OceanSide church of Christ
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THE CONVERSION OF SAUL OF
Victor M.
Eskew
INTRODUCTION
A.
The conversion of Saul of
Tarsus is one of the most radical of all the conversion accounts in the book of
Acts.
1.
As a fierce opponent of
Jesus Christ, Saul was stopped in his tracks.
2.
Not only was he stopped, but
he became an apostle of the Christ.
3.
Even Paul marveled about
this at times (I Cor. 15:9-10a).
For I am the
least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I
persecuted the church of God. But
by the grace of God I am what I am…
B.
Last week, we began a
discussion of Saul’s conversion.
1.
We noted that Saul can be
viewed in five (5) different states in this process.
2.
We examined two (2) of them
last week.
a.
The Persecutor.
b.
The Persuaded.
3.
In this lesson, we will examine the last three
states.
I. THE
PENITENT
A.
Repentance is a vital part
of the conversion process.
1.
Several verses stress its
importance.
a.
Luke 13:3
I tell you,
Nay: but, except ye repent, ye
shall all likewise perish.
b.
Acts
2:38
Then Peter said
unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you…
c.
Acts
17:30
And the times of
this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to
repent.
2.
Repentance is a voluntary
act of the human will.
a.
It involves change.
b.
It involves the death of the old man of sin (
Knowing this,
that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed,
that hence forth we should not serve sin.
c.
It involves the production of fruits, or works, that are worthy of
repentance (Matt. 3:8; Acts 26:20).
Bring forth
fruits meet for repentance.
B.
Question: Is it possible for us to know if Saul
repented? The answer is,
“Yes.”
1.
Godly sorrow is what leads
to repentance.
a.
II Corinthians 7;10.
For godly sorrow
worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh
death.
b.
In the conversion accounts,
we see some evidence that Saul possessed a godly sorrow.
1)
While in a blind condition
in
And he was three
days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
2)
The text also says that he
was praying during this time (Acts 9:11).
And the Lord
said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and
inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus: for, behold, he
prayeth.
2.
Saul’s penitent heart can
also be seen in the fruits he afterward brought forth.
a.
Remember, he went to
b.
Let’s read of his actions following his conversion (Acts
9:19-20).
And when he had
received meat, he was strengthened.
Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at
1)
He had fellowship with the
people he longed to destroy.
2)
He proclaimed in the
synagogue that Jesus is the Son of God.
II. THE
PUPIL
A.
Saul had been told to go
into the city, and it would be told him what he must do (Acts
9:6).
B.
A
Christian Jew named Ananias was commissioned by the Lord to go to him and teach
him what he needed to do (Acts 9:10-16).
C.
Saul must now become a
pupil.
1.
There were two major things
Paul needed to be taught.
a.
He needed to learn what he needed to do to become a
Christian.
b.
He needed to know what would be expected of his as an
apostle.
2.
Acts 22:14-16
And he said, The
God of our Father hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see
that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all
men of what thou hast seen and heard.
And now why tarriest thou?
Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of
the Lord.
D.
As a pupil, one is
ultimately brought to a crossroads.
Paul now reached this point.
What would he do? As a wise
pupil, he obeyed the truth.
1.
In Acts 26:19 Paul told Agrippa:
I was not disobedient unto the heavenly
vision.
2.
In Acts 9:18 we learn that Paul arose, and was
baptized.
E.
Christianity is a taught
religion. At some point, the
Christian was a pupil (John 6:45).
It is written in
the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and
hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
F.
The wise pupil will hear and
obey; the foolish will hear and refuse to obey (Matt.
7:24-27).
Therefore
whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a
wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods
came, and the wind blew, beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings
of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built
his house upon the sand; and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the
winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of
it.
III. THE
PROSELYTE
A.
The final position Paul
occupied was that of a proselyte.
1.
Most of the time the word
refers to one converted to the Jewish religion.
2.
However, the simple
definition is a new convert.
3.
Saul was a proselyte of the
Christian religion.
B.
Paul had entered into a new
way of life, and there was no turning back (Phil 3:7-11).
But what things
were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things
but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all
things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 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: that I may know him, and the power of
his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable
unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the
dead.
1.
The opponent became the
apostle.
2.
The rabbi became a
preacher.
3.
The persecutor became the
persecuted.
C.
Saul lived faithfully to his
calling all the days of his life.
As his life came to it end, he eagerly awaited his victory crown (II Tim.
4:6-8).
For I am now
ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have
finished my course, I have kept the faith.
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the
Lord the righteous judge shall give me at that day…
D.
Saul lived his life as a
Christian ought: faithful,
dedicated, committed, courageous, and zealous. He sets an example for each of us (I
Cor. 11:1).
Be ye followers
of me, even as I also am of Christ.
CONCLUSION
A.
Paul saw his whole
conversion experience as a marvelous example for all, and example that involved
the longsuffering and mercy of God toward sinful man (I Tim.
1:16).
Howbeit for this
cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all
longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to
life everlasting.
B.
If God was willing to save
Saul, He is willing to save all men, regardless of how vile and sinful their
lives.
C. Follow Paul. Live as Paul. And, die with the same hope that Paul had.