Last week we looked at two aspects of Apostle Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles, according to Acts 26:17-18: the opening of their eyes and turning them from darkness to light. This week we conclude the article by looking at the other two aspects of Paul’s ministry.
Acts 26:17-18
17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18 To open their eyes…, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Turn them from the power of Satan to God
It is instructive to note that the Lord Jesus after His resurrection in this verse makes mention of the power of Satan. Jesus defeated and paralyzed Satan and all his cohorts so why will He say that Satan has power?
The power of Satan is in spiritual blindness and darkness. Darkness means ignorance. Your ignorance of what God has done for you in Christ and who you are in him is the power of Satan. What you don’t know is the darkness Satan is permitted to function in. Your knowledge of God reveals Satan’s defeat and powerlessness in your personal life.
The power of Satan notwithstanding, once a man’s eyes open and he sees light (knowledge), he walks out of the dominion of Satan.
Receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance
Acts 26:18
… that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Paul is not going to the Jews and Gentiles asking them to give something but rather to receive forgiveness and inheritance. We have something to offer the world. God has given us something to offer the world.
The power of sin is destroyed. God is not holding the sins of the world against them. No one will perish because of their sin but because they reject the free gift of forgiveness in Christ. A God ordained heritage is available for all men. This means whatever they had before turning to God is not comparable to what God has for them in Christ. Walking with God is priceless if your eyes are open.
Go for light. Go for illumination.
Rule and Subdue the Earth!