Devotions with Pastor Dick

EYES OPENED

“I am sending you to them to open their eyes……that they may receive forgiveness of sins……” (Acts 26:17-18)

This verse is the greatest example of the true essence of the message of a disciple of Jesus Christ in all of the New Testament.
God’s first sovereign work of grace is summed up in the words,
“…that they may receive forgiveness of sins….”
When a person fails in his personal Christian life, it is usually because

• He has never received anything.

The only sign that a person is saved is that

• He has received something from Jesus Christ.

Our job as workers for God is to open people’s eyes so that they may turn themselves from darkness to light.

• But that is not salvation; it is conversion— only the effort of an awakened human being.

It seems to me that many of so-called Christians are like this.
Their eyes are open,

• But they have received nothing.

Conversion is not regeneration.

• This is often neglected in preaching today.

When a person is born again,

• He knows that it is because he has received something as a gift from Almighty God.
• Not because of his own decision.

People may make vows and promises, and may be determined to follow through,

• But none of this is salvation.

Salvation means that we are brought to the place where

• We are able to receive something from God on the authority of Jesus Christ,
• namely, forgiveness of sins.

This is followed by God’s second mighty work of grace:
“…a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me….”
In sanctification, the one who has been born again, deliberately gives up his right to himself to Jesus Christ,

• And identifies himself entirely with God’s ministry to others.

Pastor Dick