Would You?

 Would you stand up for a notorious sinner?

 When the notorious Saul of Tarsus became a Christian, many doubted.  Some must have been afraid.  Even Ananias was afraid to go see Saul, but the Lord told him He had chosen Saul (Acts 9:13-16).  So Ananias went to Saul and said in Acts 22:16, “now why wait any longer?  Get up, be baptized, and wash away your sins, trusting Him to save you.”  But when some did not accept this penitent man, a man whom the Apostles nicknamed Barnabas, stepped in and stood up for Saul. Would you?  Would you stand up with a notorious person after they have been saved?

 We never refer to this changed man as Saul, but as Paul.  He even said he was the chief of sinners in 1 Timothy 1:15. He did not think he had it made just because of what he had done but by what God had done through Christ (Phil. 3:7-14).

 So, why would we ask questions about anyone's sincerity concerning their salvation?

 Many years ago, I said that Jeffrey Dahmer became a Christian. I was asked what I meant. What did I mean?  Jeffrey was baptized into Christ (Acts 2:38), and he knew he had done some horrible things. He was known as the Milwaukee Cannibal. And Jeffrey knew he would not get out of prison alive.

 And he was murdered in prison, and someone will say, he wasn't saved.

 Paul said in 2 Corinthians 13:5 “to examine yourself.”  Paul did not say to examine everyone else.  How do we know you are sincere or not?  And as a dear friend said to me years ago, “Who made you God?”

 I would rather be identified as a Barnabas, which means son of Encouragement. God knows we need more encouragers and not judges.