Back To Sermons recorded Live Every Sunday

“CONVERSION AND RESTORATION”

Acts 9:1-22; John 21:15-19



Between our first reading for today and our Gospel reading, we have the sum and substance of the entire Christian life depicted; in the words of today’s sermon theme, it’s all about “Conversion and Restoration.” Or, to put it another way, it’s all about Christ claiming us and then reclaiming us to be His own again and again.

It is important that we know that our Christian life is all about our complete dependence upon Jesus Christ. We can take no credit for our faith or for our salvation. Not a moment goes by in which we are not totally reliant upon the grace of God through His Son Jesus. And it is that utter dependency upon Christ which forms our Christian character from beginning to end, as we see through the examples of the two greatest apostles Peter and Paul.

We begin by considering the first of our Scripture readings, the account of the conversion of Saul, who would become better known as St. Paul. For those who might be unfamiliar with the story, Saul was a prominent Pharisee, educated by the most highly-respected Jewish theologians. His zeal brought him great notoriety and he was soon entrusted with the infamous task of arresting Christians and bringing them to Jerusalem for trial and possible execution. It was on one of these missions of persecution where he was confronted by the risen Lord, Jesus, on a road which led to the city of Damascus.

Now, there are some who refer to that event as Saul’s “conversion on the road to Damascus.” But a careful examination of the text reveals that Saul’s conversion actually took place a few days later, as the Lord Himself had promised. Christ had confronted Saul with the question, “Why are you persecuting me?” It was a challenging question—a question meant to convict Saul—a question of the Law. And, as if to give Saul even more incentive to contemplate that question, Saul also was struck blind.

The Gospel, the good news of Saul’s salvation, would come later at the hands of a man named Ananias, who informed Saul, “the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized.” And it was through baptism, that the second part of that promise, that Saul was granted the Holy Spirit.

We are all like Saul. The Scriptures tell us that we are, by nature, spiritually blind, dead, and enemies of God. Just as Saul could say nothing before the Lord to justify his behavior, just as he could do nothing to remedy his blindness, just as he was totally at the mercy of God—so also are we.

Not one of us here ever decided on our own to become a Christian. How could we? For, again, the Scriptures tell us, no one can claim that Jesus is his or her Lord unless the Holy Spirit has granted them the gift of faith to say so (1 Cor. 12:3). But, the Holy Spirit has indeed called us by the Gospel—and for most of us, that call came through the waters of Holy Baptism—just like it did for Saul. It is the assurance that, on account of God’s grace alone, we were raised up from the death of our sins, we were granted faith and a new life in Christ, and God adopted us into His holy family and made a claim upon us as His own children—a blessing that was granted to us when we weren’t even looking for it, nor could even look for it, because of our spiritual blindness.

And so, we were converted—granted the forgiveness and life of Jesus Christ, in the same way that Saul was—through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism.

Would that our life would have been truly perfect from that point on; but, such is not the case. Even as we sit here today in reverence, with our hands folded in prayer and our hearts and ears attentive to the Word of God, we still are by nature sinful and unclean. And because of that sinful nature, we continue to sin against God in thoughts, words, and deeds; not the least of which, is the sin of denying our Savior in the midst of weakness and temptation.

Consider, then, the second of our Biblical characters—the apostle Peter. You all know the story, how Peter denied Jesus three times on the night when Christ was arrested. Peter feared for his own life. He sought to save his own skin. But, in doing so, he fell from saving faith.

It is on the seashore then, in the midst of the breakfast meal which the Lord had prepared for His disciples, that Jesus asked Peter a simple question: “Simon, son of John, do you love me.” Three times Jesus asked him that question. Three times… just as Peter had denied the Lord three times. Again, it was a probing question—much as when Jesus confronted Saul on the Damascus road with the question, “Why are you persecuting me?” “Simon Peter, why did you deny me?”

Now, what our English translations of the Bible don’t bring out, is that there was a little word play going on between Jesus’ question and Peter’s answer. When the Lord asked Peter whether he loved Him, Jesus was using the Greek word agape, which meant the perfect, sacrificial kind of love with which God loves us. But Peter, in reply, answered with a completely different word for a love—a weaker word—the word, philos, meaning a friendship type of love.

What Peter was confessing was that, no, his love for God was nowhere near what God’s love had been for him. And this is our confession as well.

Dearly beloved, in what manner has God ever failed you? In what way has He ever neglected to provide you, not only with what you need for your daily life, but with what you need for your eternal life? Has God ever denied you as we have, in our thoughts, words, and deeds, denied Him? The answer, of course, is He never has—nor will He ever deny us. Then what of our insufficient love for Him in return?

Thanks be to God, the Lord continues to love us perfectly and restore us compassionately even when we have failed Him. And it is no coincidence that it is in the midst of a meal that that restoration of Peter was established. It is certainly meant to remind us of the meal of Christ’s eternal presence which He has established for our benefit, the Lord’s own Supper.

Here, Jesus invites us to be restored again and again to the joy of our salvation. For this is the body and blood of Jesus’ sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins! Just as the Lord could take someone who was as guilty as the murderer and persecutor Saul, and bring Him to saving faith—so also He can take someone as guilty as the fallen disciple Peter, and assure him that there is always forgiveness; and with that forgiveness the entrustment to share that same grace with the sheep and the lambs of Christ’s flock. Freely we have received—freely we are able to give.

But please be aware, that there is no conversion, there is no restoration, there is no salvation apart from Christ. Dearly beloved, there is neither a day nor a week that goes by when we are not totally dependent and in desperate need of the pardon which Jesus offers. This is a matter of faith. We cannot rely upon what our own eyes see or our human reason tells us; for they will always lead us astray to believe that our relationship with Christ comes on our own terms. It does not. You can be as sincere as can be about your love for Jesus—but, without Jesus’ own perfect love and forgiveness for you, we are nothing.

It is significant that here, at the closing verses of St. John’s Gospel account, Jesus says the following: “Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

For the apostles, their following of Christ would mean their eventual martyrdom; they would suffer and die for the faith. For you and me, it might not mean our martyrdom, but the stakes are just as high—for, day in and day out, our faith will be sorely tried and tested by the pressures of the world around us; and aggravated by our own sinful nature we will be deceived us into thinking that we are in control of our spiritual lives. But we aren’t. We never have been.

From beginning to end, from start to finish, the sum and substance of the entire Christian life lies in our need for Christ. We need Him to call us and keep us in the one true faith. We need Him to pardon us when our conscience convicts us of the evil we have done. We need His promise of peace in the midst of our tribulations. We need His hope of eternal life when the inescapable threat of death looms over us.

And be assured, that the Lord Jesus will continue to feed His sheep and His lambs with the spiritual food we need. There is always forgiveness, there is always hope, there is always the assurance that God welcomes us back with open arms—all because of the blood of Jesus Christ which cleanses us from all sin.



Acts 9:1–22

1But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 10Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

Revelation 5:8–14

8And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” 11Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” 13And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” 14And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

John 21:1–19

1After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. 2Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 7That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. 8The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. 9When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. 15When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19(This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”