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ACTS 26: l2 - 19

"THE HEAVENLY VISION"

Intro: Paul before King Agrippa.

I. THE PURPOSE OF THE GOSPEL.
        A. "To open their eyes."
                1. The man in sin is blind. "The god of this..."
                        a. Blind to his need.
                                1. He sees no need of repentance - forgiveness.
                        b. Blind to his condition.
                                1. He is bound - so blind he talks of freedom.
                                2. He is lost - so often thinks he has found it.
                        c. Spiritually blind.
                2. How can their eyes be opened?
                        a. Spirit.
                        b. Word.
                        c. Prayer.
        
        B. "Turn them from darkness to light."
                1. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world."
                2. John said of Jesus, "He was that true light, that lighteth every man that
                   cometh into the world."
                3. Satan's kingdom is a kingdom of darkness and death.
                        a. Spiritual darkness and void.
                        b. Moral darkness.
                        c. Fitting that in final judgment shall be cast into outer darkness.
                4. How do we get rid of darkness?
                        a. The futility of trying to drive out darkness.
                        b. Just turn on the light.
                        c. When Jesus comes in, darkness must go.
                5. How beautiful to live and walk in the light.
                        a. We now know where we are going.
                                1. No longer groping, we walk with assurance.
                                2. Live with confidence.
        C. Turn them from the power of Satan unto God.
                1. Satan has power to imprison a life.
                        a. He blinds their judgment.
                        b. He destroys their logic.
                        c. He        s the truth.
                                1. Calls evil good and good evil.
                                2. Lies concerning the Christian life.
                        d. Power to hold them captive.
                2. Our duty is to set them free.
                        a. This is accomplished in spiritual warfare.
                                1. "Our weapons not carnal."
                        b. Satan a defeated foe yet we must force him to yield.
                        c. How to pray for the lost.

II. THE RESULT OF THE GOSPEL.
        A. "Forgiveness of sins."
                1. God desires to forgive sins.
                2. To this end Jesus Christ was sent, to give God a righteous basis for 
                   forgiveness.
                        a. Please forgive because I'm a neat person.
        neg. b. Please forgive because I promise to be good.
                        c. Please forgive because Jesus died for me.
        B. An inheritance.
                1. "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that  we 
                   should..."
                2. "Who hath begotten us again unto a living hope by the
                        resurrection...unto an inheritance..."
                3. "Come ye blessed of the Father inherit the kingdom prepared..."
                4. "Inherit everlasting life"

III. HOW TO OBTAIN THE BENEFITS OF THE GOSPEL.
        A. "Which are sanctified by faith"
                1. Sanctified - to be set apart - from - for.
                2. "By faith."
                        a. Simply believe God's promise.
        B. Faith in Jesus.
                1. Not faith in a church.
                2. Not faith in a religion.
                3. Not faith in goodness.
                4. "Whosoever believeth in Him."