The saving of a bad man and the saving of a good man

 by David Long

In Acts 9 we have the the conversion of Saul who became the apostle Paul. As Saul he was a very bad man (1 Tim. 1:13). But he was saved when he obeyed the gospel (Acts 22:16). In Acts 10 we have the conversion of Cornelius, a very good man. He was devout, just, feared God, helped the poor and prayed always. But he was just as lost as Saul until he obeyed the gospel (Acts 10:47-48). Both the bad and good man were saved in the same way. They both had to be immersed in water for the remission of sins. What's the point for us. Good or bad, rich or poor, male or female, bond or free, red or white, God has one plan of salvation for all and it's called obeying the gospel and no matter how religious a person is, how good they are or how much good report they have in the community, until they obey the gospel, they are lost. 

Can you say "goodbye" to it?

 by David Long

"So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple" (Lk. 14:33). The word "forsaketh" means "literally, to say adieu (by departing or dismissing); figuratively, to renounce." Is heaven better than anything we have here? Someone said, "the main measure of whether we have a proper attitude toward temporal joys is how ready we are to let go of them and I don't mean someday, I mean today, if the need should arise." We must hold loosely all that is not eternal. 

Saved in Damascus

 by David Long

Was Saul (Paul) saved on the road to Damascus (Acts 9)? No, he was saved in Damascus. "And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do" (Acts 9:6). After fasting and praying for three days in Damascus (Acts 9:8-11) Ananias came and told him, "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). 

Overcoming hate

 by David Long

“And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him” (Acts 21:8). Most read over this and miss how this was possible: Paul staying in Philip’s house. Philip was one of seven in Acts 6. Stephen who was also one of the seven had been killed by Paul (when he was Saul) in Acts 7. Philip and Stephen were coworkers in helping the Grecian widows. Philip had been run out of Jerusalem by Paul who was persecuting Christians. If any one had reason to distrust and even hate Paul, it had to be Philip. But now look at these two men. No hate in their hearts. Now you have Philip helping the man who at one time hated him and Paul staying in the house of the man he once would have killed. Now they both would lay down their lives for each other. What overcomes hate? Politics won’t do it. Self-help books won’t do it. The man-made religions won’t do it. Then what does it? “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father” (Eph. 2:13-18).

So you think you are going to heaven?

 by David Long

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it" (Matt. 7:21-23). Here were some people that got a surprise on Judgement Day. They thought that they were going to heaven but they found out they weren't. Better study the Bible and make sure you are doing God's will. 

Imitators of God

 by David Long

"Be Ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children" (Eph. 5:1). If you are a Christian you are to imitate God. God expects a certain kind of behavior from you, so much so that your salvation depends on it. You are the object of God's love, God should be the object of your love. How are you acting like God today? Do you even know how He wants you to behave? If we are going to be imitators of God then we must study the Bible (2 Tim. 2:15). 

Do this in remembrance of me

 by David Long

"For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come" (1 Cor. 11:23-26; cf. Lk. 22:19-20). There's the command "Do this in remembrance of me." That's not an option, it's a command from Jesus. When do we do it? When did the first century Christians do it? They obeyed that command on Sundays "the first day of the week" (Acts 20:7). We follow that pattern. What other day is authorized?