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 Jesus
sent Paul unto the Gentiles: "To open their eyes,
and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the
power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness
of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified
by faith that is in me" (ACT.26:17-18). Re-read it,
carefully! My underscoring, is but to point up the thought
divisions we will discuss.
Paul
was imprisoned because of his preaching to the Gentiles. This
was the real core of his troubles, and he recounts the Damascus
Road experience to explain his work. "I was not disobedient
unto the heavenly vision:" he said, but showed Jews and
Gentiles that they should "repent and turn to God" --
"witnessing... that Christ should suffer... rise from the
dead... etc". Whatever Paul was to do for the Gentiles, it
was done through his preaching concerning Christ.
By
preaching the truth, he "opened their eyes", i.e.,
caused them to understand (EPH.1:18). God appeals to man
through the intellect, proving we are capable (while yet
sinners) of grasping spiritual truth.
It
is by preaching, understood, that man chooses light instead of
darkness. God motivates, but man must believe and turn
"from darkness to light". The Gospel is the power of
God unto salvation (ROM.1:16) and in preaching the gospel, Paul
put this power at the disposal of the people. As the history
clearly shows, they could accept or reject it.
The
power of Satan to arbitrarily inflict (if, indeed, he had this
power; see LUKE 10:17-20; MAT.12:28-29) was broken by Christ.
Man does not have to bow to Satan;
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through Christ, his power is limited, he is
bound. In the preaching of the gospel, Paul told people how to
escape Satan's kingdom, and become subject to God in Christ. We
can be "delivered… from the power of darkness, and…
translated into the kingdom of His dear Son" (COL.1:13).
But the process is that of hearing, learning, and coming
(obeying) the truth (JOH.6:45; 2TH.1:7-10).
Forgiveness
of sins takes place in the mind of God. It is not a
"feeling" on the part of the subject, but an
assurance, on the part of God — offered through the gospel of
Christ. ACT.2:38 reads, "Repent, and be baptized every one
of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,
and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost". Peter
preached it and Paul preached it (ROM.6:1-f).
Inheritance,
like remission of sins, is a promise — contingent upon
response to gospel preaching. Note, "that they may receive
— ". It was not for the Jews, by virtue of physical ties
with Abraham. It is not for arbitrarily "elected"
individuals, for "there is no respect of persons with
God" (ROM.2:6-11).
We
are "set apart" (sanctified) by faith in Christ. A
hundred people may hear the word, and ten of them may believe
(faith cometh by hearing, ROM.10:17). Their faith sets them
apart from the ninety. Trust in the Lord is the basis for their
becoming a distinct, obedient people (1PE.2:6-f). Paul preached
— the choice is yours!!
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