INTRODUCTION
1. Are you someone who has contemplated becoming
a Christian, but
wondered...
a. Would God forgive you for the terrible things
you've done?
b. Could you live the kind of life God desires
of you?
2. There is a man who serves as an example for
you...
a. Of the grace and mercy that is available for
you
b. Of the faith and love that you can have in
Jesus
[His name is Paul, and in
“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath
enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 13Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and
injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant
with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 15This is a
faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the
world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 16Howbeit 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. 17Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible,
the only wise God, be honour
and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
I. DEMONSTRATING THE GRACE OF OUR LORD
A. NOTE PAUL'S FORMER LIFE...
1. He was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent
(violent) man
a. Consenting to the death of Stephen
Acts 7:60
“And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's
feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice,
Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell
asleep.”
b. Persecuting Christians even to Damascus
“And Saul,
yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord,
went unto the high priest, 2And desired of him letters to Damascus to the
synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women,
he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.”
. Enraged against Christians, compelling them to
blaspheme
“I verily
thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of
Jesus of Nazareth. 10Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of
the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief
priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. 11And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and
compelled them to
blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.”
2. His goal was to destroy the church of God
“For ye have
heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond
measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:”
3. He was indeed "chief" of sinners
-- Yet the grace of the Lord was
"exceedingly abundant" and he
obtained mercy!
B. WHAT ABOUT YOUR LIFE...?
1. Yes, you have committed sin
“For all have
sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
a. Perhaps you are a good, moral person like the
Eunuch,
Cornelius, or Lydia
b. Perhaps you are a murderer and blasphemer
like Paul was
2. In either case, Jesus came to into the world
to save sinners
“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all
acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I
am chief.”
a. The grace of the Lord is exceedingly abundant
b. The Lord is long-suffering
“he Lord is
not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all
should come to repentance.”
-- Will you not let Paul's pattern move you to
believe on the Lord
for everlasting life?
“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.”
[There is no sin too great, no crime so heinous,
that cannot be forgiven
by the grace of the Lord! The conversion of Paul serves as evidence
that no matter who you are or what you've done,
you can be saved. Paul
also serves as a pattern...]
II. DEMONSTRATING THE FAITH AND LOVE IN JESUS
A. NOTE PAUL'S SERVICE TO CHRIST...
1. The Lord put Paul into the ministry
“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath
enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.”
To turn
people from the power of Satan to God
“To open their eyes, and to turn them from
darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive
forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith
that is in me.”
2. He became a pattern of the faith and love
that is possible in
Christ
Striving
to be the best he could be
“Not as though I had already attainted, either
were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for
which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to
have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are
behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward
the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us
therefore, as many as be pefect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be
otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.”
Learning
contentment, finding strength
“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have
learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to
be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am
instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
-- Paul provides the example of a life of faith
and love that
leads to peace
“Those things, which ye have both learned and
received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with
you.”
B. WHAT ABOUT YOUR LIFE...?
1. If you are already a Christian
a. Are you experiencing the faith and love that
is Christ?
1) Faith that comes from the Word of God?
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by
the word of God.”
2) Love that comes by being taught of God?
“But as touching brotherly love ye need not that
I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And
indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we
beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;”
b. Are you following the pattern of Paul...?
1) Cooperating with the grace of God to turn
from sin?
2) Ever pressing onward toward spiritual
maturity?
3) Faithful to whatever ministry the Lord places
upon you?
2. If you are not yet a Christian
a. Why not take the step of faith like Paul did?
1) He did what the Lord commanded him
“And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be
baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”
2) He started anew, walking by faith and not by
sight
“(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”
b. Why not accept the love that is available in
Jesus?
1) The love of God, your heavenly Father
“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that
he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if
God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”
2) The love of Jesus, your wonderful Savior
“As the Father hath loved
me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye
shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide
in his love.”
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