God is sovereign over all of His creation including all aspects of salvation. A little over a year ago I would have argued against that statement. I would not have agreed God chooses whom He will save and chooses whom He will not save. After spending months of study in the book of Romans and particularly in chapter 9, I came to the inevitable conclusion that God saves those whom He has elected for that purpose.

I want to begin a study from the ninth chapter of Acts, working verse by verse through the Apostle Paul's meeting with Jesus Christ on the Damascus Road and subsequent conversion. I am drawn to this passage because there are some parallels between what happened to him on his way to Damascus and my own conversion (I am not insinuating in any way that I am like the Apostle Paul).

The argument I want to put forth is God is sovereign over every detail and aspect of our salvation. And to a lesser degree attempt to answer why God saves us in the manner He chooses. In other words, why doesn't God save everybody like He did Paul on the Damascus Road? The passage I want to work through is Acts 9:1-31, and breaking it into four parts:

     I.    Saul is Converted - Acts 9:1-9
     II.   Saul is Baptized - Acts 9:10-19
     III.  Saul is Persecuted - Acts 9:20-25
     IV.  Saul is Befriended - Acts 9:26-31  

If you would like to take part in this study and accompanying discussion take some time to read the passage and spend some time focusing on verses 1 and 2 as that is where the study will begin. The first two verses will lead us into a look first at who Saul was before he became known to us as the Apostle Paul. Each of the four parts of the passage will be covered by multiple posts as we work verse by verse (sometimes clause by clause) through the passage.

To get your wheels turning let me ask this question. Does God specifically choose whom He will save?

For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake.  ~Acts 9:16

So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.  ~Acts 5:41

Peter and some of the other Apostles were taken before the Sanhedrin Council to answer the charge of teaching and preaching Jesus at the temple. After examining the Apostles and taking council, they decided to beat them and charge them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus. After departing from the council, havening been beaten and publically shamed, how did the Apostles respond? Did they weep, lament and cry out to God in bitterness? No, they rejoiced; they were good stewards of the suffering.

Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.  ~1 Corinthians 4:2

There are a number of things God places into our care, all of which should be used for His purposes, His glory. There are even times God entrusts to our stewardship, pain and suffering. Regardless of the substance of our stewardship, the chief goal is to be found faithful in how that stewardship is carried out. Pain and suffering are circumstances that provide a unique opportunity to glorify God. Consider how the name of Jesus Christ is magnified when it is our faith in Him that enables us to endure disease, tragedy, or persecution.

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  ~2 Corinthians 12:10

As with anything else placed into our care, pain and suffering can be spent foolishly or selfishly. It is all too easy to wallow in self pity or doubt when confronted with personal suffering or persecution. I know, because there have been times when I squandered opportunities to glorify my Savior during times of suffering within my own family. Beloved, let us not forsake the blessed stewardship of suffering when it is granted by our Lord, but endeavor to glorify Him and faithfully discharge that duty with rejoicing.

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.  ~1 Peter 4:12,13