A Life Transformed by the Gospel

MIM: “El Evangelio tiene poder para transformar cualquier vida.”

Introducción

In 2010 the movie Inception came out.

The movie is about a group of people who were trained in stealing ideas from people’s mind. Only this time, they need to “plant” an idea, rather than steal it.

In one of the scenes of the movie, the main character (starting Leonardo DiCaprio) talks about the importance of the missions:

“The seed that we plant in this man's mind will grow into an idea. This idea will define him. It may come to change everything about him.”

I don’t know if Christopher Nolan (Inception’s Director) ever read about the Apostle Paul, but this is exactly what happened to him.

Paul’s life had a 180º turnaround because of an idea planted in his mind.

Who planted this idea? Jesus.

What was the idea his planted? The Gospel.

This morning, I want us to look at how Paul’s salvation’s reminds us that the Gospel has power to transform anybody’s life.

Todey we will see: “A Life Transformed in Four (4) Episodes”

Turn with me to Acts 26:1…

Contextual Analysis

Where is Paul?

Paul has been in prison at Caesarea for two (2) years now.

Paul is imprisoned at the end of his Third Missionary journey in Jerusalem.

Paul is transferred to Caesarea out of concern for his own life.

For two (2) years Paul was in this sort of limbo waiting for a sentence.

Finally, King Agrippa shows up to Caesarea and he wants to hear about this prisoner called Paul.

“What is interesting is though, Paul is not trying to prove his innocence. He is more concerned with sharing his testimony with the audience.”

First Episode - An Empty Hope (vv4-8)

Acts 26:1–8 ESV

1 So Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense: 2 “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently. 4 “My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. 5 They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, 7 to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king! 8 Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?

A Promising Future

Paul was no ordinary child.

From the time he was a youth, he had reputation of his own. Perhaps due to the fact he was a student of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3).

He not only had a world-class professor. He was a excepcional student too.

He was a member of the strictest religious party in Jerusalem, and he was good at it! (v5)

He also had a unique pedigree (Phil 3:5-6).

Circumcised on the eighth day.

Of the people of Israel.

Of the tribe of Benjamin.

A Hebrew of Hebrews.

As to the law, a Pharisee.

As to righteousness under the law, blameless.

If Paul was born here in the South, he would be what we’ll call an “All-American Baptist”.

The big question is:

Who did Israel’s most beloved boy become Israel’s public enemy #1?

One Common Hope

Our text says that both Paul and the people of Israel had one thing in common: they share the same hope (Acts 26:6-7)

Israel hoped for the coming Messiah.

Paul hoped in the Messiah who came, Jesus Christ!

This hope goes beyond prophetic fulfillment, for they all longed for the same things the Messiah offered:

Vindication.

Freedom.

Redemption.

“Paul and the people of Israel longed for the same things, but they looked upon two different Saviors.”

The Savior We Want

The people of Israel longed for a Messiah that:

Looked like a mighty lion, not a gentle lamb.

Could free them from the bondage of Rome, but not from the bondage of sin.

Judge the nations, not one that shows compassion to the nations.

“The sad thing is not that Israel missed on the true Messiah, but that many of us are like Israel.”

The Savior We Need

Did you know that only 16% of the world is considered atheist? That means 84% of the world is looking for a savior.

We all need a savior! Our hearts long for things to be different. The problem is that we don’t like the Savior God sent to us.

We want a savior that can deliver us from our troubles, but asks nothing in return.

We want a savior that is willing to sacrifice for us, but we don’t want to sacrifice anything for Him.

We want a savior that tells us “Attaboy! You’ve earned it!” We don’t want a Savior that tells us “It’s by grace and not by works.”

“We have a cliché in Christianity where we say Jesus is our Lord and Savior. But if we are truly honest with ourselves, we like the Savior part, but not the Lord part.”

May I ask you something? Who is your savior today? Where is your hope?

Is your hope found in your bank account?

Is your hope found in a relationship?

Is your hope found in a “set of rules” you call christianity?

You may ask: “Well Eddy, I cannot narrow down who my savior is?”

Just look at verse 7a.

Acts 26:7 (ESV)

7 to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day.

What is that thing you “worship” day and night?

What is that thing or person for which you go all out day and night?

What is that thing you tell yourself, “If I only have ____________, that would be enough.”

“That is your hope. That is your savior.”

For Paul, that was not a thing, but a person: Jesus.

Second Episode - A Resolved Man (vv9-11)

Acts 26:9–11 ESV

9 “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. 11 And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

Fully Convinced

May wife often get on my case about my “healthy eating habits”, which claims to none! I guess nobody told me that eating ice cream at midnight was not good for you.

“It is one thing to be ignorant about how eating ice cream at 12:00AM is bad for you. It is another thing to eat a gallon of ice cream at midnight because you believe it is good for you. That was Paul.”

Paul was convinced that everything he was doing to stop the spread of the Gospel, was for a righteous cause.

He saw locking up saint as a community service.

He felt no remorse in supporting their killing.

He did not skimp resources when it came to persecute christians.

Paul was not only convinced that he was doing the right thing, he also had the full support of his religious leaders (Acts 26:10).

“Paul believed that he was doing the Lord’s work by cleansing the land from christians.”

A Spiritual Blindness

Here is what baffles me:

“How can someone be so sure about something, and yet so wrong about it at the same time?”

The answer is simple: sin.

The problem with Paul was not that he was stubborn or determined to do evil.

The problem with Paul was simply that he was blind.

2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV

4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Pastor Josh Phillips’ preached to us from Jonah yesterday.

Why did God not bring judgement to a city so wicked like Nineveh? Because they were blind to their sin.

Why would God not bring judgement to the LGBTQ community? Because they are blind.

Why would God not bring judgement to all abortion clinics? Because they are blind.

Why did God not bring judgement to me, when I was living in my pride and disobedience? Because I was blind.

“They cannot not, we could not see the light of the Gospel even if we wanted to! Only Jesus can peel the scales of our spiritual sight.”

The Gospel Intervention

“Here is where the power of the Gospel is at full display.”

Look how the Gospel breaks into Paul’s life.

Acts 26:14–15 (ESV)

14 […] I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.

I guarantee you two (2) thoughts came to Paul’s mind at that moment:

Jesus is alive!

Everything they said about Jesus is true!

If Jesus is alive, then He is the Messiah indeed!

I am guilty...

I’ve been persecuting the Messiah…

I’ve been tormenting His people...

I’ve been waging war against God...

“One dose of truth and all the power of the Gospel was enough to tear down a lifetime of deceive.”

Living in the Gospel

This is one reason why the Church needs to keep coming back to the Gospel.

We living in a world of lies.

Everyday, the serpent is trying to deceive us to to question the character and Word of God.

Everyday, the Devil is trying to deceive us into thinking we are not good enough, OR we are good enough.

But the Gospel reminds us what is truth:

God is holy and righteous. We are guilty sinners.

“BUT, Jesus lived the life we couldn’t live, pleasing the Father on our behalf, so that we would not die a death we deserved.”

Illustration:

The Gospel is not a hotel you visit on a holiday but a house you live in.

Third Episode - A Conclusive Encounter (vv12-18)

Acts 26:12–18 ESV

12 “In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you 18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

The Climax of His Defense

This is the climax of Paul’s defence. Everything he shared was leading up to this point.

I trust you are well familiar with the details of this account, so I will focus on the broad picture.

Particularly, I want us to view this encounter from:

Pablo’s perspective.

Jesus’ perspective.

The Place of the Encounter

Where was Paul when Jesus encountered him? On the road to Damascus.

What was Paul going to do in Damascus? Persecuting the church.

“Paul did not go to Damascus as an ally of the Church, but as an enemy of the Church, and it was precisely there where Jesus met him.”

What a testimony of God’s sovereignty.

Paul’s blindness filled his heart with hate.

His hate drove him to Damascus.

But in Damascus, Jesus was waiting for Paul.

To put it in other words:

"Paul went out to chase down Jesus, but it was Jesus who was chasing down Paul!”

Despite all of his failures.

Despite all of his flaws.

Despite all of his sins, Paul was right where Jesus wanted to meet him!

“It was God, who in His infinitive wisdom allowed Paul go on with his sin as long as he did, so that He would show his grace in him.”

“God never approves sin, but neither does He waste it.”

“There is NO sin, no matter how unspeakable it is, that cannot be redeemed by the power of His Gospel, and use it for his Glory.”

I like how Paul himself put it:

1 Timothy 1:16 CSB

16 But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life.

The Reason for the Encounter

This is why Christ choose Paul as an Apostle.

“Our human logic tells us that Christ ought to grant such honor and authority to a person worthy of Him. To be called an Apostle should be a calling reserve only to the most exemplary (distinguished) disciple.”

But that is not how God works.

Jesus choose the least ideal man to be his Apostle.

Jesus choose an enemy of the Gospel to become a champion of the Gospel.

My Hope

“I don’t know you, but when I read these verses I can’t help it but to feel hope.”

Hope because I see how Christ loved a sinner like Paul and I say to myself:

Can He also love me like that?

Can He also use me despite all my flaws?

We see Paul’s testimony and we are reminded of the transforming power of the Gospel.

There is no marriage, Jesus cannot restore.

There is no mistake, Jesus cannot rectify.

There are no tears Jesus cannot wipe away.

There are no ruins Jesus cannot build again!

There is no battle Jesus cannot overcome for me!

In my darkest hour, the hope of the Gospel breaks in like daylight and says to me:

“As long as Jesus is sitting on His throne, there is hope.”

Fourth Episode - A Life Redeemed (vv19-23)

Acts 26:19–23 ESV

19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: 23 that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”

The Cost of Obedience

In summary, this is how Paul concludes his defense: “Therefore King Agrippa, I was obedient to the Lord and that is why I am here in chains."

“I gave my life to Jesus, and everything turned all right” - Thats not what Paul said.

Here is the main thing I want to highlight in these verses:

“Paul was obedient to the Lord, but it came at a great cost.”

Often times we believe that, if we do everything God commands us in His word, God will bless us.

This is true! When we submit to God in obedience, He pours out an ocean of blessings into our lives.

The problem is that our definition of “blessings” sometimes is not the same as God’s.

“We think of blessings in terms of temporary earthly comforts.”

Happy marriage.

Well-behaved children.

Successful business.

Stress-free life!

[TONO SOLEMNE] “But if Paul were here with us today, he would tell us otherwise.”

Speaking of False Apostles, Paul says:

2 Corinthians 11:23–27 ESV

23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.

"Anybody would like to go with Paul on a Mission Trip? Spoiler Alert! You may not make it back!

Nevertheless, he considered himself a blessed man.

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 ESV

16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

“Afflictions are nothing but another tool in our master’s shop.”

Sometimes God takes us to the valley of death to bless us.

Sometimes God prospers us through poverty.

Sometimes God heals us through sickness.

Sometimes God fills our heart through loneliness.

“Your biggest blessings are not material, but spirituals. Your biggest blessings are not temporary, but eternal.”

If God has to deprive you from material things so you can grow spiritually, HE WILL DO IT!

If God has to withhold temporary blessings, so you can enjoy better blessings for all eternity, HE WILL DO IT!

The Reward of Obedience

Now, does that mean God has forsaken Paul on this side of eternity? By no means!

Paul himself testifies of God’s protection over his life:

Acts 26:17a (ESV)

17 [Jesus will delivery] you from your people and from the Gentiles

Acts 26:22a (ESV)

22 To this day I have had the help that comes from God […]

How can Paul say “God has helped me”, when he’s been in prison for two (2) years for doing obeying God?

Because Paul was inside the will of God.

The Jewish’s will did not prevail.

The Roman will did not prevail.

Satan’s will did not prevail.

It is God’s will that prevail!

Paul had the evidence of the resurrection to prove it!

The Resurrection

Paul begins and ends his defense, pointing to Christ’s resurrection.

Acts 26:8 ESV

8 Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?

Acts 26:23 ESV

23 that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”

The resurrection of Christ is more than just a “dead body coming to life”. The resurrection of Christ is a testament that,

“At the end of the day, sin will not prevail.”

“Sin cannot, and will not have the final saying in your life.”

Dear family at Cherry Groove Baptist Church.

You may lose your jobs, for the sake of Christ,

You may lose your health, for the sake of Christ.

You may lose “members”, for the sake of Christ.

But you will never lose Christ.

“Christ lost his life for our sake, and in exchange he gain a glorious church for His glory.”

Conclusión

Cuando vemos la vida de Pablo en estos versículos, vemos el poder transformador del Evangelio. El testimonio de Pablo es una celebración del Evangelio.

Pero mas que un testimonio personal, es el testimonio de Cristo en su vida. Mas que una celebración de Pablo, es una celebración de Cristo.

Tú y yo podemos, [mejor aún] tú y yo debemos formar parte de esta celebración.

“Te invito que vengas y pruebes que el Señor es bueno.

[Oración Final]