Jesus sent Paul to the gentiles, “to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God, in order that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a portion amongst those having been sanctified by faith in Me” (Acts 26:18).
Opening the eyes is just that; this is the first step in faith which we describe as conversion; it is not salvation; it is not even being born again; it is having the eyes opened. The work of God’s servants is to open the eyes of unbelievers; to bring the Word to them so that they might have their eyes opened. Once that happens, we can say that they are converted; that is the result of a man roused by presentation of the truth.
The next step is one that the newly converted must take for himself; that is to turn from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to the authority of Christ Jesus, unto whom has been given all authority in the heavens and the earth (Matthew 28:18).
A man who is converted still needs to receive something from Christ Himself, not from men; at conversion, the convert has not yet received anything; all that has happened is that his eyes have been opened to the truth. He is not born again.
When a man is born again, he receives grace; he knows that he has personally received something from Almighty God directly; he knows that God has given him a gift that comes from outside himself and outside the world of man; he knows that his new status is not as a result of a decision he has made himself, but as a result of divine benevolence. It is only then that he can turn from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to the authority of God. Once he has done that he can receive remission of sins and a portion amongst those being sanctified.
The tragedy of modern Christianity is that men have their eyes opened and are encouraged to sign the pledge, make their vows, join a congregation and receive from men, not God. But we cannot receive grace from men, nor is any of this salvation; salvation means to be brought to a place where we are able to receive from God directly. That is what grace is; once God spoke through men; now He is speaking in His Son! (Hebrews 1:1-2).
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