The two wrongly interpreted verses! Acts 9:17-18
A. These are the two verses the European believers wrongly interpreted:
Ananias went to the house and entered it.
Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord-- Jesus,
who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--
has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Acts 9:17
Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again.
He got up and was baptized. Acts 9:18
1. They interpret these two verses this way:
a. He could see again. This means he was saved already!
b. He was filled with Holy Spirit. This means he was saved already!
c. After he was saved, he got up and was baptized!
2. The above interpretation put baptism after salvation, forgiveness of sins!
They say: Apostle Paul was saved before Ananias baptized him!
B. How one may discover the above interpretation is wrong?
1. When you read Apostle Paul’s own testimony about how he was saved!
Acts 22:12-16-->… And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away,
calling on his name.***Here we see Paul himself said his sins were washed away at time of baptism!
2. Then you read what Apostle Peter said in Acts 2:37-38-->
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles,
"Brothers, what shall we do?"
And Peter (said) unto them, repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ
unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
***Here Peter said sins forgiven and receive the Holy Spirit was after baptism!
3. According to Galatians 1:8, Peter and Paul had to preach the same message!
Otherwise, one of them would be condemned in hell!
C. With the mercy of God!
1. And just happened that you have been pursuing a life of doing righteousness,
your eyes suddenly opened up! Read proverb 2:7 to know the why!
God lay up sound wisdom in store for the righteous!
2. And you see these two verses are to be interpreted this way!
One day you happened to read these two verses again:Acts 9:17-->
As Ananias said: The Lord has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
a. The Lord sent me so that you may see again.
b. And be be filled with the Holy Spirit.
The Lord sent me to do the above two things.
Acts 9:18--> Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again.
He got up and was baptized. Acts 9:18
a. His eyes could see again.
b. He got up and was baptized.
The two things he actually done for Saul!
3. Compare what the Lord asked him to do for Saul and what he did for Saul!
The Lord sent him to help Saul to see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit!The 2 things he actually
done for Saul are his eyes see again and baptized him!
This was a common sense! For one to be saved and receive the Holy Spirit one has to hear the gospel,
believe Jesus is Lord, repent and be baptized for forgiveness of sins and be filled with the Holy Spirit!
Conclusion: Please forgive me to quote 2 Cor.4:3-4!
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in them that perish:
in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving,
that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn (upon them).
May the Lord bless you and keep you!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIUawlS7ZQk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL8b1xwZcXE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Xqx-MtfJNU