1. Journeys of the Apostle Paul From Sinner to Saint (His journey to Damascus)

2. 2 Saul of Tarsus (Gal. 1:13) (HIS STANDING BEFORE MEN) A Hebrew of the Hebrews – Acts 22:3; 26:4-5; Gal. 1:13-14; Phil. 3:4-6 A Hebrew of the Hebrews – Acts 22:3; 26:4-5; Gal. 1:13-14; Phil. 3:4-6 Advanced beyond peers, Acts 22:3, 5 Advanced beyond peers, Acts 22:3, 5 Concerning the law: A Pharisee, Phil. 3:5 Concerning the law: A Pharisee, Phil. 3:5 “Strictness of our fathers’ law” (Acts 22:3, 26:5; 23:6-9) “Strictness of our fathers’ law” (Acts 22:3, 26:5; 23:6-9) Neglected weightier matters (Matt. 23:23) Neglected weightier matters (Matt. 23:23) Bound human traditions (Matt. 15:6-9; Gal. 1:14) Bound human traditions (Matt. 15:6-9; Gal. 1:14)

3. 3 Saul of Tarsus (Gal. 1:13) (HIS STANDING BEFORE MEN) A Hebrew of the Hebrews – Acts 22:3; 26:4-5; Gal. 1:13-14; Phil. 3:4-6 A Hebrew of the Hebrews – Acts 22:3; 26:4-5; Gal. 1:13-14; Phil. 3:4-6 Concerning zeal: Persecuting the church, Acts 8:3; 22:4; 26:9-11; 9:1-2 Concerning zeal: Persecuting the church, Acts 8:3; 22:4; 26:9-11; 9:1-2 Feared by the saints (Acts 9:13-14, 26) Feared by the saints (Acts 9:13-14, 26) Concerning the righteousness in the law: Blameless, Phil. 3:6; Gal. 1:14 Concerning the righteousness in the law: Blameless, Phil. 3:6; Gal. 1:14 Deserving no censure, free of defect Deserving no censure, free of defect

4. 4 Saul of Tarsus (Gal. 1:13) (HIS STANDING BEFORE MEN) Lessons for us: Lessons for us: Approval of men does not approve us before God, Phil. 3:7; Rom. 2:17-24 Approval of men does not approve us before God, Phil. 3:7; Rom. 2:17-24 Zeal without knowledge is futile, Rom. 10:2 Zeal without knowledge is futile, Rom. 10:2 Cannot trust our moral / religious advantages to save us (Acts 10:1-2) Cannot trust our moral / religious advantages to save us (Acts 10:1-2)

5. 5 Saul of Tarsus (1 Tim. 1:13-15) (HIS STANDING BEFORE GOD) A Sinner of the Sinners A Sinner of the Sinners Blasphemer (1:13); Acts 26:9 Blasphemer (1:13); Acts 26:9 Persecutor of Christ (1:13); Acts 22:19-20 Persecutor of Christ (1:13); Acts 22:19-20 Insolent (arrogant) (1:13); Acts 26:11 Insolent (arrogant) (1:13); Acts 26:11 Unbelieving & ignorant (1:13) Unbelieving & ignorant (1:13)

6. 6 Lessons for us: Lessons for us: The way we see ourselves is not necessarily the way God sees us, Rom. 2:17; 1 Cor. 4:4 (Rev. 3:15-17) The way we see ourselves is not necessarily the way God sees us, Rom. 2:17; 1 Cor. 4:4 (Rev. 3:15-17) The will & ways of men do not defeat the plans of God, Prov. 19:21; (Acts 26:14; 5:39) The will & ways of men do not defeat the plans of God, Prov. 19:21; (Acts 26:14; 5:39) Pride goes before a fall, Prov. 16:18 Pride goes before a fall, Prov. 16:18 Saul of Tarsus (1 Tim. 1:13-15) (HIS STANDING BEFORE GOD)

7. 7 Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9, 22) (HIS JOURNEY TO SALVATION) From Unbelief to Faith (Jesus Appears to Saul) – Acts 9:3-6 From Unbelief to Faith (Jesus Appears to Saul) – Acts 9:3-6 Penetrating question…God’s displeasure… Saul’s futility Penetrating question…God’s displeasure… Saul’s futility Asked the Lord’s Will – Acts 9:6 Asked the Lord’s Will – Acts 9:6 “What would you have me to do?” “What would you have me to do?” In Damascus: Told what he must do (22:10-16) In Damascus: Told what he must do (22:10-16)

8. 8 Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9, 22) (HIS JOURNEY TO SALVATION) His Faith Produced Repentance – Acts 9:9, 11 His Faith Produced Repentance – Acts 9:9, 11 No longer the strident persecutor No longer the strident persecutor Humble, trembling sinner (fasting, prayer) Humble, trembling sinner (fasting, prayer) His Faith Compelled Him to be Baptized – Acts 22:16 (9:18) His Faith Compelled Him to be Baptized – Acts 22:16 (9:18) His Life Immediately Changed – Acts 9:19-22 His Life Immediately Changed – Acts 9:19-22

9. 9 Lessons for us: Lessons for us: Our treatment of Christians is our treatment of Christ (Matt. 25:40) Our treatment of Christians is our treatment of Christ (Matt. 25:40) Self-examination is an essential expression of faith (Acts 2:36-37) Self-examination is an essential expression of faith (Acts 2:36-37) Blessed when we believe without “seeing” (Jno. 20:29; 1 Pet. 1:8-9) Blessed when we believe without “seeing” (Jno. 20:29; 1 Pet. 1:8-9) We must do what God tells us in order to be saved (Matt. 7:21) We must do what God tells us in order to be saved (Matt. 7:21) Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9, 22) (HIS JOURNEY TO SALVATION)

10. 10 Lessons for us: Lessons for us: Repentance will cause drastic changes in one’s life (Acts 26:20) Repentance will cause drastic changes in one’s life (Acts 26:20) Without baptism one’s sins are not washed away (Acts 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21) Without baptism one’s sins are not washed away (Acts 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21) When we are Christians we are to be different than we used to be (Rom. 6:1-6) When we are Christians we are to be different than we used to be (Rom. 6:1-6) Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9, 22) (HIS JOURNEY TO SALVATION)

11. 11 Saul of Tarsus (1 Tim. 1:14-16) (HIS CONVERSION IS OUR EXAMPLE) God’s Mercy Available to All Through Faith in Christ, 1:14-15 God’s Mercy Available to All Through Faith in Christ, 1:14-15 Paul is a Pattern of God’s Mercy & Longsuffering, 1:16 Paul is a Pattern of God’s Mercy & Longsuffering, 1:16 “an outline, sketch, brief and summary exposition” – cf. Rom. 7:24…8:1 “an outline, sketch, brief and summary exposition” – cf. Rom. 7:24…8:1 “Specimen” sinner who encourages us all! “Specimen” sinner who encourages us all!

12. 12 Saul of Tarsus (HIS JOURNEY FROM SINNER TO SAINT) From blasphemer to defender From blasphemer to defender From arrogant opponent to self- abased servant From arrogant opponent to self- abased servant From persecutor to persecuted From persecutor to persecuted From sinner to saint From sinner to saint Romans 1:16-17