Learning from the Past: Paul’s Spiritual Awakening

SPEAKER 01 : 0:00

A blasphemer and a persecutor, yet he could say he had lived in all good conscience? Well, folks, the question we want to ask is, how? That’s our question. How? Well, let’s find out today from the International Gospel Hour. You’ve got to stay with us.

SPEAKER 02 : 0:22

It’s time for our broadcast from the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jay Webb, and welcome to our study today as we embrace God’s Word to help us meet the challenges of today. Let’s open our Bibles and open our heart for this time of Bible study with our speaker Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour, a broadcast of the Churches of Christ. Here’s Jeff.

SPEAKER 01 : 0:47

Well, thank you to our J-Web, and greetings to all of you. It’s great having you with us today for our studies here from the International Gospel Hour. We are blessed to have each and every listener. Thank you for always tuning in, and I’ve got something special for you immediately. I want to talk about our friends D.J. and Sarah Curry of Parkersburg, West Virginia, and their good work called AddedToTheChurch.com. That’s AddedToTheChurch.com. You’ll find some exceptional articles by them and others, and you can also subscribe free to two digital publications, The Mountain Messenger and The New Testament Expositor. So please check them out at addedtothechurch.com. Once again, that’s addedtothechurch.com. We are delighted to highlight their good work here on International Gospel Hour. Have you ever noticed when an individual is being interviewed for a news broadcast or a story of interest that the first question usually asked is, how did one begin doing what they are doing? Or you want to learn a little bit about their background. Now imagine, if you will, if the Apostle Paul was to be interviewed. Well, we’ll let the Scripture speak. Paul would probably say, based on Acts 26, verses 4 and 5, his manner of life from his youth, which was spent from the beginning among his own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know, and they knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee. Also, I was a free-born Roman citizen, born and bred, as we would say, Acts 22, 27, and 28. And yes, I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia. But I was brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our father’s law, and was zealous toward God, as you are all today. And I persecuted this way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there in Jerusalem to be punished. to bring them to Jerusalem to be punished, Acts 22, 3-5. Paul would probably speak about his former conduct in Judaism, how he persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it, and how he advanced in Judaism beyond many of his contemporaries in his own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of his fathers. That’s Galatians 1, 13 and 14. He would also add in Acts 26 and verse 9, Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Then he would also remind us in Philippians 3, 4-6, Though I also might have confidence in the flesh, if anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so. Circumcised the eighth day of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews. Concerning the law, a Pharisee. Concerning zeal, hey, persecuting the church. Concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. So if Paul were to be introduced, and he would probably go back and we could probably say, what about the stoning of Stephen? Because when we’re introduced to Paul, who was then known as Saul in Acts 7 and verse 58, they laid their coats at the feet of one so they could stone the accused. Now the one whose feet the coats were laid before was believed to be the leader who would authorize the stoning. And, you know, if we tie the phrase of Saul consenting to Stephen’s death in Acts 8 and verse 1, he very well could have commanded the stoning of Stephen. And, you know, he could have served on the Sanhedrin as Acts 26 and verse 10 states that he have his voice or cast his vote against Christians. Now, folks, after all he had done, how could Paul say in Acts 23 and verse 1, a verse that is strongly declared, And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. My friends, I have to ask, how? I mean, in Acts chapter 7, Stephen is declaring Jesus as the Son of God. That’s a phrase taken that Stephen was blaspheming God according to the law. Well, as a faithful Jew to the law, Paul was simply abiding by Leviticus 24 and verse 16, and whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him, the stranger as well as him who is born in the land. When he blasphemes the name of the Lord, he shall be put to death. Okay, now I’m starting to understand a little bit here. How could Paul live in good conscience with the death of Stephen? Well, under how he viewed things at the time, now it’s starting to make sense. But you see, Paul changed his conscience when he was convicted. You know, until then, he had done in all good conscience, but he changed. Now his persuasion to those who in their mind were living in good conscience would change their conscience when approached by the Christ through the teaching of the Christ. Now we know how Paul lived in all good conscience. 1 Timothy 1.13 affirms, Paul says, Although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man, but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. When I did something I thought was right and realized it wasn’t, I changed. That’s the comment for Paul. In Acts 22, verses 15, or rather Acts 24, verses 15 and 16, I have hope in God. which they themselves also accept that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men. The lesson learned from Paul from this very outset, folks, anybody can change. And when we look at the biblical meaning of the word conscience, it’s a word that means a co-knowledge with oneself. I have to live with me, in other words. And the witness that is born to one’s conduct by conscience, it’s that faculty by which we apprehend the will of God, that which is able and is designed to govern our lives, therefore the sense of guiltlessness or guiltiness before God, but also God provides guiltlessness. You know, I for one am glad the Apostle Paul changed. I really am. I mean, aren’t you glad that Paul changed his life for we find the teaching and the things that he brings forth? What he would say, what I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord, 1 Corinthians 14, 34. We can change our lives for good if we allow God’s Word to change us. So, for the next few moments, let’s see how we can live in all good conscience. I’m going to pause here just for a second, take a little bit of a break, and let you hear a few words from our J-Web.

SPEAKER 02 : 8:22

Are you on Instagram? Follow International Gospel Hour on Instagram. Just search International Gospel Hour, click follow, and you are set. Keep up with International Gospel Hour on Instagram. Thank you.

SPEAKER 01 : 8:39

Friends, let’s allow the Word of God to convict our conscience. You know, in John chapter 8 and verse 9, when there were those that brought the woman before Jesus and wanted to stone her, and they wanted to tempt Jesus and trick Him into saying something He should not, when Jesus told them, He that was out sent among you, let him cast the first stone, the Bible says being convicted by their own conscience went out one by one. Let us draw near with a true heart and full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water, Hebrews 10.22. So, friends, like Paul, when our conscience is convicted, knowing wrong and moving toward the right, that’s what we need to do. And when our conscience is convicted, number two, allow the Word of God to correct our conscience. In Romans 2 and verse 15, referring to the Gentiles under the law of Moses, it says, which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another. So the word of God instructs us to change our lives. In 2 Timothy 3, verse 16, all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, now watch it, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. The Word of God teaches us what to avoid and tells us what we need to accept. Think of also Titus chapter 2, beginning with verse 11, where the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared unto all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. And then, friends, let’s allow the Word of God to curb our conscience. When we look in such text as Hebrews 9 in verse 14 to purge our conscience from dead works. And how in 1 Timothy 1 in verse 5, the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart and of a good conscience and faith unfeigned. You see, now it’s expressed by love out of a pure heart. What about holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience? So, friends, the conscience is not our guide, but we must allow the conscience to be guided by God. Here’s the lesson, friends. One can change for the better. There’s none of this, I’ve sinned too much, or I’m afraid I can’t live it good enough, or anything. Friends, there’s no more excuses. But when our consciences are convicted by the Word, we learn something that we’ve been doing wrong, and our consciences are convicted, we allow the Word of God to correct it, and we curb our living by the Word of God. Well, friends, when we do that, like Paul, we can say, we live in all good conscience. Great study, is it not? And friends, we like to encourage good study. We don’t want to depart from this study without sharing with you one of our Bible studies. We have one available by mail. Here is our J-Web.

SPEAKER 02 : 11:43

Our long-time free Bible study course by mail is always available. Have you tried it yet? Just call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say, Home Study. That’s it. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, address, and type Home Study in the message box. Study the Bible at your own pace. Again, it’s free from your friends here at International Gospel Hour.

SPEAKER 01 : 12:22

And with that being said, friends, we’ll see you next time here on the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jeff Archie, and keep listening.

SPEAKER 02 : 12:30

God be with you till we meet again. Thank you for listening today to God Be the Glory and we hope that our study today will draw you closer to His Word to walk in His way. Feel free to listen to our other programs at our website at internationalgospelhour.com and join us next time. God be with you till we meet again.