“A New Creature” Acts 9

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Behold if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

I. A Man with a Burning Passion. 1Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

Galatians 1:14 “I had advanced in Judaism beyond many of my peers, because I was so extremely zealous for the traditions of our fathers.”

John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, the life John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, the life. No man comes to the Father except by me.”

II. A Man With A Broken Will 3 As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; 4 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, 6 but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.”

7 The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.  8 Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Philippians 3: 4-9 4 although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh (Pride). If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more:5 circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. 7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 

8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law (works based salvation), but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,

Psalm 51:17 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

James 4:6 “God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

17 So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 26:16–18 16 Now get to your feet Acts 26:16–18 16 Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. Tell people that you have seen me, and tell them what I will show you in the future. 17 And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles 18 to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’

Philippians 3:12 12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

III. A Man With A New Mission

18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized;  19 and he took food and was strengthened. Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus, 20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

Philippians 2: 5-8 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, oh God.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Behold if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

ARE YOU A NEW CREATURE IN CHRIST?

“A New Creature” Acts 9