"Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' So I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.' "And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me. So I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.' And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus. Acts 22:6-11

In Acts 22:6-11 Paul is telling a Jewish mob who was out to kill him how he came to know Christ. He began by pointing out that, like them, he was once a persecutor of Christians too. But then he had an encounter with Jesus!

We wrote last time of the Jesus’ questioning words, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” We considered the words , “Me,” and “why.” This time let’s consider the word “you.” What each lost person needs to understand is that he or she is personally guilty before God and in need of forgiveness. It is simply not enough to believe that Jesus came to save sinners—you know, those other people. To be saved, I need to acknowledge that “I” have been living my life in opposition to God, His Law, and His Son. And so do you!

One of the most common dismissals/rejections of the gospel is, “That’s great for you!” Yes, the gospel IS great for me, and it is equally great and absolutely necessary for you as well!

Though I am not a big fan of the words, “Jesus is my own personal Savior” (because it makes the entire gospel seem to be about me!), it is true that each individual must come to faith in Christ, individually. Once we are saved, we are instantaneously members of Christ’s body, the Church. But to become one of Christ’s people, we must come to Christ acknowledging our personal sin and our personal need to be forgiven, personally. Have you done that?

More next time…