Galatians 01:13-14 Conversion of Saul

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Text: Galatians 1:13-14

Introduction

1. Fundamental to the Christian faith is the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…

a. If Christ was not raised, our faith is in vain – cf. 1 Corinthians 15:14, 17

b. If Christ was not raised, the apostles were liars – cf. 1 Corinthians 15:15

2. One evidence for the resurrection is the transformation that took place in the lives of those who knew Jesus…

3. An amazing transformation that took place was that in the conversion of Saul of Tarsus…

a. A devout Pharisee, persecutor of Christians

b. Who became Paul the apostle, persecuted by his Jewish brethren

Body

I. SAUL’S FORMER MANNER OF LIFE

A. HE PERSECUTED THE CHURCH…

1. In Jerusalem – Acts 8:1-3

2. And beyond – Acts 9:1-2

— Something he believed he ought to do – Acts 26:9-11

B. HE WAS ADVANCING IN JUDAISM…

1. As a scholar, trained at the feet of Gamaliel – Acts 22:3; 5:34

2. In social standing, advancing beyond many of his contemporaries

a. Holding positions of religious power – cf. Acts 26:12

b. Which likely included access to financial power

C. HE WAS ZEALOUS FOR HIS TRADITIONS…

1. Proud to be a Hebrew – Philippians 3:4-5

2. Proud to be a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee – cf. Acts 23:6

a. A conservative sect of the Jews

b. Noted for their opposition to Jesus during His ministry- Matthew 12:14

— With such a religious background, he was naturally prejudiced – Acts 26:9

[Yet this prejudiced, prominent Pharisee, fierce in his opposition to Jesus and His church, became one of the most influential Christians of all time. How did this happen? Let’s examine several…]

II. SAUL’S CONVERSION

A. PERHAPS THERE WAS AN ULTERIOR MOTIVE…

1. Could it have been wealth?

a. He had that with the Jews

b. He left it for the poverty of following Christ – cf. 1 Corinthians 4:11-12; Acts 20:33-34

2. Could it have been fame?

a. He had that with the Jews

b. Consider what he experienced as a Christian – cf. 1 Corinthians 4:10, 13

1) Regarded as foolish and weak, even by other Christians

2) Viewed as the filth of the world by those in the world

3. Could it have been power?

a. He had this with the Jews

b. Compare this with what he suffered as a Christian – cf. 2 Corinthians 11:24-28

— Indeed, no ulterior motive can be found to explain Saul’s conversion

B. PERHAPS HE WAS DECEIVED…

1. Then who deceived him?

a. Friends would not, for he was their champion against the Christians

b. Christians could not, because of his persecution against them

1) Putting them into prison, chasing them into other towns- Acts 8:3; 9:1-2

2) Even after his conversion, many feared him – cf. Acts 9:26

2. His testimony does not allow for the possibility of deception

a. He claimed to receive his gospel from Jesus, not man – Galatians 1:11-12

b. He claimed to see Jesus raised from the dead – 1 Corinthians 15:8

— The empirical nature of his testimony precludes the possibility of deception

C. PERHAPS HE WAS MAD…

1. Such was the conclusion of Festus, the governor – Acts 26:24

2. Others have tried to explain his conversion in psychological terms

a. That his intense persecution of Christians gave him a guilt-ridden conscience

b. That combined with the heat on the road to Damascus, he became delirious and only thought he saw Jesus!

3. Yet consider the testimony of Saul (Paul)

a. He had a clear conscience regarding persecuting the Christians – Acts 23:1

1) It was something he thought he should do – Acts 26:9

2) He did it out of ignorance, for which he knew he received mercy – 1 Timothy 1:13

b. He said he saw Jesus more than once

1) Not just on the road to Damascus

2) But on other occasions as well – Acts 18:9-10; 22:17-21; 23:11; 2 Corinthians 12:8-9

— Read his epistles, do they seem like letters written by a mad man?

D. THE ONLY PLAUSIBLE EXPLANATION: HE SAW JESUS…!

1. This is the explanation given by Paul (Saul) himself

a. Before the Jerusalem mob – Acts 22:1-16

b. Before King Agrippa and Festus the governor – cf. Acts 26:12-23

2. It is the only explanation that explains his conversion

a. Why he was willing to forego wealth, fame, and power

b. Why he was willing to suffer poverty, shame, and persecution

— As he said “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision…” – Acts 26:19

Conclusion

1. The conversion of Saul is best explained by…

a. His testimony that it was the resurrected Jesus who appeared to him

b. Not once, but continuously throughout the rest of his life

— Serving as one of the greatest evidences for the resurrection of Jesus!

2. What is the significance of the resurrection of Jesus?

a. For the unbeliever, it verifies…

1) The fact of His deity – cf. Romans 1:4

2) The fact of final judgment – cf. Acts 17:30-31

b. For the believer, it verifies…

1) The adequacy of our justification (Jesus’ blood does cover our sins) – cf. Romans 4:25

2) The hope for our own resurrection – cf. 1 Corinthians 15:20-22

3. God has born witness to the resurrection of Jesus from the dead through such evidence as the conversion of Saul

4. Have you responded to this evidence with the obedience of faith?