God's Mercy and Grace
Though our conversion experiences vary greatly,
all Christians are to praise and thank God
continually for His saving grace.
Here's Gene:
In the previous story and Principle
that we looked at, we saw a
unique conversion experience.
We saw and read about the
Ethiopian eunuch in that chariot.
And Philip joins him there.
And he's reading the prophet Isaiah.
And he says: teach me.
Who is Isaiah talking about?
And of course, beginning with that very Scripture,
Philip the evangelist actually
explained to him that this was about Jesus.
And of course, this man was converted authentically.
Put his faith in Christ.
And then was baptized.
And then went on his way rejoicing.
So that's one experience of conversion.
But the next experience that we have here
in the book of Acts is one of the most
dramatic experiences of conversion
that's ever been recorded in human history.
And that's the conversion of Saul.
Who then became Paul after his conversion.
So we look first of all
at Saul's evil activities
because it's against this backdrop that
makes his conversion so miraculous:
Now Saul was still breathing threats
and murder against the disciples of the Lord. ...
Think about that.
Threats and murders.
And of course, he had consented
to the death of Stephen.
This is Saul who became Paul
the great apostle to the Gentiles.
He went [that is Saul went] to the high priest
and requested letters from him
to the synagogues in Damascus,
so that if he found any men or women
who belonged to the Way,
he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
Now when it says "the Way,"
that's an interesting statement
because Christians were identified
as those who were the Way,
or belonging to the Way.
And probably that goes back
to something that Jesus said,
when Thomas asked him
about how to find Jesus.
Where he was going.
And remember what Jesus said?
He said: I am the way.
I am the way, I am the truth, and the life.
And no man comes to the Father but by me.
So that concept, the Way,
probably became a way in which
these Christians were identified.
They belonged to the Way.
And so notice what happened
in this particular situation.
He's on his way to Damascus:
[And] as he traveled and was nearing Damascus,
a light from heaven suddenly
flashed around him.
Falling to the ground, he heard
a voice saying to him,
"Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" ...
Now again, this was a voice.
This was Jesus Christ speaking from heaven.
That's a unique experience.
And he says:
..."Who are you, Lord?" ...
And I think that's significant.
Because at that moment, something
is really happening in his heart.
..."Who are you, Lord?" Saul said.
"I am Jesus, ...
Now imagine.
Imagine what this man was feeling.
He's just murdered Stephen.
He's on his way to murder more Christians.
To take them into captivity.
Because they believed in Jesus.
And here's a voice from heaven that says:
..."I am Jesus,
the one you are persecuting," he replied.
"But get up and go into the city,
and you will be told what you must do."
Now what happened is, in the story,
is that the Lord appeared to a man
by the name of Ananias.
Told him that Saul was coming
and he was supposed to meet him.
Ananias predictably was scared to death.
He said: Lord, he's killing Christians.
And God said--the Lord said to Ananias:
This is a man I've chosen.
And he's going to bear my name
to the Gentile world.
So you go. You're safe.
And that picks up the story in verse 17:
Ananias went and [he] entered the house.
He placed his hands on him
and [he] said, "Brother Saul...
You've got a different man here.
You don't have a man on the
outside looking in.
You've got a brother.
Ananias knows that he is a brother.
He is now a part of the family of God:
...Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus,
who appeared to you on the road
you were traveling, has sent me
so that you may regain your sight
and be filled with the Holy Spirit." ...
And again, you have that unique
experience following his conversion.
And by the way, let me just simply say:
If you want to really make a unique study
of the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts:
That almost 100 percent of the time
when the Holy Spirit revealed himself.
Or where they were filled with the Spirit.
Or the Holy Spirit came on them.
Almost 100 percent of the time,
there were always miracles
that were associated with that experience.
This was an authenticating way
to demonstrate that the message
of Christ was for real.
And so just check it out.
It's an interesting study
in terms of being filled with the Holy Spirit.
And by the way, let me also just mention
something for your interest and study.
There's only one place in the Epistles
that refers to the filling of the Spirit.
And that's in Ephesians, where it says
be filled with the Spirit.
And if you look very carefully at that,
it's not the same meaning as what
we see in the book of Acts.
And other phrases that are used
in the Epistles, are there more
common phrases, are walk in the Spirit,
keep in step with the Spirit.
And these are the more normal experiences
that we have as believers.
But in this case, this is the apostle to the Gentiles.
And he was to be filled with the Holy Spirit
to authenticate his conversion:
...At once something like scales fell
from his eyes, and he regained his sight. ...
Another miracle.
...[And] then he got up and he was baptized.
And after taking some food,
he regained his strength.
Paul never forgot that experience.
In fact, I love to share what he wrote
about that experience
and how it impacted his life
in terms of being filled with thanksgiving
and praise to the Lord.
Listen to what he wrote
to Timothy years later:
I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord
who has strengthened me,
because he considered me faithful,
appointing me to the ministry--
even though I was formerly
a blasphemer, a persecutor,
and an arrogant man. ...
What a confession.
Paul never forgot what kind of man he was.
And so he says:
...But I received mercy because I acted
out of ignorance in unbelief,
and the grace of our Lord overflowed,
along with the faith and love
that are in Christ Jesus. ...
God had mercy on me.
And it changed my life--
the direction of my life.
And then he goes on to say:
...This saying is trustworthy
and deserving of full acceptance:
"Christ Jesus came into the world
to save sinners"--and I am the worst of them. ...
Now he's reflecting on his past.
Because he had murdered Christians.
He was a murderer.
And yet God had mercy on him.
And notice he says, here's the reason why:
...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. ...
In other words, if God could save me,
he can save anybody.
And so we have this powerful illustration.
And so you have this culminating statement--
doxology, as it were. A praise and thanksgiving
to God for his salvation:
...Now to the King eternal, immortal,
invisible, the only God,
be honor and glory
forever and ever. Amen.
Here's the Principle that I think
comes from Paul's experience:
Though our conversion experiences
vary greatly, all Christians are
to praise and thank God continually
for His saving grace.
And as we think back over our experiences,
every person in this room,
every person listening online,
our experiences vary.
I think of my wife who's here tonight.
Elaine, when she was just a very young girl,
can't even pinpoint how she moved
into eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.
It was a very, very simple but realistic experience.
I think of my own experience.
I think I might have come to Christ
when I was eight.
I was sincere but I didn't have
any encouragement.
But I know when I was 16,
my experience is a little more dramatic.
I remember the conviction of sin
that was in my life at age 16.
I remember kneeling with my Mom
as she led me to Christ.
It was a different experience
than some people have had.
And we can share.
All of us have different experiences.
We see different experiences Illustrated
within the book of Acts.
And we certainly have that multiplied
many, many times as people
come to Jesus Christ.
But regardless of our experience,
we need to thank God for our salvation.
Now first of all, we need to know
that we are saved by grace.
And that we're sinners.
Paul made that clear here.
And let me just share this
Reflection and Response question:
In what ways should God's saving grace
impact all of our lives as Christians?
Well first of all, we need to realize
that we're sinners saved by grace.
And we read in Romans 3:23:
For all have sinned [and] fall short of the glory of God.
Romans 6:23:
For the wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
And then I love what Paul did
as he came to Romans chapter 12.
Because of our salvation experiences,
this is what he said:
Therefore, brothers and sisters,
in view of the mercies of God...
In view of your salvation experiences.
Whatever those experiences were like:
...I urge you to present your bodies
as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God;
this is your true worship. ...
What is real worship for a Christian?
Real worship is when we
turn ourselves over to Jesus.
Presenting our bodies to him.
Renewing our minds.
Becoming more and more like Jesus.
And so Paul says:
...Do not be conformed to this age, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind,
so that you may discern what is the
good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
So the Principle simply states--
and let me just state it again
because it grows right out of
Paul's experience. And that is:
Though our conversion experiences
vary greatly, all Christians are
to praise and thank God continually
for His saving grace.