In today’s text we witness the Apostle Paul sharing his testimony with King Agrippa. Paul didn’t hold back and told the king not only of his life before and after Christ, but Paul got very specific describing to the king exactly what the goal of the Gospel was and what Paul’s mission was. Let’s read it in the New Living Translation…

 “One day I was on such a mission to Damascus, armed with the authority and commission of the leading priests. About noon, Your Majesty, as I was on the road, a light from heaven brighter than the sun shone down on me and my companions. We all fell down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is useless for you to fight against my will.’ “‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked. “And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. You are to tell the world what you have seen and what I will show you in the future. And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’ Acts 26:12-18 (NLT)

There are five powerful elements of Paul’s mission according to this text. Jesus sent Paul to “tell the world about” Jesus in order to …

1.) Open their eyes.

2.) Turn them from darkness to light.

3.) Turn them from the power of Satan to God.

4.) So that they will receive forgiveness for their sins.

5.) To be given a place among God’s people.

Hopefully these elements are also a good description of your life. Understand that the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the benefits it brings is not dependent upon your good works or your good intentions. These elements are not as a result of any “religious activity”. Jesus himself explains that all this is a result of being, “set apart by faith in me”.

Trust in Jesus and know that He alone is our salvation.       Pastor Mike