'to open their eyes'

whatever · Sep 20, 2005

"In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' And I said, 'Who are you, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles--to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
Click to expand...

Why did the Gentiles' eyes need to be opened before they could turn to God?

webdog · Sep 20, 2005

Having our eyes opened by God, and God prying our eyes open are two separate things. We do not choose that which is righteous and good naturally, but that which is evil. The Holy Spirit convicts and draws. Faith comes from hearing, and hearing from the Word. Paul was sent to deliver the Gospel so that the gentiles may "hear".

dale kesterson · Sep 24, 2005

Gill on the verse:

Act 26:18 - To open their eyes,.... The eyes of their understanding, which were shut, and darkened, and blind: one copy reads, "the eyes of the blind"; and the Ethiopic version renders it, "the eyes of their heart"; and to have them opened, is to have them enlightened, to see their lost state and condition by nature, the exceeding sinfulness of sin, the plague of their own hearts, the impurity of nature, the impotence of man to that which is spiritually good, the imperfection of obedience, and the insufficiency of a man's righteousness to justify him before God; and to see where help is laid, and where salvation is; to behold Christ as the only able, willing, complete, and suitable Saviour; to see that there is life and righteousness, peace, pardon, grace, and glory in him; and to have an insight into the doctrines of the Gospel, and a glimpse of the invisible things of another world. Now though this is all the work of the Spirit, by whom only the eyes of the understanding are enlightened; yet this is ascribed to the apostle, not as the efficient cause, but as the instrument and means through preaching of the Gospel, which the Spirit of God would, and did make use of
Click to expand...

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; (Isa 35:5 ESV)

Love in the lamb,

dale

webdog · Sep 25, 2005

Who does the "blinding"?

2Co 4:4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Notice this is not God blinding man, but satan.

AresMan · Sep 25, 2005

Of course, johnp would say that God causes Satan to blind the minds.

johnp. · Sep 25, 2005

cool man.

john.

'to open their eyes'

whatever New Member

webdog Active Member
Site Supporter

dale kesterson New Member

webdog Active Member
Site Supporter

AresMan Active Member
Site Supporter

johnp. New Member

Useful Searches

'to open their eyes'

whatever New Member

webdog Active Member Site Supporter

dale kesterson New Member

webdog Active Member Site Supporter

AresMan Active Member Site Supporter

johnp. New Member

webdog Active Member
Site Supporter

webdog Active Member
Site Supporter

AresMan Active Member
Site Supporter