In today’s message we consider some of the presumptions that people can carry with them from day-to-day. Presumption means to pre-assume something without verifying it with facts.

We will also look at how hard is the journey from sinner to saint for the one who does not know he is a sinner, in need of a Savior? The answer: Impossible!!

In Mark 10:15-26 we meet a rich young ruler who believes his self-righteousness is sufficient. When confronted with the truth of the sacrifice required, he finds himself unwilling to follow Jesus, who proclaims “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 

Thankfully, to this equation, Jesus adds that “With God, all things are possible.”

But it requires God to make the first move. Consider this:

Those who do not feel the need to trust in God, will not seek God’s counsel.

Those who feel self-righteous, will not seek the righteousness of God.

Those who feel no need for God’s forgiveness, will not seek God’s forgiveness.

Today in Acts 9:1-9, we will meet again a young man named Saul. A member of the ruling class of the Pharisees in Jerusalem.

If you were looking for an example of a “wicked” man, Saul would have fit the bill!

A denier of Jesus as the Son of God, Lord and Savior – One who slandered the name of Jesus – Misused the name and the authority of God.

Who arrested innocent people for nothing more than believing the things Saul thought were untrue.

These he had arrested, jailed, beaten and put to death. All in the name of God!

And so it was this zealous Pharisee found himself at the tip of the spear “defending the righteousness of God” - from whom he PRESUMED to be liars, heretics, blasphemers, and followers of a false Messiah.

But in today’s lesson, we are going to see the presumptions of this self-righteous man crash head-on with the truth, when Christ Jesus, the risen Lord, makes a personal appearance with Saul the Pharisee, who had committed himself to denying and persecuting both Jesus and all those who followed Him.