Acts is one of the 66 books of the Bible and in chapter nine we read about the conversion of Saul. Luke tells us about the “once” and “now” of the apostle Paul in the first nineteen verses.
In the same book we read that the apostle Paul speaks to a crowd and he tells the crowd about his conversion. I like that. Please read Acts 22:3-21.
Also in the book of Acts, almost at the end, King Agrippa gives the apostle Paul permission to speak for himself and the apostle Paul preaches again about his conversion. Acts 26:2-23. Let us follow his example.
WE MUST TALK MORE ABOUT A “ONCE” AND “NOW”!
I like to listen to speakers who talk about a “once” and “now” in their lives!
In the Bible we find the letter the apostle Paul has written to the churches in Galatia. In the letter he says right at the beginning that he persecuted the church of God but God was pleased to reveal his Son to him.
In Galatians 1:11,12 he writes:
“I want you to know, brothers,
Intr.:
that the gospel I preached is
1. not something that man made up.
2. I did not receive it from any man, nor
3. was I taught it;
4. rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.”
End:
In his letter to the Ephesians the apostle Paul tells us what the Ephesians were once and what they are now. ONCE they were far away, but NOW they are near. Please read that in Ephesians 2:13.
And what does Peter, one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, write? He is writing to God’s elect who are scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia that God called them out of darkness into his wonderful light. You find that in First Peter 1:9. And in First Peter 1:10 we are reading about a “ONCE” and a “NOW”.
“Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
Nicodemus is mentioned in the gospel of John. Nicodemus is a Pharisee. Nicodemus is a member the Jewish ruling council.
And what does the Lord Jesus Christ say to him? The Lord says:
“In reply Jesus declared, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.'”
Can YOU say: “ONCE I was in the darkness, but NOW I am in the light?” I CAN!
We must talk more about a “once” and “now”!