TEXT: Acts 26:13-21
READING: John 15:1-17
But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 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. (Acts 26:16-18)
SUBJ: The Lord’s declared purpose for Paul as a pattern for the Gospel and evangelism along with a description of the believing experience.
AIM: That we might both study and apply that purpose for us that is seen in Paul.
INTR: Purpose was there in the initial revelation of the Lord to Paul, and it became his life and was always foremost in his mind and heart. This was his defense of the Gospel before Agrippa.
1. While the conversion of Paul is unique there are elements of it that are common to all, and we may be both inspired and instructed by it.
2. However, the tendency is to remember the Damascus experience and not hear all the Lord said with regard to purpose.
3. The commission of Paul included the Gospel but set forth the method by which many would be brought to Christ, and we do well to be so instructed. We preach to the outcome knowing that it is of the Lord to bring it about.
THESIS: God’s message of salvation is to go out through His servants. Salvation belongs to the Lord both in method and the end result. We consider this with the Lord’s purpose for Paul:
I. His Purpose for Paul in Regeneration
1. The thoughts of eyes being opened and being turned from darkness to light imply that which comes in regeneration. (It is a one-time thing)
1) These are things that cannot be willed by the individual.
2) These are things that imply a change of state rather than a decision.
2. Yet, we preach “you must be born again.” This is a mysterious work of the Spirit and does not come by persuasion, yet it is accompanied by persuasion.
3. Our focus is upon all the word of God and the manner of ministry while noting that the miracle must be inserted. James 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Ex. “flee from the wrath to come.”
4. Paul would then preach to unregenerate Jews and Gentiles with both the proclamation of the Gospel and with appeal to repent and believe the Gospel. God often moves in immediate conjunction with the witnessing of the Word. Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
II. His purpose for Paul in Conversion
1. We become conscious of the fact that there is a battle for control in the lives of each of us and conversion is coming to the awareness that we are drawn to the things of our Lord and away from the things of this world.
1) Satan is characterized as a usurper of power and authority over many – he has right to none.
2) To be experientially applied: Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
3) S. A. Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
2. The ultimate fact is that sin shall not have dominion over you!
3. Not unto the power of God (though it is so) but unto God, the life of God and the service of God, and particularly the love of God. The submission to God is liberty!
4. There is struggle in conversion and in being pulled from the control of Satan to God and so we preach with encouragement.
III. His purpose for Paul in faith
1. The essence of the Gospel is necessary to receive forgiveness.
1) The message to those at Antioch of Pisidia – “Through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins.”
2) We note that something is transferred (received)
3) Forgiveness must be based on something – the Gospel report of the cross
4) The receiving of forgiveness is difficult to experience when one has been awakened to the “exceeding sinfulness of sin.”
2. But then the gift of repentance is accompanied by the gift of faith (neither of these can be self generated) and the word of forgiveness becomes real and comforting.
3. There is then the ability to look to the inheritance and by faith we “see it afar.”
1) Having been turned from the control of sin we are enabled by faith to lay hold on the eternal promise of God in Christ – He is the “yea and amen” of all.
2) This was the faith Paul preached
4. Thus, we continually make presentation of the “faith of God’s elect.”
IV. His obedience to the “heavenly vision.” (v. 19)
1. His obedience was not to the experience but to the person who revealed Himself in Paul and to Paul. See, But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: (Galatians 1:15-16).
2. Paul’s immediate response had been, “who art thou Lord?”
3. His message to all was that they should repent, turn to God, and do works that answered to true repentance. (v. 20)
4. The message was hated then and is hated now. (v. 21)
