Paul

Conversations with Christ:

Paul

(Acts 9:1-6)

Logan Peters

Introduction:

1. In the conclusion of our study, we will examine the great conversations between Paul (Saul) and Christ.

2. Paul is a true example of how the gospel can take a person and change that person’s life into something greater.

3. Paul, remembering his own situation, expresses this idea that when God places us in Christ our old lives are passed away, and all things are made new (2 Cor. 5:17).

4. Obedience to the gospel can change your life, and my prayer is that this lesson will help us all understand that better.

5. Today we will examine Paul’s conversation with Christ from three different views: Paul before his conversation with Christ, Paul during his conversation with Christ, and Paul after his conversation with Christ.

I. Paul Before His Conversation With Christ.

A. Who was Paul before meeting Christ?

1. Paul has his own commentary in the Scripture about his rearing as a Jew (Acts 21:3).

a. Paul was a natural born Jew, and study under the man Gamaliel, where he studied the law of Moses diligently.

b. He was extremely zealous in his work for God.

2. Paul’s zeal led to his persecution of Christians.

a. Paul consented to the death of Stephen and was part of the movement of imprisoning Christians (Acts 8:1-3).

b. He even admits his hand in the persecution (Acts 22:4).

3. Paul confesses himself as the chief of sinners because of his past (1 Tim. 1:15).

B. Paul was the epitome of being far from the truth.

1. How many do we know that try to say, “I am too far gone to be saved” or “How could God save someone like me?”

2. Jesus saw value in Paul (Acts 9:15-16).

a. Jesus told Ananias that Paul would do many good works but would also suffer for the kingdom.

b. So even as he was travelling to the high priest in Damascus to grant him opportunity to imprison Christians in the synagogues, Jesus knew He would be of value to the kingdom.

3. If you are not a Christian, did you know that God desires you to be (1 Tim. 2:4)?

a. God knows who you can be as His child and desires you to be a worker in His kingdom.

b. As we become Christians, God continues working in us through His Word as we make applications to do what God pleases (Phi. 2:13).

II. Paul During His Conversation With Christ (Acts 9:1-6).

A. As Paul is travelling to Damascus to obtain papers to be able to take Christians from synagogues and take them to Jerusalem, something extraordinary happens to him (Acts 9:1-3).

B. As the light shines around him, Paul hears the voice of Jesus Christ (Acts 9:4).

1. Jesus explains how persecution to the body of Christ is the same as persecuting Christ directly.

2. It is very interesting that this conversation begins with a question.

C. Instead of answering Christ, Paul asks his own question.

1. In this question, he is not confirming who that it is Jesus, but he is using “Lord” as a term of respect as in saying “Sir.”

2. Christ tells Paul that the one who ignores his conscience and kicks against God’s instruction and truth are only hurting themselves (Acts 9:4-5).

D. Paul is now amazed and asks what he needs to do (Acts 9:6).

1. At this very point, Paul believes–he believes that Jesus was the Messiah that was crucified.

2. Was Paul saved at this point?

3. Or did Jesus tell him that there was more he needed to do?

III. Paul After His Conversation With Christ.

A. Paul, being blind, did as Jesus commanded and went to Damascus.

1. Paul had to take his belief and act upon it by going to Damascus and waiting for further instructions.

2. In his own recounting of the events, Paul mentions that Ananias told him to arise, be baptized, and wash away his sins (Acts 22:16).

a. Paul was not saved at the point of belief, he was not saved when he went to Damascus, and he was not saved by way of prayer.

b. It was not until he went into that watery grave of baptism that his sins were washed away.

B. What did Paul do after his conversion?

1. After being strengthened, he immediately went and preached Christ as the Son of God in the synagogues (Acts 9:20).

a. Paul travelled many different places preaching, establishing congregations, and elders.

i. First missionary journey–Cyprus and Turkey; 1,400 miles (Acts 13:1-14:28).

ii. Second missionary journey–Syria, Turkey, Greece, Jerusalem; 2,800 miles (Acts 15:36-18:22).

iii. Third missionary journey–Turkey, Greece, Lebanon, Israel; 2,700 miles (Acts 18:23-21:16).

2. Paul visited and encouraged many congregations through visiting and writing letters, making a large impact on the kingdom of God.

i. Those in Ephesus were saddened to see him leave (Acts 20:35-38).

ii. Paul wrote 13 of the books of the Bible as letters to areas and congregations solving issues and encouraging them.

iii. Paul took Timothy as his son in the faith (1 Tim. 1:2) and helped train him (1 Tim. 1:1-2 Tim. 4:22).

C. Paul remained faithful to God the rest of his life and was confident in his coming reward (2 Tim. 4:6-8).

1. At the end of his life, through all the persecutions, hard times, and imprisonments, he remained steadfast in following the Lord.

2. We too can be confident in our destination if we continue to do the work of God and remain faithful to Him.

3. The God of the mountain tops is also the God of the valleys and everything in-between.

Conclusion:

1. All of us here that have obeyed the gospel have a conversion account just like Paul.

2. We went from being a sinner, lost and without hope to being a Christian where our hope is placed in God.

3. What I want us to think about is are we contending for the faith like Paul?

4. If today was our last day on earth, would you be able to confidently say that you fought the good fight, that you kept the faith, and that you will receive a crown of righteousness?