Acts 22 Lesson

OUR GOD IS A GOD OF SECOND CHANCES

None of us are perfect.

We all make mistakes.

We know this to be true based on our own experiences and we can read about it in Paul’s letter to the Romans:

• “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” - Romans 3:23.

And while it is important for us to be aware of our sins, and subsequently our need for redemption, we do not want to focus too much on our past.

When we repent of our sins, God not only forgives them, but He also remembers them no more!   If God is willing to move on and put our sins behind us, we should be willing to do the same.    

As you read the following two scriptures, think about how our God is a God of second chances:

1. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9,
2. I will be merciful to their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” - Hebrews 8:12.

THE APOSTLE PAUL

Nobody’s life personified second chances like the life of the Apostle Paul.  We can learn a lot by observing the relationship that Paul had with God throughout his life. 

Earlier in his life, Paul persecuted people for following Jesus.  He had them beaten, imprisoned, and even put to death because of their belief in God's only Son!  Yet God forgave him and offered him a second chance. 

Sometimes we are too hard on ourselves. 

Sometimes we wonder if God could still love us after all of the sins we have committed. 

Paul's story reminds us that God's love, mercy, and grace know no limits!

Jesus said of Paul:

• “He is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel.” - Acts 9:15.

He not only forgave Paul, but He also allowed Paul to thrive and become one of the most important figures in the Bible.

GOD HAS A PLAN 

God has a plan for each of us, just as He did for the Apostle Paul. The question is, will we follow it?

The Prophet Jeremiah wrote:

• “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord , “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”– Jeremiah 29:11.

At various times throughout our lives, God reveals His plan for us.

For Paul, that moment came on the road to Damascus.

For some of us, this manifests itself through the Bible. The Bible is meant to give direction and clarity to our lives. The right scripture at the right time is not an accident. It is God working together with the Holy Spirit to compel us to act!

BAPTISM AND REPENTANCE

When we sin, our relationship with God becomes damaged (Isaiah 59:2) and needs to be repaired.  To restore our relationship with God there are two things that the Bible says that we need to do:

• “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” – Acts 2:38.

From this scripture, we learn that for our sins to be forgiven, we need to:

1. Repent,
2. Be baptized.

CONCLUSION

Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus was a life-changing event. 

From that moment on, Paul went from persecuting Christians to risking his life repeatedly in his service to the Lord.

As we study Paul's life, we will see three things:

1. God had a plan for Paul,
2. Paul followed it,
3. By following God’s plan, Paul became one of the most significant people in the history of the world!

Just as He did for Paul, God has a plan for each of us.  The question is, will we follow it?  Will we allow God's plan to work in our lives?  

When God’s plans take us out of our comfort zone in a direction that we did not foresee, will we stay the course? 

If we do, our reward in Heaven will be great!

We will end today’s lesson with the following scripture taken from the Apostle Paul’s second letter to Timothy. These are the same words that we hope to be able to say when our time on Earth is done:

• “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” – 2 Timothy 4:7-8.