Seeing and Receiving

“To open their eyes…that they may receive…” Acts 26:18

This verse is the grandest example of the true essence of the message of a disciple of Jesus Christ in all the New Testament.

God’s first sovereign work of grace is summed up in the words – “that they may receive forgiveness of sins” (Acts 26:18). When a person fails in their personal Christian life, it is usually because they have never received anything. The only sign that a person is saved is that they have received something from Jesus Christ. Our job as workers for God is to “open {people’s} eyes” (see above) 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. I don’t think it is too broad a statement to say that the majority of so-called Christians are like this. Their eyes are opened, but they have received nothing. Conversion is not regeneration. This is a neglected fact in our preaching today. When a man is born again, they know that it is because they have received something as a gift from Almighty God and not because of their own decision. People may make vows and promises, and may be determined to follow through, but none of this is salvation. Salvation/regeneration 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” (see above).

This is followed by God’s second mighty work of grace – “give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32). In sanctification the person who has been born again / regenerated deliberately gives up their right to themselves to Jesus Christ, and identifies themselves entirely with God’s ministry to others.

From My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers, updated by James Reimann