Blinded by the Light. Acts 9

Introduction/Scripture

Acts 9:1–19 NIV

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.

Pray.

Intro: Guacamole live.

What does it look like to come to faith? This is important for us to consider for our own edification and how we consider what it looks like to bring others into the faith.

Background

The birth of the church in Pentecost…

Paul, originally known as Saul, was a devout Jew from Tarsus, deeply committed to the traditions of Judaism and zealous for the Law. He was well-educated, studying under the respected teacher Gamaliel, which positioned him as a Pharisee with a strong sense of religious duty. Saul saw the rise of the Christian faith, known then as "The Way," as a dangerous threat to Judaism and took it upon himself to persecute its followers.

He was present at the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, where he approved of the execution and guarded the clothes of those carrying it out. Fueled by religious fervor, Saul began actively seeking out Christians, going from house to house, dragging both men and women to prison.

To further this mission, Saul obtained letters from the high priest authorizing him to travel to Damascus to arrest any followers of Jesus and bring them back to Jerusalem. However, it was on this journey that Saul encountered a dramatic turning point. As he neared Damascus, a bright light from heaven suddenly surrounded him, and he fell to the ground. He heard a voice saying, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" When he asked who was speaking, the voice replied, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting."

This encounter left Saul temporarily blinded, and he was led by hand into Damascus. For three days, he was without sight and did not eat or drink, marking the beginning of a profound transformation.

I. The Sovereign Grace of God in Salvation

Text: Acts 9:1-6

Paul’s conversion begins with a dramatic encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. At this moment, we see that salvation is initiated by God, not by human effort.

Saul’s State: Saul is actively persecuting Christians, "breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples" (v.1). He was not seeking God; he was seeking to destroy those who followed Him.

Human Depravity:

Because of original sin, Wesley believed, the image of God has become tarnished, and instead we bear the image of Satan. “We bear the image of the devil, and tread in his steps” (II.9). In his sermon, “Upon our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount, Discourse the Tenth,” he again leaves no room for uncertainty: “Know thyself. See and feel thyself a sinner. Feel that thy inward parts are very wickedness, that thou are altogether corrupt and abominable…. Know and feel that thou are a poor, vile, guilty worm, quivering over the great gulf! What art thou? A sinner born to die; a leaf driven before the wind; a vapour ready to vanish away, just appearing and then scattered into the air, to be no more seen!” (7).

Okay, then.

(“Tell us how you really feel, Mr. Wesley.”)

To be clear, Wesley didn’t simply mean every action of a non-Christian’s life would be utterly degenerate. He was well aware that non-Christians did good things. What he meant was that our nature has been corrupted by sin.

Paul: He thought he could see but he was really in darkness.

The Divine Encounter: Jesus stops Saul in his tracks with a blinding light and a voice from heaven. This is a clear demonstration that salvation begins with God’s sovereign initiative. Saul didn’t decide to turn to Christ—Christ reached down in grace and turned Saul toward Himself.

Side note: God’s prevenient Grace was at work in Paul before this moment. Throughout his whole life and even in Stephen’s preaching. But it took an encounter with Jesus to push him over the edge. We will not argue anyone in the kingdom. We do not save people.

Application: Salvation is by grace alone, initiated by God. Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us that "it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." Like Paul, none of us can take credit for our salvation. God in His mercy draws us to Himself.

II. The Necessity of Faith and Repentance

Text: Acts 9:5-9

When Jesus speaks to Saul, He doesn’t simply reveal His identity but also confronts Saul’s sin: "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" (v. 4). This confrontation is critical because it reveals Saul’s need for repentance.

Recognition of Sin: Saul’s first response is, “Who are you, Lord?” (v. 5). He recognizes that this encounter is with someone divine but doesn’t yet know Jesus personally. In salvation, it’s crucial to come to an awareness of our sin and our need for a Savior.

Submission and Repentance: Saul’s immediate response to Jesus’ command is one of obedience. Though blinded, he follows Jesus’ instructions and waits in Damascus (v. 6-9). This represents his repentance—a turning away from his old life of sin and surrendering to Christ.

Application: faith and repentance are inseparable. True faith in Christ is always accompanied by repentance—a change of mind and heart that turns us away from sin and toward God. As Romans 10:9 says, "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

III. The Transformative Power of Salvation

Text: Acts 9:17-19

Paul’s conversion doesn’t end with his decision to follow Christ—it leads to a complete transformation of his life and purpose.

Restoration and Commissioning: After three days of blindness, Saul is healed when Ananias lays hands on him. His physical sight is restored, symbolizing the spiritual sight he has now received in Christ. He is immediately baptized, signifying his new identity in Christ.

A New Mission: The one who was once a persecutor of the church becomes its greatest advocate. Paul goes on to preach the gospel with power and authority, becoming a central figure in the spread of Christianity.

Application: When God saves us, He doesn’t just forgive our sins—He transforms us from the inside out. Salvation leads to a new life with a new purpose. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" The radical transformation of Paul’s life is evidence of the power of God’s grace to change anyone, no matter how lost they may seem.

Marks of the new birth:

New Birth: Faith, hope, love

• Faith is the power over sin, evil, and self. This is belief that you belong to God and He is yours. Jesus is Lord, Jesus is King, and nothing can separate you from that truth

• Hope: You now see the world differently. You are walking in an inheritance of the King. You acknowledge and walk in the intimacy of God’s Spirit. You have a patience that is otherworldly

• Love: Love shed abroad in your heart. There is a two-way highway between you and Christ. Receiving more and more of his love for you while you expound in your love for him.

IV. The Church and Evangelism

Text: Acts 9:20-22

The Church’s Role in Evangelism: Just as Ananias played a role in Paul’s conversion, we are called to be instruments in leading others to Christ.

The Church exists to be an outpost of the kingdom of God. Our duty is to help one another live as citizens of heaven. The sermon on the mount is our ethic. Jesus is the head of the church Ephesians 4. We love our enemies, we help one another live the marks of the new birth. We proclaim life over death. We expect signs and wonders. And it is our duty to initiate others into the kingdom of God.

Billy Abraham:

‘We can best improve our thinking on evangelism by conceiving it as that set of intentional activities which is governed by the goal of initiating people into the kingdom of God for the first time’ (p. 95).

We will not initiate people into the kingdom of God with marketing tricks and social media, billboards, or golf carts. Some of that is wise hospitality. But people’s connection to this church is not because everyone is nice. It is because of faith, hope, and love.

Closing:

Individually: born again

Corporately: an outpost of the new kingdom