saul what religion could never do - transform Saul’s heart.

Some of you need to hear:

The religion that could not earn you God’s favor for salvation will not now earn you God’s favor after salvation.

Sometimes I see Christians who understand they are saved by grace work as though they are kept by religion.

God’s work with Paul was GOD’S WORK not Paul’s

After salvation, Paul is no longer religious as an external extension TO God but is religious as an internal expression FOR God

No amount of past sin or struggles can keep you from God’s grace.

Paul was a terrorist

1 Timothy 1:15

15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

J. D. Greear Sermon Archive Paul: Acts 9:1–19

“I am the chief of sinners. The law tells me not to covet, I covet. I find then a law, what when I want to do good, evil is present with me … (Romans 7).”

Gospel conversion - the Grace of God is not about what you have done or are unable to do - it’s about what Jesus did.

It’s not about trying, it’s about trusting

3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.

I love how God waited until ‘he approached Damascus.’

Why? Maybe God wanted him in an unfamiliar place so that he would not be able to listen to the voices of people he knew that would lead him away from what God was doing.

4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

Gospel conversion is an encounter with the living Jesus. (3-5)

Jesus is alive.

I AM. . . you ARE

The implications of this are HUGE.

Christianity is NOT living a moral life.

Christianity is NOT adherence to a set of religious rules.

Christianity is NOT only the acceptance of a set of truth claims.

Christianity is an encounter with the living Jesus

How do I know he is living? Because of the effects of His work around me

ILLUST - suppose I walk into a house that I think is abandoned. Everything is cleared, but I come back an hour later and there is a plate on the table with warm food. Would I be reasonable to conclude there is another living being in the house?

Not only is Christianity an encounter with the living Jesus, it is a participation with the living Jesus

6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

See the change:

Saul, who stood while others crumbled in martyrdom is now kneeling before God.

Saul, who once thought he saw so clearly now realizes how utterly blind he is.

Saul, who had plans to bind the hands of Christians is now led by the hand to wait for the help of a Christian.

Saul, who was on his way to seize those who named Jesus was now seized himself by this very Jesus.

Gospel conversion is a personal process. (6-9)

Other people may be in the same space as you, experience the same events, but you are the one who hears the voice of God. And YOU are to be the one to respond.

People respond to the gospel in conversion in the same way people respond to an alarm clock.

Some people hear the alarm and in an instant they are awake. They jump out of bed.

Some people hear the alarm and hit snooze. This may happen a few times until finally at one time they hear the alarm in a way that actually wakes them up.

The main point is - WAKE UP!

Saul couldn’t lean on the experience of his travelling buddies. He had to act on what God had said to HIM not them.

In the end, it’s YOU and God.

Paul was to follow God, not them - Paul, you heard what?! You think it was Jesus?!

God didn’t spell out how everything would go, “you will be told what to do.”

God put (temporary) physical limitations on Saul in order to draw Saul closer to Himself.

J. D. Greear Sermon Archive Paul: Acts 9:1–19

The way we say it: “God is not trying to pay you back, but bring you back.” It’s not retribution; it’s restoration!

Jesus is alive.

10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

We don’t know much about Ananias - he somehow heard about Jesus and was a Christian.

11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”

13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”

I love how God hears Ananias’ complaint but changes nothing.

I can hear Ananias now - “Uhh, wait a minute. . .”

Similar to God asking you to invite Kim Jong Un or Osama bin Laden to VBS.

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

“Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

I love how God hears Ananias’ complaint but changes nothing.

17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Gospel conversion changes our relationships. (10-17)

With Jesus

Saul went from being an instigator against God’s church to being an instrument for God’s glory!

With ourselves

Saul was dramatically humbled

There was no pride

With others

I pondered why it is that God used Ananias. Paul was obviously affected by his encounter with Jesus, why involve Ananias?

Perhaps God wanted Ananias to be the first person to give Saul a second chance in order to authenticate Paul’s conversion.

It may be that God wants to use you to support another in ministry.

I’m amazed at Ananias’ humility

He calls Saul “brother”

Saul had done NOTHING to cause Ananias to WANT to help him - This is supernatural grace through a fully devoted follower

His support of Paul may have put Ananias at odds with his friends, “I have heard from many about this man,”

ILLUST - Peyton and Jasmine?

It can sometimes be hard for us to believe that God could actually completely change someone.

Problem with gospel conversion is that it messes with our understanding of how people change.

18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.

For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

Gospel conversion will change (and keep changing) you. (18-20)

Immediately scales fell

Some days was sith disciples

immediately proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues. These may have even been attended by some of his travelling buddies.

Saul was now radically changed

Gospel conversion says that if you claim to have trusted in Christ but there is not change in your life you have not been converted.

The process of sanctification is not over until Christ returns, and the gospel that started the process is the same one that continues the process.

That which is in you that needs to be changed is still changed by the gospel.

sin - gospel beings awareness and motivation against temptation

poor identity - gospel reorients

bad relationships - gospel gives new relationships

How should we then live?

Three actions for us today:

1) Be humble and willing.

It won’t be long before Saul will change his name to Paul

Saul was a strong Jewish name, the name of the first king of Israel who is said to have stood head and shoulders above the rest of the people

Paul means “small.”

Ananias, “Here I am, Lord.”

2) Allow God’s Word to change how you see things.

Both Saul and Ananias had their views changed by God’s Word alone.

3) Act based on the call of God not the fear of man.

Both of these men had to act in a counterintuitive and likely unpopular way based on the call they had just received from God.

Conclusion

Newton was nurtured by a Christian mother who taught him the Bible at an early age, but he was raised in his father's image after she died of tuberculosis when Newton was 7. At age 11, Newton went on his first of six sea-voyages with the merchant navy captain.

Newton lost his first job, in a merchant's office, because of "unsettled behavior and impatience of restraint"—a pattern that would persist for years. He spent his later teen years at sea before he was press-ganged aboard the H.M.S. Harwich in 1744. Newton rebelled against the discipline of the Royal Navy and deserted. He was caught, put in irons, and flogged. He eventually convinced his superiors to discharge him to a slaver ship. Espousing freethinking principles, he remained arrogant and insubordinate, and he lived with moral abandon: "I sinned with a high hand," he later wrote, "and I made it my study to tempt and seduce others."

At first Newton was convinced that he had sinned too much to have any hope for God's forgiveness. Yet when the storm did not recede and he really felt he would soon meet his God, he at last clung to Scriptures that taught God's grace towards sinners, and he breathed his first weak prayer in years. As he was later to recall it, this was "the hour he first believed."

Yet Newton's new faith would not find a solid footing for some months. Indeed the very next year, on a voyage as mate of the slaving ship Brownlow, Newton backslid entirely, giving his lust free license. It was only when, on a visit to the place of his previous captivity—Clow's Plantain Island "factory"—he fell ill with a violent fever, that he came to himself

Feeling that, as biographer John Pollock puts it, he had "crucified the Son of God afresh and thus had shut and locked the door of hope," Newton nevertheless mustered enough faith to creep to a "remote corner of the island," where, "between the palm trees and the sea he knelt upon the shore and found a new liberty to pray."