Parable of the Tares -- No Middle Ground

The story of the parable of the tares is found in Matt. 13:24-30 and explained by Jesus in verses 36-43. I quote the parable as follows:

"Another parable he put forth to them, saying: 'The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?' He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?' But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, 'First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.''" (Matt. 13:24-30 NKJV)

There has been debate over the years about this parable as to whether or not the kingdom referred to is the church or the entirety of the world, all of humanity, over which God rules. It is the world for in Jesus’ explanation of the parable he says as much, “The field is the world.” (Matt. 13:38 NKJV) The emphasis in the parable is the contrast between the wheat and the tares. There is no middle ground to be had. One is either a tare (a weed in the newer translations) or wheat and which one it is makes all the difference.

Let us say for the sake of argument the parable is a reference to people in the church. It is not but let us say for the moment it is. There is no middle ground there to reside in. You still have an either/or scenario. If the ungodly in the church are not to be saved then what hope does that leave for the ungodly outside the church? The answer is none. All outside the church are ungodly in that they have never obeyed the gospel and are sinners in God’s sight. If you have not obeyed the gospel and you are old enough to do so then you are still in your sins.

All the godly are in the church. One cannot be godly and be outside the church for the same process that saves a man (gospel obedience) makes him, by God’s grace, godly. God adds the saved, the godly ones, to the church. "And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:47 NKJV) The church is that which Jesus is the Savior of. "Christ is the head of the church; and he is the Savior of the body." (Eph. 5:23 NKJV) The "body" is the church. "And he put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, which is his body." (Eph. 1:22-23 NKJV)

If a person is saved he is in the church, the body of Christ, but this does not mean once saved always saved for a Christian can fall away and become ungodly, even become a disbeliever, later in life.

In a practical sense as far as what will happen in the last day, the Day of Judgment, everyone is a tare who is not saved whether in the church or outside it. All outside the church are going to be gathered together to be burned along with any tares that are found in the church. Again, the parable is not about the ungodly in the church but those who are ungodly in the church will not be saved.

While Peter may have had (?) reference to the Roman invasion and destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 when he penned the following passage he nevertheless made a point we all need to give consideration to. He said, "For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?" (1 Peter 4:17 NKJV) What indeed? When one obeys the gospel the Lord adds that person to the body of Christ, the church, where the saved abide.

Paul talks of Jesus' second coming and says this, "When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power, when he comes, in that day." (2 Thess. 1:7-10 NKJV) We see no middle ground. One has either obeyed the gospel or he has not.

It brings me great sadness to know people I care about and realize that to them gospel obedience and faithfulness is no big deal. What are they thinking? Do they think the Bible is a fairy tale and there is no judgment to come? Do they believe you cannot trust God's word, that all the talk about eternal fire and gnashing of teeth is just so much hyperbole? Have they followed hook, line, and sinker the common opinion that as long as you are a decent human being you will be saved? Do they think they are special and God is going to give them a free pass despite their shunning of him, disrespect, and lack of love for him? Or, is it that they are just so "this-worldly" that they cannot give spiritual matters the time of day? What are they thinking? I do not know but does it matter what the motive for disobedience is when the result is the same regardless?

They live their lives giving God little to no consideration. "The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts." (Psalms 10:4 NKJV) No, to you and me they do not seem "wicked" as we generally think of wicked people but we must remember we do not think as God thinks nor do we see or understand as he does. "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways," says the Lord." (Isa. 55:8 NKJV) Besides, if we are honest, and we stop and think about it, we know a person who does not seek God is proud in that he thinks he can do fine without giving God a primary place in his/her life.

If we don't care about God while living why should we think we shall be saved in the Day of Judgment? Whatever other lessons are to be found in the parable of the tares this one stands out to me -- there is no middle ground. One is either wheat or a tare, saved or lost, has obeyed the gospel or hasn't obeyed the gospel, loves God or does not love God. How we desire middle ground, if not for ourselves for others, but there is no middle ground to be had. It is finally heaven or hell.

"Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The son of man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." (Matt. 13:40-42 NKJV)

There is no middle ground but unlike in the physical realm where a species cannot help but be whatever it is in the spiritual realm a tare can be changed into wheat if the desire is there to make the change. God's desire is to save, not to cast into the furnace of fire. "The Lord … is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9 NKJV) "Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?" says the Lord God, "and not that he should turn from his ways and live?" (Ezek. 18:23 NKJV) "For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies," says the Lord God. "Therefore turn and live!" (Ezek. 18:32 NKJV)

Yes, turn and live for there is no middle ground.

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I Can Do All Things Through Christ

The passage written by the apostle Paul and found in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” (NKJV) is a verse I became very familiar with when our young son entered kindergarten many years ago. He was afraid of leaving home and going to school so we had tears regularly that first year. It rends a dad and mom’s heart out to send them off into what is for them the dark terrifying unknown when as they leave the house it is all they can do to keep from crying and falling apart. Night after night at bedtime I would go back and the two of us, my son and I, would sit there and talk about this verse and it seemed to calm his fears after a while as we would talk.

Is that the way God strengthens us? I have little doubt that there is strength in the word of God -- power to strengthen not only a child but people of all ages. “For the word of God is living and powerful.” (Heb. 4:12 NKJV) If we will only hear the word and believe it with conviction of heart we will find the power to overcome. We must believe the word for it to strengthen us.

What is there in faith that gives strength? The writer of the book of Hebrews says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1 ESV) Faith is assurance, it is conviction, that God will be with me and that I can, through his power, do this thing that is so difficult for if he is with me he will grant me power -- strength to do it. Faith believes in his promise. “For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5 NKJV)

The Greek word in Hebrews 11:1 translated into English by the word “assurance” (ESV, ASV, NAS) or the phrase “being sure” (NIV 1973, NET) or words to that effect is used in 4 other places in the New Testament where in 3 out of the 4 instances it is translated by the English word “confidence” or words similar to it. You will find those passages in 2 Cor. 9:4, 2 Cor. 11:17, and Heb. 3:14. Thus, faith builds confidence giving us strength for, you see, faith is confidence, is assurance. It casts aside doubt and fear.

What is the promise of Philippians 4:13 as it relates to you and me? Is it not, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me?” (Phil. 4:13 NKJV) Certainly, it is. Yes, Paul wrote this regarding himself but do you not think inspiration had a reason for recording that sentiment for all to read? The passage was given by the inspiration of God as is all scripture. (2 Tim. 3:16) Paul did not need to tell us how strong he was through Christ but he did need to tell us how strong we can be. If he could be then so can we and we need to know that. Inspiration knew we needed to know. One wonders how many martyrs that were burned at the stake or who otherwise gave their lives for the faith thought of this passage.

Paul said elsewhere (Rom. 10:17), “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (NKJV) John then says, in 1 John 5:4, “And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.” (NKJV) There is power in faith to not only overcome the temptations of the world but power to climb our own personal mountains, mountains so high and so steep as to seem to be impossible but Jesus tells us “With God all things are possible.” (Matt. 19:26 NKJV)

“The word of God is living and powerful.” (Heb. 4:12 NKJV) It has caused people to repent of their sins and make a 180-degree turn in their lives. There were 3,000 who repented on the very first day the gospel of Christ was preached. (Acts 2) One cannot separate power from God’s word nor can one separate God from his word. The word has the power it does because it is his word, not mine nor yours. There is power in that word to create faith and thus change lives as well as give strength to mankind.

When Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13 NKJV) he was both speaking by inspiration and by personal experience. What kind of things had he endured by means of the strength given by Christ? In 2 Cor. 11, which my reference Bibles say was written before the book of Philippians, Paul says he had been “in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.” (2 Cor. 11:23 NKJV)

He then goes on and says, “From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren, in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.” (2 Cor. 11:24-27 NKJV)

And, yet, at the time of this writing there was more to come for we know he eventually was executed and who can say how much more he had to endure before that? How did he do it? Well, he tells us. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13 NKJV)

Paul was able to endure by faith, by faith in God and in his word for without that word there can be no faith. Had Jesus merely appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus and not spoken all Paul would have known was that he had experienced a vision of a heavenly being. Paul did not know who this was who spoke to him for he says, “Who are You, Lord?” (Acts 9:5 NKJV) Only when Jesus responded by saying, “I am Jesus” did he know so we see that words spoken, or written, matter for faith.

Without word from Jesus (remember Paul did not know that this was Jesus until Jesus told him) Saul might well have left thinking he was being punished by the loss of his sight for not doing enough to destroy Christianity. Remember Paul was thoroughly convinced that the course of action he had been pursuing was the course God would have him pursue, that course being to persecute and destroy Christians and the Christian faith.

The only point I am trying to make is that Jesus needed to speak. Words were essential to communication, to understanding, and essential to the development of faith in Paul and the same is true for us today. Where the word of God has not gone there is not and cannot be faith in Jesus Christ.

So we see when all things are placed in proper order we have Jesus first, then his word, then faith, then power (the strengthening), and these are tied so closely together that they are like links in a chain.

There was power enough in the words Jesus spoke to change Saul’s life for Saul was now to become Paul, Paul the apostle. If there was ever a man with greater faith found in the New Testament I do not know who it would have been. I do not say others lacked faith but only that I do not believe any had more than Paul. His faith was so strong that when he said he could do all things through Christ it was a proven fact as shown by the things he had already suffered and endured. In fact, the book of Philippians where we find this famous passage is one of Paul’s prison epistles. Thus as he wrote he was in the very act of doing all things through Christ who strengthened him.

In the life of all of us, there are hard times. Suffering, pain, sorrow, and death trail after us like a bloodhound on our track chasing after us. We lose jobs, we lose loved ones, we lose health, and maybe someday we will be left alone in a nursing home to await death with no one seeming to care. What are we going to do? How are we to survive? There is only one answer. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

So it is from childhood to death it is “Christ who strengthens me.” As Paul said, “The life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God.” (Gal. 2:20 NKJV) Have faith and be strengthened by it. Believe what God has told you with all your heart. As a child of God, you can do all things through Christ who will strengthen you, that is if you are God’s child. That choice is yours.

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Misunderstanding the Grace of God

Several years ago I submitted an article to an online site that said it was a Christian article directory. It was a short article entitled "Receiving the Gospel.” It was deemed to be unfit for a Christian article directory. The editor of the directory said to me in an e-mail that he believed man was saved by grace without baptism which in the context of the article submitted meant without obeying Peter's directive on the Day of Pentecost as found in Acts 2:38.

His position was not uncommon. Millions of people have read Paul's statement in Eph. 2:8-9, "for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (NKJV) and said okay, that is it, no need for further study.

I want to say first of all this is a poor approach to God's word to isolate and elevate part of his word over and above the rest of his word. That approach makes you and me judge over the word; we make ourselves God and decide what is vital in the word and what is not. Jesus when tempted by the devil said that "man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." (Matt. 4:4 NKJV) That’s "by every word … of God," not just by the words of one's choosing.

In the second place, it needs to be pointed out that I think every single person who claims to be a Christian believes salvation is by grace through faith including myself. Is there a person on earth who thinks he has always done the right thing and never sinned? I can name many of my sins. Some of them have been an embarrassment to me, all of them of which I am aware have lowered my self-esteem, some have hurt others, all have hurt my relationship with God. I will never be the person I could have been due to the sin in my life. How about you, if you are honest how about you? Yes, we are saved by grace for we are undeserving of salvation.

Grace is often defined as unmerited favor, the unmerited favor of God toward man, and that hits the mark pretty close to dead center. When one knows he is a sinner he knows that on his own merits, he does not deserve salvation. I have often thought I needed to be punished, could almost wish I could do it myself. There is no thought of deserving anything other than that—punishment.

Grace encompasses all the good things God has done for us in bringing us salvation. When God sent Jesus into the world was that not an act of grace? When Jesus went to the cross for us shedding his blood for our salvation was that not God's grace?

When God gave us his word was that not an act of grace? When God confirmed his word by signs and wonders in the first century allowing us to know that it was God giving the word was that not an act of grace?

There is a passage in Rom. 2:4 that bears on the thing I am trying to get at. It says, "Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?" (Rom 2:4 NKJV) Is this not God's grace? Is not his goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering toward us that we might repent of our sins God's grace?

Peter says, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9 NKJV) Is this not grace? Just God giving us time to get our life in order is that not grace? Yes, we are saved by God's grace working in so many different ways for our salvation without which we could not be saved, none of us.

But here is my problem with those in the denominational world on the subject of grace. Their idea is that one is essentially saved by God's grace alone without man being under any obligation to do anything. They see grace as unconditional, dependent only upon faith.

They reject baptism as essential to salvation. I see it as another aspect of God's grace. If God tells me to do something to have my sins forgiven ("repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins"--Acts 2:38 KJV) he was under absolutely no obligation whatsoever to give me that option whereby my sins could be forgiven. I was shown grace by him telling me what to do and giving me a promise that upon doing it my sins will be forgiven--that to me is an act of grace on his part.

Denominationalists argue that it is not, that it’s works. Their idea is that there is nothing you can do for salvation other than depend on God's grace with the idea being that it is a kind of a one-time packaged deal given to you at the point of belief by which you are then and there saved without any further action on your part period. Lest anyone misunderstand I am talking about initial salvation.

That thinking reminds me of a Christmas gift I received in the past. I received as a gift a gift card. To use it I had to get in the car, drive a distance, take up my time and make an effort, find what I wanted, drag it up to checkout, haul it out to the car, drive home, and unload it. Nevertheless, I saw the gift card as an act of grace on the part of the giver. I never once said, "This is work, not a gift." In fact, I will take all of the gift cards you want to give me and praise you for your grace towards me despite the fact I will have to put forth a little effort to get the benefit of them.

Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." (Matt. 7:21 NKJV) When Peter said, "repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38 KJV), when Ananias told Saul, "arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins" (Acts 22:16 NKJV) I wonder was that the will of the Father in heaven? Was that grace? What do you think? Can you be saved without doing the will of the Father? Jesus says no, most denominational people say in the case of baptism yes.

But, let me talk a little about salvation by grace through faith versus salvation by works. Paul talks at length about this in the book of Romans and in Galatians. Under the Law of Moses, a man was required to keep perfectly the law to be saved. None could do so thus obviously none could be saved on that basis.

This was true of the Law of Moses but it is just as true of any law that a perfect God might give to mankind. Paul says, "For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law." (Gal. 3:21b NKJV) John says much the same to us for in speaking to Christians he says, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (1John 1:8 NKJV) Sin is a transgression of the law of God, "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." (1 John 3:4 KJV)

God has a law today. He has always had a law. Today's law is the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2, 1 Cor. 9:21). But, no matter how much we might desire to do so and despite our best efforts, we cannot keep the law of Christ perfectly any more than the children of Israel could keep the Law of Moses perfectly thus if there is to be salvation it must be by grace which it is.

Does this then mean that man can ignore Jesus' commands and disbelieve the things he said whether directly or indirectly (through the inspired writers of the New Testament)? If grace comes through faith what kind of faith is it that will not believe that which has been spoken or written? If the Lord speaks and I claim to be a man of faith will I not believe his words? Grace comes through faith (Eph. 2:8) but does it come through a faith that disbelieves those things plainly written? The language the inspired writers used about baptism is too clear for misunderstanding as to its purpose.

Let us take a closer look at Paul who wrote a great deal about salvation by grace and faith. (We act as though that is all he wrote on the subject of salvation.) The very same man that wrote Eph. 2:8 ("for by grace you have been saved through faith") also wrote Gal. 3:26-27, "(26) For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (27) For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (NKJV) Many, perhaps even most in denominational churches, taking the smorgasbord approach, will take verse 26 and leave off verse 27. That cannot be done by a man of genuine faith. The man of faith believes all God has said on a subject. The denominationalist says you put on Christ at the point of faith. Paul says not so. Paul says by grace I have been saved through faith and then tells me I put on Christ in baptism, not before baptism. Will I believe all Paul said or just what I want?

But, here is the clincher that destroys all arguments that attempt to separate baptism from grace. Paul, who remember said "by grace you have been saved" (Eph. 2:8 NKJV), writes in 2 Tim. 2:1, "You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." (NKJV) Where is saving grace found? In Christ Jesus. Okay, how does Paul say we get into Christ Jesus? He says, "Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?" (Rom 6:3 NKJV) And he makes the same statement in Gal. 3:27 when he says, "as many of you as were baptized into Christ." (NKJV) Anyone who can put two and two together can add the same here.

Paul said the same thing earlier in the book of Romans when he said that we are "justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." (Rom 3:24 NKJV) A person thus seeking to be saved by the grace of God ought to get into Christ Jesus where redemption is found, there and there only will he find grace and salvation. The New Testament tells us too clearly to misunderstand how to get into Christ.

In Christ, there is salvation (2 Tim. 2:10), eternal life (Rom. 6:23), a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17), every spiritual blessing (Eph. 1:3), forgiveness (Eph. 4:32), the promise of life (2 Tim. 1:1), redemption (Rom. 3:24), being alive to God (Rom 6:11), and grace (2 Tim. 2:1). When we are baptized we are baptized into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13). One who has not been baptized is outside the body of Christ and thus outside all of the blessings that are found only in Christ. All good things are found in Christ, not out of him. That includes grace as clearly shown for all who will accept 2 Timothy 2:1.

Bible faith by which God's grace comes is a faith that believes what God has said so strongly that he does not question it but if God has said it the matter with him is settled. The true man of faith does not need to hear a passage on baptism but once and whatever is said on that topic he immediately believes and is ready to obey if he has not already done so.

Yes, it may take some study to see how all of the things by which God has said we are saved work together in a harmonious whole but if it is said by God or one of his inspired messengers that we are saved by baptism (1 Peter 3:31), or receive forgiveness of sins in baptism (Acts 2:38), or put on Christ in baptism (Gal. 3:27) then a genuine man of faith says immediately "it is so." They do not argue about how it is not so.

Paul himself was saved by grace as we all are yet he was not saved before baptism by grace alone. Hear his personal story. On his way to Damascus to persecute Christians, as one who did not believe, the Lord confronted him and he was made a true believer and repented of his sins. Luke tells us when confronted by the Lord that Saul (Paul) trembled and was astonished. (Acts 9:6) He was told by the Lord himself to "go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." (Acts 9:6 NKJV)

Denominational doctrine almost across the board, meaning no matter what group you are talking about, has him now saved. He believes and has repented and "by grace are ye saved through faith" (Eph. 2:8 KJV) so they see him as saved. The trouble of it is, is that Jesus told him he had to go into the city where it would be told him "what you must do." (Acts 9:6) So, whatever he must do has not yet been told him at the point of faith and repentance.

Then we see that for the next 3 days this saved man (?) is living in misery rather than rejoicing in his salvation. Luke says, he "neither ate nor drank" (Acts 9:9 NKJV) during that whole time; why not? Is it not because he does not yet know what it is he "must do?" (Acts 9:6) I might add the thing he must do, whatever it was to be, was related to having his sins forgiven. How do I know?

Saul already knew what the future held for him for in Acts 26:16-18 he says Jesus told him when he appeared to him on the road to Damascus. He knew he would be God's servant and sent to the Gentiles to preach even before entering the city of Damascus. (Acts 26:16-18) That was not going to be the thing he was going to be told he must do when he entered the city of Damascus for that he already knew.

What was it he was told he must do? Ananias told him, "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts 22:16 NKJV) He was told to be baptized to wash away his sins. That was what he must do. So here we have a man saved by grace and we know exactly how he was saved. He had faith, he had repented of his sins, and he was baptized to wash away his sins.

Was he saved by grace? Yes! When he obeyed he was saved by God's grace for he was then in Christ where salvation is found. His sins had been washed away by the grace of God for he had believed and obeyed God.

Do you want to be saved by grace? You can try it the denominational way if you so desire but my advice to you would be that I would try it the Bible way by doing what Paul did. You can not go wrong doing that.

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Saul's Conversion

"And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he arose and was baptized." (Acts 9:18 NAS)

In Acts chapter 9 verses 1 through 18 we have the account of Saul's conversion from a persecutor of Christians to an apostle of Christ. In the early years of Christianity when a person heard and believed the gospel, accepting it, it always led immediately to baptism. One must ask himself why.

With Saul's conversion we have the fourth such account thus far in the book of Acts (see Acts 2:41, Acts 8:12, and Acts 8:38). Verse 18 says of Saul that "he arose and was baptized." (Acts 9:18 NAS) The reader needs to take note of some things said in earlier verses regarding Saul.

Jesus, in speaking to Saul on the road to Damascus, says to him, "enter the city, and it shall be told you what you must do." (Acts 9:6 NAS) Just a few verses later we see the Lord sending a man by the name of Ananias to Saul (Acts 9:11). Ananias was sent to Saul for more than one reason (see Acts 9:12 and 9:17), to achieve more than one end, but I ask this - was not one end to tell Saul "what you must do"? If Ananias did not tell Saul what he must do then who did? He was the only one sent by Christ to Saul for that purpose.

Now, what did Ananias tell Saul? Did he tell Saul you need to have faith in Jesus? Did he need to tell him that? Had not Saul become a believer already? Did he tell Saul you need to repent? Had he not done that? If his experience on the road to Damascus had not wrought these things what would it take? What do you think he told Saul "you must do" as per the words of Jesus when Jesus said it would be told him?

The text said he "arose and was baptized." Why be baptized? Was it not because it "shall be told you what you must do" and baptism was the thing he must do? But, we do not have to guess at it or reason our way to this conclusion for we can turn to Acts 22:16 where Saul recounts his conversion experience and tells us what Ananias told him. "And now why do you delay? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.” (Acts 22:16 NAS)

Now, why was this a thing Saul must do? Because as the text in Acts 22:16 tells us, baptism is for the purpose of washing away one's sins. As Peter said in Acts 2:38 it is "for the forgiveness of your sins." (NAS) This is why in every full account of conversion we have those who believed were baptized. As Jesus said, "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved." (Mark 16:16 NAS)

Is it so hard to believe Jesus? Is it so hard to believe Peter, to believe Philip, to believe Ananias? Judged by the belief and practice of the world it must be. 

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