Paul, The Pattern

1 Tim.1:12-17

1 Tim.1:16

Purpose1

Blessing

Purpose3

SaviorBlessing

“However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ

might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to

believe on Him for everlasting life”

First: (fore-most

exampleof Lord’s longsuff.)

Purpose2

Paul . . .

1. Our prime example of what Christ’s longsuffering can accomplish.

2. Our pattern, prototype, model, sketch of the way of salvation. We must be saved as Paul was.

“An example to those who would later believe in him 1 Tm 1:16” – L-N.

I. Saul’s Conversion Polled

People say Saul was saved…

1.1. When Lord appeared to him When Lord appeared to him (Ac.22:6-9)

22:15; 26:16 . . . (Apostle, 1 Co.15)

22:16, conditions are non-negotiable22:10, to be told in city, not on road

▪Miracles were necessary to become an apostle, not a Christian.

▪If we must see Lord, we cannot be saved. 1 Co.15:8

▪Place is incidental for us (Mk.16:15)

People say Saul was saved…

1. When Lord appeared to him (Ac.22:6-9)

2.2. On road when he called Jesus “Lord” On road when he called Jesus “Lord” (10)

Lord means Master, 1 Pt.3:6; Mt.7:21

After calling Him “Lord” he still . . .

• needed information in the city (10)

• had sins to wash away (16)

People say Saul was saved…

1. When Lord appeared to him (Ac.22:6-9)

2. On road when he called Jesus “Lord” (10)

3.3. In city by fasting and prayer In city by fasting and prayer (9:9, 11)

Admits he was not saved on road

Is fasting necessary for salvation?

He was not told to “fast and pray”

Ananias did not say, “Keep praying”

People say Saul was saved…

1. When Lord appeared to him (Ac.22:6-9)

2. On road when he called Jesus “Lord” (10)

3. In city by fasting and prayer (9:9, 11)

4.4. When he was filled with Holy Spirit When he was filled with Holy Spirit (9:17)

Admits he was not saved on road

This was promise he would receive, not command to obey (cf. 2:38)

Sins not washed away until baptism

Saul (Ac.9:17-18)

• Sins not washed away until baptism, 22:16

• Gift of Holy Spirit, Acts 2:38

Laid hands Sight / Scales

Baptized Filled w. Spirit

People say Saul was saved…

1. When Lord appeared to him (Ac.22:6-9)

2. On road when he called Jesus “Lord” (10)

3. In city by fasting and prayer (9:9, 11)

4. When filled with Holy Spirit (9:17)

5.5. When he received his sight When he received his sight (9:17)

Admits he was not saved on road

Lord did not say, “You will be saved when you regain sight”

I. Saul’s Conversion Polled

II. Saul’s Conversion Told

Ananias, the preacher (22:12-13)

• Reluctant, 9:10-14

– Ac.7:58 . . . 8:1-4; 9:1-2

God commissioned men to preach

gospel, Mk.16:15f

Why didn’t Jesus tell him on the

road?Cf. Ac.8

Ananias, the preacher (22:12-13)

Saul, the sinner • 22:10 – arise . . . go . . . told

• 22:16 – arise . . . bap. . . . wash / calling

Acts 22:10

QuestionAuthority AnswerCommandPlacePromiseRevelation

Orders

“So I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me,

‘Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which

are appointed for you to do’”

“Appointed”▪15:2; 18:2.▪Mt.28:16.

“concerning everything that you

have been ordered to

do” –BDAG

Acts 22:16Urgency

ActionCommand Purpose /Blessing

Savior

“And now, why are you

waiting?Arise and

be baptized, and wash away your

sins, calling on the name of

the Lord”

Told what

he must

do

Ananias, the preacher (22:12-13)

Saul, the sinner • 22:10 – arise . . . go . . . told

• 22:16 – arise . . . bap. . . . wash / calling

Ananias told Saul what Peter told people in Ac.2:21…38 –how to call on the Lord

Acts 22:16 under attack

• “It doesn’t say he was baptized”– Acts 9:18

• “We don’t know what kind of baptism this was. How was he baptized?”– Strange question in 1st Century– Ro.6:3-4

• “He was too weak for immersion”• “There was no water in his house”

– 2 K.5:12

Abana River,Damascus (1890s)

Acts 22:16

• “This is church of Christ doctrine”

– Why not Ananias doctrine?

“Washing away one’s sins is here clearly con-nected with baptism and the calling on Jesus’ name”– Robert H. Stein, Southern Bap. Theological Seminary

“Let thyself be baptized, and thereby wash away thy sins”– Matthew Poole, Annotations, Presbyterian

Acts 22:16

• “This is church of Christ doctrine”

“Baptism, administered to real penitents, was intended to be both a means and seal of par-don. Nor did God ordinarily, in the primitive church, bestow this on any person till he submitted to baptism”– Joseph Benson, Methodist

Acts 22:16

• “This is church of Christ doctrine”

For the sinner is unclean, polluted as it were by the filth of his sins. Whoever obtains remission of sins has his sins put, so to speak, out of God’s sight,—is cleansed from them in the sight of God. Remission is [represented as] obtained by undergoing baptism; hence those who have gone down into the baptismal bath...are said… to have washed themselves, or…to have washed away their sins, i. e. to have been cleansed from their sins – Thayer, 65.

Acts 22:16

• “This is church of Christ doctrine”

For the sinner is unclean, polluted as it were by the filth of his sins. Whoever obtains remission of sins has his sins put, so to speak, out of God’s sight,—is cleansed from them in the sight of God. Remission is [[represented as]] obtained by undergoing baptism; hence those who have gone down into the baptismal bath...are said… to have washed themselves, or…to have washed away their sins, i. e. to have been cleansed from their sins – Thayer’s addition to Prof. Grimm’s wordsThayer’s addition to Prof. Grimm’s words, , p. xviii.

IF Saul was saved on the road…

Saul didn’t know itLord didn’t know itLuke didn’t know itAnanias didn’t know it

How do youyou know it?

He would have been saved w/o doing what he was ordered to do.

What else may we disobey and stillbe saved? Hb.11:6? Jn.3:7?