Elevate Life Church

Paul described the gospel he preached with these verbs about Christ: died, buried, raised, and appeared... That last verb is very important, yet is often neglected when people think of the good news. But what good news it is—not that Jesus is alive, but that Jesus is around and wants us to have an encounter with his living presence. This series will explore how real and life-changing it is when we realize that Jesus is NOW APPEARING!

As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly “saw” a light from heaven flashed “appeared” around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” (Acts 9:3-6)

PAUL REALIZED: Remission is Jesus’ invitation to anyone.

“The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard. And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’” (Acts 22:14-16)

Paul (Saul) was on a mission to persecute the church...

Remission is Jesus’ invitation to anyone.

“When you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and you were raised up with him through your faith in God’s power that was shown when he raised Christ from the dead. When you were spiritually dead because of your sins and because you were not free from the power of your sinful self, God made you alive with Christ, and he forgave all our sins.”
(Colossians 2:12-13, NCV)

“Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. Tell people that you have seen me...I am sending you to the Gentiles 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.’”
(Acts 26:16-18, NLT)

“Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.”
(2 Corinthians 5:17-18, NLT)

“Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’”
(John 3:6-7)

“For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.”
(Romans 6:4, NLT)

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Neos: means numerically new but not different
Kainos: qualitatively new
New car "Neos" means millions of other cars like it...they are all new but the same...Kainos means we went from a horse and buggy to an electric modern car.

WHEN WE HAVE MEET (APPEARING) JESUS, WE ARE KAINOS NEW DIFFERENT.

Luke 5:39 (ESV)
39And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’ ”

These people don’t want to go through the new wineskin process

APPLICATION: Now Appearing Paul


TO THOSE WHO NEED NEW LIFE
Share about a time when something unexpected changed the direction of your life. How did this experience impact your perspective or beliefs?

JESUS ACTUALIZED
Read Acts 9:1-6. What stands out to you about how Jesus appears to Paul?
Why do you think Jesus chose to confront him this way?
Follow up: Jesus will show up because he never gives up.
Where have you seen God’s persistence in your own life or in the life of someone close to you?
How did this encounter force Paul to rethink everything he believed about God, faith, and the Messiah?
Follow up: Can you think of a time when Jesus reshaped your understanding
of who he is or what it means to follow him? What did you learn about God and yourself?

PAUL REALIZED: Remission is Jesus’ invitation to anyone.

Read Acts 22:6-16. Why do you think Paul needed to be blinded before he could truly see his need for Jesus? Follow
up: How can understanding that Jesus invites everyone to new life—washing all our sins away—change the way you view others who may be struggling?
Read Colossians 2:12-13. What changes when someone moves from being spiritually dead to alive with Christ?
Follow up: How does realizing Jesus invites you into his life (not just to improve yours) reshape your view of faith?

PAUL REALIZED: Re-mission is Jesus’ expectation of everyone. Read Acts 26:16-18.
Jesus didn’t just forgive Paul—he gave him a new mission. How does Jesus reshape our purpose when we come to faith? Follow up: Read 2 Corinthians 5:17-18. What does it mean for you to embrace a new life and the task of reconciling people to God?

GET BAPTIZED! Read Romans 6:4. Baptism is rebirth, not reset What does that mean to you personally?

New Life... Neos: means numerically new but not different
Kainos: qualitatively new New car "Neos" means millions of other cars like it...they are all new but the same...Kainos means we went from a horse and buggy to an electric modern car.

Now Appearing means a new way of life. Everything Paul taught goes back to when Jesus appeared to him.