Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: October 21, 2007
THE BAPTISM OF SAUL OF TARSUS
Jerry Brewer
One of the most devoutly religious men in all of the New Testament was Saul of
Tarsus. This is he who later became an apostle of Jesus Christ named Paul. But
before he became an apostle, Paul persecuted the church of Christ, placing men
and women in prison and causing many of them to be put to death for their faith.
One of those who died with his approval was Stephen in Acts 7. Of this act and
others in which he tried to eradicate Christianity, Paul later said, "I verily
thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name
of Jesus of Nazareth" (Acts 26:9). Paul's conscience did not condemn him for
these acts because he thought he was doing God's will and told the Jews that, "I
have lived in all good conscience before God until this day" (Acts 23:1).
Many people today believe that the correct guide in religion is the conscience.
But if that is true, then Paul would not have needed to be converted. His
conscience was clear, even while he was putting Christians to death. But God's
word — not man's conscience — is the guide for man in all religious matters.
Soon after Stephen's death, Saul obtained letters from the high priest in
Jerusalem giving him authority to arrest Christians in other cities (Acts 9:1-2).
With this authority in hand, he departed for Damascus with a company of men to
arrest Christians in that city and bring them to Jerusalem for punishment. On
his way to Damascus, as he drew near to the city, "suddenly there shined
round about him a light from heaven; and he fell to the earth, and heard a
voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said,
Who art thou Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest"
(Acts 9:3-5). Paul could have truthfully said, "Why charge me with persecuting
you? I never saw you before in my life." But Paul must have understood that the
relation between Christ and His followers was so close that to persecute
Christians was to inflict the same on Christ.
The next question Paul asked was, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?"
(Acts 9:6). But Jesus didn't tell him what to do. Instead, He told him where he
could find a man who would tell him what he must do. You know, a lot of people
in times past thought they were saved if they saw a light in a dark place. But
Paul had seen a light from heaven and was still told to arise and go into the city
where it would be told him what to do. Why didn't Jesus tell Paul he was saved
and this light was proof of his salvation? Because neither Jesus nor His apostles
ever taught that salvation comes through seeing a light. Why then did Jesus
appear to him? Jesus answered that question Himself. "I have appeared unto
thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these
things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear
unto thee" (Acts 26:16). He appeared to Saul of Tarsus not to save him, but to
make him an apostle.
And though Paul had seen a light and Jesus had talked with him, he was still
told to arise and go into the city and there it would be told him what he must do.
The light had blinded Saul, so he had to be led by the hand into the city. There,
he stopped at a house where a man named Ananias would later find him. The
Lord appeared to Ananias and told him that Saul was praying at the house of a
man named Judas and that Ananias should go to that house (Acts 9:10-11).
Saul of Tarsus had seen the Lord and was now praying, yet there was something
necessary for him to do. But what did Ananias tell him to do? He did not say,
"Pray on, Saul, God will save you in answer to your prayer." Instead, he said,
"And now, why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy
sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16).
"But," someone says, "He that calleth upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
That's true and Saul called upon the name — or the authority — of the Lord by
obeying His command to be baptized. Notice that the Lord said Saul would be
told what he must do, yet the only thing Ananias told him was to "arise and be
baptized." If one must do that, I would hate to tell others they do not have to be
baptized to be saved.
Do you think the apostle Paul later went about telling folks that baptism was
"necessary, but not essential," as one Baptist "Youth Pastor" once said? Did
Paul ever teach that one should "get saved" then be baptized?
— via “Gospel Preceptor,” www.gospelpreceptor.com
MAINE MIDDLE SCHOOL OFFERS BIRTH CONTROL
Ben Justice
On Wednesday, October 17, 2007 the local school board for King Middle School in
Portland, Maine approved a plan whereby contraceptives would be made available
to middle school students ranging in age from 11-13. If this is not incredible in
and of itself, students will have access to birth control pills and patches without
parental consent. Students must, however, have permission from their parents
to use the health center, but after permission is granted, a student’s use of the
facility is confidential. The students (or anyone else) is not at all required to
inform their parents of this decision. This is the only middle school in the
country to do this. King Middle School has a history of imposing on children
adult like responsibilities. In the year 2000, condoms have been available to
students.
The ungodly organization “Planned Parenthood” has been very clear about its
agenda in the area of sexuality among children. This group wants people of all
ages to be sexually active — even all the way down to kindergarten. A
spokeswoman for “Planned Parenthood” said that she expects this to be
extended now down into the elementary schools.
What is going on in our country and in our schools? Something is terribly wrong
with a society that freely gives contraceptives to 11 year old students. The
amazing thing is that it is unlawful to have prayer and mention God in public
schools, but freely distributing contraceptives is perfectly fine. What did Isaiah
say? “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and
light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20).