Freedom: Free from conformity
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Non-Conformist!
Non-Conformist!
We know the scripture says to be transformed (Rom12:1-2) and to be conformed to image of Christ (Rom8:29); but does that mean we have to be a conformist?
“Whoso would be a man must be a non-conformist” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
I read at one time this line from a prayer that was offered up when some deacons were being seated into their position within the body.
“O Lord, grant that these brethren may ever want to be like other people.”
Whereas I wish I knew where the quote came from, but I don’t know it was from someone who got it from someone, who got it from someone, but the point is valid. We are not called to be conformist, we are not called to be like each other, except like minded (Php2:2). Each of us has a calling, each of us has a story, each of us is an individual that makes up the body of Christ (Rom12:4-5). Each of our conversion stories are different, but yet we make up the body.
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Like minded yes, but not conformist - (Php2:2)
Transformed as one body but not conformist (Rom12:4-5)
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Conformist (noun) - a person who conforms to accepted behavior or established practices. (adjective) - (of a person or activity) conforming to accepted behavior or established practices; conventional
Now, speaking of non-conformist we do need to be very careful that the wrong kind of individualism can destroy vs. fulfill In our passage tonight we see the story of God’s call on Saul of Tarsus to be transformed to be Paul an apostle a bond-servant of Christ Jesus by the will of God (Eph1:1; Php1:1) His conversion, His freedom was a threat to those who believed in conformity.
The charge - Paul’s non-conformity is proof that his message and his ministry were not really of God.
The defense - Paul starts to make his defense drawing back to his own personal history, his conversion story (in short version).
Paul’s audience and reason: The churches of Galatia to prove his apostleship was from God not from man. (Gal1:1, 1:11-12)
1 Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead),
and then add to that a portion of our passage today
11 For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
So, now, a couple of questions.
What is the origin of Paul’s message (v.12)?
What was Paul preaching (v.11)?
Paul states his theme and his ministry are of divine origin, not from man. He did not invent the Gospel, nor did he receive it from man, but from Jesus Christ the author and perfecter of our faith (Heb12:2).
The message and the ministry were divinely given (Heb12:2) so anyone who adds to or takes from them is doing so in danger of divine judgment (Rev22:18).
18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book;
John had revelation of Jesus Christ, well, so did Paul! The results were the same, they were not conformed to this world but transformed by the washing of the water of the word. God’s Word, divinely given and we hold in our hands today.
The facts we read in the conversion of Saul not only substantiate his claim, but provide evidence to us for our faith in Jesus Christ. Paul will draw for us, or paint a picture for us to prove his claim, using his own personal history and of others to do it.
The Persecutor - Prior to conversion
The Persecutor - Prior to conversion
We all have a story, we all have convictions, but what if the convictions were mis-guided, mis-informed? What if your story was not totally written but is being written? Paul uses his history to show his story that was being written after being guided into the Light of the Lord.
13 For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it; 14 and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions.
What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?
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Saul was persecutor of the church; with a clear conscience (1Tim1:5; 2Tim1:3; Act24:16 are some good references)
He breathed murderous rage (Act9:1-2)
He did it for what he believed was a good cause (Act26:9-11)
He came from a good line, good history, good training (Act22:3; Php3:4-5; Act23:6)
So, who could have converted this man (Act9:9-18)
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Saul was persecutor of the church; with a clear conscience (1Tim1:5; 2Tim1:3; Act24:16 are some good references)
He was a persecutor of the church, the way, the believers in Jerusalem and he did it was a clear conscience, prior to his conversion and after his conversion (expand very brifly)
He breathed murderous rage (Act9:1-2)
1 Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
His persecution started in Jerusalem, but soon it was going out from Jerusalem.
Saul was persecutor of the church; with a clear conscience (1Tim1:5; 2Tim1:3; Act24:16 are some good references)
He breathed murderous rage (Act9:1-2)
He did it for what he believed was a good cause (Act26:9-11)
Now, in Saul’s defense he was doing what he believed was right, what was godly, what was pleasing to God, only to find out he had mis-information, was mis-guided.
9 “So then, I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 “And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them.
11 “And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities.
He came from a good line, good history, good training (Act22:3; Php3:4-5; Act23:6)
3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today.
He had status, he was known, he was an up and rising star
He had position and power as noted in (Act26:9-10) that we just read
He was advanced above his contemporaries (Gal1:14)
He was zealous for his ancestral and religious traditions (Gal1:14)
He was a Hebrew of Hebrews
4 although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee;
He was a Pharisee
6 But perceiving that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began crying out in the Council, “Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!”
So, now, who could convert this man?
His friends wouldn’t - heck they wanted to take his life, they wanted the old Saul not the new transformed, born again, on fire for Jesus Christ Paul.
His enemies couldn’t - they were afraid of him they would not go near him (Act9:13-14)
13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”
Even after his conversion Christians were leery of him and were not quick to accept him and the changes God was making, had made in his life. So we should not be surprised when we became Christians or have just become Christians that people are leery of us.
Now, I want to move on to Paul- the Believer, but if you want to read the full conversion story of Saul you can read Act9:9-18.
The Believer - conversion to transformation
The Believer - conversion to transformation
Having already addressed his past character and conduct he goes on to his conversion; it was a crucial part of his defence against their claim.
15 But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood,
17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.
What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?
Paul uses his conversion, his history, his past to defend the truth of the Gospel. Just as you do when you share your story, it is not about you, it is about Him, the One who did the work in you and continues to do the work in you and through you.
Paul tells when he was called (Gal1:15)
Paul tells how he was called (Gal1:15)
Similar to the calling of Jeremiah (Jer1:5)
Paul tells the results of his calling (Gal1:15)
I should give you the Jeremiah one
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Saul, called in a manner like Jeremiah, like John the baptist, is just a reminder that:
Salvation is by God’s hand not man’s. God’s grace not mans effort. God’s nature not man’s character.
God calls us through His Gospel, through His Word today (1The1:4-5)
4 knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you; 5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
God’s will has not changed (2Pt3:9)
9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
God wants all to be saved, to come to repentance, God converted Saul, God converted you, and will convert others too. God does it through Christ.
Previously Saul had religion
Previously Saul had reputation and recognition
Previously he did not have Christ.
Scripture says you can have the world and lose your soul (Mk8:36), You can have everything, but in the end have nothing without Christ. Paul counted everything a loss before Christ (Php3:7)
36 “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?
And then look at Paul’s thoughts after his conversion
7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
God is personal, but takes the personal and can use it for bigger picture. Saul became Paul for others sake, so others would come to Christ. Paul says he became all things to all people so they may know Christ (paraphrase of 1Cor9:19-23; look it up and read it on your own).
Only God could take a Pharisee, a Hebrew of Hebrews and make him a minister to the dogs (Gentiles) and look at the results of his conversion
24 And they were glorifying God because of me.
God did it for God’s glory; not for the glory of Paul, but for the glory to God because of what God had done in Paul. Man was created to bring glory to God (Isa43:7) and is saved to bring glory to God (1Cor6:19-20)
7 Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.”
and the Corinthians passage
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
Let your life be lived to bring glory to God. To Paul it was at a great expense, beatings, prison, being left for dead, loss of friends, family, status, and finances too. Let Paul’s example, giving glory to God, his motivating factor, His defense of the Gospel be our motivating factor too, to bring glory to God.
From Persecutor to Preacher
From Persecutor to Preacher
Paul was transformed from a persecutor to a preacher, a travelling one at that. He did not look to man for confirmation he had all he needed in Christ Jesus. The preaching was from divine inspiration not the inspiration of man.
16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.
18 Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 But I did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.
20 (Now in what I am writing to you, I assure you before God that I am not lying.) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
22 I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ; 23 but only, they kept hearing, “He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy.”
24 And they were glorifying God because of me.
What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?aul was to
Paul preached the Gospel to the Gentiles upon conversion (Gal1:16)
Jew of Jews going to the dogs. Here is this baby Christian preaching the gospel from the get go. Now, yes, I know he had divine revelation, but don’t we? We hold the Bible, God’s word, God’s divine revelation to man.
Paul did not go to Jerusalem for 3 years, then was only there 15 days (Gal1:17-20)
We do not know how long Paul was in Arabia, could be the upwards of three years. A few things to consider
How long were the apostles discipled by Christ? - 3 years
Were the people very happy with the apostles because of Jesus? - no they were accused of breaking tradition etc.
Paul went back to Damascus a place not too happy with him previously, Jesus went back to Jerusalem a place that was not happy with Him.
Paul was not readily accepted even in Jerusalem (Act9:23-25)
Paul took his ministry home (Gal1:21-22)
Let me give you the Acts passage
23 When many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted together to do away with him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were also watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death;
25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket.
Now it was after 3 years Paul went to Jerusalem to see Peter and the other apostles and was only there for 15 days (see v.18) and if we are honest there is no way that he could have been taught the gospel and become the evangelist he was in 15 days, only God could do that.
From there Paul took his ministry home (vv.21-22) - Paul when home to Tarsus to share the gospel and was there until Barnabas came and got him to to Antioch (ah, check out Act11:19-26 on your own)
Our ministry starts at home, on our home turf. To the people we know that will see the transformation in us, will see the change that is happening in us. Sure it maybe risky and it maybe costly in loosing family members, but you may gain some souls for the kingdom, and you may have favor with all people
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
The people were praising God in Jerusalem; the people were praising God in Tarsus, because of a man who was persecutor is now a preacher.
Think about this before we close, people were glorifying God because of the apparent transformed life, a life of non-conformity that he lived in plain sight. Your life too can be a light to others too, and should be a light to others as Jesus told us.
(insert Mt5:16 slide)
Below scripture is not a slide, it is on screen already, this is for you to quote
16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
encouragement (encouragement slide) prayer