The Majesty of Saving Grace
Notes
Transcript
The Majesty of Saving Grace
The Majesty of Saving Grace
Acts 9:1-9
Intro:
Intro:
Without question, one of the greatest Christians who ever lived was a man by the name of Paul. Paul suffered for the cause of Christ. He abandoned a life of luxury and prestige to preach the Gospel of grace. He walked away from friends, family and fortune to go with Jesus and tell others about the Lord. Paul was a faithful believer, a powerful preacher, and a man used more than any other in his generation, or in any generation since. But, Paul knew better than anyone that without Jesus Christ he was none of those things. Listen to his own testimony in 1 Cor. 15:10, “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” Paul knew that his life, and everything that had come from his life, was the result of God’s grace working in him and through him.
Our text records the day when Paul was apprehended by grace. Grace had been after him for quite some time, but on the day described in these verses, Paul was captured once and for all by the marvelous, matchless, glorious grace of God. He was saved, secured, and sent out to serve a new Master.
I want to look into these verses for a few minutes today. I want to try to preach about The Majesty Of Saving Grace. I want to show what grace does in every life it touches. May the Lord help us to understand The Majesty Of Saving Grace.
I. GRACE CLAIMED HIS LIFE V1-5
I. GRACE CLAIMED HIS LIFE V1-5
A. v. 1-2 In Spite Of His Deeds –
A. v. 1-2 In Spite Of His Deeds –
(What Paul was like before he came to know Jesus.) He was a staunch Jew who did everything in his power to destroy Christianity,
1 Tim. 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
Gal 1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
But, in spite of this, God loved him and saved him!
(Ill. A story is told of Peter Miller, a plain Baptist preacher living in Ephrata, Pennsylvania in the days of the Revolutionary War. Near his church lived a man who ridiculed the pastor to the last degree. The man became involved in treason and was arrested and sentenced to be hanged. The preacher started out on foot and walked the seventy miles to Philadelphia to plead for the man's life. Washington heard his plea, but he said, "No, your plea for your friend cannot be granted." "My friend!" said the preacher. "He is not my friend! He is the worst enemy I have." "What!" said Washington, "you have walked nearly seventy miles to save the life of an enemy? That puts the matter in a different light. I will grant the pardon.")
This is the essence of grace. It affords us God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace has been described as “the unmerited love and favor of God for undeserving lost sinners.” In spite of all we are and all we have done, God still extends grace to lost sinners.
Here are the facts:
1. We are all sinners – Rom.3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
2. We all deserve to go to Hell –Psa. 9:17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. Pro_27:20 Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
3. We are dead in our sins and cannot get to God – Eph. 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
4. Yet, God comes to where we are and He extends His saving grace into our lives – Eph. 2:4-5 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
· The Gadarene Demoniac, Mark 5;
· The woman at the well – John 4)
B v. 1 In Spite Of His Devotion –
B v. 1 In Spite Of His Devotion –
Paul was a man who was absolutely committed to his way of life. He possessed all the right credentials and he lived life on his terms,
Phil. 3:4-6 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
But, God was able to turn Paul’s heart toward glory and bring him to faith in Jesus.
King James Version Chapter 3
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
(Ill. Lost men live their lives with a blind, mindless devotion to their way of life. They think they are in control of their destinies. They actually believe that they are living life on their own terms. In truth, they are prisoners of their passion and mere drones of the devil. They do what he leads them to do, John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Eph. 2:1-3.And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Thank God, the Lord is able to bring light into the darkness of the lost man’s heart. He is able to show him the foolishness of the life he is living and draw him, by grace, to a new life in Jesus.)
C. v. 5 In Spite Of His Desires –
C. v. 5 In Spite Of His Desires –
Paul had no thoughts of being saved. In fact, he was doing everything in his power to destroy the Gospel. Paul’s desire was to destroy the Church. He set out on a mission that day, but found mercy.
If we were left to our own desires, we would never come to God. We would never turn to Him unless He came for us first, John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Our path would lead us straight to Hell’s flames,
Pro. 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
I praise His name that He does not care about our desires, but He comes to us and draws us unto Himself.
(Ill. Don’t give up on that loved one or that friend you are praying for. You never know when the Lord will break into the deadness of that heart and draw them unto Himself.)
D. v. 5 In Spite Of His Defiance –
D. v. 5 In Spite Of His Defiance –
The word “pricks” in verse 5 means “to sting” and it refers to a goad, which is a stick with an iron point used to prod stubborn animals along.
· Paul was doing his own thing, and God was goading his heart. God was making life uncomfortable for Paul and he was fighting what God was doing in his heart and life.
· But, God ignored the defiance of Paul and continued to goad him until he was ready to surrender to the will of God.
· Man stands and lifts a defiant fist toward Heaven and tells God to mind His Own business.
· I am grateful that He did not give up on me! He kept calling, drawing, convicting and working to bring me to the place of salvation!)
(Regardless of where a person finds themselves today, God can reach into their life by grace. He can claim them and save them. That is the majesty of God’s grace! )
I. GRACE CLAIMED HIS LIFE
II. GRACE CHANGED HIS LIFE
II. GRACE CHANGED HIS LIFE
A. The Direction Of His Life Was Changed –
A. The Direction Of His Life Was Changed –
Saul of Tarsus was a man totally devoted to practicing, defending and expanding Judaism.
· Gal 1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
· Paul, on the other hand, was a man who looked on all the achievements of his past life as nothing and who wanted nothing more than to be totally sold out to and for Jesus Christ,
Php 3:5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
· He forsook everything and went after Jesus!
(Ill. That is the power of grace! Not only does it claim us for God; it totally changes every area of life. The old sinner who comes to faith in Jesus is transformed by the grace of God into a brand new saint, for the glory of God, 2 Cor. 5:17. )
B. The Devotion Of His Life Was Changed – v.6a
B. The Devotion Of His Life Was Changed – v.6a
At one point, the Law of God had been the central focus of Paul’s life. But, when he met Jesus, the Lord became the centerpiece of Paul’s life.
· He became devoted to following and serving the Lord Jesus, Acts 9:20-31.
Jesus became the theme of Paul’s life, Phil. 1:21. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
One of the most amazing aspects of grace is how it radically changes the lives it touches.
· Testimony after testimony has been given about how lives have been changed by the power of grace. Things that held the heart loose their grip when a sinner meets Jesus.
· Sin, the world, and the desires of the flesh lose their power when a heart finds itself in the grip of grace. On the other side of that, things that held no interest for the sinner come alive when grace changes that life.
(That is the essence of the salvation grace provides. It changes everything! It makes the redeemed individual a “new creature,” 2 Cor. 5:17. It allows them to die out to the old life of sin and to come alive to a new life in Jesus, Col. 3:1-17. Thank God for life-changing grace!)
C. The Destination Of His Life Was Changed –v.6b
C. The Destination Of His Life Was Changed –v.6b
Paul was sure that his devotion to the Jewish religious system would result in him going to Heaven when he died. However, Paul would never have believed it if you had told him that he was actually headed to Hell. But, when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus, everything changed. Not just Paul’s life, but his eternal destination was also changed forever.
· We live in a day when many people do not believe in Hell any longer.
· But, that does not change the fact that all those who do not know Jesus are still headed to Hell, 2 Thes. 1:8-9 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
· But, friend, when you come to know Jesus as your Savior, you are instantly taken off the road to Hell and transplanted onto the road to Glory! The hope of Heaven and the promise of Heaven become yours when you meet Him, John 14:1-6; Rev. 21-22
Has the Direction, Devotion and Destination of your life been changed? If so, then you know something about the Majesty of God’s grace !If not, Jesus is calling you, why do you kick against the pricks
I. GRACE CLAIMED HIS LIFE
II. GRACE CHANGED HIS LIFE
III. GRACE COMPLETED HIS LIFE v.17-20
III. GRACE COMPLETED HIS LIFE v.17-20
A. Grace Provided All That He Lacked – v17
A. Grace Provided All That He Lacked – v17
Paul possessed many things in his life.
· He had power, prestige, position, prosperity, popularity and promise.
· But, he lacked the most important things of all.
· When he found himself in the grip of grace, he found out that grace could give him everything he lacked.
1. He Had Religion, But He Lacked Redemption –
1. He Had Religion, But He Lacked Redemption –
Paul kept the Law as perfectly as a man could do it, Phil. 3:6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
· but he was not saved. In fact, he referred to himself as “the chief of sinners,” 1 Tim. 1:15.
· But, when he met Jesus, he could claim as his all the things that his religion had not been able to provide, 1 Cor. 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. he could boldly say that he was “saved.”
Friends, being religious and doing religious things will never save your soul! Religion will not get it done! You must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. You must come to Him through faith in His shed blood, 1 Pet. 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: . You see, it is not about what you can do,; it is all about what He did when He died for you and rose again from the dead!
2. He Had Service, But He Lacked Salvation –
2. He Had Service, But He Lacked Salvation –
Paul was doing his best to serve God. He thought that he was doing all the right things. He was a hard worker and he was active, Phil. 3:4-6, but he was still a lost sinner until he met Jesus! But, when he met Jesus, he received all the things he had never been able to earn by all his hard, religious effort.
The same is true in your life and mine. We can never “earn” or “deserve” salvation by our good deeds. We are saved “by grace through faith” alone, Eph. 2:8-9. We could never work hard enough or be good enough to accomplish our own salvation. The standard is too high, Matt. 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. When we come to Jesus by faith, we can receive freely through grace that which we could never earn by our works,
3. He Had Honor, But He Lacked Hope –
3. He Had Honor, But He Lacked Hope –
Saul was the rising star of Judaism. He was the apple of Gamilel’s eye
· But, deep within his heart, he knew something was missing, verse 5.
· His response was to try harder; to attack the church and to try and eliminate the name of Jesus.
· He had no real hope in his life.
· But, when he met Jesus that day, everything changed. He was made the partaker of a “living hope,” 1 Pet. 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
· (Ill. After Paul meets Jesus, he uses the word “hope” 39 times! He had something that he did not have before! 1 Tim. 1:1; Titus 1:2; 2:13; 3:7.)
You may have everything this world can give a person, but if you do not know Jesus, then you have no hope beyond this life. But, if you do know Him, then you have a hope that can never fade! You have the hope of a home in glory and of an eternity spent in the presence of the Lord. If you know Jesus, you may not have much in this world, but you have hope. And hope is worth more than money and all money can by! Do you have hope?)
(Ill. In an English church some years ago, the pastor was overcome by the sight at his altar. An ex-convict was kneeling beside a judge who sat on the bench of England’s highest court. In a strange twist of providence, this judge had been the one who handed down a seven-year prison sentence to the man now kneeling at his side. In a conversation after the service, the judge asked the pastor if he had noticed who was praying next to him. The pastor acknowledged this remarkable sight. The judge then stated, “What a miracle of grace!” The pastor agreed and made reference to the criminal’s conversion. “But I was not referring to him, I was thinking of myself,” noted the judge. He went on to explain, “That man knew how much he needed Christ to save him from his sins. But look at me. I was taught from childhood to live as a gentleman, to keep my word, to say my prayers, to go to church. I went through Oxford, took my degrees, was called to the bar, and eventually became a judge. Pastor, nothing but the grace of God could have caused me to admit that I was a sinner on a level with that convict. It took much more grace to forgive me for my pride and self-righteousness, to get me to admit that I was no better in the eyes of God than the convict whom I sent to prison.” Grace is necessary for all sinners to find forgiveness, regardless of how they, or the world, picture their deeds.)
Conc:
Conc:
Thank God for grace! Thank God for saving grace; for keeping grace; for sustaining grace. Thank God that I know what grace is all about. I do not understand grace. I do not know how God can take a lost sinner, love them, and save them by His grace, but I have experienced it for myself. I know something about marvelous, matchless, majestic, wonderful, precious, glorious grace. Do you?
If you have never experienced grace and you sense the Lord is calling you to come to Him, then I invite you to answer that call today. Come to Jesus and experience the majesty of His grace. If you have experienced grace, and you can remember the day when God confronted you on your own Damascus road, I invite you to come before Him to say “Thank you, Lord.” If you know someone who needs to experience God’s majestic grace, I invite you to bring them to the Lord today. Whatever the needs of your hearts may be, you will find the help you need in this altar. If He is calling, just say, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”