2. Becoming a New Man January 5, 2014 River Bend Church

3. Introduction How does becoming a Christian change us? Or has it? Should our daily lives really become all that different? Ephesians 5:15-17 - “ 15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

4. Paul’s Transformation Saul: Persecutor of the Way Romans 7:14-24a - “sold into bondage to sin…but sin which dwells in me…but sin which dwells in me…the law of sin which is in my members. Wretched man that I am!” A “slave of sin” - 1 Timothy 1:13-15; Acts 8:1-3 (cf. 7:58) “Wretched man that I am!” - Romans 6:23

5. Paul’s Transformation Paul: A Changed Man Galatians 2:20 - “ 20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” 2 Timothy 1:12 - “ 12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”

6. Paul’s Transformation The Transformation of Saul - Acts 9:1-9 - On the road to Damascus Acts 26:14 - “ 14 “And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’” Acts 22:16 - “ 16 ‘Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.’

7. Paul’s Transformation The transformation of Saul - Romans 6:3-7 - “… 7 for he who has died is freed from sin.” What changed in Paul’s life after his baptism into Christ? Acts 9:20-23 - “ 20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, ‘He is the Son of God.’”

8. Where we have been and where we are going? A life with no direction - Ephesians 4:17- 19 Our lives can be misguided by false teachers - Matthew 15:14; 23:16, 24; 2 Corinthians 11:13-14 Our lives will never be satisfied with any level of sin - 1 Timothy 4:2; downward spiral of sin

9. Where we have been and where we are going? A life being renewed - Ephesians 4:20-24 Hear - “But you did not learn Jesus in this way” - 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 Believe - “just as truth is in Jesus” - Psalm 119:160; John 17:17 Repent - “you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit.” - James 1:21 Baptism - “and put on the new self” - Galatians 3:26-27; Romans 6:5

10. Where we have been and where we are going? A life with purpose - Ephesians 5:1-10 “Walk in love” - Matthew 22:37-40 “Let no one deceive you” - 1 Corinthians 6:9; 15:33 We no longer walk in darkness and test the doctrines of men - Colossians 2:8; Ephesians 4:14 “trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord”

11. Conclusion The witness of Paul’s transformation - If Paul was able to have such a dramatic transformation, what’s stopping you and I? What type of person am I today? Am I following a blind guide into further darkness? Or am I following the Light of the world? (John 8:12)