Sermons From Acts - To See And Be Free! (26:18)

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                          "THE BOOK OF ACTS"

                      To See And Be Free! (26:18)

INTRODUCTION

1. When Saul of Tarsus (later known as the apostle Paul) was on the road
   to Damascus...
   a. The Lord Jesus appeared to him in a blinding light - Ac 26:12-14
   b. Jesus identified Himself, and told Saul the task he would fulfill 
      - Ac 26:15-17

2. The commission given to Saul concerning both Jews and Gentiles was
   clear... - Ac 26:18
   a. "to open their eyes"
   b. "so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of
      Satan to God"
   c. "that they may receive forgiveness and a place among those 
      sanctified by faith in Me."

[In this lesson, I want to direct our attention to the idea of turning
"from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God."  Let's
begin with the idea of turning...]

I. FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT

   A. THE WORLD IS IN DARKNESS...
      1. Many people walk in the futility of their minds - Ep 4:17
      2. Their understanding darkened, alienated from the life of God
         - Ep 4:18
      3. Because of ignorance, because of the blindness of their heart 
         - Ep 4:19
      4. Past feeling, given over to lewdness, working uncleanness with
         greed - Ep 4:19
      -- This helps us to understand the moral decline prevalent in our
         society

   B. JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD...
      1. He offers the light of life and truth - Jn 8:12; 14:6
      2. The truth (that which is true, real) is to be found in Jesus
         - Ep 4:20-21
      3. Who teaches us to put off corrupt and deceitful lusts - Ep 4:22
      4. Who renews the spirit of our minds, in true righteousness and
         holiness - Ep 4:23-24
      -- Only in Jesus can we find our way through the moral morass in 
         the world  

[Jesus helps us to "see the light", so we can then "walk as children of
light" and "expose the unfruitful works of darkness (Ep 5:8-14).  But
in order for this to happen we must be set free, delivered...]

II. FROM THE POWER OF SATAN TO GOD

   A. SATAN ENSLAVES THROUGH SIN...
      1. He works in the sons of disobedience, who fulfill their lusts 
         and desires - Ep 2:1-3; Ti 3:3
      2. As man sins, he becomes enslaved to sin - Jn 8:34
      3. Slavery to sin leads to death, which is what we deserve - Ro
         6:16,23
      4. Even the "good man" finds himself enslaved by his sin - Ro 
         7:14-24
      -- What a terrible dilemma, but in Christ there is deliverance!
         - Ro 7:25

   B. CHRIST DELIVERS FROM SIN...
      1. He offers deliverance from the guilt of sin
         a. Through forgiveness of sins - Ac 26:18
         b. With redemption through His blood - Ep 1:7
         c. So there is no more condemnation for sin - Ro 8:1; Jn 5:24
         d. This occurs when we are baptized into Christ - Ac 2:38; 22:16
      2. He provides deliverance from the bondage of sin
         a. As we walk according to the Spirit - Ro 8:1-4
         b. As we set our minds on the things of the Spirit - Ro 8:5-8
         c. For the Spirit indwells the Christian - Ro 8:9-11
         d. And with the Spirit's aid, we can put to death the deeds of 
            the body - Ro 8:12-13
      -- Instead of serving Satan and sin, we can now live as sons of
         God! - Ro 8:14

CONCLUSION

1. By faith in Jesus, we receive forgiveness of sins and an 
   inheritance... - Ac 26:18
   a. Forgiveness through His blood - Ep 1:7
   b. An inheritance in which the Spirit is the down payment - Ep 1:13-14 

2. By faith in Jesus, we are thus sanctified (set apart)... - Ac 26:18
   a. Delivered from the power of darkness, conveyed into His kingdom
      - Col 1:13
   b. Free to set on our minds on things above, to put off the old and 
      put on the new - Col 3:1-17

Thus Jesus helps us "To See And Be Free!"   It begins when in faith and
repentance we are baptized into Christ (cf. Tit 3:3-7).  In the words
of what some take to be an early baptismal hymn...

                        "Awake, you who sleep,
                        Arise from the dead,
                        And Christ will give you light."
                                             - Ep 5:14

Have you seen the light of truth and life?  Have you been delivered from
the power of Satan and sin, empowered to serve God in righteousness and
holiness?  

If not, look to Jesus in obedient faith...
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