The Auburn Beacon
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works
and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

A Website dedicated to the Restoration of New Testament Christianity
 

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Hear Buddy Payne 
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All Joy and Peace in Believing 
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One Thing I Do 
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We Must Broaden Our Vision
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Our God He is Alive
(Evidences from DNA)

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Keeping Our Balance
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The Final Stages of Israel's Apostasy

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The world is in a
constant conspiracy against the brave. It's the age-old struggle--the roar of the crowd on one side and the voice of your
conscience on the other.

 


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University church of Christ

 

Assembly Times

 Sunday

   Bible Classes (9:30)

   AM Worship (10:20)

   PM Worship (6:00 pm)

 Wednesday

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Location

449 North Gay Street

Auburn, AL 36830
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Larry Rouse
1174 Terrace Acres Drive
Auburn, AL 36830

Cell:    (334) 734-2133
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1653 Millbranch Drive,
Auburn, AL 36832

Cell:    (334) 703-0050
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449 North Gay Street

Auburn, AL 36830

 

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The Conversion of Saul
 

by Donnie V. Rader

   

The Bible says more about this case of conversion than any of the others. The story is not told in just one text, but it is found in Acts 9:1-22, Acts 22:1-16 and Acts 26:4-18. Let's consider Saul's former way of life, the appearance on the road, the messenger and the message that was sent to Saul.

Saul's Former Way of Life

All three texts tell something about how Saul lived before his conversion.

1. He was a Hebrew  a Pharisee (Acts 22:3; 26:5; Phil. 3:5). Before Agrippa he testified, "according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee" (Acts 26:5). He later referred to himself as a Hebrew of Hebrews.

Saul was a very religious man. But, he was wrong in his religion. Even though he was living a strict religious life and was a descendant of Abraham he was not a child of God.

2. He was educated (Acts 22:3). Saul was highly educated. He had been trained at the feet of Gamaliel. He was taught "according to the strictness of our father's law."

Though educated, he was still in sin. Sin is not a problem just to the ignorant and unlearned. Those with college educations and PhD’s are also guilty of sin (Rom. 3:23). Someone once said that an uneducated man may steal a car. If you send him to college he may steal the factory. Whether educated or not, all men face the same problem of sin.

3. He was zealous (Phil. 3:6). His zeal and enthusiasm lead him to be active in what he thought to be right. He had a zeal without knowledge (Rom. 10:3). This trait would be useful in the kingdom of God if he would only couple some understanding with his excitement.

4. He was conscientious (Acts 23:1; 26:9). Even though he was fighting against the Lord's work, he was doing what he thought was right. He lived in all good conscience. This reminds us that one's conscience can be wrong. Sincerity is not enough. Saul was sincere, but wrong.

5. He persecuted the church (Acts 7:58; 8:1; 9:1-2; 22:4-5; 26:9-I1). He held the coats for those who stoned Stephen. He made havoc of the church dragging men and women off to prison. He breathed out threats and murder against God's people. He had cast his vote that some should be put to death.

After his conversion we see a different man with a different attitude. This is a powerful message about how people can change. It is a message about how the "chief of sinners" (1 Tim. 1:15) can turn to God and be forgiven.

The Appearance On The Road

1. What he saw and heard (Acts 9:1-9; 22:6-11; 26:12-18). As Saul journeyed on the road to Damascus he saw a light shining from heaven that was as bright as the noon sun. He heard a voice saying, "Saul, Saul why are you persecuting Me?" Saul answered, "Who are You, Lord?" The Lord replied, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting." Saul asked the Lord what he would have him to do. He was then instructed to go into the city and it would be told to him what he should do.

2. He was called to go to the Gentiles (Acts 26:16-18). Paul explained to Agrippa that the Lord appeared to him to send him to the Gentiles to turn them from darkness to light, from Satan unto God. Having seen the Lord, he is now qualified to be an apostle of the Lord (Acts 1:22).

3. What happened on the road convinced him of the resurrection of Christ. Seeing and hearing the resurrected Lord was evidence that he was no longer in the tomb. This is the only thing that can explain the complete change in Saul's life. If he was not convinced, then why does he start pro-claiming his resurrection and even preach it to Agrippa?

4. Saul was not saved on the road to Damascus. Many think that Saul was saved when he saw the Lord. If he was saved on the road to Damascus, he was the most miserable saved man for he didn't eat or drink for the next three days (Acts 9:9). If he was saved. Ananias didn't know it for he told him to wash away his sins (Acts 22:16). If he was saved, he was saved without calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). If he was saved, he was saved while still in his sins (Acts 22:16).

The Messenger And His Message

1. Ananias was sent (Acts 9:10-16). God sent a gospel preacher named Ananias to Saul. Ananias was concerned having heard of what Saul had done to God's people. God assured the preacher that Saul was a chosen vessel and he was on his way.

2. Ananias restored Saul's sight (Acts 9:12, 17-18). When Ananias arrived he put his hands on Saul and immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and he could see again.

3. The message of Ananias (Acts 22:16). When this preacher comes, Saul is praying. So he begins by asking, "And now why are you waiting?" You see, to do anything (even something religious) other than what God wants the sinner to do to be saved, is waiting or "tarrying" (KJV). I also learn from this that prayer on the part of the alien sinner (such as at the mourner's bench) is not part of God's plan for removing man's sin. If so, why did he instruct Saul to stop praying and do something else?

His message continued, "Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord," From this I learn: (a) that baptism is essential to wash away our sins, (b) the urgency of baptism  for he was to quit praying and arise and be baptized and (c) obeying the commands of the Lord (such as baptism) is how one calls on the name of the Lord.

Saul was saved the same way that you and I are saved. Do you believe in the Lord? Have you decided to turn from sin in repentance? Would you be willing to acknowledge your faith in him? Then, I ask you, why are you waiting? Arise, be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.  — Truth Magazine, June 3, 1993

 

  

  Other Articles
A Church Treasury  -- Only in an Emergency?
Losing Individualism

No Time Like the Present
Mind YOUR Business

 

Should the Lord's Supper be taken like a meal? May women speak during the Lord's Supper as they would at a common meal at a table?
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Student Sunday Night Home Study and Singing

 

 

Our God He Is Alive! (Evidences From DNA by Buddy Payne)
PowerPoint
Audio of Lesson
 

Making God Real to Us by Joshua Carter - Nov. 27, 2011
Outline
Audio of Lesson
Audio of Singing

The College Christian by Harold Carswell - Nov. 6, 2011
Outline
Audio of Lesson (Part 1)
Audio of Lesson (Part 2)
Audio of Singing

My Struggle as a College Student by Kyle Gibson- Oct. 23, 2011
Audio of Lesson
Audio of Singing

When Evolutionist Tell the Truth by David Tant
Outline
PowerPoint
Audio of Lesson
Audio of Singing
 

For Additional Information and Past Audio and Outlines Click Here


Click Here to Hear:

A Friendly Discussion on Mormonism

Held at the University church of Christ -
February 17, 2011


 

Monthly Bible Study in Lagrange
at the Eastside church of Christ in LaGrange, Georgia

Overcoming the Present Apostasy by Larry Rouse

 

Saturday October 9, 2010


9:30 AM
- How do We View the Bible?

Outline
PowerPoint
Audio

 

Saturday December 11, 2010

9:30 AM - How Do We View the World?

Outline
PowerPoint

 

 


University church of Christ

 

Assembly Times

 Sunday

   Bible Classes (9:30)

   AM Worship (10:20)

   PM Worship (6:00 pm)

 Wednesday

   Bible Classes
(7:00 PM)

 

Location

449 North Gay Street

Auburn, AL 36830

Click Here for Specific Directions



 

Overcoming the Present Apostasy

Sermon Series by Larry Rouse

Piscataway, NJ Nov 20-22, 2009

 

 

Friday Night 7:30

Lesson1 - How Do We View the Bible?

Outline
PowerPoint
Audio

Saturday Night 7:30

Lesson 2 - How do we View the World?

Outline
PowerPoint
Audio

Sunday Morning 9:15
Lesson 3 - How do we View God's Order for Leadership?

Outline
PowerPoint
Audio

Sunday Morning 10:00
Lesson 4 - How Do We View the Local Church?

Outline
PowerPoint
Audio

Sunday Morning 11:00
Lesson 5 - How Do We View God's Instruction on Fellowship

Outline
Audio

For Additional Information, Audio and Outlines Click Here

 


Recent Bulletins:

The Auburn Beacon - Dec 26, 2010 Edition

The Auburn Beacon - Dec 19, 2010 Edition

The Auburn Beacon - Dec 12, 2010 Edition

The Auburn Beacon - Dec 5, 2010 Edition

The Auburn Beacon - Nov 28, 2010 Edition


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