Living Free
FULL CONVERSION
Those who are living free in the Lord are those who are experiencing a full conversion.
(Galatians 1:11-24) I want
you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is
not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I
taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. For you have
heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the
church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many
Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by His grace, was
pleased to reveal His Son to me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles,
I did not consult any man, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were
apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to
Damascus. Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with
Peter and stayed with him fifteen days.
I saw none of the other apostles - only James,
the Lord’s brother. I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no
lie. Later I went to Syria and Cilicia. I was personally unknown to the
churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only heard the report: “The man who
formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.”
And they praised God because of me.
1. Obvious
Faith
(Acts 9:1-6) Saul was... breathing out murderous
threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him
for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who
belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to
Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven
flashed around him. He fell to the
ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?” “Who are you, Lord”? Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you
are persecuting,” He replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be
told what you must do.”
A. Paul put all his faith for life in
Jesus.
B. Paul’s life obviously
changed.
C. Genuine faith in Christ is life
transforming.
2. Immediate
Service
(Acts 9:19a) After taking
some food, he regained his strength.
(Galatians 1:17b) I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.
(Acts
9:19) Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.
(Acts 9:20) At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.
A. Paul began serving the Lord very soon after he trusted Jesus.
B. How much more time is going to lapse before we begin serving Jesus?
3. Godly Influence
(Galatians 1:24) And they praised God
because of me.