The Proper Order #2
In an earlier post, we looked at and made some comments about Paul’s recounting of his conversion to Christ as recorded in Acts 22. Specifically, we dealt with two questions he asked: “Who are you?” and “What shall I do, Lord?” s you may or may not remember, we ended that post with this:
It seems to me that, in every area of our lives, we need to ask ourselves the following questions and make sure we keep them in the proper order.
What (or who) is the source of the information I am receiving?
Exactly what am I being told and/or asked to do?
Do I have the kind of heart that will allow me to act in and appropriate manner?
I would like to ask all who read this post to keep the forgoing in mind as we consider something else that is recorded for us in Acts 22. You may remember that the Lord’s answer to Saul’s second question was to “…Rise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do” (Acts 22:10). To be sure, part of what Saul/Paul was told when he got into Damascus was the mission that the Lord had in store for him.
However, there was something else of great importance that he was told when he got into that city. That “something” had to do with his salvation.
It also has to do with our salvation.
Contrary to the opinion of many (and even some uninspired headings for portions of scripture that some editions of the Bible provide), Paul was not saved on the road to Damascus. Please read carefully the question that Saul/Paul was asked by the messenger that God had sent to 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).
The Bible does not teach that a person can be saved from sin while continuing in sin. In part, that is what Paul wrote about in the beginning verses of Romans 6. We also learn in that passage that we are “…baptized into Jesus Christ…” (Rom. 6:3). Only those who are in Christ are “new creatures” (2 Cor. 5:17).
It is of great concern to me that many are taught that they can be saved before, or even without, being baptized. Our ultimate authority about this should be Jesus. Mark’s account of “The Great Commission” informs us that Jesus said, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).
The two questions that Saul/Paul asked in Acts 22 were in the proper order:
Who are you?
What shall I do?
The two other things that are recorded in that chapter which are in the proper order are:
Baptism
Salvation
Let’s go back to the three questions we mentioned in the last post and earlier in this post and apply them to Mark 16:16..
- What (who) is the source of the information I am receiving? – Jesus
- Exactly what am I being told and or asked to do? – believe and be baptized
- Do I have the kind of heart that will allow me to act in and appropriate manner? – each person must decide that for himself or herself
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AUTHOR: Jim Faughn
