Road of Sanctification
Notes
Transcript
Where our Growth in Grace Comes From
The Discovery of Curare & Two Forms of Christianity
In the early 1800s, the German naturalist and explorer Baron Alexander von Humboldt journeyed through South America on a scientific expedition. Deep in the Amazon rainforest, he encountered Indigenous tribes who used a mysterious poison on their blow darts to bring down monkeys and other game almost instantly. Intrigued, Humboldt investigated how the poison—curare—was made.
But he soon discovered a second use for the poison when he became gravely ill. A village shaman forced him to drink a small amount of curare, diluted with water. Terrified that he might die, Humboldt was astonished to find that, instead, he felt significantly better. He learned that when curare is diluted and taken orally, it can have medicinal value without harming vital organs. The key to curare’s effect lies in how it enters the body: injected into the bloodstream, it’s a deadly toxin; ingested orally, it acts as a soothing muscle relaxant.
In this way, curare is much like Christianity. Many prefer to take it “orally,” diluted as much as possible, so that it has few side effects and simply makes them feel better. But that is not the purpose of true Christianity. Its aim is not mere comfort—but transformation. Christianity is meant to enter the bloodstream of our lives, changing us from the inside out as we become new creations in Christ.
As we walk down the road of sanctification, we have looked at the apostle Paul as he was transformed from a Pharisee who was persecuting Christians to a man who was met on the road to Damascus by Jesus Himself. After being blinded, Paul would again gain his sight after a meeting with Ananias. From that time forward, Paul was as fervent to spread the Gospel as he had been trying to stamp out the Gospel. As you can imagine, though, Paul had a long road ahead of him as many people would be reluctant to accept his transition to Christianity, concerned it was a trick so that he could arrest them.
But something had changed with Paul - he had not taken the diluted Gospel so that he might “feel better”, but instead had been transformed by the blood of Jesus and truly had become a new creation. While Paul would go on to immediately start preaching Jesus in Damascus, he was not received well.
Life Changed!
Life Changed!
20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”
Paul immediately preached, not hesitating at all. What made Paul unique was that he knew scripture. He knew how to relate to the Pharisees and others attending synagogue, but something had changed in his life, he was a truly changed person!
Now, I don’t mean to cause any political issues or uproars as this is not the intent, but I love the story told by Ronald Regan at a fundraising event. He started out by telling the crowd he had a story to tell. It's about a little boy who was selling some puppies that he had to get rid of. And he set up shop right outside a Democratic fundraiser. And when the people began coming out, and one couple stopped and looked, and then, joshingly, the man said, ``Are those Democrat puppies?'' And he said, ``Oh, yes, sir.'' Well, the couple wound up buying one.
Well, the next week the Republicans were having a fundraiser, and he set up shop again -- same location and some of the same pups. And out came the people and, sure enough, somebody asked him if they were Republican pups. And he said, "Yes.'' And he sold one. And a newspaper reporter who was nearby and had been present the week before said, "Hey, kid, wait a minute. Last week you said those were Democrat pups. Now you're saying they're Republicans.'' And the kid says, "Yeah.'' And he says, "Well, how come?'' He says, "That's easy.'' He says, "This week they got their eyes open.''
Paul’s eyes had literally been opened, and he was able to proclaim the name of Jesus boldly and confidently, which confused many who heard him.
21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?”
Paul stood as a testimony to the community. The public as well as the leaders of the synagogue were amazed, astonished, astounded, shocked at what they were seeing.
They were expecting an inflamed antagonist storming the homes and meeting places of those who “called on the name of Jesus.” They knew he had been sent to arrest and chain not only the men, but the women followers of Jesus, and to drag them back to Jerusalem for treason and death.
Instead, they were witnessing a man radically changed, a man associating and identifying himself with those whom he had come to destroy and preaching like a flaming evangelist, proclaiming Jesus to be the Messiah and the Son of God.
Something had changed Paul! Something had caused him to turn 180 degrees and now he was going in the opposite lifestyle that where he was before.
As newly converted Christians, I am not going to say we will all have this radical of a transformation immediately in our lives, but there should be that 180 degree turn from the life of sin to the life God is calling us to.
22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
Paul was faithful and steadfast, continuing on with Christ.
He continued to grow spiritually, increasing more and more in spiritual strength. The words “increased the more” mean to become strong within, to gain inner strength, to increase spiritually.
This is like us, as Christians, we should increase the more in our strength, knowledge, and willingness to serve our Lord and Savior!
The more he grew in the Lord, the more he was able to “confound” (confuse) those who opposed and rebelled against the gospel. He was able to “prove” (affirm and confirm) it with more and more power as he grew and grew.
Paul was able to hold his own with those around him who did not agree with his new theology.
As we grow and mature in our relationship with Jesus, we too should be able to have conversations with those around us and, yes, there will be times when we wonder what we got ourselves into, but as we spiritually mature, we will one day be able to defend the gospel.
Faith through Persecution
Faith through Persecution
23 When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him,
24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him,
25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.
No one ever said being a Christian would be easy. As a matter of fact, reading the Bible shows us quickly that many more Christians were persecuted than given an easy life. It should be clear to us, that we may be persecuted for our faith also and we should be ready to defend that faith.
Paul was faithful in witnessing, faithful despite a life-threatening plot against him.
Paul had apparently been witnessing in Damascus for some time, preaching Christ and proving that Jesus was the Messiah, the Savior promised by God. He was strong in the Lord. His spiritual strength was evident and his proclamation freaked out those who rebelled against the Lord and His gospel.
You see, the gospel was convicting hearts that were even rebelling against God. It’s always effective.
The Jews plotted to kill Paul. They became disturbed—full of anger, bitterness, and enmity. Why? Why did they hate Paul with such vengeance? They considered him a traitor to their religion and nation and cause.
Paul was sharper than they were in debate. He out-argued them and they felt ashamed and embarrassed. They were unable to get the best of him mentally and spiritually, so they set out to retaliate physically.
The message of the gospel convicted and threatened them. The gospel demanded self-denial, the sacrifice of all they were and had to the Lord Jesus.
What the Jews did was convince the civil authorities, the governor of Damascus, that Paul was a fanatic, a rabble-rouser, a threat to the peace of the city. The Jews were so convincing, the governor sent patrols out on a manhunt for Paul and posted guards all around the city to prevent his escape.
Paul escaped. The plot to kill him was discovered. Patrols and guards were everywhere. The way of escape was interesting. The city was surrounded by a wall; the disciples put him in a basket and lowered him down by the wall.
While we may never face this level of persecution in our Christian walk, we still face persecution for being a Christian. It may be someone who laughs at us, because of what we believe. Another person may call us names, or accuse us of being “bible-thumpers” or “Jesus-freaks”. We may even be told we are weird, but you know what? It’s all worth it because we continue to tell others who Jesus is, and we let His Word then become the convicting influence on them.
Unlikely Rejection and Ultimate Acceptance
Unlikely Rejection and Ultimate Acceptance
26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple.
27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.
Paul was faithful in seeking fellowship with believers, but they rejected him ad he had to leave or they were going to kill him.
Paul tried and tried to join the disciples at Jerusalem. The Greek word “assayed” or “tried” (epeirazen) means to try repeatedly.
But his past as the arch-enemy - the persecutor of believers haunted him; the believers would not accept him. They did not believe his testimony. They were suspicious, thinking he was an impostor trying to work his way into the circle of believers to spy on them or to identify all the disciples so he could arrest them.
Paul was befriended by Barnabas. Somehow Barnabas began to sense Paul may be telling the truth. Apparently, he sat down with Paul and had Paul relate his experiences with Christ. Barnabas became thoroughly convinced that Paul was truthful, and took Paul to the apostles. (By apostles is meant Peter and James, the half-brother of Jesus who was to become, if he was not already, the pastor of the church at Jerusalem [Gal. 1:18–19]. The other apostles were probably out of town on some mission.) Note that Barnabas, after introducing Paul to Peter and James, shared three things about Paul:
⇒ that he had actually seen the Lord on the road to Damascus.
⇒ that the Lord had actually spoken to him.
⇒ that he had been preaching boldly in Damascus.
Paul was finally accepted. Peter was convinced and invited Paul to stay with him. Paul did, and he stayed fifteen glorious days, fellowshipping with the man whom the Lord Himself had chosen to be the first leader of His dear people. This was important, for it meant he had not gone for the purpose of ministering, but to learn about Jesus from the leader of the apostolic band. Note also that while there, Paul was not sitting around reveling in the fellowship of Peter and James. He still ministered, still bore witness of the saving grace of God. He went out and preached Jesus.
Church, nothing is easy in our Christian walk. I would even go so far as to say if things are going easy, you need to prepare yourselves, because it won’t be easy for long. I’ll go even further and say, though, that if you live an “easy” Christian lifestyle and aren’t really doing much for the Lord, then Satan is going to let you stay status quo. You aren’t doing any damage to him or the gates of hell. Now, in contrast, the more you fight for the Lord, the harder the battles get. Here Paul not only had to fight his past, but now he is fighting for his future and finally someone sees what God has done in his life.
Hold on to your faith, even when it seems others may not have an understanding of what God is doing in your life, and sooner or later, someone will see what God is doing in and through you.
Paul continued to live his life in a manner pleasing to God. He helped start other churches, he ministered to the needs of the people, he wrote letters of both correction and praise, he never failed to tell everyone he came in contact with about Jesus. He lived a sanctified life, and that is what we are called to do too.
Closing
Closing
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
The way Paul describes his life is also full of meaning. He quickly glances back over his life and uses three pictures to describe it, the pictures of a soldier, an athlete, and a steward or manager.
Paul says that he had lived life just like a faithful soldier: “I have fought a good fight.” Paul had responded to the call of the Lord Jesus Christ therefore, Paul could victoriously declare, “I have fought a good fight.” He was being released from his service as a soldier for the King, released to go home to live at peace in the kingdom of his Lord forever and ever.
Paul says that he had run and finished the course of his life; he had completed the race of life just like the athlete runs and finishes the course of his race. This is powerful, for it means that Paul disciplined and controlled his life to the utmost—just like the Olympian athlete.
Paul says that he had kept the faith. He had looked after the faith just like a good steward looks after the estate of his master. The Lord had entrusted the faith to Paul, and he had kept the faith. He had proven faithful; he had faithfully managed the faith for his Master, the Lord Jesus Christ. The idea is that of a trust, of a management contract between Christ and Paul. Paul is saying that he had kept the terms of the contract; he had managed and looked after the trust faithfully and well.
We should strive to be like Paul, being sanctified in our life, to the point that when we near the end we can too say we have fought the good fight, we have run the race well, and we have kept the faith.
