+I. The causes of St. Paul's conversion.+--1. The good pleasure of
God. 2. His separation from the womb, which is an act of God's
counsel whereby He sets men apart to be members of Christ and to be
His servants in this or that office. 3. His vocation by grace--the
accomplishment of both the former in the time which God had appointed.
+II. The manner of his vocation.+--"To reveal His Son in me." 1. By
preparation. God humbled and subdued the pride and stubbornness of
his heart and made him tractable and teachable. 2. By instruction.
(1) Propounding unto him the commandment of the Gospel, to repent and
believe in Christ. (2) Offering to him the promise of remission of
sins and life everlasting when he believed. 3. By a real and lively
teaching when God made Paul in his heart answer the calling.
Ministers of Christ must learn Christ as Paul learned Him.
+III. The end of Paul's conversion.+--To preach Christ among the
Gentiles. 1. Christ is the substance or subject-matter of the whole
Bible. 2. To preach Christ is: (1) To teach the doctrine of the
incarnation of Christ, and His offices as King, Prophet, and Priest.
(2) That faith is an instrument to apprehend and apply Christ. (3) To
certify and reveal to every hearer that it is the will of God to save
him by Christ if he will receive Him. (4) That he is to apply Christ
with His benefits to himself in particular. 3. To preach to the
Gentiles: (1) Because the prophecies of the calling of the Gentiles
must be fulfilled. (2) Because the division between the Jews and
Gentiles is abolished.
+IV. Paul's obedience to the calling of God+ (vers. 16,
17).--1. God's Word, preached or written, does not depend on the
authority of any man--no, not on the authority of the apostles
themselves. 2. There is no consultation or deliberation to be used at
any time touching the holding or not holding of our religion. 3. Our
obedience to God must be without consultation. We must first try what
is the will of God, and then absolutely put it into execution,
leaving the issue to God. 4. Paul goes into Arabia and Damascus, and
becomes a teacher to his professed enemies.--_Perkins._
Vers. 15, 16. _Conversion as illustrated by that of St. Paul._--In
the case of St. Paul there are many circumstances not paralleled in
the general experience of Christians; but in its essential features,
in the views with which it was accompanied and the effects it
produced, it was exactly the same as every one must experience before
he can enter into the kingdom of God.
+I. Its causes.+--1. Paul was chosen by God before his birth to be a
vessel of honour. "It pleased God, who separated me from my mother's
womb." Are not all genuine Christians addressed as "elect of God" or
chosen of God, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience
and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ? Why should not the
real Christian give scope to those emotions of gratitude which such
reflections will inspire? 2. The more immediate cause was the call of
Divine grace. "And called me by His grace." There is a general call
in the Gospel addressed to all men indiscriminately. There is, in
every instance of real conversion, another and inward call, by which
the Spirit applies the general truth of the Gospel to the heart. By
this interior call Christ apprehends, lays hold on the soul, stops it
in its impenitent progress, and causes it to hear His voice.
+II. The means by which conversion is effected.+--"To reveal His Son
in me." The principal method which the Spirit adopts in subduing the
heart of a sinner is a spiritual discovery of Christ. There is an
outward revelation of Christ--in the Scriptures; and an internal, of
which the understanding and the heart are the seat. 1. The Spirit
reveals the greatness and dignity of Christ. 2. The transcendent
beauty and glory of Christ. 3. The suitableness, fulness, and
sufficiency of Christ to supply all our wants and relieve all our
miseries.
+III. The effect of conversion on St. Paul.+--"Immediately I
conferred not with flesh and blood." He set himself without
hesitation or demur to discharge the duties of his heavenly vocation.
1. His compliance with the will of Christ was immediate. 2. Universal
and impartial. 3. Constant and persevering.--_Robert Hall._