Incredible? (Part 1)

Application

• As unsaved people, those not redeemed by grace through faith, those who are “incredibly religious people” following the Fallen Nature, why shouldn’t we attack those crazies who believe forgiveness is a gift? Doesn’t everyone know we have to earn forgiveness? That is the error of a Pharisee.
• We may “turn over a new leaf,” “make a fresh start,” or any number of attempts to change using human-strength, but only the power of God can break through the sin-hardened heart and redeem the condemned soul by grace through faith to give eternal life.
• Conclusion: As only the Lord could plan or schedule, “Incredible? (Part 1)” was this week, and “Incredible? (Part 2)” comes next week, and then we arrive at Resurrection Sunday.

Bible Text

(1) Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and proceeded to make his defense:

(2) “In regard to all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that I am about to make my defense before you today; (3) especially because you are an expert in all customs and questions among the Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.”

(4) “So then, all Jews know my manner of life from my youth up, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation and at Jerusalem; (5) since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion. (6) And now I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers; (7) the promise to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day. And for this hope, O King, I am being accused by Jews. (8) Why is it considered incredible among you people if God does raise the dead?”

(9) “So then, I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. (10) And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them. (11) And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities.”

(12) “While so engaged as I was journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, (13) at midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining all around me and those who were journeying with me. (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.’ (15) And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. (16) But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; (17) rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, (18) to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’”

-Acts 26:1-18