About The Georgia post. (Knoxville, Crawford County, Ga.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (June 20, 2013)
PAGE 4 THE BYRON BUZZ SECTION of The GEORGIA POST Thursday, June 20, 2013 Would You Listen To The Truth? “And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.” (Acts 7:58b). This is the first mention we find of Saul of Tarsus in the Bible. He is called “a young man” but this does not give us much of an idea of his age. The seventh chapter of Acts tells of the death of Stephen and how those partici pating in stoning him laid their clothes at the feet of Saul. Saul was consenting to the stoning to death of Stephen. Saul was a leader in the persecution of the church in Jerusalem. This same man later in his life would become a great wit ness for Jesus Christ! What would bring about this great change in Saul the persecutor to make him a follower and great witness of Christ? As Saul and some men were travel ing to Damascus to round up Christian men and women, he encountered a blinding light and was spoken to by the Lord. The Lord gave Saul instructions to go into Damascus and wait for a man. Saul waited three days without sight, fasting and praying. Ananias, a disciple of Christ, was sent by the Lord to tell Saul what to do. Acts 9:17-18, states, “AndAnanias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him (Saul) he said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who ap peared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ Imme diately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he re ceived his sight at once, and he arose and was baptized.” And verse 20 says, “Immediately he (Saul) preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.” Saul was preaching and pro claiming Jesus Christ as the Son of God! This was a complete about face from the actions of the Saul who was traveling to Damascus to round up Chris tians. We must realize that great changes can come in our life too if we can come to the realiza tion as Saul did, that Jesus is the Son of God and we must be obedient to Him and the words He has spoken. Whatever point we are in our life, when faced with the truth of God’s word we must make haste to obey Him and Him only. Before we examine the trans formation in Saul’s life, let us look at some religious qualifica tions that he possessed as a Jew: (1) he was an Israelite of the strictest sect, a Pharisee (Acts 26:5); (2) he was advanced in Judaism beyond any of his contemporaries and exceeding zealous for the traditions of his fathers (Gal. 1:14); (3) he was the Jewish leader in rounding up Christians to bring them before the high priest in Jerusalem (Acts 9:1 &2). In other words, Saul was a well known and recognized religious leader among the Jews and throughout the area of Israel. But, was he worshipping God as required in the age of the church? Saul made havoc of the church, seizing and imprison ing men and women for their belief and teaching that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. It is even recorded that he stood by and consented to the stoning to death of Stephen who was preaching Jesus Christ (Acts 7). Then God called Saul (later called Paul) and Saul OBEYED what was spoken to him on the road to Damascus, “go into the city and you will be told what to do.” (Acts 9:6). Notice God did NOT tell Saul what to do, He sent a messenger to convey His instructions to him! (Acts 9:17- 18). It was after Saul’s baptism the he began to preach that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Saul, as a Jew, made the decision to be obedient to Jesus Christ! He changed his religion and what he practiced and taught about the worship of God. Paul, as an apostle of Je sus Christ, preached the gospel (Gal. 1:1; 11-12; 15-16a). As Paul was confronted with the truth of God’s word and made a change in his religious life, will you follow his exam ple? You can IF you are willing to obey from the heart (Rom. 6:17) God’s instructions: 1. HEAR the Gospel of Christ (the power of God to save), James Earnhardt Evangelist Church of Christ Rom. 1:16. Matt. 7:24-25. 2. BELIEVE that Jesus is the Son of God and has the power to save, John 8:24; Heb. 11:6; Rom. 10:17. 3. REPENT (turn away with godly sorrow) from all sin, Luke 13:3; 2 Cor. 7:10. 4. CONFESS the Name of Christ, that you believe He is the Son of God, Matt. 10:32-33; Rom. 10:10. 5. Be BAPTIZED in order to receive remission (forgiveness) of sins, Acts 2:38; 22:16; Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21; Romans 6:3-6; lCor,12:13; Gal. 3:27; Col. 2:12. 6. FAITHFULLY LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE, Revelation 2:10. Romans 12:1-2. WOULD YOU? Bible quotes are from the New King James Version unless otherwise noted. 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