Transformative Encounter: The Journey to True Faith

 

Summary

In the ninth chapter of the Book of Acts, we encounter a pivotal moment in the life of Saul of Tarsus, who would later become the Apostle Paul. This transformative event on the road to Damascus is not just a historical account but a profound illustration of the principles that govern the journey to becoming a Christian. Saul, a fervent persecutor of Christians, is confronted by a divine light and the voice of Jesus, leading him to ask, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" This question marks the beginning of his transformation and serves as a template for understanding the essence of true Christian conversion.

The encounter on the road to Damascus highlights two essential elements of Christianity: self-awareness and the recognition of Jesus Christ. Saul's experience underscores that becoming a Christian involves a deep, personal realization of one's own sinfulness and the need for a Savior. This realization is not merely intellectual but engages the whole person—mind, emotions, and will. True belief in Christ is not just an acknowledgment of facts but a heartfelt response that involves trembling, astonishment, and submission.

The sermon emphasizes that while the dramatic elements of Saul's conversion may not be replicated in every believer's experience, the underlying principles remain constant. Every true conversion involves a profound encounter with the truth of God, leading to a transformation that affects the entire personality. This transformation is marked by a recognition of God's holiness, the majesty of His presence, and the realization of one's own unworthiness.

The sermon also challenges the modern tendency to downplay the emotional and volitional aspects of faith. It argues that genuine belief in Christ inevitably leads to a response that includes fear and trembling, not as a result of human manipulation but as a natural consequence of encountering the divine truth. This trembling is not about being frightened into faith but about a reverent acknowledgment of God's greatness and our own need for His grace.

Key Takeaways:

- True Christian conversion involves a holistic transformation that engages the mind, emotions, and will. It is not enough to intellectually assent to the truth; one must experience a heartfelt response that includes trembling and submission. [10:45]

- The essence of Christianity is found in the recognition of one's own sinfulness and the need for a Savior. This realization leads to a profound encounter with Jesus Christ, as exemplified by Saul's experience on the road to Damascus. [05:58]

- Genuine belief in Christ is marked by a response that includes fear and trembling, not as a result of human manipulation but as a natural consequence of encountering the divine truth. This response is essential for true faith. [12:46]

- The Bible warns against mere intellectual assent to truth, emphasizing the need for a saving belief that involves the heart and will. Temporary believers may think they are saved, but true faith is evidenced by a transformed life. [14:10]

- The majesty, holiness, and power of God naturally lead to a sense of fear and trembling. This response is not outdated but is a vital aspect of understanding the greatness of God and our own need for His grace. [41:09]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:09] - Introduction to Saul's Conversion
- [01:03] - Saul's Encounter with Jesus
- [02:29] - The Importance of the Authorized Version
- [03:18] - Principles of Christian Conversion
- [05:23] - Saul's Transformation on the Road to Damascus
- [06:28] - The Essence of Christianity
- [08:19] - Consequences of Saul's Change
- [09:21] - Astonishment, Trembling, and Submission
- [11:02] - The Role of Emotion in Faith
- [13:02] - Intellectual Assent vs. True Belief
- [16:11] - Temporary Believers and True Faith
- [18:05] - The Whole Person in Christianity
- [20:41] - Joy and Rejoicing in Christ
- [22:16] - Biblical Examples of Conversion
- [23:41] - Revival and the Work of the Holy Spirit
- [26:05] - The Necessity of Trembling
- [30:02] - The Role of the Preacher
- [32:24] - The Truth that Causes Trembling
- [34:17] - The Fear of God in Scripture
- [39:20] - The Realization of Truth and Fear
- [41:09] - The Majesty and Holiness of God

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Acts 9:1-6

Observation Questions:
1. What was Saul's initial purpose for traveling to Damascus, and how did his encounter with Jesus change his direction? [00:47]
2. How did Saul respond to the divine light and voice he encountered on the road to Damascus? [01:22]
3. What are the three elements mentioned in the sermon that are always present in the case of every Christian conversion? [09:21]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Saul's question, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" reflect a change in his understanding of authority and purpose? [01:42]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that true Christian conversion involves the whole personality, including mind, emotions, and will? [10:11]
3. How does the sermon differentiate between intellectual assent and true belief in Christ? What implications does this have for understanding one's faith? [13:02]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced a profound realization of your own sinfulness. How did it affect your relationship with God? [05:58]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of trembling and submission in response to divine truth. How do you personally respond to the majesty and holiness of God in your daily life? [41:09]
3. Consider the role of emotions in your faith journey. How do you balance emotional experiences with intellectual understanding in your relationship with Christ? [12:46]
4. The sermon warns against mere intellectual assent to truth. How can you ensure that your faith is not just intellectual but also involves your heart and will? [14:10]
5. Identify a specific area in your life where you feel God is calling you to submit to His will. What steps can you take this week to align your actions with His guidance? [09:54]
6. How can you cultivate a deeper sense of reverence and awe for God in your personal worship and prayer life? [32:24]
7. Reflect on the concept of fear and trembling as a natural response to encountering divine truth. How does this perspective challenge or affirm your current understanding of faith? [30:02]

Devotional

Day 1: Holistic Transformation in Christian Conversion
True Christian conversion is a profound transformation that engages the mind, emotions, and will. It is not merely an intellectual agreement with the truth but requires a heartfelt response that includes trembling and submission. This transformation is a holistic process that affects the entire personality, leading to a new way of living and thinking. The encounter with divine truth naturally leads to a recognition of God's holiness and our own unworthiness, prompting a sincere and humble submission to His will. [10:45]

Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV): "To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."

Reflection: What specific area of your life needs transformation today, and how can you invite God to renew your mind, emotions, and will in this area?


Day 2: Recognition of Sinfulness and Need for a Savior
The essence of Christianity is found in recognizing one's own sinfulness and the need for a Savior. Saul's experience on the road to Damascus exemplifies this profound encounter with Jesus Christ. This realization is not just an acknowledgment of sin but a deep, personal understanding that leads to a transformative relationship with Christ. It involves a sincere confession and a turning away from sin, embracing the grace and forgiveness offered by Jesus. [05:58]

Isaiah 6:5-7 (ESV): "And I said: 'Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!' Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: 'Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.'"

Reflection: In what ways have you recognized your own sinfulness recently, and how can you actively seek Jesus as your Savior in those areas?


Day 3: Fear and Trembling as a Response to Divine Truth
Genuine belief in Christ is marked by a response that includes fear and trembling, not as a result of human manipulation but as a natural consequence of encountering divine truth. This response is essential for true faith, as it reflects a reverent acknowledgment of God's greatness and our own need for His grace. It is not about being frightened into faith but about understanding the majesty and holiness of God, leading to a humble submission to His will. [12:46]

Philippians 2:12-13 (ESV): "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."

Reflection: How can you cultivate a sense of reverence and awe in your daily walk with God, acknowledging His greatness and your need for His grace?


Day 4: Saving Belief Involves the Heart and Will
The Bible warns against mere intellectual assent to truth, emphasizing the need for a saving belief that involves the heart and will. Temporary believers may think they are saved, but true faith is evidenced by a transformed life. This transformation is not just about knowing the truth but living it out in every aspect of life. It requires a commitment to follow Jesus wholeheartedly, allowing His truth to shape our thoughts, actions, and desires. [14:10]

James 2:17-18 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."

Reflection: What steps can you take today to ensure that your faith is not just intellectual but involves your heart and will, leading to a transformed life?


Day 5: Majesty and Holiness of God Lead to Fear and Trembling
The majesty, holiness, and power of God naturally lead to a sense of fear and trembling. This response is not outdated but is a vital aspect of understanding the greatness of God and our own need for His grace. Recognizing God's holiness helps us see our own unworthiness and the depth of His love and mercy. It calls us to live in a way that honors Him, acknowledging His authority and submitting to His will in every area of our lives. [41:09]

Habakkuk 3:16-18 (ESV): "I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters into my bones; my legs tremble beneath me. Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us. Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation."

Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper awareness of God's majesty and holiness in your life, leading to a genuine sense of fear and trembling before Him?

Quotes


Here on this road to Damascus, the apostle was arrested and caused to look at himself and to see himself as he really was. That happened to him because of the second thing, which was that he came face to face with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And now there in those two statements, you have the essence of Christianity. No man can be a Christian without knowing himself. No man can be a Christian without knowing the Lord Jesus Christ. [00:05:26]

I am not saying that we must have exactly the same experience in all its concomitant. I say we must know the essence of the experience, but there are certain factors and features which vary from case to case. It is given to very few to see the Risen Lord as the Apostle did. [00:06:08]

The principles which come into play and into operation are always present and must always be present because the Apostle Paul as a Christian, he is no different from any other Christian. He describes himself as the chief of Sinners and as a Christian he is just a man who's been saved by the grace of God as every other single Christian. [00:07:14]

When a man is a Christian, the whole of his personality is engaged and involved. He receives the truth with his mind, but it has an effect upon his emotions and in turn, it has an effect upon his will. Now it is an essential part of my whole position to say that this is always and of necessity true. [00:09:51]

There is nothing which is perhaps so important for our souls and our Eternal destiny as that we should draw a distinction between intellectual Ascent to truth and a saving and a true belief in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Let me repeat that I regard it as the most important statement which a man can ever make from a Christian Pulpit. [00:13:02]

The Bible warns us to be careful and to test ourselves. But he does it again at the end of The Sermon on the Mount. He tells us that certain people will come to him on the great day of judgment and say Lord, Lord have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name done many wonderful works? [00:14:55]

True belief always involves the heart and the will as well as the mind. Now the Apostle Paul puts that twice over in the one epistle to the Romans in the sixth chapter and in the 17th verse. He puts it like this: but God be thanked, he says, that ye were the Servants of sin. [00:17:52]

The Christian in the New Testament is one who rejoices in Christ. He loves him, he's discovered a joy and a happiness. Look at the book of The Acts of the Apostles, what a lyrical book it is, what happy people these were, gladly being thrown to the lions in the arena, giving up their lives rather than deny him. [00:20:41]

The realization of the truth of necessity leads to this fear and trembling. Well, why does it? Why should it do so? Well, the answer is given everywhere in the Bible, and whether you accept my teaching tonight or not depends entirely upon whether you accept the Bible or not. [00:39:20]

If you've never trembled, it is because you've never really known God. We can't conceive of, not even imagine, the greatness and the glory and the might and the Majesty of God. I read with you that 19th Chapter of the book of Exodus in order that we might have some faint conception of it. [00:41:09]

A Christian is a man who's looked into hell and who knows that he's been saved from it by God's amazing wondrous love in Jesus Christ Our Lord. Have you known anything of this fear, my friend? You notice I'm not asking you tonight have you believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. [00:48:29]

If you truly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, this is what it means: that you know that you're a hopeless, damned sinner, that you cannot save yourself, that no man can save you, that the world cannot save you, that you're under the wrath of God and hopelessly Lost and Damned and helpless. [00:49:38]

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Transcript
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