Blinded to Receive Sight
2013-08-04
Acts
9:1-9
Saul's
conversion was a monumental event in church history. It is mentioned three
times in Acts alone.
· Saul was
by birth a Jew, by citizenship he was a Roman, by education a Greek, &
purely by the grace of God a Christian. He was then known as Paul. Phil 3:4-9
Christianity
posed a threat to Saul’s religion, so he viciously attacked “The Way”. Act 9:1-2, Jn 14:6
· His role
was not one of executioner, but of arresting officer.
o
Ironically, Paul requested letters (lit.
“epistles”) to help him destroy believers, but in future he would write
epistles to build them up.
· Damascus is
a 150 mile, six days by foot, journey from Jerusalem.
o
Several trade routes linked Damascus to other
cities in Roman world.
· They
would persecute Christians in Damascus to prevent spread of Christianity
worldwide.
o
There was overt persecution = Christians would die
for Jesus Christ, and would be silenced by killing. Mt 5:11
o
There was covert persecution = Such as silence by
shaming or threatening.
§
The goal of both: to silence you.
· Fear of
persecution causes Christians to serve the needy but not share gospel.
Paul's
conversion, like the Eunuch’s, was a work of divine sovereign grace.
· God
always initiates salvation (either quietly/spectacularly) since unbelieving are
dead in their sins & can’t seek. Rom
3:11-12; 1 Cor 2:14; Eph 2:1, 4; Act
9;3-5a
God's
grace: the man involved in Stephen's death was the next to see the risen,
glorified Jesus Christ.
· It was not
the state Saul saw Jesus Christ in here, but it is implied & later stated.
Act 9:17, 27 &1 Cor 9:1; 15:8
o
Noon bright light = radiance of Shekinah (presence)
glory. 1 Tim 6:16
§
It Seems he went to ground from fear/reverence, not
a fall from a horse
The answer
was shocking…completely refuted all he had lived for & turned his religious
achievement/good works to garbage. Act
9:5-9, Phil 3:7–9
· This was
his worst imaginable nightmare: Jesus Christ was alive & is the Messiah,
Christianity is true, and it is salvation by grace, not religious/good works….Saul
was fighting God.
o
You’re fighting God if you believe good works will get you into heaven.
§
This is not about persecuting Christian's then or
now.
Saul is a
graphic illustration of true repentance; a miraculous dramatic reversal-
· The transformation
is not so much caused by an external miracle of bright light & the voice of
Jesus Christ, as internal transformation & illumination which God brought: 2 Cor 4:4, 6
o
Salvation of men rests ultimately with God &
not with us.
· This is proof
that no sinner is beyond the grasp of God’s irresistible grace.
o
Saul who was so utterly closed & convinced
Christianity was untrue, was saved in spite of himself.
· God
sovereignly reigns even if doesn’t feel like He’s in control. CROSS
o
We can only see God’s predestined plan in rearview
mirror, not in the windshield.
o
What began as a trip with a determined goal to wipe
out the message of Jesus Christ; ended up as a trip with a man devoted to taking that
message to ends of earth…from persecutor to persecuted
§
Imagine Saul & his companions thoughts
· Jesus Christ
extends an abundance of grace/love/patience to humble sinners for salvation
& sanctification. Phil 1:6, Col 2:6, 1 Cor 1:28-31
o
The repetition of Saul’s name signals an intimate
personal address, & reveals Jesus’ merciful love even for one such as
Saul….how much more to Christians?
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