Sermon Notes: January 25, 2026
[1] And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, [2] And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. [3] And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: [4] And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
[5] And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
[6] And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
My guess is that nearly all of us in this room have been asked the following question: “When did you become a Christian?” The answers we would collectively give in this room would be unique to each and every one of us – so somewhere in the 30 to 40 different stories.
Yet right alongside those widely divergent accounts of how each of us were saved by God in the lives we’ve been given, those of
us at Ascension Church – given that we are a “Reformed and Evangelical” church – would go a step further. “When was I saved? Well, according to the Bible, I was saved before the creation of the world.”
Wait, what?!?!?
Indeed, that is exactly what we are taught by God through the pen of that great Brother-in-Christ who was the human author of well over half of the New Testament – St. Paul of Tarsus. In one of the innumerable “famous quotes” sections of Scripture, Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church opens in this way:
[1] Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: [2] Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
[3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
[4] According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
[5] Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
[6] To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
[7] In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
What is *your* conversion story? All of us need to know what that conversion story is – or perhaps better said, when we were saved – because we are told to do so by Scripture; this time, in a verse of God’s word penned by St. Peter, in the 3rd Chapter and 15th verse of his 1st Epistle:
[15] But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
We prayed for the same in our Opening Collect this morning; look at Page 3 of your program:
O GOD, who, through the preaching of the blessed Apostle Saint Paul, hast caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world; Grant, we beseech thee, that we, having his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may show forth our thankfulness unto thee for the same, by following the holy doctrine which he taught; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Our conversion story should incorporate 3 elements of God’s conversion or saving of us:
1) The actual details of the life God has given us and how He used the events of our lives to call us out of sin and into repentance and proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord.
2) The death of Christ on the Cross, in which He took the penalty which we all deserved for our sin.
3) The Sovereignty of God and His predestinating us as His saved people before the world began.
Why all 3? Because Paul, who, again, we described in our Opening prayer to be that chosen man who “…caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world…”, gave us this exact pattern to do so:
1) In at least 5 different places in the New Testament, Paul describes his conversion, the on-the-ground facts we heard described in this morning’s Epistle reading from Acts 9.
2) Paul also leaves NO DOUBT as to the source of that saving grace, the Cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: [1] And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. [2] For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:1-2
3) The passage we read earlier from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians in which he describes the ultimate source of the Grace that saves us – the sovereign decree of our Omnipotent Triune God.
My story – Baptized as an infant; 7 at Xmas; 11 at Billy Graham; College and Grad School = my own persecution – I profess and call myself a Christian, yet I didn’t bother to get up to go to church?!? While much of my behavior was sanctified by God’s Grace, much was not. I hang my head in shame that I was this way and totally understand 1 Timothy 15 that God had Paul write: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, OF WHOM I AM CHIEF!!! Last 37 years of sanctification, which began by faithfully attending a small church in PC, Alabama.
Then, not to be coy or clever, truly meaning that I was saved when 1) In the space/time continuum, Christ died on Calvary 2000 years ago, and 2) OUTSIDE the space/time continuum, before the foundation of the earth when God chose me in Christ
– with which my thoughts, words and deeds contributed ABSOLUTE ZERO to God’s selection.
So, again, as the Scriptures instructs us, be ready always to tell of how God saved you. Now as to the life details of how the Lord saved you, some of you will have similar conversion stories to mine, some to St. Paul’s DRAMATIC conversion, and some with completely different stories – but in order for all of our stories to be true Christian conversion stories, all of them must ultimately give the credit and glory to the Cross of Jesus Christ, and to the Sovereign Power and Grace of God the Father.
All of today’s lessons speak directly to the life and example of St. Paul. Consider Psalm 91, which could be summed up in the phrase “…God takes care of His own…”. (Page 4 of your program):
[14] Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
[15] He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. [16] With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
But you might object and say “How can that be?!?!? Think of all the persecution and hardship Paul had to endure?!? Just listen to 2nd Corinthians 11:24-28:
[24] Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. [25] Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; [26] In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
[27] In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. [28] Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
The answer to that objection is what God gave to Paul – and what He gives to all those who truly trust in Him – in 2 Corinthians 4:
[16] For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. [17] For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; [18] While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Jeremiah – Apropos not only for St. Paul, but also for the Run for Live yesterday, as well as the March for life on D.C. (due to January 22nd being the day of the infamous Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, which thanks be to God began to be dismantled on June 24, 2022):
[5] Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
[6] Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
[7] But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
[8] Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
[9] Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy
mouth.
[10] See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.
Acts – Paul’s Conversion
[1] And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, [2] And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. [3] And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: [4] And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
[5] And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
[6] And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. [7] And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
[8] And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
[9] And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
[10] And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named
Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
[11] And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, [12] And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. [13] Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: [14] And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
[15] But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
[16] For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
[17] And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
[18] And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
[19] And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
[20] And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
[21] But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and
came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?
[22] But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
Gospel – The Reward for believing in Jesus Christ, (and far more as Satan and his devilish minions all *believe* in Jesus), TRUSTING Him and being willing to accept all consequences for so doing, even if it means dying for Him.
[27] Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? [28] And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. [29] And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
[30] But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
If we say we are Christians, do we mean it? Do we mean it like Paul did? If not, we must do so. No matter how God called us to Himself to save us from our sins, we must have an on-going
sense of the Fear of the Lord that Paul certainly had: And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?
May God give us hearts to know and trust that the Grace He has given to us, and that we sang about earlier, truly is *AMAZING*.
And may God give us the same heart, mind and soul He gave to St. Paul, so that we absolutely have times in our lives where WE are astonished and tremble at the Love He has given us that we don’t deserve.
“Amazing Love, How CAN it be; that thou, my Lord, shouldst die for me”!!!
[10] For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
[11] But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
[12] For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
[13] For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
[14] And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
[15] But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,
[16] To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
[17] Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
[18] Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
[19] But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother. Galatians 1:10-19
[3] For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
[4] Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
[5] Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
[6] Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
[7] But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. [8] Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
[9] And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: [10] That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
[11] If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. [12] Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:3-12
[3] I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
Acts 22:3
[1] Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:
[2] I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews: [3] Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently. [4] My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;
[5] Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
Acts 26:1-5
[12] And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
[13] Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
[14] And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
[15] This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
1 Timothy:12-15
[14] I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; [15] Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
[16] And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
[17] For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
[18] For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:14-18