Paul - Conviction
Notes
Transcript
Last week, we looked at the first step of sanctification, which is salvation. As we think of salvation, though, there is a process that we all go through; conviction, confession, and conversion. One of the best examples of this process comes from the Apostle Paul.
If we look at the historical aspect of Saul who would become the apostle Paul, we know he was highly educated, but also radicalized, and to a point overly assertive in his persecution. But notice that in Acts 5, Gamaliel (Gam ah lee ale) cautions the Pharisees about overly persecuting and punishing Peter and the apostles for teaching and preaching in the temple (Solomon’s portico).
38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail;
39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice,
But Saul was so focused on maintaining the purity of the Jewish law, it was as though he could care less about the facts. At the stoning of Stephen, a young Saul had the garments of the witnesses laid at his feet. The next chapter opens with the statement “And Saul approved of his execution”. From that time forward, a great persecution of the Christians would cause them to be scattered throughout the region, and this charge was being headed up by Saul.
3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
Christians, this gives us something to think about ourselves. Are we focusing on the things that matter, or are we following our own thoughts, interpretations, wants, desires? Do we defend our personal agendas without listening to those around us? What could have changed Saul’s mind? Well as we are about to see, nothing could change Saul except the Lord.
Conviction
Conviction
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.
3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.
God did not wait for Saul to “see the light”… Literal pun intended. Saul was still relentless in persecuting Christians, and I think the words used here show us just how far he was willing to go to rid the world of these “Christians”. Still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He was consumed with an unhealthy desire. The picture is that of Saul breathing in, taking into his heart the evil of destroying Christ and His disciples. Of course, what is in the heart is what comes out. In this case, pure putrid hatred.
He even volunteered to hunt them down, going to the High Priest and the Sanhedrin seeking permission to hunt down believers and bring them back to Jerusalem for a trial, both men and women.
WHO could talk sense into Saul? WHAT would it take to change his mind and attitude? WHEN would god step in and intervene against the persecution of Christians? HOW could Saul be stopped?
But God… God intended for Saul’s life to be something completely different that where he was at. God wanted Saul to understand who Jesus was, and how He could change his life forever.
As he was on the road to Damascus, going to find believers and place them under arrest, something happened. A light from heaven shined all around him. While the darkness in Saul’s soul had him set on stopping believers, the light of the Lord would change him eternally. The light was unexpected, it was so bright it could only be described as supernatural. (Think back of when Moses came back from Mt. Sanai where he had been in the presence of God and was glowing so bright others could not look upon him.) Just like Moses, Saul was standing in the presence of the Lord.
You see, it was when Saul was at his worst, at the height of his evilness, that he was saved. This just goes to show us, even today, that there is hope for anyone to be saved.
Confrontation
Confrontation
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.
Seeing the light and the image of Jesus, Saul fell to the ground. God has to present Himself to mankind before they can be saved. He has to illuminate and make known the glory of God through Jesus. For us to be saved, we must know God and His glory, and we must know the face of Jesus - and the light He brings to a dark, sinful world.
Then he heard a voice speaking to him. While the others present also fell to the ground (Acts 26:14), he alone heard the clear audible voice. While the others heard a sound, they could not make out the words. Why? This was personal - it was meant for Saul and Saul alone to hear. But what was said was sobering.
There was the charge of terrible sin, of opposing and persecuting the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Jesus called Saul by his name, “Saul, Saul.” Calling the name twice shows that Jesus still loved Saul and wanted him to listen and obey, but it also issues a warning that Saul was in dangerous territory. He was close to the edge and was about to go past the point of no return. Opposing Jesus is serious, so serious it dooms a person to hell unless they repent.
Saul knew that the light and the person seen in the midst of the light and the voice had all come from heaven. He knew that he was being confronted by a heavenly being. But who was the heavenly being? Saul—stricken down, humbled, convicted, frightened—cried out in desperation, “Who are you, Lord?”. Saul knew that he was in the presence of something from heaven, but these words were his confession that he did not KNOW who He was.
I am Jesus - the one you are persecuting. A simple, but life-changing answer. Jesus was the one this sinner, Saul, was opposing. Can you imagine what would have been going through his mind? Every stone cast at Stephen was a stone cast at God Himself. Every home he had invaded was a home that truly worshipped God. Every person he dragged to jail was a true believer of God. Everyone he had abused, chained, imprisoned, all were true servants of God. He had been persecuting believers, Christians, and God Himself. He was lost, separated from God for eternity. His life was a mess, he had been wrong! He stood no chance of escaping the guilt of his sin and the eternal separation from God in hell without the greatest act of mercy every shown by God.
When a person comes to this point in their own lives, when they see they are rebelling against God Himself, the Savior, THEIR Savior, they come face to face with their sin. They have been living a life opposing God. Their own sins have been sins against God. They realize they are lost and separated from God. Then there is the realization that there is no way they can escape their own guilt brought on by sin WITHOUT Jesus.
It was at that point Jesus literally placed the conviction of Saul’s sin into reality and he had a choice that had to be made. He could either change his ways, or he could continue in a life that went against God. Saul had a choice to make.
Choice
Choice
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.
No doubt Paul was trembling and in utter shock (astonished). He was devastated, hardly able to bear up under the weight of the sin for which he was now being charged. He knew beyond question he was the most terrible sinner. His only hope was to turn and obey the Lord Jesus. And, praise God, this he did. He did what every man must do to be forgiven his terrible sins.
He called upon and acknowledged the Lord Jesus.
He surrendered to obey the Lord Jesus. He asked the key question: “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”
The Lord commanded him: “Arise and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.” Note that God did not answer Saul, not right then.
⇒ Saul could not bear it. He was a shattered man. He needed time for prayer and meditation, for straightening out his mind and for assurance from the Spirit of God now dwelling within him.
⇒ Saul needed the maturing witness and contact and companionship of another believer. It was going to take the testimony of a mature believer that Saul had been converted and undergone a radical change for the Christian community to accept him.
There were others who witnessed what was happening, but they were not privileged to know what was really happening. They were a type of the worldly who saw the miracle of conversion, of God’s marvelous grace, yet they never opened their own minds and hearts to receive Jesus as their Savior.
You see, God was dealing with only one person that day, and that was Saul. He was asked to go into the city - but would he be obedient? Saul did just what the Lord told him: he arose and went into the city. But note several facts:
1. His eyes had been closed during the whole traumatic experience.
2. His eyes were now blinded for three days. He was helpless and had to be completely led about by others.
3. His mind would now be shut up in the world of thought alone. He would be left alone …
• to continue praying over his terrible shame
• to learn and know beyond question that the Lord had confronted him. Remember: he had three days for the experience to sink in
• to think through the confrontation with the Lord
• to wonder what changes there would be in his life now
• to switch his mind and his thought patterns, his purpose in life from the past life of religion to the present life with Christ
• to wonder why Jesus was choosing him, the one who had so fiercely opposed the Lord
• to wonder what Jesus wanted with him and what Jesus was going to tell him to do
Saul was unable to eat or drink for three days. The trauma drained all his strength, completely exhausted him. With great sin came great burden, and with salvation came great relief. It was almost as though Saul was emotionally, spiritually, and physically drained. But in the end, his sins were forgive, he had been set free, and he was now a child of the King.
Closing
Closing
It doesn’t matter what sins you have committed. It doesn’t matter how bad you think you are. I can almost certainly assure you that you are no worse than Saul was, and if Jesus can forgive him of his sins, He can forgive you of yours too. But like Saul, we have a choice to be made when our conscience… the Holy Spirit… convicts us of our sins. We may never see the physical manifestation of Jesus in the way Paul did, but every one of us will at some time in our life feel the tugging of the Holy Spirit in our heart. We know we have done wrong. We know God is not pleased. We hide from Him, we run from Him, we may even make fun of others who believe in Him. But we have to make the decision, what will we do when the Holy Spirit lays conviction on our heart, the same way He did on Saul? Will we see that all of OUR sins are against God too? Will we accept Him as our Savior? Or, will we shake it off, try to place it in the nether regions of our mind. Will we reject Jesus.
You see, there are only two ways we can respond. Accept Jesus as our Savior, or reject Him and continue living a life of sin. The choice truly is ours, and today I invite you to make the life changing decision, just like Saul, and accept Jesus as your Savior today. The altar is open, will you come?
