Replies

MB: Paul’s eyes were blinded by God, not opened, on the road to Damascus.

HD: And there you have it...just make it up regardless of what the scriptures teaches.

NAB Acts 9:

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Now Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
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and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains.
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On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him.
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He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
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He said, “Who are you, sir?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
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Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.”
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The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one.
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Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus.
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For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank.

My Bible tells me that Saul was blinded on the road to Damascus. What does your Scripture teach you?

My Bible tells me that Saul was blinded on the road to Damascus. What does your Scripture teach you?

I believe this is in reference to my post #6981 which was in response to your post #6952 in which you stated:

Your Care Bear God ministers only to the elect and chauffeurs them to Heaven. The wrath that you point to doesn’t appear to apply to them. Paul’s eyes were blinded by God, not opened, on the road to Damascus. Our eyes are opened by the infusion of the Holy Spirit at our baptism in which our parents, or ourselves if we have reached the age of reason, invite the Holy Spirit in. Pauline exclusivism versus Christian inclusivism.

In my haste I phrased my comment wrong. While it is true that Paul's eyes was blinded on the Damascus Road it is equally true that he received his sight by God:

Act 9:11-18 And the Lord [said] unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for [one] called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting [his] hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, [even] Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

Please note the order of events that, according to the scriptures, Paul would receive his sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost upon Ananias' prayer. It was only afterwards (albeit soon) that he was baptized. Baptism does not infuse us with the Holy Ghost.

This is no different than God working in our lives. God must open our eyes. He chooses to do so through people just like Ananias, who share with us the gospel but it's all His work. No one can take any credit. We once were blind, but now we see.

Acts 9:3

And as he journeyed , he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

9:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

9:7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

9:8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

Paul experienced a spiritual epiphany. Note how he immediately knew that the LORD was talking to him. He was given spiritual insight. Physical seeing is nothing in comparison.