Paul, The Pattern 1 Tim.1:12-17

1 Tim.1:16 Purpose 1 Blessing Purpose 3 Savior Blessing “However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life” First: (fore- most example of Lord’s longsuff.) Purpose 2

Paul Our prime example of what Christ’s longsuffering can accomplish. 2. Our pattern, prototype, model, sketch of the way of salvation.  We must be saved as Paul was. “An example to those who would later believe in him 1 Tm 1:16” – L-N.

I. Saul’s Conversion Polled

People say Saul was saved… 1.When Lord appeared to him 1.When Lord appeared to him (Ac.22:6-9) 22:15; 26:16... (Apostle, 1 Co.15) 22:16, conditions are non-negotiable 22:10, to be told in city, not on road ▪ Miracles were necessary to become an apostle, not a Christian. ▪ If we must see Lord, we cannot be saved. 1 Co.15:8 ▪ Place is incidental for us (Mk.16:15)

People say Saul was saved… 1.When Lord appeared to him (Ac.22:6-9) 2.On road when he called Jesus “Lord” 2.On road when he called Jesus “Lord” (10) Lord means Master, 1 Pt.3:6; Mt.7:21 After calling Him “Lord” he still... needed information in the city (10) had sins to wash away (16)

People say Saul was saved… 1.When Lord appeared to him (Ac.22:6-9) 2.On road when he called Jesus “Lord” (10) 3.In city by fasting and prayer 3.In city by fasting and prayer (9:9, 11) Admits he was not saved on road Is fasting necessary for salvation? He was not told to “fast and pray” Ananias did not say, “Keep praying”

People say Saul was saved… 1.When Lord appeared to him (Ac.22:6-9) 2.On road when he called Jesus “Lord” (10) 3.In city by fasting and prayer (9:9, 11) 4.When he was filled with Holy Spirit 4.When he was filled with Holy Spirit (9:17) Admits he was not saved on road This was promise he would receive, not command to obey (cf. 2:38) Sins not washed away until baptism

Saul (Ac.9:17-18) Sins not washed away until baptism, 22:16 Gift of Holy Spirit, Acts 2:38 Laid handsSight / Scales BaptizedFilled w. Spirit

People say Saul was saved… 1.When Lord appeared to him (Ac.22:6-9) 2.On road when he called Jesus “Lord” (10) 3.In city by fasting and prayer (9:9, 11) 4.When filled with Holy Spirit (9:17) 5.When he received his sight 5.When he received his sight (9:17) Admits he was not saved on road Lord did not say, “You will be saved when you regain sight”

I. Saul’s Conversion Polled II. Saul’s Conversion Told

Ananias, the preacher (22:12-13) Reluctant, 9:10-14 –Ac.7: :1-4; 9:1-2 God commissioned men to preach gospel, Mk.16:15f Why didn’t Jesus tell him on the road? Cf. Ac.8

Ananias, the preacher (22:12-13) Saul, the sinner 22:10 – arise... go... told 22:16 – arise... bap.... wash / calling

Acts 22:10 Question Authority Answer Command Place Promise Revelation Orders “So I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do’” “Appointed” ▪ 15:2; 18:2. ▪ Mt.28:16. “concerning everything that you have been ordered to do” –BDAG

Acts 22:16 Urgency Action Command Purpose / Blessing Savior “And now, why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” Told what he must do

Ananias, the preacher (22:12-13) Saul, the sinner 22:10 – arise... go... told 22:16 – arise... bap.... wash / calling Ananias told Saul what Peter told people in Ac.2:21…38 – how to call on the Lord

Acts 22:16 under attack “It doesn’t say he was baptized” –Acts 9:18 “We don’t know what kind of baptism this was. How was he baptized?” –Strange question in 1 st Century –Ro.6:3-4 “He was too weak for immersion” “There was no water in his house” –2 K.5:12

Abana River, Damascus (1890s)

Acts 22:16 “This is church of Christ doctrine” –Why not Ananias doctrine? “Washing away one’s sins is here clearly con- nected with baptism and the calling on Jesus’ name” – Robert H. Stein, Southern Bap. Theological Seminary “Let thyself be baptized, and thereby wash away thy sins” – Matthew Poole, Annotations, Presbyterian

Acts 22:16 “This is church of Christ doctrine” “Baptism, administered to real penitents, was intended to be both a means and seal of par- don. Nor did God ordinarily, in the primitive church, bestow this on any person till he submitted to baptism” – Joseph Benson, Methodist

Acts 22:16 “This is church of Christ doctrine” For the sinner is unclean, polluted as it were by the filth of his sins. Whoever obtains remission of sins has his sins put, so to speak, out of God’s sight,—is cleansed from them in the sight of God. Remission is [represented as] obtained by undergoing baptism; hence those who have gone down into the baptismal bath...are said… to have washed themselves, or…to have washed away their sins, i. e. to have been cleansed from their sins – Thayer, 65.

Acts 22:16 “This is church of Christ doctrine” [] Thayer’s addition to Prof. Grimm’s words, For the sinner is unclean, polluted as it were by the filth of his sins. Whoever obtains remission of sins has his sins put, so to speak, out of God’s sight,—is cleansed from them in the sight of God. Remission is [represented as] obtained by undergoing baptism; hence those who have gone down into the baptismal bath...are said… to have washed themselves, or…to have washed away their sins, i. e. to have been cleansed from their sins – Thayer’s addition to Prof. Grimm’s words, p. xviii.

IF Saul was saved on the road… Saul didn’t know it Lord didn’t know it Luke didn’t know it Ananias didn’t know it you How do you know it? He would have been saved w/o doing what he was ordered to do. What else may we disobey and still be saved? Hb.11:6? Jn.3:7?