OceanSide church of Christ

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Four Great Questions from Life of Paul

 

Introduction:

1.    Many profound questions in Bible

2.    God asked Adam, “Where art thou?”

3.    Samuel asked Saul, “Hath the Lord as great delight…?”

4.    Job inquired, “If a man die, shall he live again?”

5.    A study of just these would involve much time

6.    Four great questions asked prior to Saul’s conversion

7.    Four questions worthy of our consideration

 

I.                 “Why Persecutest Thou Me?” (Acts 9:4)

Acts 9:4  And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

A.  Question reveals Lord’s personal involvement w/His people

1.    One cannot persecute the church w/o persecuting Christ

2.    Cannot injure member of His body w/o injuring Him

B.   Jesus had already ascended

1.    Had occurred some 5 years previous

2.    Though not on earth personally, still asked, “Why persecutest thou ME?”

3.    Proof that the church is His body

a.    Col 1:18  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

b.     Gal 1:13  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:

C.  Same true today

1.    What we do to brethren, we do to Christ

2.    Mt. 25:31-46

3.    When spread rumor, gossip or otherwise do things against church or members, Jesus asks, “Why persecutest…?”

 

II.            “Who Art Thou Lord?” (Acts 9:4)

A.  Until this moment Saul thought he knew

1.    Thought he was a fraud

2.    Acts 26:9  I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

3.    —thought he favored God by so doing

B.   A most profound question—Who is Jesus?

1.    Different answers given

a.    Modernists, atheists, infidels

b.    John BaptistJohn 1:36  And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

c.     PeterMatt 16:16  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

d.   ThomasJohn 20:28  And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

2.    Answered by Jesus Himself

a.    To Paul—“I am Jesus whom thou persecutest”

b.    To multitudesJohn 6:35  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

c.     To PhariseesJohn 8:12  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

                                                                                                                              i.      John 10:9  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

d.   To ThomasJohn 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

e.     To apostlesJohn 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

f.      To 7 churchesRev 1:18  I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

                                                                                                                              i.      Rev 22:13  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

3.    He is the Savior of the world  - John 4:42  And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

 

III.        “What Shall I Do, Lord?” (Acts 22:10)

Acts 22:10  And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.

 

A.  Didn’t ask about others

1.    Not, “What should Gamaliel do?”

2.    Not, “What should the council do?”

3.    Not, “What should mother and father do?”

4.    But, “What shall I do?”

B.   He did not receive the answer many would give today

1.    Not told, “Nothing you can do”

2.    Not, “Your faith is all you need”

3.    Not, “Accept Jesus as personal Savior”

4.    Not saved on road to Damascus! If so, Jesus did not know it, Ananias did not know it, Saul did not know it

C.  Was told to go into the city

Acts 9:6  And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

1.    There told what to do

Acts 22:12-16  And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there(13)  Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.  (14)  And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.  (15)  For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.  (16)  And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

2.    Message clear, as seen by next question

 

IV.       “Why Tarriest Thou?” (Acts 22:16)

Acts 22:16  And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

 

A.   Again, not the response revealed by many to day

1.    Saul believed and was truly penitent

Acts 9:9-11  And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.  (10)  And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.  (11)  And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

2.    More than enough for some people

3.    Not enough to satisfy demands of truth

B.   Only thing told him was to be baptized, washing away sins

1.    Jesus did not lie

2.    Saul was TOLD what to do

a.    Wasn’t faith only

b.    Wasn’t “asking Jesus into his heart”

c.     Was baptism to wash away sins

C.  Question demands immediate attention—“Why tarriest thou?”

1.    Many excuses have been given in reply to it

2.    Many swept into eternity w/o ever replying

D.  What is your reply?

 

Conclusion:

1.    Are you rejecting truth? Then rejecting Christ

2.    Know who He is

3.    Know what He demands of you

4.    “Why tarriest thou?”