Fellowship With The Saints

When I was a younger person, I never looked forward to going to church. When I became an adult, I stopped going to church shortly after my first child was born, and never set foot into a church for more than 20 years.

But when I started learning about grace, and found a church to attend that taught the grace message, I found that I wanted to spend time with other people who understood the Bible rightly divided. It's wonderful to be around your brothers and sisters in the body of Christ who care about you, want to know what's going on in your life, and want to both comfort and edify you. Paul says:

(1 Thessalonians 5:11) Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

From Strong's Greek Dictionary:
Comfort: to call near, that is, invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation): - beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort (-ation), intreat, pray.

Edify: to be a house builder, that is, construct or (figuratively) confirm: - (be in) build (-er, -ing, up), edify, embolden.


In Christ,

Are you saved? Would you like to know where you will spend eternity? I invite you to visit Do You Know Where You Will Spend Eternity? from Florida Grace Bible Berean Church. Please notify me if this link breaks!

Back From Camp

My youngest son and I were fortunate enough to be able to attend church camp this year. We had a great time visiting with the other saints.

It is a comfort and a joy to be amongst grace believers. Folks who really get it, folks who rightly divide the Word of truth and know how God is working in this dispensation of grace.

I've invited some that we met at camp to visit my grace blog, so now I need to get busy and keep my commitment to share as I learn.

Please consider subscribing by email. Look for the words "Subscribe via email" in the right hand panel near the top of this blog.

In Christ,

Are you saved? Would you like to know where you will spend eternity? I invite you to visit Do You Know Where You Will Spend Eternity? from Florida Grace Bible Berean Church. Please notify me if this link breaks!

Do We Make Too Much of Paul?

Today I'm going to send you to a link where you can read an excellent journal article by Richard Jordan.

Do We Make Too Much of Paul?

This is a fascinating read, I encourage you to spend some time with your Bible as you read it.

Are you saved? Would you like to know where you will spend eternity? I invite you to visit Do You Know Where You Will Spend Eternity? from Florida Grace Bible Berean Church. Please notify me if this link breaks!

Why Worry When People Don't Like Me?

All my life, I've been very worried when people don't like me. I believe it stems from my childhood, because my mother loved me very much, but clashed terribly with my sister who was born when I was 22 months old. My mom never seemed to like my sister very much and was sometimes very mean to her. It scared me. I always wondered when I would be next. My mother did turn her wrath toward me on several occasions, but I tried my hardest to be the best little girl I could be, so that she would never be mad at me. In my mother's defense, she tells me she cried many tears and prayed many times over the discord she felt toward my sister, and went to many churches asking for prayer to get over her problem.

My mom became involved in the Pentecostal religion when I was five years old. Here my fears were magnified because now I not only had to do my best to be perfect and please my mother, but appease the wrathful God we served. It seemed no matter how good I was, I always had to be worried about going to hell. I could never do enough, it seemed to keep from going to hell. I asked forgiveness and remember asking Jesus into my heart dozens, if not hundreds of times as a child because every sermon seemed to be about how we were sinners and going to hell.

When I had children, I had to force myself to start getting over this concern, and accept the fact that not everyone was going to like me because even though I was expert at camouflaging myself for whomever I happened to be with at the moment, it was not possible to expect my children to have that talent. But not only that, I didn't want my children to become like me. Scared to death if I couldn't do everything everyone expected me to, they might cease to like me. Did you ever try to do everything everyone wanted you to? It's impossible. Trust me, I've tried. You can only please some of the people some of the time.

I still struggle with this problem. I was having a problem with it last night, and I was laying in bed thinking to myself about this concern I have, about people not liking me, is not in line with what I'm learning from the Bible.

Here's one verse I found which tells if I'm operating in the flesh then I can't please God. And which further makes me think why am I so worried about pleasing man, when I should be striving to please God?

Romans 8:8 KJVR So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Paul tells us to please our neighbor for our neighbor's edification:

Romans 15:2 KJVR Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.

The definition from Strong's for please is "to be agreeable". So, get along with your neighbor. I don't believe that means bend over backwards and do everything you can to make your neighbor like you. Trust me, being a dispensationalist you are going to find a lot of people don't like you. It makes so much sense, it is such GOOD NEWS, yet people cannot grasp it.

What does edification mean? "The equipping of believers with sound doctrine so that they experience genuine spiritual growth, which results in doctrinal unity, personal integrity and corporate harmony."

Most importantly, Jesus died on the cross for me, hundreds of years ago, to save me from my sins before I was even born. God sent his son to do that work. That says to me that God loved me that much, to send his son to die. God loved me that much, and I wasn't even born.

Paul tells us in Ephesians:

Ephesians 1:3 KJV Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

What does it matter if ANYONE likes me? I am already blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places. Why would I need anything else?

Paul also tells us we are complete in Colossians:

Colossians 2:10 KJV And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

We are already "complete". From Strong's reference: From G4134; to make replete, that is, (literally) to cram (a net), level up (a hollow), or (figuratively) to furnish (or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute (an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction), etc.: - accomplish, X after, (be) complete, end, expire, fill (up), fulfil, (be, make) full (come), fully preach, perfect, supply.

We are finished, we are perfect. That extends to other areas of my life, like the size of my body. Society might tell me I'm not perfect, but you know what? God says I am complete in him. I'm perfect just the way I am. Why waste my energy and thoughts on worrying about such mundane things like this? We will have a new body

We live in a sin cursed world - we can't expect to be happy every moment. We can only do like Paul says and learn to be content in whatever state we are in. If someone doesn't like me, I can't let that get me down, and put me into a depression. I am perfect and complete in the Lord, and depression is not part of being complete and perfect.

Philippians 4:11 KJV Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Oh, and remember up above where I was talking about doing everything I could to please a wrathful God in order to not go to hell? When I learned about rightly dividing the word of truth, I learned that the Bible is all for us, but not all to us. My salvation is not dependent on pleasing or appeasing God. The God of the Old Testament had a covenant with the Israelites and he doled out punishments for disobedience and sin, and he rewarded them for good behavior.

That's not the role God is working in today. We aren't the Israelites. We are living in the age of grace. God sent his son to die on the cross for our sins. All we have to do is believe that we are sinners, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that he was buried and rose from the dead in three days. That is it. No works. We don't have to be baptized, we don't have to pay tithes, we don't have to go to church three times a week, we don't have to do anything, but believe. It's that simple.


Are you saved? Would you like to know where you will spend eternity? I invite you to visit Do You Know Where You Will Spend Eternity? from Florida Grace Bible Berean Church. Please notify me if this link breaks!

Glory In Tribulations

I had a difficult day today.

I had to do some research and gather some documentation and it was hard to make my way through it.

Then I got home and things started bumming me out.

I'm tired, so that makes things seem even worse.

I wrote an email to a good friend, who I knew would be able to read my venting. As I ended my email, I thought I'd try to look for something on the bright side. As I sat there a moment, my study from Romans the other day came to mind. The part about how we are to "glory in tribulations". Here the passage is again.

Romans 5:1-5 KJV Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (2) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (3) And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; (4) And patience, experience; and experience, hope: (5) And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

We live in a sin cursed world, so our lives are not going to be happy every minute. Which brings to mind another scripture verse - how I wish I had these memorized, but thankfully I have my e-Sword so I can find what I'm looking for quickly.

Philippians 4:11 KJV Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Paul spoke these words. He says he learned to be content in whatever state he was in.

I can strive to be content in whatever state I'm in. Paul went through depression, too.

Today, while waiting for copies of the information I was gathering, I read more of Romans. I'm into Chapter 7 now. Paul says "God forbid" many times in Romans so far. Four times that I have noticed. I'm curious how many times I will find it in Romans:

Romans 3:4 KJV God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

Romans 3:6 KJV God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?

Romans 3:31 KJV Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Romans 6:2 KJV God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Romans 6:15 KJV What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

Romans 7:7 KJV What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

Romans 7:13 KJV Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

Romans 9:14 KJV What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

Romans 11:1 KJV I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

Romans 11:11 KJV I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

I was able to really absorb what I was reading today. Paul talking about dying to sin. How our fleshly bodies, our "old man" wants to sin. It is hard to put into words! He's talking about the law and grace.

I have to get to bed now.

Are you saved? Would you like to know where you will spend eternity? I invite you to visit Do You Know Where You Will Spend Eternity? from Florida Grace Bible Berean Church. Please notify me if this link breaks!

Reading Romans

Romans is the newbie chapter of the Bible for grace believers.

I've begun to work my way through it. Today I read these scriptures. I'm finding it's important as you read the Bible, to find out who the message is to. Romans was dictated by Paul, and written by Tertius. Paul is our pattern, Paul is our apostle, so Romans is written to us.

Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

We are justified by faith. Justified according to Strong's means: From G1342; to render (that is, show or regard as) just or innocent: - free, justify (-ier), be righteous.

So we have peace with God through the work that Jesus did at the cross, and by our faith, we are innocent, free, righteous.

Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

We are living in the age of grace, so we're standing in grace. Because of the work Jesus ("by whom" refers to Jesus in 5:1) did at Calvary, our faith (faith alone! no works!) grants us access into this age of grace. We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. I'm not exactly sure what that last little bit of the passage is trying to say.

Rom 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

And not only do we hope of the glory of God, but we glory in tribulations, because having hard times serves to teach us to be more patient. So we're to be happy for difficult times, because this teaches us to have patience.

Rom 5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

Learning to be more patient gives us experience. ?? Strong's for the word "experience" 1382:

Strong's Reference 1382: From the same as G1384; test (abstractly or concretely); by implication trustiness: - experience (-riment), proof, trial.

Strong's Reference 1384: From G1380; properly acceptable (current after assayal), that is, approved: - approved, tried.

Strong's Reference 1380: A prolonged form of a primary verb δόκω dokō (used only as an alternate in certain tenses; compare the base of G1166); of the same meaning; to think; by implication to seem (truthfully or uncertainly): - be accounted, (of own) please (-ure), be of reputation, seem (good), suppose, think, trow.

So going through hard times - trials - teaches us patience, and we become experienced rather than novices at being patient. And this experience gives us hope.

So it follows that this hope goes back to the glory of God.

Tribulations lead to patience > patience leads to experience > experience leads to hope > hope for the glory of God.

Which leads me to want to know more about the "glory of God"? It is mentioned many times in the Bible:

Psa 19:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Pro 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

Joh 11:40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

Act 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Rom 15:7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

1Co 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

1Co 11:7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

2Co 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

2Co 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Rev 15:8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

Rev 21:11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;

Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

I noticed these similarities about the glory of God:

1. It is in heaven.
2. Notice that you can see the glory of God, as referenced in several of the verses above.
   
3. It appears that the glory of God is very bright since in Revelation 21:23 the city did not need light either from the sun or moon.
   

Back to my reading of Romans:

Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

I'm not sure what "hope maketh not" ashamed is trying to say. Perhaps because we are not certain? That we only have hope?

The love of God is "shed abroad in our hearts". Strong's for shed abroad = From G1537 and χέω cheō (to pour); to pour forth; figuratively to bestow: - gush (pour) out, run greedily (out), shed (abroad, forth), spill.

Rom 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Christ died for the ungodly (unpious, wicked - sinners), when we were yet without strength.

Strength as in numbers of people? Strength as in physical strength? Morally without strength?

Rom 5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

There seems to be a difference between a "righteous man" and a "good man". A man would hardly consider dying for a righteous man, but for a good man, some would take the chance to die for him. ??

And here we are - sinners - not "righteous" nor "good" men, and God bestowed his love upon us, by having Jesus die for us. Even while we were sinners.

Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

So now we are justified - innocent, free, righteous - by the shed blood of Jesus, and we are saved from the wrath of God by Jesus' work at Calvary.

I could go on, but I think I'll stop here for today.

Are you saved? Would you like to know where you will spend eternity? I invite you to visit Do You Know Where You Will Spend Eternity? from Florida Grace Bible Berean Church. Please notify me if this link breaks!

Heaven Came Down and Glory Filled My Soul

Our church uses an old hymn book and the songs we sing are selected to make sure they align with the grace message. They often stick in my head for days afterward. Here is one from this past Sunday. We sing a lot of different songs, so I have a hard time learning the new ones. I feel much joy when I know the song from my childhood because then I can sing along knowing the tune!


HEAVEN CAME DOWN AND GLORY FILLED MY SOUL

O what a wonderful, wonderful day - Day I will never forget;
After I'd wandered in darkness away, Jesus my Savior I met.
O what a tender, compassionate friend, He met the need of my heart;
Shadows dispelling, with joy I am telling, He made all the darkness depart!

Chorus:
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul,

(made me whole)

When at the cross the Savior made me whole;

(made me whole)

My sins were washed away
And my night was turned to day -
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul!

(filled my soul)

Born of the Spirit with life from above Into God's fam'ly divine;
Justified fully thru Calvary's love, O what a standing is mine!
And the transaction so quickly was made, When as a sinner I came,
Took of the offer of grace He did proffer, He saved me, O praise His dear name!

Chorus:
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul,

(made me whole)

When at the cross the Savior made me whole;

(made me whole)

My sins were washed away
And my night was turned to day -
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul!

(filled my soul)

Now I've a hope that will surely endure After the passing of time;
I have a future in heaven for sure, There in those mansions sublime.
And it's because of that wonderful day When at the cross I believed;
Riches eternal and blessings supernal From His precious hand I received.

Chorus:
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul,

(made me whole)

When at the cross the Savior made me whole;

(made me whole)

My sins were washed away
And my night was turned to day -
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul!

(filled my soul)

John W. Peterson, 1921

If you would like to refresh your memory as to the tune, it's very simple! Kev update: here is the audio of our church singing it. We sing verses 1 and 3.



Alternatively, do what Mrs. Stewart suggested (not everyone can sit through that singing):

Just go to Amazon.com, on the search dropdown menu choose MP3 Downloads, then type Heaven Came Down into the search line. You should come to a page with lots of versions of this song. I liked number 7 on the list, the one by The Nashville Gospel Singers. While at Amazon, if you click on the little arrow to the left of the row listing the song, you will hear a short little snippet of the song. You can buy and download the MP3 version of this song for $0.99.

Are you saved? Would you like to know where you will spend eternity? I invite you to visit Do You Know Where You Will Spend Eternity? from Florida Grace Bible Berean Church. Please notify me if this link breaks!

Ephesians 4:32

This is the first scripture verse I've memorized as a Grace believer.

Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

There is a person in my life that I don't have to deal with often, but do not like at all.

I pray as I mature in my Christian walk with the Lord that I will be able to follow this scripture verse and deal with that person as the doctrine directs me.

The preceding scripture verse is also very good:

Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

Are you saved? Would you like to know where you will spend eternity? I invite you to visit Do You Know Where You Will Spend Eternity? from Florida Grace Bible Berean Church. Please notify me if this link breaks!

What Is The Best Bible Software?

First off, I only use the King James Version of the Bible.

I am currently using e-Sword but I don't like how when I try to copy and paste all the little numbers for the concordance come along. There doesn't seem to be a way to just copy the verse without the numbers.

--------------------------------------------------------------

UPDATE: After I got home from work today, I again complained to my son that I must be missing something, because e-Sword is such a neat Bible tool, and I just couldn't believe that there isn't a way to copy without getting the Strong's numbers. Well, after a bit of googling, we found that there is a way to accomplish this feat! And it is very simple! You just need to go to e-Sword then click on Downloads, then move the dropdown menu to say Bibles. You want to download the King James Version (Red Letter) module. When you run the executable file, it will attach itself into e-Sword.


If you click on the images, you will see a larger version. Look to the top of the image, I have circled the tab areas. The first image has KJV+ circled, this image shows the verses with Strong's numbers included. The second image has KJVR which stands for King James Version Red circled, and as you can see, the Strong's numbers are not included. But it is very easy to click between one tab and the next. I am so pleased!!

--------------------------------------------------------------

I downloaded this one from Bible Path, but I am not totally happy with it either.

I appreciate the hard work the software builders put into these two programs, and both are effective. However, since E-Sword doesn't allow me to copy and paste without the little numbers, I have to have both programs open. Then the Bible Path abbreviates every book of the Bible, which is one of the things I don't like about it.

I would be willing to pay for the right program. Here is another program I might look into: SwordSearcher. It has a free evaluation copy. However, it contains many versions of the Bible, which I would not need to have. It also contains a lot of books and commentaries. Hmmm...

Can you recommend one that I can try?

Are you saved? Would you like to know where you will spend eternity? I invite you to visit Do You Know Where You Will Spend Eternity? from Florida Grace Bible Berean Church. Please notify me if this link breaks!

The Names of Jesus' 12 Disciples

Did you ever notice that of the twelve disciples, there were two Simons, and two James?

Mark 3:16: And Simon he surnamed Peter; Mark 3:17: And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder: Mark 3:18: And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite, Mark 3:19: And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.

It feels like I've not been paying attention for the past forty-four years!!

I recognize Judas Iscariot, and Peter, and James and John and Matthew. But not Bartholomew and Thaddaeus. And I didn't realize Jesus gave surnames.

My Strong's Greek reference which I use within E-Sword, tells me the original Greek word for surname is "epikaleomai" pronounced:
ep-ee-kal-eh'-om-ahee
Middle voice from G1909 (superimpose) and G2564 (call); to entitle; by implication to invoke (for aid, worship, testimony, decision, etc.): - appeal (unto), call (on, upon), surname.

Are you saved? Would you like to know where you will spend eternity? I invite you to visit Do You Know Where You Will Spend Eternity? from Florida Grace Bible Berean Church. Please notify me if this link breaks!

Why is Paul my Apostle?

Wow, nothing like opening a can of worms to get a blog started on its way.

By following Paul's pattern, I am not lessening Jesus Christ's position as my Lord and Saviour.

Paul presents himself as a great sinner, the chief of sinners. God gave Paul the message of Grace and revealed The Mystery to him.

When Jesus was on the earth, he chose his twelve disciples and gave them the power to heal sicknesses and to cast out devils.

Mark 3:14: And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
Mark 3:15: And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:
Mark 3:16: And Simon he surnamed Peter;
Mark 3:17: And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:
Mark 3:18: And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,
Mark 3:19: And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.

He sent them to minister to the Jews, and he told them expressly to not go to the Gentiles or into Samaria. The Gentiles had little hope of being saved prior to the revelation of The Mystery.

Matthew 10:5: These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
Matthew 10:6: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Matthew 10:7: And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

What was Paul doing during this time? He was known as Saul of Tarsus and was busy killing the Jews that followed Jesus and believed in Him. The first mention of him in the Bible is Acts 7:58.

Act 7:57: Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
Act 7:58: And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
Act 7:59: And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
Act 7:60: And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Act 8:1: And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Act 8:2: And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
Act 8:3: As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

Saul becomes known as Paul in Act 13:9.

Act 13:9: Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,

Paul had had his conversion on the road to Damascus. Just imagine the irony! You hate Jesus and anyone who follows him, but God from heaven above strikes you down, blinds you for three days and says, "Now you're going to work for ME, Paul."

Act 9:1: And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
Act 9:2: And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
Act 9:3: And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
Act 9:4: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Act 9:5: And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
Act 9:6: And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
Act 9:7: And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
Act 9:8: And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
Act 9:9: And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

Jesus was perfect in every way, but Paul was a terrible sinner, by his own admission. It makes sense then, that Paul is our pattern.

1 Timothy 1:13: Who [Paul] was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
1 Timothy 1:14: And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 1:15: This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
1 Timothy 1:16: Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

Saved by grace. No works required. In fact, if you think you can get into heaven by doing works, you are showing disrespect to Jesus Christ for the work he did on the cross. By dying for our sins, he saved us. Right there. We only have to accept the free gift of salvation.

Are you saved? Would you like to know where you will spend eternity? I invite you to visit Do You Know Where You Will Spend Eternity? from Florida Grace Bible Berean Church. Please notify me if this link breaks!