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Sermon #5539

The Conversion of Saul of Tarsus

A Sermon on 1 Corinthians 15:8-11

Originally preached Sept. 27, 1967

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Scripture

1 Corinthians 15:8-11 ESV KJV
Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me …

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Sermon Description

Saul of Tarsus had a dramatic encounter with the risen Lord on the road to Damascus, and he was never the same afterward. In this sermon on 1 Corinthians 15:8–11 titled “The Conversion of Saul of Tarsus,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones makes the case that Christians go through a remarkably similar process in their own conversions. There is much to be learned of the Christian faith from the life and writings of the apostle Paul, formerly Saul of Tarsus. In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul highlights his own conversion to show that the gospel he preaches is the same gospel he received. Dr. Lloyd-Jones maintains that this is the same gospel that has transformed individuals throughout the history of the church, and continues to transform lives even today. The process is that God seeks out people, makes Himself known to them, and shows them the way of salvation. Christian conversion is completely dependent upon the power of the grace of God. By the grace of God, a Christian can say, “I was…but I am.” Dr. Lloyd-Jones challenges his audience to consider the conviction of sin, repentance, and rebirth.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The apostle Paul is reminding the Corinthians of the fundamentals of the Christian faith.
  2. The Corinthians had fallen into confusion and were arguing over preachers, tolerating sin, boasting in their gifts, abusing communion, and denying the resurrection.
  3. Paul had to remind them of the gospel he preached to them.
  4. The Christian message is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ according to the Scriptures.
  5. Paul now discusses how this message becomes relevant in our lives.
  6. He uses his own experience as an example. Though Paul's experience was unique, what made him a Christian is the same for all.
  7. Becoming a Christian is a personal, individual experience. It is not based on opinions or philosophy but on a relationship with God.
  8. Modern society devalues the individual, but Christianity starts with the individual. Social change comes from individual change.
  9. Paul insists he is only a Christian by the grace of God, like all Christians. No one can earn salvation through good works.
  10. God's grace is powerful, as seen in Paul's radical conversion. Only God's grace can save.
  11. The Christian life is a gift from God, not something we achieve ourselves.
  12. God's grace brings conviction of sin, repentance, and regeneration. It changes our whole being.
  13. Paul was blinded by sin but given new understanding. His proud heart was humbled. His will was changed.
  14. Regeneration is a complete change, a new creation. It is greater than the original creation.
  15. The test of a Christian is whether they can say they are what they are by God's grace alone, giving Him all the glory. True Christians praise God's grace to others.

Sermon Q&A

What Does It Mean to Be a Christian According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?

What is Dr. Lloyd-Jones' definition of a Christian?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, a Christian is someone who can say, "I am what I am by the grace of God." He explains that a true Christian is someone who has undergone a complete transformation—not by their own doing, but entirely through God's grace. This is more than holding correct opinions or subscribing to Christian philosophy; it involves a personal, experimental experience of God's grace working in one's life, resulting in a profound change from what they once were to what they now are through God's intervention.

Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasize the personal nature of Christianity?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that Christianity is "always something personal, intensely personal." He pushes back against the modern tendency to focus exclusively on social and political concerns while dismissing personal faith. He argues that society consists of individuals, and society can only truly change when individuals are changed. The greatest periods of social and political improvement in history, he contends, have followed times of religious revival when the emphasis was on individual transformation. Christianity starts with God's work in individual hearts before extending outward to impact society.

How does someone become a Christian according to this sermon?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, becoming a Christian involves three key elements:

  1. Conviction of sin: Being convicted of one's "utter wrongness and sinfulness" before God. This means losing self-confidence and realizing one's need for salvation.

  2. Repentance: Moving beyond conviction to a place of godly sorrow, where one is "utterly ashamed" of their rebellion against God and stops defending themselves.

  3. Regeneration: Experiencing a complete transformation—what the Bible calls being "born again." This is not mere improvement but a total recreation where one becomes "an entirely different person" with a new mind, heart, and will.

Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that none of these steps can be self-generated—they are all works of God's grace.

What role does grace play in Christian conversion?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that a person becomes a Christian "by the grace of God" alone. He firmly rejects the idea that anyone can make themselves a Christian through good deeds, intelligence, logic, or religious practices. Using Paul's conversion as an example, he shows how Paul became a Christian "in spite of himself"—while actively opposing Christ. Lloyd-Jones stresses that only "the powerful grace of God" can break down human resistance and transform a person, describing it as "the only hope for any individual" and "the only hope for the whole world." He calls it "the very central glory of the gospel."

How can someone know if they are truly a Christian?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones offers several tests to determine if one is genuinely a Christian:

  1. Are you amazed at yourself? Are you surprised and astonished that you're a Christian?
  2. Are you filled with gratitude to God for looking upon you despite your unworthiness?
  3. Do you give all glory to God for your salvation, always careful to say "by the grace of God I am what I am"?
  4. Do you praise God to others? Do you want everyone to know about Him and His matchless grace?

If these attitudes characterize your life, Dr. Lloyd-Jones suggests you are a Christian. If not, he encourages seeking God's conviction and transformation.

Other Sermons

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.