Light and Darkness (Part 4 of 5) by Kenneth E. Thomas
(http://www.gospelanchor.com/)
The Contrast Between Light and Darkness (continued)
One should read all three chapters concerning Saul's conversion
to Christ. When Saul asked Jesus "Lord, what would you have
me to do?" He was told to "arise and go into the city
and you will be told what you must do." He was led by the
hand on into Damascus and Ananias the preacher came to him with
the following words for this believing, penitent who had confessed
faith in Jesus as the Christ, "and now why are you waiting?
Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the
name of the Lord" (Acts 22:6-16). Reading of Saul's conversion
in Acts chapter nine one will learn that in the very city where
he had intended to bind and persecute Christians, he taught in
the Synagogues, that Jesus is the Son of God. They were amazed
at this and asked if this was not the same person who had "...destroyed
those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here
for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief
priest?" The record then says, "But Saul increased all
the more in strength and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus,
proving that this Jesus is the Christ" (Acts 9:20-22). How
does one account for such a turn about in this man we first knew
as a relentless persecutor of the church of Christ? When he was
convinced that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed who he claimed to
be, the divine son of the living God, Saul did what Jesus said
in the "great commission" they must (Luke 24:45-47;
Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16), he was "baptized into Christ"
as he later relates to the brethren in (Romans 6:3-6; Galatians
3:26-29). Today when one is convinced that Jesus is indeed "The
Christ" such an one will accept Him as the Lord of their
lives and there will be no quibbling over doing exactly what Saul
and others did to be converted to Christ. It is unbelievers who
quibble over whether or not baptism is essential to get into Christ.
Baptism is the final act of the "new birth" of the water
and of the Spirit of which Jesus spoke to Nicodemus in (John 3:3-5),
without which one cannot see nor enter Christ's kingdom. There
are prerequisites to baptism of course, those being one must have
heard the gospel, believe the gospel, repent of all sin and error,
and then upon confession of one's faith in Jesus as the Christ,
the Son of God, one is to be immersed into His death and raised
to walk in newness of life. Paul calls this "the washing
of regeneration" by which God saves us in (Titus 3:5).
As Paul went about preaching Jesus and the resurrection, even
though a special apostle to the Gentiles, when he went into any
city where a Jewish synagogue had been erected, he would get an
audience with them and preach Christ. On one occasion I have in
mind as Paul was on his way to Rome having appealed to his right
as a Roman citizen, to appear before Caesar, he took the opportunity
to preach to some of his Jewish countrymen, making an interesting
remark. He stood to be judged for preaching Christ, he said before
King Agrippa, "And now I stand and am judged for the hope
of the promise made by God to our fathers. To this promise our
twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain.
For this hope's sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews"
(Acts 26:6-7). What was indeed the "hope of Israel,"
was not what they hoped for. They hoped for an earthly king and
kingdom, "their hope" lay only in accepting and obeying
the resurrected Christ. This Paul went on to teach the king, saying,
"Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raised
the dead?"
This doctrine met with fierce opposition to fleshly minded folks
then as did the idea that Christ's kingdom wasn't earthly but
a spiritual reign in the hearts of men and women who yielded to
His authority over their lives and were born again into said kingdom
(John 3:3-5; Titus 3:5; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Peter 3:20-21). Unfortunately,
these truths, this light found in the word of Christ, still meet
with fierce opposition today as we attempt to teach Protestants,
Jews, and Roman Catholics about Christ and His kingdom.
The glorious light of the gospel of Christ teaches that when one
believes and obeys the gospel of Christ, that person becomes simply
and only a Christian and as such, a member of the one body of
which Paul wrote in (Ephesians 4:1-6). Cases of conversion which
brought membership in this one body, the church of Christ, are
simply examples of how the "great commission" given
by Christ to His apostles was carried out and what it entailed.
When folks "obeyed the gospel" (Acts 2:22-38, 41, 1
Peter 1:22-25), they were given the new name that Old Testament
prophecies had spoken of being given "within God's house..."
(Isaiah 56:6; 62:2). This "new name" was the proper
noun "Christian" (Acts 11:26b; 1 Corinthians 1:10-12;
Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16). The wearing of other names of men or
methods is divisive and contrary to the will and wishes of our
Savior who admonishes those who would follow Him to unite upon
the word of His apostles (John 17:17-21; 1 Corinthians 1:10-12).
At this point let me give you the passages where conversions took
place and you will see how each, although not specifically stated,
Heard, Believed, Repented, Confessed Jesus and were immersed to
have their sins remitted. See for yourself:
1. Jews on Pentecost (Acts 2:22-38,40-41,47).
2. Jews (Acts 3:12-19).
3. The Samaritans (Acts 8:12-13).
4. The Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-39).
5. Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9-22-26; Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:26-29).
6. Lydia & household (Acts 16:13-15).
7. The Philippian Jailer (Acts 16:25-33).
It was to such as had (as indicated in the examples above) believed,
Repented, Confessed faith in Jesus as the Christ and were then
baptized into Christ and been raised to "walk in newness
of life" (Romans 6:3-6; Colossians 2:11; 3:1-7), that Paul
admonished, "For you were once darkness, but now you are
light in the Lord, walk as children of light" (Ephesians
5:8). Too much space would be required to show the many passages
which say things similar about the "before and after"
conversion lifestyles Christians are expected to adopt. It is
just about imperative that the careful student read the many scripture
citations in this or any other such treatise, for if we took the
time to write them all out, we would have a book of considerable
size and this isn't intended to become such. Christians have been
converted. When something is converted, it is changed from what
it was before. We convert rags and wood to paper. Where I was
raised they often converted corn to whiskey among other things.
So we understand the meaning of the word "converted."
If we are converted to Christ, our lives will be transformed.
Not only will all past sins and errors have been washed away in
the blood of Jesus, but with a renewed mind, we will be determined
to order our lives in keeping with the will of our Lord and Master
who purchased each of us who are Christians with His own blood
(Romans 12:1-2; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17). While conversion doesn't
require or demand a walk in perfection, it is indicated by exhibiting
the "fruits of the Spirit" as we follow our perfect
example, Jesus Christ (Galatians 5:22-25). Peter points this out
in the following language: "...For we have spent enough of
our lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles (nations ket)--when
we walked in licentiousness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking
parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these things,
they (your former associates ket) think it strange that you do
not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil
of you. They will have to give an account to Him who is ready
to judge the living and the dead" (1 Peter 4:3-5).
PSALM 119
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
AIN. (Ps 119:121-128).
[121-126. On the grounds of his integrity, desire for God's word,
and covenant relation to Him, the servant of God may plead for
His protecting care against the wicked, gracious guidance to the
knowledge of truth, and His effective vindication of the righteous
and their cause, which is also His own.]
121 I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors.
122 Be surety [Stand for me against my oppressors (Ge 43:9; Isa
38:14).] for thy servant for good: let not the proud oppress me.
123 Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy
righteousness.
124 Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach
me thy statutes.
125 I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy
testimonies.
126 It is time for thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void
thy law.
[127, 128. Therefore--that is, In view of these benefits, or,
Because of the glory of Thy law, so much praised in the previous
parts of the Psalm.]
127 Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine
gold.
128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things
to be right; and I hate every false way. [I love . . . [and] Therefore
(repeated)--All its precepts, on all subjects, are estimable for
their purity, and lead one imbued with their spirit to hate all
evil (Ps 19:10). The Word of God admits of no eclecticism; its
least title is perfect (Ps 12:6; Mt 5:17-19).]
Short Exhort - Written and/or Compiled by David J. Riggs
(http://www.public.usit.net/driggs/)
"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)
In all plants and trees leaves use up the nutrients in the process of photosynthesis. As the leaves consume nutrients in the sap, suction is formed, which draws more sap from the roots. Without the sap, the leaves and branches would die, but the continual flow of this sap comes only as it is used up by the work of the leaves.
Let us continue to be diligent in our service to the Lord so that we can abide in His love.
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