Conversion Means “About Face” - Acts 9:1-16(-31)

By David Woods

A few weeks ago, our Sunday School teacher asked, “What does ‘repentance’ mean?”  Someone answered, “It means to make a 360 degree turn.”  Well, this person had the right idea, but his math was a little confused.  So our teacher tried to delicately suggest that repentance meant a 180 degree turn instead.

Our scripture for today is a vivid illustration of what it means to be repent and be converted.

1. A Rebel Persecutor, vv. 1, 2.

Discussion: Describe Paul (or Saul) before his Damascus Road experience.

Possible answers might include: He was an angry man.  He was a murderer.  It was impossible for Paul to be happy while others in his “group” (Judea) held different beliefs than he (the Church).

Read Philippians 3:4-6

Discussion: While looking back we realize that pre-Christian Paul was a murderous individual, what do these verses indicate concerning the Jewish society’s view of Paul?

Discussion: Why is it so important that we realize and teach that all have sinned and are in need of a Saviour?

2. A Humble Penitent, vv. 3-19.

Discussion: What does Paul acknowledge in verse 5?

Paul’s conversion experience is an amazing story.  If Paul were to visit our church and share his testimony, many of us might be tempted to think our conversion story to be humdrum in comparison.

Note, however, what was missing in Paul’s conversion experience.  Probably all of us know the “ABC’s of Salvation.”

A - admit you are a sinner.

B - believe on Christ for salvation.

C - confess Christ as Lord.

Most likely, all of us have said the “Sinner’s Prayer.”  Paul simply asked, “Who are you, Lord?” and then went into the city.

Discussion: Was Paul’s conversion experience deficient?  Why not?

(Paul may not have prayed the “Sinner’s Prayer” there on the Damascus Road, but by his words and actions he displayed faith in Christ.  He called Jesus “Lord” - the One Whom he had persecuted.  He obeyed Jesus’ command and went to the city to wait further instructions.)

Discussion: What lesson(s) does this story teach us about the meaning of conversion?

(Becoming a Christian is not so much about the exact words you say or a formula you must follow.  Instead, we are saved as we acknowledge that we are sinners and need Christ’s forgiveness and then surrender ourselves to Him - however or in whatever way we acknowledge these things.)

After Paul became a Christian on the Damascus Road, he followed Jesus’ instruction to go into the city and wait.

Discussion: What does Paul’s example teach us about how the new Christian should live?

• He should immediately obey whatever he knows and understands to be the Word and will of God, v. 8.
• He should wait for God’s continued direction, vv. 8, 9.
• He should display a hunger for God, v. 9.
• He should immediately tell others what God has done for him, v. 20.

3. A Bold Preacher, vv. 20-31.

Discussion: Why did the Christians in Jerusalem not trust Paul?  Can we blame them?

Discussion: In what ways do we sometimes fail to fully accept new Christians into our midst?

(We may treat the new Christian who may not live by all our personal convictions as a “second-rate” Christian.  Our words and attitudes may reveal our lack of acceptance, for example, by saying, “We’re so glad you came today” to a new Christian who has attended regularly for the past three months.  We may fail to consider to use them in any position of leadership within the church.)

Discussion: Why do we fail sometimes to fully accept new Christians into our midst?

(It may be that we confuse our personal convictions with the explicit commands of God’s Word.  It may be ignorance/lack of sensitivity on our part; we just don’t think about what we say and the unspoken messages of our attitudes/actions may convey.  We may be threatened by our loss of influence/power in the church as new people come in and occupy more of the pastor’s time and attention.  We should also be careful not to put the spiritually immature in positions that will inflate their ego and/or lead them to a fall.)

Discussion: Paul received a great call from God (v. 15).  Paul was mightily used by God to spread the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire.  Should we consider the call Paul received from God as unique or may his example have some application for us?

(Paul’s call was unique, however, that all Christians are Christ’s workmanship, created to do good works, Eph. 2:10.)

The lesson I believe our scripture teaches us very clearly is that:

Big Idea: God’s grace transforms the sinner into a saint.

Paul, before he became a Christian, was a very angry man.  In society’s eyes he was a good man, yet he was a very sinful person.  After Christ confronted Paul and he repented of his sinfulness, Paul’s life took a dramatic and lasting change.  Paul boldly preached the Gospel despite great persecution and difficult.  He truly became a saint.

Often, the “saint” has been regarded as an especially holy person, but truly all Christians are saints.  Furthermore, while most of us may not gain the notoriety of Paul, we can all be greatly used of God.  It is not what we have done or what we can do, but it is what the grace of God has done and will do in and through us.  Thank God for His grace!