The Gospel and Change

Introduction

The heading in my Bible says, “Saul’s conversion”

conversion = change

actually radical change

• ⁃ Transformation

The amazing ‘secret’ of Christianity is found in conversion.

not talking about adherence to a religious set of rules

not talking about a simple change of mind

talking about a complete change of life such that a person’s character, focus, desires, actions are converted

Arthur Darby Nock defined conversion as “the reorientation of the soul of an individual, his deliberate turning from indifference or from an earlier form of piety to another, a turning which implies a consciousness that a great change is involved, that the old was wrong and the new is right”

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.

Change through the gospel is the promise, power, and proof of Christianity

Promise - it is what draws every heart - we all need a change

power - it makes a difference.

The gospel is not simply salvation from the consequences of sin in the future

The gospel is the redemption from the effects of sin in our lives today. (both the sin we have committed and the sin committed against us)

(we are going to return to this)

Big Idea:

God changes people.

God uses changed people to change people.

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

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 change 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.

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.

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.

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.

God can speak to those who don’t want to hear

- What else do you think would have gotten Saul’s attention?

- Paul will later describe the light as brighter than the noonday sun.

- this is why we should pray for our enemies

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

Gospel change happens with 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.

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.

Jesus is worth a radical change.

Paul was not at the end of his rope when God called him but at the top of his game.

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

People respond to the gospel in conversion in a similar 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.

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.

Stop comparing what God is doing in someone else, and be sure He is doing something in YOU!

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!

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.”

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.

God uses changed people to change people.

God uses “ordinary” disciples for discipleship

Paul had the religious training, yet God used Ananias to teach Paul “the Way”

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.”

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 change reshapes 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,”

When gospel change happens, forgiveness follows.

Paul goes back to apostles but they weren’t sure at first He killed some of their family - their friend Stephen

• ⁃ Barnabas forgave

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

Sometimes, we may not want to see someone change because it will require us to forgive.

“What they did was so bad, they don’t deserve it.” Were you so good that you deserve it?

Problem with gospel change 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 change will keep changing you. (18-20)

Immediately scales fell

Some days was with 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 change 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

God changes people through the gospel.

God uses changed people to change people.

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.

God changes people.

God uses changed people to change people.

Conclusion

What needs to be “converted” in your life today?

Perhaps today, you see God for the first time - receive the gospel and change!

In the end, it’s YOU and God. Today, it’s you and God

Do YOU need gospel change today?