GOD ESTABLISHES HIS CHURCH IN THE WORLD
Becoming a Messenger of Mercy
Acts
Jerry A Collins
SCC
As we attempt to give the gospel to our unsaved friends we can be tempted to dump on them. Pull out the “S” word right away and do some Bible thumping. Tell them about hell and try to scare them out of it. Now the truth is, they are sinners and there is a hell and they are going there if they are not delivered by Christ. And it is equally true that people have had genuine conversions because this tactic was used. However, in our passage, there is also another approach. It is becoming a messenger of mercy. It is explaining the mercy and grace of God to deliver sinners from the consequences of their sin without deserving to be so. It’s an appeal to respond to the grace and mercy of God for your salvation. Here we are given some direction to this approach by the apostle Paul’s own defense and testimony to his own rebellious people. Even the rebellious ones, those who have continually refused the gospel’s advances, should still be given this message. You would think the opposite with people who have refused again and again to receive the gospel. Yet, given one more opportunity, he does not bible dump on them, but uses his life’s message as a context for explaining the grace and mercy of God.
1. I WAS ONCE WHERE YOU ARE NOW
Just as Paul has been whisked away into Gentile hands, so has he been since his ministry began.
(1) 37-39 designed to show that
jumping to false conclusions about Paul baseless. First, he spoke Greek,
meaning he was probably not Second, the Egyptian who led an
uprising nor Third part of an assassination team. Paul was far from
that. Instead, just to clear up the confusion, he is a Jew of good standing
wanting to passionately see his countrymen come to faith in Christ. He must try
once more to reach the
(2) 40-22:5 he begins his speech and it begins as Stephen’s did in chp 7. They complement one another. Stephen emphasizes their guilt; Paul the grace of God that overcomes this guilt. He himself is living proof of that. And proper that Paul’s speech last of the two. The darker backdrop of man’s sin the more brilliant the glow of God’s mercy.
(1) 40-22:2 he attempts to identify with those he desires to reach. He begins this effort by speaking to them in their own language. Here is a vigorous effort to find rapport with his hearers and express his compassion to them.
(2)
2. I CALLED ON JESUS NAME AND HE DELIVERED ME 6-16
The gospel message is a message of deliverance. In this section, we see this truth unfold by means of Paul’s conversion experience. First, describing his encounter with the Lord vs 6-11. this encounter included a very bright light. It’s appearance in brightest part of the day. Then he notes how Jesus describes himself as the Nazarene vs 8. The contrast between the heavenly splendor, vs 6 and the earthly identification of his Lord is a way to appeal to his audience, these Jews, and that they too must discover how wrong they were about Christ. The two questions, Who are you, Lord? and What shall I do Lord? Are the 2 basic questions in any person’s relationship to JC. They are also in the right order. First, His identity must be known and believed. Second, his instructions must be known and obeyed. The 1st ‘?’ is crucial to experience of salvation and the 2nd ‘?’ is crucial to the experience of discipleship.
Second, his conversion experience included his contact with Ananias
in Vs 12-16. This testimony would confirm that both the light and the message
could be authenticated. The law stipulated 2 or 3 witnesses to verify testimony
(Dt
3. I DID WHAT GOD TOLD ME TO DO 17-21
This third and last section
to his message revolves around his Post
conversion experience. (1) The rejection of the gospel by the Jews 17-18
meant that Paul had to leave
(1) Major on the grace and mercy of God toward sinners.
(2) Focus on giving the gospel not expecting a positive response.
(3) Identifying with your unbelieving past will motivate you to present gospel humbly.