Them which are sanctified by faith that is in me

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.

"... Them which are sanctified by faith that is in me."

Act 26

16 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;

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.

Q. To whom did the risen Lord Jesus Christ send Paul?

A. To them “which are sanctified by faith that is in Christ Jesus.”

Who are they which are sanctified by faith that is in Christ Jesus?
What is the sanctification spoken of here? Is it the definitive sanctification or the on-going sanctification?

The sanctification by the faith that is in Christ Jesus is the definitive sanctification, i.e. once for all, not requiring or admitting repetition. This happens at the effectual call, when the Triune God, freely and sovereignly call an elect out of his native state of sin and death to that state of grace and salvation by the faith that is in Christ Jesus, i.e. based solely on the faithfulness of Jesus Christ in His work of redemption for His people.

The Lord Jesus Christ sent Paul to those whom God has DEFINITIVELY sanctified, i.e. effectually called and separated from the state of sin and death to that state of grace and salvation based solely upon the faithfulness that is in Jesus Christ.

This is not speaking of the sanctification that is ongoing throughout life through the ministry of the word. A man is NOT sanctified by his faith in Jesus Christ. Only a man whom God has sanctified by the faith that is Christ Jesus is capable of believing.

An elect is DEFINITIVELY sanctified, i.e. once for all, not requiring or admitting repetition - by the faith that is in Christ Jesus, i.e. based solely on the faithfulness that is in Jesus Christ. ]

Only those that are definitively sanctified by the faith that is in Christ Jesus can receive an inheritance among the same!

Only the eyes of them which are sanctified by the faith that is in Christ Jesus can be opened by the gospel ministry. Only the mind of such can be enlightened by the gospel truth concerning their eternal salvation by the free and sovereign grace of God in Jesus Christ. When their eyes are opened to the truth of their salvation by God's free grace in Jesus Christ, they are turned from the darkness of ignorance into the light of knowledge; they are saved from the darkness of ignorance unto the light and knowledge of salvation and righteousness.

To be enlightened with the gospel truth of one’s salvation by God’s free grace in Jesus Christ is to experience the forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ.

Satan is the father of lies; when they that are sanctified by the faith of Christ are taught the truth of God, they are delivered from the power of Satan, and unto the power of God. Here is a classic passage that speaks of this truth:
Titus 2
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

To deny ungodliness and worldly lusts is to be turned from the power of Satan; to live soberly, righteously and godly is to be turned to the power of God.

Only the very misguided believe that Paul was sent forth to offer salvation to them that are without salvation, i.e. still dead in trespasses and sins! he dead in trespasses and sins can't be turned from darkness to light; their eyes are incapable of being opened to see the gospel truth.

Common sense tells us that such notion is just plain foolishness. But common sense is a rare virtue today. Divine activities alone can help the dead in trespasses and sins; the gospel ministry is intended for those that are, have been, definitively sanctified.

Food is for the living; Christ told the recommissioned Apostles that their ministry is to "... feed... feed... feed..." His lambs and His sheep. Feeding presupposes living creatures. The preaching of the gospel and the ministry of the word has to do with those that have been sanctified by the faith that is in Christ Jesus. 

Nothing surprises the bluffalo boy anymore!

Nothing surprises the bluffalo boy anymore!

MAY 26TH, 7:08AM

Out the blue blue sky, a man by the name of Go M.T wrote:

(real exchanges, all names  of people and places are edited)  

Dear Pastor Sing F Lau

Greeting to you in Jesus name from M. E Missions for Christ in K, M.

My name is Rev. Go M. T. President of M. E Missions for Christ in K, M.

Under M. E Missions for Christ we have:

1). E. Theological Seminary

2). E. Church planting

3). E. Children Home

4). E. Hospital Evangelism

Pastor Sing F Lau, we would like to invite you to visit us as a visiting professor at our seminary in next academic year 2017 - 2018.

Sing

Dear M.T.,

Thank you for your message. I'm flattered by your kind thought.

You look like a very accomplished man, operating all those institutions.

I'm only a village preacher. Why would you want to invite me to teach at your seminary? How do you think I can help? Do you even know my theological beliefs?  I don't understand. Please do tell me more about your seminary? I was in M. a few times in the 1990s. Do you know M.Z. (In) and M.T (My).

Tell me more about yourself. Thanks.

(M.T called a few times. I didn't answer.)

You missed a call from Mun. May 26th, 12:33pm

Hello Pastor Sing

Thank you for your message

If you believed the Bible is the word of God. We would like to invite you to teach and preach at our seminary in K, M. At present, our Association delegate elected me to be General Secretary in my mother Association. Under our association we have 38 local churches. And also I have my personal ministries it's called M. E. Missions for Christ.

(M.T. called the 2^nd time)

You missed a call from Mun. May 26th, 1:02pm

M.T. sent a picture, captioned - "Our 21 children orphans"

Sing

How do you know I will teach the truth of God at your seminary?

"If you believed the Bible is the word of God...."

Many who claim to believe the Bible is the word of God actually believe completely different things. Does your seminary have a doctrinal statement?

M.T.

Yes

Sing

Tell me more about your seminary... the faculty, the programme, the student body, syllabuses, etc. Thanks.

(M.T. sent some pictures of the doctrinal statement - a 10 short paragraps Statement). He asked, "Pastor Sing can you read?"

M.T

Hello Pastor Sing please try to visit us this 2017

M.T called again the 3^rd, and 4^th times.

You missed a call from Mun. May 26th, 1:45pm, May 26th, 2:53pm

Sing

You can use the material here to teach your students.

https://things-new-and-old.blogspot.my/

From my previous visits, I had the impression that M. is a land of bible colleges and seminaries; I met a lot of people with Th.M. and B.Th... all graduates of bible colleges and seminaries, but who have nothing to do. Is that still the same today?

I can't take your call. I don't have good hearing and find it taxing on the phone.

I have read through your doctrinal statements.

M.T

Thank you

M.T called the 5^th time.

You missed a call from Mun.May 27th, 4:40pm

M.T

Pastor Sing can you visit us this year 2017.

Sing

You speak as though I live in the next town!

M.T.

Please try to visit us, pastor.

Sing

Why do you want me to visit you?

I'm only a village pastor, pastoring a small church?

Invite some big name pastors from the US or England.

M.T

I do not know others.

Sing

Do you know me?

M.T

I love Asia pastor only. Yes, I know you through FB

Hope you know me through reading our statement of faith

Sing

Then, maybe you should invite pastors from Yangon. They would be the best to help you teach your students.

M.T

No, I won't.

Sing

You statement of faith is SO inadequate. It is so shallow and superficial, commonly used by some of the most liberal churches too.

M.T.

No, I am Baptist pastor too. I am an evangelical Baptist pastor, not a liberal.

Sing

I DID NOT say you are a liberal. I said your statement of faith is no difference from that of liberal churches.

M.T.

Is it? Would you visit us or no?

Sing

Doctrinal statement needs to be comprehensive and precise!

I will consider if I'm convinced that it is worth my effort to come, but not until then. I have bad experiences in the past.

M.T.

Pastor Sing can you send your statement of faith, please

Sing

You can read the 1689 CoF. It contains some of the things I do believe heartily,

http://www.1689.com/confession.html

After you have read it, we will continue our conversation.

Read some of my theological writing here:

https://things-new-and-old.blogspot.my/

May the Lord bless you, richly. Amen.

M.T.

Pastor Sing, it is too much. Can you send me short to the points.

I have no time to read it all.

Sing

2Ti 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” If you have no time to read, then how do you STUDY???

M.T.

I take time to study not for your statement of faith

Sing

I love you, Brother. But I fear for you. Many people write to me, like you do... from Nepal, from Pakistan, from Sri Lanka, from Kenya, from Timbuktu… I have been to Myanmar, Sri Lanka and the Philippines... but people are not interested in LEARNING the truth.

(I also invite speakers to our church but I invite ONLY speakers whom we know and whose beliefs we love, and we are interested in learning and knowing those truth better.)

M.T.

My students are very longing for the word of God

Sing

If you DON'T even know what I believe, then why do you want to invite me? That's what I don't understand from the beginning. Out of the blue, you invite me to be a visiting professor! Weird.

Then you should study and teach them yourself!!!

M.T

If you don't want to come it is up to you

Ok I will BYE

Sing

Thanks!

M.T.

ONE THING I KNOW YOU, YOU BELIEVED THE BIBLE THAT IS MORE THAN ENOUGH

Sing

I just think you are a foolish man, going around inviting people whose teachings you don't know.

Perhaps, you reject "Scriptures Alone"!

The Bible is the only source of divine revelation. So STUDY, STUDY, STUDY... then teach, teach, teach... that God's children may know God's word, and live out God's word.

M.T.

YOU KNOW BETTER THAN ME PLEASE COME AND TEACH MY STUDENTS

When are you coming?

Sing

No plan for now.

M.T.

Please try this year 2017

Sing

For 2017, you read and study the articles on my blog. Study them, discuss them with me if you have any questions. If I'm convinced that you are interested in the truth of the Bible I have understood, then I may consider coming... God willing in 2081 or earlier. ;-)

M.T.

Thank you