The Power of Conversion

Acts 9:1-16

Galatians 1:1 -  “Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead)” 

• Paul
  • As with most of the New Testament writings, this is a letter.
    • It begins with the author’s name and title.
    • This is so that you know who it is from and upon what authority it was written.
    • The fact that the author introduces himself as “Paul, an apostle” indicates that what follows is personal, important, and authoritative.
  • Paul introduces himself by his Gentile name, which actually means “small” or “little.”
    • His Gentile name might indicate his physical stature [many theologians believe that Paul was a short, possibly unattractive man].
    • His name is quite fitting since he considered himself to be the smallest [or insignificant] of saints.
      • Ephesians 3:8 (NKJV) To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
    • His being the apostle to the Gentiles is very significant considering the content of this letter.
  • Throughout this letter, he is battling against the Judaizers who were corrupting the true Gospel of faith in Jesus Christ.
    • In Chapter 1, he defends his own conversion, emphasizing his relationship to the Jewish faith
    • Chapter 2, he defends his calling to preach to the Gentiles and how he even confronted the apostle Peter about the sincerity and purity of the Gospel of faith in Christ.
    • Chapter 3, he even uses the Galatians own conversion and sanctification as evidence that what they are turning to is a false Gospel with a false Messiah. And, he cites the Old Testament, the Scripture which the Judaizers were using, as proof for the one true Gospel.
    •  In Chapter 4, he calls the Galatians to repent of this false Gospel of works and return to the “true Jerusalem” and remain free from the bonds of Mt. Sinai’s covenant.
    • In Chapter 5, he reminds them that freedom in Christ means fulfilling the Law through His love.
    • And, in Chapter 6, we see Paul remind the Galatians of the relationship between the flesh and the grace of God, giving further warning against turning away from the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
  • If one phrase could sum up this entire letter, it would be the first sentence.
    • Galatians 1:1 (NKJV) Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead),
    • This letter serves as Paul’s own testimony of the converting power of the Gospel.
    • Philippians 3:4-11
    • Galatians 1:23 (NKJV) But they were hearing only, "He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy."
  • Paul, in this letter, is fighting against what he once was.
    • In Acts 8-9 we saw how he ravaged the Church and persecuted those who he saw as evil, thinking that what he was doing was honorable to God.
    • He had a zeal for the Law and was a Pharisee, setting himself up in his own righteousness.
    • And yet, when confronted with the risen Lord Jesus, he had no choice but to walk away changed, forever!
      • Let this lesson be true of all of us: if we have indeed encountered the Jesus Christ of Scripture, then we ought to be changed.
      • If we are not changed, then we do not know Him!
    • Paul went from feared Pharisee to beloved apostle.
    • This is the changing power of the Gospel!
  • Here is the man who went from making Christians suffer to being one who suffered much for Christ and His Church.
    • All through the book of Acts, we see Paul defending the Gospel and suffering for it.
    • We see him preaching and teaching the Church and making disciples, all things he would have probably hung himself for doing in his former days.
    • The man, who hated Christ, now loved him: that is the changing power of the Gospel!
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
  • No man knew this better than Paul.
    • He understood what it means to be a new creation, he was one!
    • His old self and his old ways had passed away [they died!] when the Lord Jesus spoke to him on that Damascus road.
    • When the scales fell from his eyes and he was baptized, his old, Pharisee, Jewish self was put to death, and his new, Christian life began.
  • As a Jew, and a Pharisee, Paul despised Gentiles, considering them to be unclean.
    • In Christ, however, he zealously defended them, even against his own countrymen and fellow apostles.
    • Galatians 2:11-16 [read]
    • Jesus Christ had invaded the heart and life of Paul, and brought out of the grave that soul who was dead in his own trespasses and sins.
    • Jesus Christ breathed into him that new resurrection life and made him a new creation, one that would serve Him well and bring much honor and glory to His name.
    • Jesus Christ took that vessel of clay, broke it, bathed it in clean water, and made for Himself a vessel of honor.
• What is the application from studying a man named Paul?
  • We read about his life, conversion, and the great things he did in Jesus’ name, and we must be confronted with this question:
    • What about me?
    • Have I been changed?
    • Have I truly met this Jesus of the Bible, or do I have a notion of who He is and want to stay comfortable with that?
    • Have I been blinded by His light, taken to my knees before Him, been broken over my sins which nailed Him to the cross, and then have Him wash me clean, and reform me into His own child?
    • Is Jesus Christ my Lord?
    • Or, have I taken pictures of Him and fashioned my own Jesus, one over whom I am lord?
  • Can you truly say you have met this Jesus and been changed?
    • Is there evidence of that repentance over your sins, which is required for your salvation?
    • Do you trust in Him alone to save you from not only the punishment of sin, but sin itself?
      • Galatians 1:4 (NKJV) who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
    • Or, do you trust Him and yourself to make it happen?
    • Are you a convert wrought by God, or by man?
  • Do what is required of you: test yourself.
    • 2 Corinthians 13:5 (NKJV) Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified.
    • If you find your repentance merely a worldly sorrow, then repent of your repentance!
    • If you find your trust is fleeting, then run to the open arms of the Savior, for He is eternally faithful, even when you are faithless!
    • Don’t leave this place until you are certain that Jesus Christ is in you, and that you are in Him.
      • The evidence will be the fruit of a life changed indeed.