The Cheifest of Sinners
Teach us The Way • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction:
I want to tell you a story about a little Jewish boy born in the Roman Provence of Cilicia in Tarsus. His parents were devout Jews from the tribe of Benjamin who believed in the promises of God and circumcised their son on the eighth day just as the Law instructed. It wasn’t long before the family moved to Jerusalem.
As the boy grew, he was gifted in school and the knowledge of the Law and was chosen to sit at the feet of Rabbi Gamaliel, one of the greatest teachers of the Law and honored among the people. The boy was a good student and became a Pharisee of all Pharisees, living to the letter of the Law. This little boy was Saul of Tarsus.
Saul lived in a time of unrest and uncertainty as the Jews were under the oppression of the Roman government. He would have been in the meetings about the turmoil caused by Jesus of Nazareth claiming to be the promised Messiah that all hoped would come and deliver His people. But Jesus was just one of many making such claims.
He would have rejoiced on the Passover when they silenced this blasphemer on the cross to shut him up, only to be enraged again as the disciples of Jesus continued the attack on his way of life. The counsel and wisdom of his rabbi Gamaliel was to leave them alone, lest they find themselves fighting with God, but he couldn’t stand by and listen to the blasphemy and more. Some real consequences had to ensue if this rebellion was going to be stopped.
Saul was among the group disputing with Stephen, who spoke with the undeniable wisdom and power of the Spirit of God. They took the message of Stephen as blasphemous against Moses and the Law. It was Saul who gave the order to stone him.
58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
I’m sure he scoffed as Stephen called on the name of the Lord Jesus not to hold this sin against them. In Saul’s mind, if anyone was a sinner, it was Stephen.
You know you are the chiefest of sinners when your actions are fueled by anger.
You know you are the chiefest of sinners when your actions are fueled by anger.
1 And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
We are taught to be angry and sin not. We leave wrath in the hands of the Lord. If we practice rage and wrath we give place to the Devil.
Saul's reputation grew as his anger burned hot.
Saul's reputation grew as his anger burned hot.
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.”
He was fighting for the reputation of God.
He was fighting for the reputation of God.
21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?”
He was fighting with zeal toward God without knowledge.
He was fighting with zeal toward God without knowledge.
1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Are you fighting for what Jesus is fighting for? Peter thought he was doing the right thing we he attacked the guard and cut off his ear, but Jesus had other plans.
Jesus fought for the souls of men and women.
Jesus fought for the souls of men and women.
Jesus paid for righteousness on the cross.
Jesus paid for righteousness on the cross.
When you fight for righteousness you condemn everyone including yourself.
When you fight for righteousness you condemn everyone including yourself.
What can convert the chiefest of sinners into a person of God?
What can convert the chiefest of sinners into a person of God?
So, what turned this angry, zealous Pharisee into one of the greatest Evangelists and writers of 2/3rds of the New Testament?
4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
The Kindness of God trumps the anger of man every time.
The Kindness of God trumps the anger of man every time.
Saul watched the kindness of Jesus as he forgave his murderers on the cross.
Saul watched the kindness of Jesus as he forgave his murderers on the cross.
34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
Saul watched Steven as he followed the Way of Christ.
Saul watched Steven as he followed the Way of Christ.
Love your enemies
Love your enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Pray for those that persecute you.
Pray for those that persecute you.
60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Saul was lacking love and kindness.
Saul was lacking love and kindness.
2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
A lesson he would eventually teach
A lesson he would eventually teach
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
When you meet Kindness, it changes you.
When you meet Kindness, it changes you.
Acts 9:1–2 (ESV)
1 But Saul, 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.
Saul was persecuting all that belonged to “The Way.”
Saul was persecuting all that belonged to “The Way.”
Our study through Acts is entitled, “Teach Us the Way.”
12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
30 This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. 31 For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?— 32 the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless.
27 Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
Jesus stepped into “his way.”
Jesus stepped into “his way.”
3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 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.
Kindness changed Saul to kindness.
Kindness changed Saul to kindness.
He had a new life, a new purpose, and a new name.
He had a new life, a new purpose, and a new name.
Saul would forever be known as Paul, the Apostle of Jesus Christ.
Saul would forever be known as Paul, the Apostle of Jesus Christ.
12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 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. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Paul says the reason why he was saved was to display the kindness of the Lord to sinners that would believe on his name.
Paul says the reason why he was saved was to display the kindness of the Lord to sinners that would believe on his name.
The Kindness of the Lord has been extended down through the ages to some of the worst kind of people.
The Kindness of the Lord has been extended down through the ages to some of the worst kind of people.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
Time of Response:
Time of Response:
Sometimes, we are angry because of the way we’ve been treated. Sometimes, we’re angry about the way life has gone. Sometimes, we’re angry because it’s just our way. But when you come face to face with the Way, the Truth, and the Life found in Jesus, you can’t help but change. The loving-kindness of the Lord wins over even the chiefest of sinners.
If you have met Jesus along the way, you have experienced the kindness of our Lord. If you let your guard down, Jesus will take your angry heart and give you a heart of kindness.
R-Group Questions:
R-Group Questions:
How is your temper?
Do people see you as a kind person or a hard person?
What does changing from an angry heart to a heart of kindness toward others take?