the opened sight

"to open their eyes...that they recieve"acts 26v18 this verse is the grandest condensation of the propaganda of a disciple of Jesus Christ in the whole of the New Testament. the first sovereign work of grace is summed up in the words-"that they may recieve remission of sins." when a man fails in personal Christian experiance,it is nearly always because he has never recieved anything.the only sign that a man is saved is that he has recieved something from Jesus Christ.our part as workers for God is to open men's eyes that they turn themselves from darkness to light;but that is not salvation,that is conversion-the effort of a roused human being.i do not think it is too sweeping to say that the majority of nominal Christians are of this order;their eyes are opened,but they have recieved nothing.conversion is not regeneration.this is one of the neglected factors in our preaching today.when a man is born-again,he knows that it is because he has received something from Almighty God and not because of his own decision.people register their vows,and sign their pledges,and determine to go through,but none of this is salvation.salvation means that we are brought to the place where we are able to receive something from God on the authority of Jesus Christ.viz., remission of sins. then their follows the second might work of grace-"and inheritance among them which are sanctified." in sanctification the regenerated soul deliberately gives up his right to himself to Jesus Christ,and identifies himself entirely with God's interest in other men.

Rank	Location	Receipts	Donors/Avg	Freepers/Avg	Monthlies
31	Colorado	260.00	10	26.00	293	0.89	125.00	9

Alpha, did you alter the quote from the article? because when I clicked on the link, it was not the same as what you posted! Are you sure the moderators allow that? Here's the way it is on the Oswald Chambers site:

January 10 The Opened Sight
I now send you, to open their eyes . . . that they may receive forgiveness of sins . . . —Acts 26:17-18

This verse is the greatest example of the true essence of the message of a disciple of Jesus Christ in all of the New Testament. God’s first sovereign work of grace is summed up in the words, ". . . that they may receive forgiveness of sins . . . ." When a person fails in his personal Christian life, it is usually because he has never received anything. The only sign that a person is saved is that he has received something from Jesus Christ. Our job as workers for God is to open people’s eyes so that they may turn themselves from darkness to light. But that is not salvation; it is conversion-only the effort of an awakened human being. I do not think it is too broad a statement to say that the majority of so-called Christians are like this. Their eyes are open, but they have received nothing. Conversion is not regeneration. This is a neglected fact in our preaching today. When a person is born again, he knows that it is because he has received something as a gift from Almighty God and not because of his own decision. People may make vows and promises, and may be determined to follow through, but none of this is salvation. Salvation means that we are brought to the place where we are able to receive something from God on the authority of Jesus Christ, namely, forgiveness of sins.

This is followed by God’s second mighty work of grace: ". . . an inheritance among those who are sanctified . . . ." In sanctification, the one who has been born again deliberately gives up his right to himself to Jesus Christ, and identifies himself entirely with God’s ministry to others.

http://www.gospelcom.net/rbc/utmost/01/10/

Although it be far from me to try to add to the text of Oswald Chambers, to read Acts is to understand acts:

¶ Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, at midday, O king (Agrippa), I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

And I said, "Who art Thou, Lord?" And He said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 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.

Amen.

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