2. Example, Philippians 3:17 Now a prisoner waiting to stand before Caesar, Acts 25:11 Herod Agrippa II – Jews want Paul dead, 25:24 – Paul wanted his audience to be as he was (except for chains) 26:28-29 2

3. Agrippa and company Jno. 8:34; 2 Pet. 2:19; Rom. 6:16 – The “free” were prisoners of sin and the prisoner was free – Freedom available John 8:36; Romans 6:17-18 Paul was once in bondage to sin, 1 Timothy 1:15-16 – Saved, Acts 9:6; 22:16 3

4. Shameful treatment of saints Acts 26:9-11 – Sin is futile and self-defeating Acts 26:14 – New creature in Christ 2 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 6:3-4 Your guilt of past sin? – Cover, hide, ignore, blame others, out of mind? Philippians 3:13-14 4

5. The LOM could not free the Jews from sin, Acts 26:4-7; Galatians 3:13; Colossians 2:14 – Never an end in itself Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:6-8; Isaiah 1:10-15; Psalm 51:16-17 Man-made rituals also fail Galatians 4:8-12; John 4:23-24 5

6. Basic Lessons: – Without a contrite heart, even commanded actions are rejected – Do not add man-made ceremonies to the gospel – Do not ritualize what God has commanded us 6

7. Had not always been so Titus 3:3 – Now he gloried in the cross Galatians 6:14 Some only half-heartedly refrain from the world Exodus 16:3; Luke 9:62 1 John 2:15-17 7

8. Paul was not indecisive Philippians 3:14; 2 Timothy 4:7 Temptations to doubt: – Suffering, Romans 8:18 – Unlawful treatment, Acts 21-28 – Lied about, 1 Corinthians 4:13 – Abandoned by Christians 2 Timothy 4:16 Confident faith, 1 Cor. 15:58 8

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