Psalms
55:22—“Cast thy burden upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee; he shall
never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
I know not why but for the past several days the chorus of
a beautiful song has been echoing through my mind:
“Burdens are lifted at Calvary, Calvary, Calvary;
Burdens are lifted at Calvary, Jesus is very near.”
It seems that not a day passes without something occurring
to either us or to someone we know and love that causes our hearts to droop and
be troubled. There are disappointments and even failures that strike our human
frame. Sickness and disease strike quite often causing pain and suffering.
There are those moments when we are struck with the bitterest agony known to
man as we watch friends, acquaintances and loved ones depart this life. There
are times when our days do become weary and the nights are long and dreary.
I am so glad and thankful to God that when our hearts
are deeply burdened we can cry out to him for the help needed (Ps. 28:1, Heb.
4:16). He is our place of defense and safety, our deliverer, our source of
strength (Ps. 18:2, Isa. 12:2). The Psalmist tells us that when our hearts are
overwhelmed we just need to be lead to the rock that is higher than we and that
rock is Christ our Lord (1 Cor. 10:4). There is not a shade of a shadow of a
doubt in my mind that truly, “Burdens are lifted at Calvary because Jesus is
near”!
There is no promise given to any of us that our lives on
planet earth will ever be free from troubles, cares, strife and burdens as we
make this journey down the road of life but all of us are given the promise
that so long as our trust is in God, so long as we depend upon him our journey
will be safe and secure (Ps. 23, Romans 8:35-39).
In this life I know that I am going to groan and be
burdened (2 Cor. 5:1-4) but as I do so, I am looking for a home that is eternal
in the heavens, a home not made with human hands but one built by God (John
14:1-3). If I obey my Lord, if I live faithfully for him, it matters not that
the way may become dark and dreary because there is a pearly white city in my
future. Today, I believe with all my heart that I have a mansion, a robe, and a
crown waiting for me. At the moment I am just watching and longing for that day
when I will behold that city from within. I trust the same is true for all who
now read these words.
To God be the glory forever and ever (1 Peter 5:10-11).
Charles Hicks
THE APOSTLE PAUL'S CONVERSION BY STEVE FINNELL
ReplyDeleteBefore discussing Saul's conversion we need to establish a point of fact. You cannot become a Christian and have unforgiven sins. If your sins have been forgiven you are a Christian. If you are a Christian then your sins have been forgiven. It is impossible to separate forgiveness, from being in Christ. How could you say I became a Christian last night but my sins were not forgiven? By the same reasoning you could not assert that I had my sins forgiven last night but I am not a Christian.
What is true for us, was true for the apostle Paul.
Acts 9:3-6 As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; 4 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" 5 And he said, "Who are You Lord?" And He said, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, 6 but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what to do."
Saul obviously believed in Jesus at this point, yet he was still not forgiven of his sins; therefore he was not a Christian. Paul was not saved by "FAITH ONLY."
Acts 9:9-11 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am Lord." 11 And the Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying,
Saul believed that Jesus was Lord.
Saul repented.
Saul fasted and prayed for three days.
After three days on the road to Damascus Saul was still not forgiven of his sins. Saul was not saved by faith alone, Saul was not saved by repenting alone. Saul was not saved by praying and fasting. SAUL WAS NOT SAVED ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS.
Acts 22:12-16 "A certain Ananias....13 came to me....16 Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.'
Saul's sins were forgiven after he was baptized in water, not before.
Galatians 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Saul was not a Christian until he was baptized into Christ.
Mark 16:16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved......
Saul was not saved until he was immersed in water.
Acts 2:38...and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of you sins....
Saul sins were not forgiven until he was baptized in water.
Paul was saved the way all men are saved. FAITH John 3:16---REPENTANCE Acts 3:19---CONFESSION Romans 10:9-19---WATER BAPTISM Acts 2:38
YOU CANNOT SEPARATE BECOMING A CHRISTIAN AND FORGIVENESS OF SINS!
PAUL WAS NOT SAVED ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS----PAUL WAS SAVED IN DAMASCUS.
You are invited to follow my blog. http://steve-finnell.blogspot.com