In the 22 chapter of the Book of Acts we find a man named Ananias, having found Saul (later renamed “Paul”) of Tarsus and, having declared his healing from blindness, preparing to tell the future apostle why he was where he was and what the rest of his life would be about.  A hint as to Ananias’ character and his mission is revealed in the Lord’s description of him as found in verse 12 where he is described as “A DEVOUT MAN RELATIVE TO THE LAW and HAVING A GOOD REPUTATION AMONG THE (LAW-KEEPING) JEWS.”  His obedience to God’s Ten Commandments made him ideal for instructing the man who would be His premiere New Testament author.  Paul, not having known the Law prior to his conversion, became God’s premiere teacher of the Law and proponent for obeying it.

In verse 13 Saul is telling other saints about his conversation with Ananias.  Paul said about him: “(Ananias) came unto me and stood and said unto me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’  And immediately I could see him.  And he (Ananias) said, ‘The God of our (Israelite) fathers has chosen you to KNOW HIS WILL, and that you should SEE THE JUST ONE (Jesus) and should HEAR HIS VOICE.  For you will BE HIS WITNESS unto all men of WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN AND HEARD.'”

Ananias has laid the foundation of Saul’s (henceforth “Paul”) ministry as dictated by the Lord.  He was to be a LAW-KEEPER.  He was to KNOW GOD’S WILL.  He was to SEE JESUS CHRIST, HEAR HIS WORDS (vs 14) and to DECLARE HIM BEFORE THE WORLD (vs 15).

Verse 15 summarizes Paul’s ministry: “For you will BE HIS WITNESS unto all men concerning what you have seen and heard.”  Can anyone read these verses and not understand that Paul was to SPEAK AND WRITE GOD’S LAW/ WORD AND TO BE THAT LAW/WORD BY MANIFESTING IT–EXACTLY AS DID JESUS OF NAZARETH.  Jesus was “THE WORD MADE FLESH” (Jn. 1:1-4).  He was our perfect example of the Christian “walk” (life).  He was God’s Word manifested in a human being’s thoughts, words and deeds.  Jesus fulfilled the Father’s will by BEING His Word in human form–Jesus was the spirit God “come in the flesh.”  His true saints are Christ “come in the flesh” by BEING His Word in human form (2 Jn. 7,8).

Recall that in John 9:5 Jesus said that as long as He was in the world HE WAS “THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.”  In Matthew 5:14 He told His disciples that THEY WERE “THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.”  Obviously, they were 13 different individuals WHO POSSESSED SOMETHING, WHICH JESUS CALLED “LIGHT,” THAT THEY ALL SHARED.  THAT “SOMETHING” MADE EACH OF THEM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.  We are told in 2 Corinthians 4:4 that the “something,” the “light” that they all shared was” THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL.”  In Matthew 5:14 Jesus tells His true saints that, because they are His light (singular), they are not to hide themselves from the world around them.  As God’s light they were like a city set on a hill sending forth light to all those who see them.  God’s elect are like candles that men place on candlesticks (the church–Rev. 1:20) where they give light to all that have come into the house (the church) after seeing (hearing, reading) the light (Truth/Word).  These are they who “see” the saint’s light (Law/Truth/Gospel being lived) and come into the house (church) where their (the saints’) light (Truth) shines on all within it (vs 15).  In verse 16 Jesus tells His true saints to let (their choice) their light (Word–“glorious Gospel”) shine (manifest the Word in the form of good works–thoughts, words and deeds) so as to glorify God in heaven.  JESUS WAS GOD’S WORD MADE FLESH.  THEREFORE, WHEN MEN SAW HIM (JESUS) THEY SAW THE FATHER.  JESUS WAS GOD’S WORD BEING LIVED BY A MORTAL MAN.  GOD’S VERY ELECT ARE JESUS CHRIST LIVED BY MORTAL MEN–THEY ARE JESUS CHRIST “COME IN THE FLESH” (2 Jn. 7,8).   JESUS “DECLARED THE FATHER” BY BEING (MANIFESTING) HIS LAW/WORD IN HUMAN FORM.  TRUE SAINTS “DECLARE JESUS CHRIST” BY BEING (MANIFESTING) HIS LAW/WORD IN HUMAN FORM.

Sinners hate the light that God’s true saints manifest for it exposes their works of darkness which they claim is God’s “light.”  See the Introduction to this website for examples of Satan’s darkness put forth as God’s light.  The Lord characterizes these examples of false light as “great darkness” (Mat. 6:23).  “And this is the condemnation (of those who hate God’s light): Light has come into the world, and men loved darkness more than light because their deeds were evil.  For every one that does evil hates the light and will not come to the light because it reveals their dark deeds.  But he that does the Truth (Law/Word/Gospel) comes to the light so that his deeds can be shown that they are done by God working in Him” (Jn. 3:19-21).

In summary, Jesus declared the Father by being His Word in the flesh.  Modern saints declare Jesus by being His Word in the flesh.  In this way the saying is true: “Jesus Christ is (currently) come (being manifested) in the flesh” (2 Jn. 7,8).  In this way they are sending forth Their light.  Declaring the Lord is more than speaking and writing His Word/Law–it is what we are.  True saints are “being” Their Word/Law as they live it in word, thought and deed.  Obedience to God’s Law is what true saints “put on” like an outer covering for all the world to see.  Obedience characterizes the “new man” that we all must become (Rom. 13:14/ Eph. 4:24).  In this way God is the hand, the saint is the glove.  L.J.