I. Specifically asking Christians, think about your Salvation Experience, what was it like? If you don’t remember have you ever rededicated your life to Jesus? We will be discussing the Apostle Saul (Paul’s) salvation experience, how that looks a bit different than what we are used to in the western church. Let’s dive in.
A. Side bar, if you claim to be a Christian and you’re questioning having a salvation experience, or you’re not a Christian and you desire to become one, the Bible tells us that we are all sinners and need a Savior. (Romans 3:23) and that we must repent and believe to be saved. (Mark 1:16)
II. 1Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.
A. In so many ways Saul believed that by going after this new church he was doing the Lord’s work when it came to going after this newly formed church that followed Jesus as the Messiah.
1. As we have discussed in previous weeks, likely this is because they were not following all the 637 Jewish laws, one of them being following the Sabbath.
III. He went to the high priest 2 and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way,
A. This letter would give him gravatas when it came to going after those who he believed were I violation of the law.
IV. he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
A. Saul is continuing his attack on the church that began to drive them out of Jerusalem, he wanted to bring them back so they could be tried in the religious court.
B. Except that here he has left Jerusalem and is on his way to Damascus.
1. People that hate Christianity will do this, they will go to the ends of the earth to try and snuff the faith out. Even if they believe that they are in the right
2. We must understand that as Christians, this is going to happen to us, we are going to be attacked for our faith, and as we are going to discuss later on our character in these times will bear fruit.
V. 3 As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him.
A. On his way to Damascus, heaven opened up and the glory of Jesus began to shine around Paul.
B. Just as the light flashed around Saul, it also shone something else that was to be revealed as Jesus asked the question
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VI. 4 Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
A. Jesus from Heaven here is asking why Paul would be persecuting Him,
B. Yet, it was not Jesus directly
C. Jesus told His followers early on that they would be persecuted but that rather it was not them they were attacking but Jesus Himself.
1. John 15:20, Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.[1]
2. And Jesus also told the seventy-two when they were sent that they would be rejected but that it was not them but Jesus Himself that was being rejected.
a. Luke 10: 16 Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”
b.
VII. 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul said.
A. A valid question here from Saul, in reality I believe that Saul knew who was speaking to him.
B. According to F.F. Bruce, the rabbis of Saul’s day mostly believed that God no longer spoke to man directly, as He did in the days of the prophets. However, they believed that one could hear the “echo” of God’s voice, what they called “the daughter of the voice of God.” Here, Saul learned that one can hear God directly.
1. Don’t we do this sometimes, the Lord asks of us to do something and we question it, is this really you Lord? I’m not really sure you want me to do this.
2. But this is why it is so important to know God’s word, to study His word.
3. Just like any relationship there needs to be time of getting to know each other, it is this way with our relationship with God,
a. What is the best way to get to know Jesus?
b. Studying His word, His character, God’s word is clear on who He is.
4. I do believe that God still speaks to us today, whether or not it is by voice he speaks through His word
C. We knew that Saul being a pharisee did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah,
1.
D. However, Saul had been at Stephens sermon and watched Stephen being stoned.
E. The light that flashed around Saul also caused a light to show Saul his folly.
VIII. “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
A. After having the conversation with Jesus, Saul could do nothing but believe.
B.
IX. 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one. 8 Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. 9 He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink. [2]
A. The light that shone from heaven blinded the men with Saul.
B. The light blinded Saul as well.
C. The men who were with him were not blinded and were thus able to lead Saul into Damascus.
D. This encounter Saul had with Jesus rocked his world, so much so that he could not eat or drink.
1. The question here is why was he not eating or drinking, there are a number of reasons in my own opinion.
a. Fasting is a part of Jewish culture.
b. There was a time of repentance when Saul began to follow Jesus, this time of fasting gave him the proper time of reflection.
c. Remember that Saul was “breathing threats against the followers of Jesus.
d. Think back to the time when you came to the realization that Jesus is the Messiah,
e. In the same way Saul was probably taking some time to
X. Saul’s conversion is an interesting one, but God clearly called him, clearly revealed Himself to Saul.
A. It is key to remember that Saul was not forced into being a follower of Jesus.
B. He knew of the truth and if you remember that Stephen planted the seeds in his sermon from chapter 7.
C. The Holy Spirit ultimately revealed these truths to Saul and Jesus Himself presented Himself to Saul on the Road to Damascus.
D. We must remember that as Christians we are called to be obedient to the Holy Spirit, it comes from our relationship that we can learn to hear the Holy Spirit, we learn to listen to Him, we learn to follow what He is telling us to do.
E. It takes practice to learn to listen, we must stay connected to Gods word, and seeking God.
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jn 15:20.
[2] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ac 9:1–9.