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Off With the Old On With the New
Acts 7:55-8:1-3 also Acts 9:1-7
To obtain salvation is like taking a bath, you can't take a bath until you take off your dirty clothes, and you can't
obtain salvation until you shed your dirty or sinful ways. What I want to do today is show you how to take off the old and
put on the new. The example I am going to use is probably one of the greatest events to ever take place; I am talking about
the conversion of Paul (Saul).
Let us look at Acts 7:58-8:1-3
58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose
name was Saul.
Here is the first glimse of Paul as a man totally againest Jesus and his teachings. Lets move on.
Chapter 8
1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was
at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
Here we see a man, a good man that is respected in the community, one who is living by the law. A man that is accepted
by the people of his day. He was a member of the religious community he had their backing and support. He saw nothing wrong
with what he was doing.
He was taught that if he followed the law of Moses, (the Ten Commandments) he would be alright with God which is still
true today jesus did not throw out the ten commandants, he expanded on them. People think that if I live right I will go to
heaven. Not true,the only way to heaven is through Jesus. That is why Hell is full of good People. Jesus said in John 14:6
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
This means exactly what it says, no Jesus no heaven no way, on the other hand if you Know Jesus then you will Know Heaven.
We know a lot of people that fit this description of Saul, we may even live with some. They live life pretty much the
way they want to. They do not break the law, they do not do things that cause hurt to anyone. They work hard and provide for
their family, and take care of their kids. They are accepted and respected in the community. But they do not really know Jesus
and some will say "I don't do the church thing" or "I'm not into religion". Some even go to church and
teach Sunday school, they tell the people at church I'm saved. Some really do not know the difference between be saved and
going to church. Why? Because there are so many Christians trying to please the world instead of serving God that it is hard
to see a difference between a Christian and a church going person. If you profess to be a Christian then you better live like
one. I am not accepted by most people in the community because I don't bend when it comes to living for Christ. I am always
thankful no matter what happens, I always pray before eating, I pray at work or when driving home. Some people will say lets
do something Sunday, you want die if you miss church once. But what would happen if I did?
How could I answer to God and not be Guilty living like everyone of the lost of this world. I will not take that risk,
I will not bend and you shouldn't either.
We see here that Saul is persecuting the church; he is even going out and bring in Christians to be executed or imprisoned
because of there belief in Christ Jesus. He even stood by
guarding the clothes of those who were stoning Stephen to death. He went to the priest and got their approval to go through
out the land and bring back anyone who believed in Jesus. By our standards he was a sinner of the worst kind. He was worst
than a drunkard, or drug addict. He was worst than a prostitute, he was even worst than that person you think so little of.
So how did he become the writer of most of the New Testament? How could he change so much? He could not do it except for the
fact he met Jesus and found salvation. Look at Acts 9:1-7
1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or
women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against
the pricks.
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.
7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
He met Jesus, and was told where to go to find out what to do in order to obtain salvation.
That is why we come to church, to meet Jesus and find out what to do, but you do not have to be in church to meet him,
a lot of people meet him on the road of life just like Saul. I did. I was in my living room when I met Jesus I can't remember
the two men who introduced me to Jesus but I remember that night in Nov. 1974 and just like Saul I was told where to go in
order to find out what I needed to do. Saul went and met Ananias and was told of what Jesus want of him. Nothing has changed,
when we meet Jesus he sends us to find out what to do, to a Church or Pastor. And just like Saul we shed our old ways and
become someone new. Saul had been blinded by the world but when he met Jesus he became blinded to the world and after he met
with Ananias his eyes were opened and he could see the world as it really was. The same way we see the world after meeting
Jesus. Jesus is still doing things the same way today. The Bible says God is the same today as he will be tomorrow and the
same yesterday, God does not change. But we must if we want to see heaven. We must do away with our old ways and develop new
ways, Godly ways.
Are you ready to take off the old and put on the new? Have you met Jesus? Maybe he has sent you here to find out what
you must do. Open your heart and listen to Jesus.
Sermon by Bro. Roger
Testomony Of A Believer
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