Have You Been Turned Around By God's Grace?

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Introduction

Sandra Bullock won the 2010 Best Actress Academy Award for her portrayal of Leigh Ann Tuohy in The Blind Side. The sensational film chronicles a Christian family who took in a homeless young man and gave him the chance to reach his God-given potential. Michael Oher not only dodged the hopelessness of his dysfunctional inner city upbringing, but became the first-round NFL draft pick for the Baltimore Ravens in 2009. At a recent fund-raiser, Sean Tuohy noted that the transformation of his family and Michael all started with two words. When they spotted Michael walking along the road on a cold November morning (the movie depicts it as nighttime) in shorts and a T-shirt, Leigh Ann Tuohy uttered two words that changed their world. She told Sean, “Turn around.” They turned the car around, put Michael in their warm vehicle, and ultimately adopted him into their family. Those same two words can change anyone’s life. When we turn around, we change directions and begin an exciting new journey. Some may need to make an about-face concerning their disbelief in Christ, or it could be a Christian needs to turn around and reconsider the value of fervent prayer. Whatever your situation, a great story of wonderful change could be just two words away.

In our passage this morning Paul talks about his Opposition, God’s Mercy, “turn-around”.

I. Opposition

Few of us would consider ourselves in Saul’s company when it comes to our opposition to Christ prior to our salvation.

1 Timothy 1:13 KJV 1900

Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

A. Paul calls himself a blasphemer

(blásphēmos which is derived from bláptō, to harm, or bláx, stupid, and phḗmē, report).

Acts 5:34 KJV 1900

Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;

Acts 22:3 KJV 1900

I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.

Neither derivative fully describes Paul's activity prior to becoming a Christian, despite the fact that he had been trained by one of Jerusalem's greatest religious teachers, Gamaliel.

Acts 9:1–2 KJV 1900

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

Paul proved his foolishness not just by rejecting Christ, but also by seeking to arrest and imprison Christians.

He worked tirelessly to discredit Christ and His disciples.

B. Paul, also, refers to himself as a persecutor.

1 Timothy 1:13

The Greek word translated persecutor is only used here (diṓktēs, one who pursues others). Meaning to harass or maltreat.

Galatians 1:13 KJV 1900

For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

Speaking about himself as an unbeliever, he writes here... the verb translated “wasted” is epórthouns, which means to destroy.

Acts 9:21 KJV 1900

But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

The same verb is used describing his persecution of the church in Jerusalem.

Acts 7:58 KJV 1900

And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.

Likewise, he kept the clothes of those who were stoning Stephen, the first Christian martyr .

C. Finally, in verse 13 Paul refers to himself as injurious

(hubristḗn, indicating a person who abuses his power).

Matthew 22:6 KJV 1900

And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.

In the verb form is used preceding murder. Thus, the progression of sin goes from giving evil report to actually harming those who represent good. Evil is never static.

II. On The Other Hand

But God’s Mercy Reached Him

A. The little conjunction "but"

connects Paul's heinous deeds with God's inexplicable mercy.

B. “I obtained mercy”

in Greek is ēleḗthēn, the second aorist passive of eleéō, to show mercy.

1. The verb form used indicates that God took the initiative in granting mercy.

Acts 9:3–8 KJV 1900

And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

2. God acted suddenly

Acts 22:6 KJV 1900

And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.

3. Jesus’ call to Paul was accepted in a way that any man who is a stranger to Christ can believe and be saved

Acts 9:5–6 KJV 1900

And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

4. The mercy God showed Paul is irreversible

John 10:28–29 KJV 1900

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

We, likewise, are secure in Christ.

C. Mercy is Christ's supernatural capacity to eliminate or mitigate the consequences of our sin.

God’s mercy made it possible for Paul to be used by Him in spite of his terrible past.

D. God showed mercy in Paul’s life because he acted in the ignorance of unbelief.

III. Turn Around

The Grace of God Changed Paul

1 Timothy 1:14 KJV 1900

And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

While God’s mercy deals with the consequence of sin,

A. His grace begins to change the sinner in order to reconcile him in God.

B. Paul experienced not only God’s mercy

1 Timothy 1:13 KJV 1900

Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

but also His grace, and in great abundance

1 Timothy 1:14 KJV 1900

And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Huperpleonázō means to superabound and occurs only here.

There is enough grace for the worst sinner, and then some.

C. God’s grace resulted in two great changes in Paul’s life: “faith and love.”

It changed Paul’s faith from Judaism to Christ

It changed Paul’s love from his people to all people.

Conclusion

Can such a change be seen in our lives?

Has God’s grace and mercy changed the object of your faith?

Has the grace and mercy of God changed our love from self to others?

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