2025-10-19 Sermon Notes
💡Big Idea
Takeaways and Next Steps
📖Bible Passage
but they only heard: "He who once persecuted us now preaches the faith that he once tried to destroy."
Points
- John Newton was a slave who himself became a slave trader.
- On March 10, 1748, Newton was on a ship in a storm that was threatened to capsize.
- Newton said to the captain on this ship "If this will not do, the Lord of mercy on my soul." But Newton was surprised by his own words. Mercy? Why would God have mercy on me.
- 1 Corinthians 15.10 But by the grace of God I am what I am. His grace which was given to me was not futile, but I worked more than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
John Newton's epitaph
John Newton, Clerk, once an Infidel and Libertine,
A Servant of Slaves in Africa,
Was, by the Rich Mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
Preserved, Restored, Pardoned,
And Appointed to Preach the Faith
He had long laboured to destroy.
Conversion
- Conversion is so much more than a mere profession of faith.
- Conversion is the Lord Jesus Christ utterly changing a sinner's heart from the inside out.
- Conversion is the standing miracle of the Church.
- The Church unfortunately is full of people who have never truly been converted.
- ❓: Have you been truly converted?
Saul's Conversion
- Immediately after Saul's conversion Saul desired to join the disciples. What could possibly explain this, except that God utterly changed Saul's heart and desires. This can only be explained by his conversion.
- Acts 9.26 When Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.
- Paul was utterly notorious for his zealous observance in Judaism and in his persecution of the Christians.
- Philippians 3.4 though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If any other man thinks that he has confidence in the flesh, I yet more:
- It is hard to conceive of anyone more "righteous" and "religious" than Saul before his conversion. And yet Jesus teaches that even this is not enough.
- Matthew 5.20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
- But now, after Paul's conversion, look at how utterly different he is today.
- Look at Galatians 1:1-5. He makes no mention of himself or his own merit but only about the glory and merit of God.
Application
Further Study
💬Discussion Questions
2025-10-19 Sermon Notes
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On this page
💡Big Idea
Takeaways and Next Steps
📖Bible Passage
Points
Conversion
Saul's Conversion
Application
Further Study
💬Discussion Questions