Become As I Am

Acts 26:24-29

“Imitate Me”1 Corinthians 11:1

• Example, Philippians 3:17•Now a prisoner waiting to

stand before Caesar, Acts 25:11•Herod Agrippa II

–Jews want Paul dead, 25:24–Paul wanted his audience to be

as he was (except for chains) 26:28-29

2

Free from Sin’s Bondage/Death• Agrippa and company

Jno. 8:34; 2 Pet. 2:19; Rom. 6:16–The “free” were prisoners of sin

and the prisoner was free–Freedom available

John 8:36; Romans 6:17-18

• Paul was once in bondage to sin, 1 Timothy 1:15-16–Saved, Acts 9:6; 22:16

3

Free from Past Guilt• Shameful treatment of saints

Acts 26:9-11–Sin is futile and self-defeating

Acts 26:14–New creature in Christ

2 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 6:3-4

• Your guilt of past sin?–Cover, hide, ignore, blame others,

out of mind? Philippians 3:13-14

4

Free from the Law of Moses

• The LOM could not free the Jews from sin, Acts 26:4-7;

Galatians 3:13; Colossians 2:14–Never an end in itself

Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:6-8; Isaiah 1:10-15; Psalm 51:16-17

•Man-made rituals also fail Galatians 4:8-12; John 4:23-24

5

Free from the Law of Moses

• Basic Lessons:–Without a contrite heart, even

commanded actions are rejected

–Do not add man-made ceremonies to the gospel

–Do not ritualize what God has commanded us

6

Free from the Love of the World

•Had not always been so Titus 3:3

–Now he gloried in the cross Galatians 6:14

• Some only half-heartedly refrain from the world

Exodus 16:3; Luke 9:62 1 John 2:15-17

7

Free from Uncertainty• Paul was not indecisive

Philippians 3:14; 2 Timothy 4:7

• Temptations to doubt:–Suffering, Romans 8:18

–Unlawful treatment, Acts 21-28–Lied about, 1 Corinthians 4:13–Abandoned by Christians

2 Timothy 4:16• Confident faith, 1 Cor. 15:58

8

99