"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...Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2013
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