New Year New Hope - Paul

New Year New Hope   •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented
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A New Beginning After a Life of Rebellion

The New Year is upon us, and many tend to make resolutions to better themselves and/or set goals for the next 12 months. For others, a new year brings a new hope of a fresh start. A chance to wipe the slate clean of the last 12 months and make a new beginning to the new year. This series over the next few weeks is going to look at several characters in Scripture who needed a new hope, a new beginning, and they found it in the Lord.
Today we begin with Paul (AKA Saul of Tarsus). Paul lived a life of rebellion against God and he needed a new beginning. He thought his religion would please God, but god showed him his need for a new hope, a REAL hope, and he found it in the Lord Jesus Christ

I. Paul’s Life Before Christ (Acts 26:2-14)

In Acts 26, The Apostle Paul has been arrested for preaching the Gospel and is being put on trial. He has appealed his case to the Caesar of Rome, but first his case is being heard by King Agrippa. When Paul was given the opportunity to state his case, he gave his testimony, lets take a look at it

A. His Religion (4-5) (Philippians 3:4-6)

Saul begins by stating that he grew up very religious. He was a Jew of all Jews.
He was circumcised the 8th day - This was in obedience to Leviticus 12:3.
He was of the stock of Israel - meaning he was a pure-blooded Israelite Jew. A descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and therefore an heir to God’s covenant with them
He was of the tribe of Benjamin - This was a distinguished tribe because it gave Israel her first king, for whom Paul was named after. Benjamin was also the tribe that aligned itself with faithful Judah when Israel divided into 2 nations at the time of Rehoboam. Benjamin was also the tribe that contained the city of Jerusalem within its boundaries
He was a Hebrew of the Hebrews - Many Jews during this time became ashamed of their Heritage and embraced Greek culture. Paul’s parents did not do so, he was unashamedly raised a Jew and embraced everything it meant to be a Jew.
He was a Pharisee - so not only was Paul among an elite people (the Jews), he was of an elite Tribe of an elite people (Benjamin), and then of an elite Sect of the Jews (The Pharisees). The Pharisees were known for their scrupulous devotion to the Law of God. There were less than 6,000 Pharisees and they were known as the most spiritual in all Israel, being careful to keep the Law down to the last detail.
Trained by Gamaliel - he was of an elite people, of an elite tribe, of an elite sect, and then taught by an elite teacher. Gamaliel was considered to be the best of all the Pharisaical rabbis, and Paul trained directly under his tutelage. (Acts 22:3)
Blameless - Paul had achieved a standard of righteousness which was accepted among the men of his day - though it fell short of God’s standard. Because of how the law was interpreted and taught, he genuinely thought he was blameless before God because of how carefully he followed the Law of God
If anyone could boast of being the most religious, it would be Paul

B. His Rebellion (9-12) (Acts 9:1-2)

Not only was Paul very religious, but at the same time, he was also very rebellious against Christ and His Followers.
He had believers thrown in prison
He consented to the death of believers
He tracked them down and punished them in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme
He did it all thinking he was doing it for God
If anyone could boast of being the most rebellious against Christ, it would be Paul

II. Paul’s Conversion (Acts 9:3-9; 26:13-18)

Despite Paul’s religious zeal, he still needed a Savior. He needed a New Beginning, a New Hope! None of his righteous acts or deeds were enough to get him the salvation that he so desperately needed.
Christ had mercy upon Paul. When Christ said “Why persecutest thou me?” He was saying that all of Paul’s acts of violence towards the church was really against Christ Himself. Christ would have had every right to retaliate against Paul and strike him down. But instead, Christ had mercy.
Christ had grace for Paul. “It is hard to kick against the pricks”. This is in reference to ox-goads. When oxen are plowing, they have goads that keep in going in the direction theyre supposed to go. Something was goading Paul’s conscience for a long time. Despite all Paul’s outward confidence, there was something bothering him inside. He kicked against it, but it was still there. The unease may have began with Stephen’s prayer (Acts 7:57-60)
Christ had a plan for Paul. Jesus tells Paul to go and wait in Damascus. In Acts 26:16-18 Christ tells Paul of the great plan He had for Paul’s life.
Despite all Paul had done, Jesus still wanted to save Paul, and He did! Jesus gave Paul the new beginning, the new hope that he so desperately needed!

III. Paul’s New Beginning (Acts 26:19-20)

Paul then spends the last 30 years of his life after being converted preaching the gospel and being the first and greatest missionary who ever lived.
His eyes had been opened (Acts 9:18). He could finally see with spiritual understanding!
He begins preaching in the synagogue that Christ is the Son of God (Acts 9:20)
How drastic of a change this was! Even the people listening noticed how much Paul had changed so quickly (Acts 9:21). He went from having the approval of the Chief Priests to kill Christians to now having his life threatened by those same Jews! All because of Jesus! (Acts 9:23-25)
Paul tries to join a church in Jersualem (Acts 9:26). The same man who persecuted the church and tried everything to stamp it out, now wants to be a member!
Paul becomes the greatest missionary of all time. He is responsible for the gospel reaching into Turkey, Greece, and some say even as far as Spain! Europe may not have the gospel had it not been for Paul!
Paul goes on to write 13 New Testament Epistles (14 if you believe he wrote Hebrews). Thats half of the New Testament!
All of these things were made possible in Paul’s life because of Jesus giving him the new beginning he needed.

Conclusion

Do you need a fresh start in your life? Have you been clinging to religion and being the best person you can be in hopes of appeasing God or trying to find joy? You can receive a new beginning in Jesus, just like Paul did.
Maybe youve been living in rebellion to Christ like Paul was, constantly kicking against Him. Today you can have your new hope, your new beginning in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Maybe youre already saved but you just need God to give you a fresh start this year… If He can do it for Paul, He can do it for you! (2 Corinthians 5:17)
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