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| A Respecter Of Persons |
| 03.28.08 (2:26 pm) [edit] |
|
In yesterday’s blog I talked about Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus. We saw that Paul played no part whatsoever in his conversion but it was totally a work of the Lord. He did not have to seek Him or submit to Him or pray or anything else that we have been told we must do to be converted.
Let me ask a question. If Paul’s’ conversion had absolutely nothing to do with himself, should not the rest of the world be afforded the same privilege? If he received His knowledge of redemption through no part of his own to play, should not everyone else be the same? Why should we have to almost beg and plead and believe to be redeemed, or so we were told, if Paul didn’t have to? We have seen it is pretty clear in Acts that Paul’s conversion had nothing to do with Paul. So why are we told that ours has everything to do with our belief? Paul was simply told that his redemption had been purchased and guess what happened? He became a believer. Paul did not become a believer in order to be redeemed. He became a believer when Jesus told him he was already redeemed.
If God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34) then why would He require of the entire world to believe to be redeemed when it is clear it was not required of Paul? If He treated Paul in one way and treats the other people in a different manner when it comes to redemption, then God would not be a just God. Does not the organized church have this totally backwards? Believing will not get you redeemed. But know this, that knowing you are already redeemed makes a strong believer out of you. This has nothing to do with you or I but is totally a work of the Lord on the cross.
Paul’s’ conversion was not for redemption. It was a revelation of the redemption he already had. There is no doubt Paul had a major conversion. It was likely the most dramatic conversion ever recorded. Some of us have had a conversion experience that was dramatic as well but the full impact of that conversion only comes when you begin to understand your redemption. The beginning of that conversion is the light that is shed in your heart but true conversion only happens when you hear His voice of redemption of the entire world. When you can see yourself as God sees you then you can expect transformation to take place. |
posted by: Barnabus1 (reply)
post date: 03.28.08 (12:58 pm)
God gives us free choice!, and he gives each us us gifts aw he will! Becuse he did thus for Paul, does not mean he should do it for everyone, because he will not!!! He touches each of us in his own way, we have the right to respond or to turn away and reject him!! He allows this also!
posted by: allincluded (reply)
post date: 03.28.08 (1:05 pm)
I am sure we have free choice to do whatever we want to do but when it comes to the redemption of the entire human race, we had no more free choice in that matter than we had in the fact we were all declared sinners under Adam's sin. Read Romans 5:18. This verse tells us both of these things came upon ALL men. We had not nor do we have any choice in either one of these events.
posted by: (reply)
post date: 03.29.08 (7:38 am)
I say forget whatever you have come up with in your head and instead just read the bible.
To me the process seemed to be:
1)Paul is blaspheming against God by destroying believers, he is clearly anti God's purpose
posted by: (reply)
post date: 03.29.08 (7:45 am)
I say forget whatever you have come up with in your head and instead just read the bible.
To me the process seemed to be:
1) Paul is blaspheming against God by destroying believers, he is clearly anti God's purpose
2) Truth is revealed to him through Jesus apparition
3) He realizes what he has done wrong and what he must do
4)He abandons his previous life to become a follower of Christ.
I find your logic ridiculous. Paul could not have been saved if he had continued doing what he did before the vision on the road to Damascus.
Without a doubt God hears the prayers of unbelievers who seek him (eg: Cornelius) but not until you are baptized and accept his way of life will you have salvation.
posted by: allincluded (reply)
post date: 03.29.08 (7:55 am)
I have not come up with anything in my head and I do read and study the Bible daily. What you are talking about in your comment is salvation which is not the same as redemption. Salvation is always of the mind, will, emotions etc. Redemption is of the spirit and it is important to separate the two.
My "ridiculous logic" like you say is based on what the entire Old Testament prophesied throughout the Scriptures and that is that they all, everyone of them, prophesied that a Redeemer was coming to redeem the entire human race, apart from anyone's involvement. None said anyone would be given a chance at redemption. Jesus concluded ALL under unbelief so He could have mercy ALL. That is not in my mind that I saying this, I am quoting Bible verses.
Thanks for your comments and views.
posted by: undergrace (reply)
post date: 03.29.08 (7:12 pm)
In my IMHO
since God knows all things (1 Joh 3:20)
God knows the future of what the free will creatures choose.
Jesus already knows what Paul going to choose.
He chose to believe, He chose to have faith.