Title: Yesterday's Saul, Today's Paul
Contents
Title: Yesterday's Saul, Today's Paul
Today's text is the testimony of the Apostle Paul. With the information that there were believers in Jesus in Damascus, with the information that there were believers in Jesus in Damascus, he got the confidence of the high priest with his birth, the best education and education, and obtained the trust of the high priest. :1-5) At about noon, a light stronger than sunlight shone, and I was overcome by a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 22:6-7). Lord! who are you? When he asked, “I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting” (Acts 22:8), Saul the persecutor was transformed into Paul the evangelist of Jesus. Paul is bearing his transformed testimony.
1. Christianity is a religion of change.
Hymn: 289:1: The Lord Jesus came into my heart and then I changed and became a new person and I found the true light I always wanted Lord Jesus come into my heart Lord Jesus come into my heart Lord Jesus come into my heart Like a wave of water The overflowing joy of the Lord Jesus come into my heart.
When you meet the living Jesus, your life will surely change. Dear saints, Let's meet Jesus. Ephesians 4:20-24 - “But ye have not thus learned Christ. If ye have truly heard of him and been taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, then ye are corrupt according to the lusts of temptation. Put off the old man who is according to you, but be renewed in your spirit and put on the new man, which after God was created in righteousness and holiness of truth.”
2. Yesterday's persecutor Saul
The Apostle Paul went to Jerusalem to report on the mission and then went to the temple, where he was misunderstood and suffered from the legalists. The commander protected Paul, and with the commander's permission, he testified of his life's journey (Acts 9:1-19, 22:1-21) What was Paul in the past and Saul of yesterday? 1) Paul boasted that he was a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin (Acts 22:3) and was the son of a Pharisee (Acts 23:6). 2) He was educated in the law under Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). 3) Born in Tarsus, Cilicia, from the city (Acts 22:3) 4) He was an ardent Christian persecutor (Acts 22:4). 5) He was a Roman citizen (Acts 22:25-29).
Those who held Roman citizenship at that time were treated as aristocrats. Commander Cheon, who commands the prisoner, said, “I paid a lot of money to get this citizenship.” Paul said, “I have had Roman citizenship since birth. The person who was trying to interrogate withdrew, and the commander of the ranks, knowing that he had Roman citizenship while treating Paul as a prisoner, loosened his bonds and was afraid (Acts 22:28-29). Yesterday's Saul was a man who had everything in the world that people at that time should have. And he was a man who did not feel any guilt while persecuting, arresting, detaining, and doing bad things, saying he was devoted to God's work.
3. Jesus who came as the light Jesus came to this earth as the true light.
John 1:9 - "There was a true light, a light that came into the world and gave light to every man" 11-12 "When he came to his own land, his people did not receive him, but to those who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, they became children of God. John 8:12 - "Jesus spoke again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 12:46 - "I came into the world as a light; so that those who believe may not dwell in darkness.” Light is the power that dispels darkness. Light is the true life, Jesus radiated a light brighter than the sun to Saul driving death toward Damascus. Acts 22:6-“On the way, as I approached Damascus, about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me.” 11-“I could not see because of the brilliance of the light, so I was dragged by the hands of those with me to Damascus. I have entered into the world.” Saul the persecutor had to surrender to Jesus, who came as the light.
4. Today's Paul who was transformed into an evangelist
The persecutor yesterday's Saul became today's evangelist Paul, who was transformed into a new person. Jesus, who came with a great light, changed it. After being transformed, Paul became a man of Jesus Christ. It became the chosen vessel to preach the gospel of Jesus to the Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel (Acts 9:15). It's a complete U-turn. He boasted only his education, his family, his honor, and his cross. 1 Corinthians 15:8-10 - "I am the youngest of the apostles who were born of infertility, and it is by the grace of God that I am what I am."
「Conclusion」 Dear saint, who believed in Jesus and became a new person, I pray that you will be able to testify experientially like the testimony of Paul. Amen.