Salvation

 

God’s voice to me this morning:

Hebrews 2

“How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation”

Such is the fulness of salvation through God’s Son, it grants forgiveness, access to the throne of God in prayer, hope in this life and the next, and a place in that heavenly place where the Son (Jesus Christ) is seated at the right hand of God. How?

I quote a Bible verse

“ The Lord Jesus Christ gave His life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us and to make us His very own people totally committed to doing what is right”  Titus 2

Escape damnation - only by faith in Jesus Christ, God's Son

johnmckee@internode.on.net

@avoiceinthewilderness-r7z

Jesus the exalted one

 To the Son He says:

"Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. Your royal power is expressed in righteousness.
You love what is right and hate what is wrong, therefore God, your God has annointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else"" Hebrews 1:8
Just as Jesus the Son is filled with joy and gladness, so we in Him can rejoice with joy unspeakable.
We too must love what is right and hate what is wrong in a world that does not know the difference. We too must use God's power to do right things.
Then our praise will ascend "Thine is the kingdom, and the power , and the glory, forever - Amen"

The name Jesus

 

The greatness of our Lord

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwmasL2v2gc

you may need to copy and paste into browser

Motivation to reach the lost

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYfn7MhcOo8   -  The Love of Christ

you might need to copy and paste

Looking upward

 

My meditation this morning

Psalm 50:23  “Giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honours God”

Thanks to God, to others is a Christian distinctive. Many of the cultures around us do not have a word or concept of “thank you”.

We have so much to thank the Lord God for, and instead of living on the horizontal plane, thanksgiving turns our eyes heavenward where nothing spoils our hope, our home.

        “always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” Ephesians 5:21

God in action

 

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Please let me explain. There is only one true and living God, creator of all, to whom all humanity is accountable. Although He is very great, His personal interest in this world, is very active. He is not so much interested in the world systems, but rather the people He created for connection with Himself.

          Something went wrong and most of the people of the earth live in disconnect from God. Judgement would justly invoke punishment, but God chose to present His final remedy – not in the law given by Moses, nor the voice of the godly prophets or the faltering kings. No. God has spoken finally in the visible, tangible presence of His Son Jesus the Christ.  The Son perfectly represents God the Father.

Jesus did much more than teach. He chose to live in real humanity.

Only one person could be described as ‘the only begotten Son’ – Jesus. It means – existing before He was born of Mary, abiding in the bosom of the Father, coming forth to uniquely show what God is like.

 “The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world”

He came more than 2000 years ago – some received Him, many rejected Him.

God announced from heaven “This is my Beloved Son, listen to Him” (Mark 9:7)

          Then and now, the vital element for connecting with God is to receive His Son, believe in Him, trust Him. Faith focused on Him is the means to forgiveness, justification, sanctification, eternal life. Believing in Him produces behaviour that pleases Him – born from above into the family of God!

‘Whosoever ‘ means everyone. The promise given is sure for all who believe on the Son , our Lord Jesus Christ.

‘Believeth’ is present continuous tense – continuing to live by faith in Him.

‘Should not’ is in old English quite definite, not doubtful.

‘Perish’ – more than a wasted life. The consequences of sin and unbelief are severe and eternal. Not loss of being, but rather loss of well being.

‘Eternal life’ – more than a good life now. God’s design is for each believer  is to be in His family, in his home (Heaven) with joyful connection to God forever.

          A nurse I know, sat beside a dying unbeliever. As he passed away his face was contorted with extreme horror. The same nurse sat beside a dying unconscious believer. He awoke for a moment, his face beamed with delight and then he was gone.

 

          What have you done with the greatest expression of God’s love? Will you receive “the Son” and be assured of the promise of eternal life?

 

Another promise describes the extent of God’s love:

“God showed His love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  ( Romans 5:8)

 

“ This is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NLT)

Promises

 

Peace by Promises

Jesus can still the storm, but often He chooses instead, to go through the storm with us.

Compare the Bible records – Mark 6:39 to Acts 27

One is the power of His person stilling the storm.

2^nd  is the promise of His presence through the storm.

Most of us would rather the storm be stilled. But the will of God is not always so. If we are surrendered to God, He is often achieving something through us which involves storms e.g. Mark 14:34. Many Christians take the easy path by self interest being first, but for those walking with the Lord, a cross to bear, a storm to endure, a loss, a disappointment, a misunderstanding  is inevitable.

     So how can I have peace in the storm?

Many have promoted the idea that ‘that if I do the right thing then God will look after me and make life a success.’ (Deuteronomy 28).

I too thought so, until an experience sent me to the Bible where I discovered being faithful to the Lord, to truth, to righteousness would incur storms, trouble etc. Hebrews 11 records many godly, faithful people who endured storms.

         How did they not blame God? How did they maintain faith?  They accepted the promises of God as real, relevant and finally rewarding.

So today we are intended to endure tribulations, persecutions, weakness and death by clinging to the promises of out LORD, or more precisely , by clinging to the Sovereign LORD Himself!

Even to become “more than conquerors through Him that loved us” (Romans 8:37)

 

Act 27:26 Paul said in the middle of the storm “I believe God, that it will be just as He said”

2 Peter 1 reminds us of great and precious promises to enable us to live above the world of decadence and despair.

 

Media and medicine want us to “feel good”  - so we often judge God by how we feel . This is a deception. Paul put it better.  “though our outward man (body) perish, the inward man (spirit) is renewed day by day.

Sometimes I take mineral tablets to calm my mind (PPMP) and medicine to heal my wounds. But the greater essential is to spend time alone with the Lord , appropriating His promises, the promise of eternal life, and to rest in His abiding presence.

 

If we could see beyond today as God can see

If all the clouds should roll away, the shadows flee,

O’er present griefs we would not fret

Each sorrow we would soon forget

For many joys are waiting yet

For you , for me.

.

.

If we could see, if we could know, we often say

But God in love a veil doth throw across our way

We cannot see what lies before

And so we cling to HIM the more

He leads us till this life is o’re

Him we will trust  and  obey.

The call to truely love Him

 

Most daily devotionals give a positive spin. Jesus Christ the Lord issues many challenges. For example

“If a person is ashamed of Me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, I, the Son of Man, will be ashamed of that person when I return in the glory of My Father with the holy angels” ( Mark 8.38)

 

Many Christians are bold in the cocoon of church. Christ calls us to be bold for HIM in this evil world.

Focus

 

“Forgetting the past, looking forward to what is ahead.” Philippians 3:13

Again: : “Forgetting the things which are behind, reaching forth unto those things which are before” KJV

Our past is not to define us (Paul’s time of persecuting the Christians could have haunted him).

By the kindness and grace of God, the past can be forgiven ( as we confess the wrong and let it go).

 The God of hope promises to take care of tomorrow (Matthew 6,7), and better still, He promises to all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, eternal life beyond death’s door.( John 10)

So we need to focus on the future.  I admit the present world system is rather depressing, but it is altogether uplifting when the LORD in given control in our lives. His promises are sure. His purposes are good.

He alone can rightly say “Trust ME”.

Heart devotion

 

The penetrating teaching of Jesus Christ the Lord:

“These people honour me with their lips

   But their heart is far away

  Their worship is a farce

       For they replace God’s commands with their own man made teaching.”    Bible – Mark 7:6

 

Wisdom says:  “Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.”    Proverbs 4:23

 

The Holy Spirit says:   “ That Christ may dwell in your heart by faith” or again  “ That Christ may be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in HIM.”  Ephesians 3

 

Way beyond religious beliefs and observances is this holy possibility – the Lord Jesus Christ abiding in our hearts. This is the part of our being where we decide (will),  we love (affection), our motives, the spring of worship (devotion) !

 

 

Please read the significant Bible verse John 14:20 – 26.  Knowing Christ is far more than national religion, church adherence, creeds and rituals. HE has promised to personally live with those who truely love HIM.

 

For the students – trace the recurring mention of the ‘heart’ in Deuteronomy and then the New Testament.

God's love

 

Message made in memory of Robert Spurling – something like his preaching fourty years ago.

Our text today is Romans 5.8

“God commendeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”

This well known verse has brought hope to many lost souls. Many men and women have wandered helplessly through life , until they discovered God’s true love meeting their need.

              The idea of need – well most of us thought we were ok -enjoying ourselves as youngsters, trying to fit in with the gang, going our own way. But when God steps into the equation, we discover our sin, our need of forgiveness, heading for a lost eternity. In fact, when we let the Bible speak, we find ourselves in danger of hell and the lake of fire.

Romans 6:23 “For the wages if sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

So we have all sinned , but God wants to give us eternal life.

 God is holy – and can by no means clear the guilty.

   God is love – even loving guilty sinners bound for hell.

     He saw us in our need  - guilty and unable to save ourselves.

It is just like a person in the ocean, unable to swim, drowning without hope. But then a lifesaver throws out a lifebuoy with a rope to pull it in. All the drowning man has to do, is to cling to the lifebuoy.

     God the lifesaver saw our predicament and sent His Son to be the Saviour!

      Such was the problem of sin, it needed a sacrifice to take our sin away. None other was good enough to pay the price of sin. He only could unlock the gate of  heaven to let us in.

 

1 Corinthians 15.3  “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, He was buried and He rose again the third day according to the scriptures”

      Now the debt has been paid, all that God wants us to do , is to reach out to the lifebuoy (Christ) and let the lifesaver save us. The empty hand of faith says – I cannot save myself, I am not good enough for heaven, my sins deserve eternal death, but Jesus died for me.  So I reach out and take Jesus as my Saviour . He died for me, so I will trust Him to get me in the gate of heaven.

The promise holds true – John 1.12  “ To as many as received Him, to them He gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in His Name.”

 

    But remember the opportunity to receive salvation is brief.

“what is your life? It is but a vapour that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away!”   (James 4.14)

None of us   know the day of our death so:

“Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2)

Some put if off till later but the cry is real:

‘too late , too late will be the cry, Jesus of Nazareth has passed by’. Hell is full of procrastinators. Today make Jesus Christ your choice:

“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thine heart that God has raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved”    (Romans 10:9)

 

A concluding Hymn of warning

 

‘Almost persuaded, now to believe

 Almost persuaded Christ to receive

  Seems now some soul to say?

    ‘Go Spirit go thy way

       Some more convenient day

         On thee I’ll call’

Call today and make the Lord you lifebuoy!

Evangelism

 

Meditation this morning

Bible – Mark 4

Jesus also said : “ Here is another illustration of what the kingdom of God is like : A farmer planted seeds in a field, and then he went on to other activities. As the days went by, the seeds sprouted and grew without the farmers help, because the earth produces crops on its own. First a leaf of blade pushes through,  then heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle”

 

What am I learning today? After a very busy seven hours of evangelism yesterday, we can rest in this teaching of the Master – the good seed of the Word of God will, in God’s time yield a harvest. Thank the Lord it does not depend on us. How blessed to be in His hand to reach out to many who have never heard the Gospel, never had a Bible and don’t know who Jesus is.

In the day of harvest, may He get the praise and the glory.

Voice of Praise

 

The song of Moses

“……  I will proclaim the Name of the LORD.

How glorious is our God!

He is the Rock;  His work is perfect.

Everything He does is just and fair.

He is a faithful God who does no wrong:

How just and upright is He….”

 

Then  the interruption of human failure

 

Then the conclusion

“ Rejoice with him , O heavens and

Let all the angels of God worship  Him.

For He will avenge the blood of His servants.

He will take vengeance on His enemies and

 cleanse the land and His people.”  Deuteronomy 32

 

 Now from the New Testament;

-          Because of human unbelief:

“I will take vengeance

I will repay those who deserve it….

It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10)

 

But God in grace:

 

“ And now may the God of peace,

who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,

 equip you with all you need for doing His will.

May He produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ,

all that is pleasing to Him.

Jesus is the great Shepherd of the sheep by an everlasting covenant, signed with His own blood.

To Him be glory forever and ever . Amen.”  (Hebrews 13)

Eternity

 

How important to be prepared for the end and beyond

Crucifiction

 

RI yesterday – a question from a thinking child.

“Why did the people hate Jesus and cry out “crucify Him?””

That’s a good question when we remember Him as a good man doing good things.

Let the Lord Jesus answer for Himself:

“It does hate me because I accuse it of sin and evil” (John 7:7)

 

For example:

“Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired” (Matthew 6)

“ Don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly”

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth.”

“Stop judging others”

“ Don’t worry about tomorrow”

 

Some of this makes one feel uncomfortable and for the leaders, who were lovers of money and fame, instead of repenting, they sought to destroy Jesus.

But more than His teaching – He who was known as the ‘carpenter’s son from Nazareth’ had gained many followers. The leaders became very jealous of His popularity.

 

Finally , the unbelieving leaders refused to accept the great claim of Jesus :- that He was the Son of God, the Messiah. They chose rather to accuse Him of blasphemy  and condemned Him to death. (Mark 14)  The wise men knew better – they bowed down and worshiped the child Jesus.

     And so it happened that the voice of the misguided crowd prevailed and the Roman governor sent Jesus out to be crucified.

 

By human terms a tragedy, but under the sovereign working of the LORD God, a triumph – the tomb is empty!

Making a difference

 

How can you affect the elections ?

Well you may choose to vote  - yes

Better, you may take time to pray  - yes please

You can waste time criticising people and parties

But there are positive ways to effect change!:

    Teach children the Word of God. Soon they will be teenagers and then adults voting.  Most get their morals and sense of discernment from screens – TV, Smartphones, Cinemas  etc.  Movies have been designed to manipulate the minds of the masses – with great success.

Teaching our families Bible truths is vital. But beyond that, teaching children in schools is a brilliant opportunity to teach good morals, teach wisdom, teach God’s laws and best of all lead them to Christ.

In many churches Religious Instruction in schools is considered a ‘non-event’. How sad to miss the way of the Master who stopped the crowd to bless the children and commanded Peter to “feed My Lambs”. Any preacher/paster who is too big to teach the children is unworthy of honour.

    At election time the people need tools to discern moral failure in leaders (it does matter), to discern moral questions (like gay marriage and abortion). To discern righteousness as an important social value.  To have compassion like Christ Jesus.  To be concerned for national issues as God sees it (Immigration and defence).

    Where are the teachers who are willing to sharpen the consciences of the people young and old, on real, relevant issues  as guided by the Word of God – the Holy Bible?

     Who will stand in the public square to make known God’s ways, God’s values  for our confused society??

    At election time, the would be politicians are ready for conversation. – go and ask them the important questions! Not about the money they promise. Ask them to be transparent about their own character and purpose. Avoid letting the media convince you of good or bad.

    The days were that good character was paramount. National interest was more important than personal benefit. And we can push back against the selfish priorities of modern politics.

    The last two years of teaching citizenship, it caused me to search the constitution, learn about laws and promote values. Beyond some disappointments I discovered so much of it  that is Bible based and we do well to highlight this. E.g. “rule of law” came from Moses teachings.  Compassion for migrants came from OT and NT etc.

 

So  let’s pray “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”

Doing or Done

 

Do or Done

I am reading the Old Testament writing called Deuteronomy. Many things, good things are commanded for the Israelites to do. I notice the commands for obedience are intertwined with the promises of God’s love for them.

e.g. “He is a faithful God who keeps His covenant for a thousand generations and constantly loves those who love Him and obey His commands.”   Deut 7:9

 

In the New Testament, commands are given, but obedience is rather the outcome of love more than the means to win God’s favour.

Eg   “ It is Christ’s love that controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for everyone, we also believe that we have all died to the old life we used to live.  He died for everyone so that those who receive His new life will  no longer live to please themselves.  Instead they will live to please Christ who died and was raised for them.

……. All this newness of life is from God who brought us back to Himself through what Christ did.”   2 Corinthians 5:15

 

The ‘old way’  was by doing.

The new life is real because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done.

 

Are you living life as doing?

Or living life because of what He has done?

 

The objective of both is to connect with a righteous and Holy God, but the principle of connection is different. The first depends on my  obedience ( and we all fail) , the second on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ my Lord ( sufficient to reconcile all people who turn to God in faith).

johnmckee@internode.on.net

The Coming of the LORD

 

1Thessalonians chapter 5

Previously the subject was the hope of the believers, that the Lord Himself was coming/ is coming to catch up the believers. Dead ones to be raised from death and living ones transformed. All to be forever with the Lord.

Now Paul the Apostle introduces “Times and seasons”

In Acts 1, the Apostles asked the Lord “will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He answered – “ It is not for you to know the times and seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority. But you will receive power…..”  So which mattered most? Prophetic knowledge or power to live for Christ?

 

Verse 2   Paul does write about the Day of the LORD (Jehovah, YHWH).   Not so much the detail of that great day or the signs, but rather the effect on those who are waiting and watching for the Lord to return. The effect is godly living as described in the remainder of the chapter.

If he were writing to Jewish readers he could have referred them to the writings of Daniel, Zephaniah, Zechariah, Isaiah, Malachi etc for details. But it seems to me that he is referring them to the teaching of the Lord Jesus.  Refer to Luke 17:26

A brief summary:

The Day of the LORD will be

1      the vindication and manifestation of the LORD who revealed Himself to Moses and prophets.

2     The overt declaration that the Father sent SON to be the Saviour of the world

3     The final judgement of satan and his forces

4     The judgement of the nations – Parable of sheep and goats.

5     The great purging of Israel producing a  remnant and their restoration

It begins with a persuasive leader proclaiming ‘peace and safety’ and reaches its purpose with the full and final enthronement of the Lamb of God as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. It will be a time of just judgement and none shall escape.

Much detail could be given, but Paul moves on to the effect .

Verse 4 “But you are not in the dark”

Christians are made intelligent by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Christians are invigorated to godly living as they wait for “God’s Son from heaven”.

Verse 6 “Therefore we are in the light, the day -  not stumbling in the dark. Having self control mingled with hope.

Verse 7 This world, this age, this society love the darkness so that they hide from  scrutiny. They like to live out their sinful nature as unrestrained lust, lies, licentiousness, witchcraft, idolatry.

Verse 8  The Believer in Jesus Christ has protection for heart and head:

         Faith in God, Faith in Jesus Christ.

         Love from God, to God and to others

         Understanding the great salvation of hope made real by the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesu Christ.

Verse 9-11  The real comfort is found in understanding God at work!

         God, in all His Sovereign Providence, has not destined believers in Jesus Christ to wrath (just anger against sin by God), but has appointed them to be saved out of this world and from eternal damnation. This is not wishful thinking, but has been achieved by the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Just as He rose from the dead, so all believers will be raised to live with HIM – ‘Praise the Lord”

What a blessed hope!

What an inspiration to sanctified living!

 

Verse 12   Before concluding this letter, Paul asks them to notice those who take special care for the welfare of others. Their supervisory spirit was to be respected for the sincerity of their purpose – seeking to admonish and encourage in devotion to the Lord. Appointments to overseer and servant work likely had not happened, but the work of shepherding and serving was the outworking of Paul’s example and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Verse 14   -  the work of elders:

1               Warn the disorderly

2              Cheer up the lonely, depressed, discouraged

3              Support the weak

4              React to criticism and contention patiently

5              Restrain revenge

6              Set an example of love and grace

 

Verse 16  The  outcome of waiting, watching, working for the coming Lord

         Rejoicing

         Praying

         Thankful

Listening, learning

Teachable

Diligent for truth

Holy

Verse 23   This is not a list of commandments to be obeyed.. This is the outcome of letting God by His Holy Spirit work in our spirits, our souls , our bodies,  our lives surrendered to Him.

He can sanctify, as we let him. His love gives us free will.

Paul restates the sanctifying effect of waiting, watching for the Lord – that we might be without blame at His return.

 

Can we truly sing  “Even so come Lord Jesus

                                    Even so come today

                           Even so come Lord Jesus

                                    Catching thy bride away

                           Oh how my heart is yearning

                                    Waiting for Thy returning

                           Even so come Lord Jesus

                                    Even so come today

My Heart

 https://ashfieldpresbyterian.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/My-Heart-Christs-Home.pdf

A most beautiful illustration of Ephesians 3:17 and Revelation 3:20

Christ dwelling in our hearts

Greece

 

Bible message from Acts 17:

A university lecture?  The philosophers of Athens were interested to hear anything! So Paul was invited to deliver his point of view.

     He acknowledged their religiousness, but one of the worship alters he saw summed up the major problem among them:

  “ To the unknown god”  !!  -  was it set up just in case they had missed a god, or was it indicating God as unknowable?  In reality it expressed the fundamental issue – in all their worshipping, they didn’t know the true and living God.

…….same problem today.

The creator God is greater than man made idols, greater than temples or cathedrals. The LORD God does not depend on priests or philanthropists.  He is the maker, the giver of life, the sovereign who personally interacts and interrupts in the affairs of humanity.

Besides coming to us in various ways, He invites us to “seek after God and perhaps feel our way toward Him and find Him – though He is not far from anyone of us.”  (Acts 17:27).

 

God is spirit not stone, and is able to respond to our spiritual quest seeking the ‘higher power’.

 

God is just and good – all the time. But that includes judgement. Each of us are accountable to Him.

 

God has appointed a special judge. It is the man Christ Jesus who as man understands humanity and as Son of God has the official right to judge the world.

 

God raised Jesus from death, and in His rising there is both forgiveness for all who truly believe in Him, and punishment for all who do not obey the Gospel.

 

That day some believed, some procrastinated, some laughed!

 

Where are you today?

johnmckee@internode.on.net

Citizenship

 

In the last week I have been to two citizenship ceremonies- --one for an Iraq friend, and in Brisbane for Iranian family. Both were a delight to attend.

 Things I notice – almost all the migrants choose to speak the pledge aloud which includes “under God”. Many don’t quite understand the meaning, but it is good most recognise God.

    “under God”  is not the imposing of religion or church. Rather it is the acknowledging of God as the greatest authority.  At every ceremony is a photograph of the King along with the Australian flag  and the Australian coat of arms. Then at the end we all stood to sing the Australian anthem.

    But above all these symbols of authority, “under God” means that we are all responsible to the higher authority of God.  In the Christian context that also implies the authority of His word – the Bible. Much of this was evident at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth 11  and King Charles 111 , viewable on youtube.

    This principle intrudes into democracy (the will of the people),  so that God is the final judge and His word the moral law. Democracy has at times tried to push God away, but His Word remains to activate the consciences of all people. (Romans 2  ‘their own consciences either accuse them, or tell them they are doing right’).

There was one statement made by the government representative I disagreed with- “we welcome you all with all you have to bring”. As I have discovered some of the sad , sinister details of migrant backgrounds, this statement needs to be qualified  by “under God”. We don’t need people to bring caste systems, multiple wives, atheism, violent attitudes, racism  etc

     It is the conquering of these  cultural/religious distortions that has made Australia the land of great opportunity .  Culture /religion is not as innocent as many politicians make out.

 

It has been a great privilege and learning cuvre for my wife and I to interact closely with many migrants over the last seven years. Best of all when people turn to Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.

 

Praise be to the LORD.

johnmckee@internode.on.net

Gospel for all

 

Gospel message from Bible book of Acts chapter 13

This message is so important in the history of the Bible. Paul and Barnabus were speaking to both Jews and Gentiles.

The true God is identified as the God of Israel, the Creator of all.

According to the promise given to Abraham, the Israelites were privileged to represent God to the world. Sadly their history has been marred by failure and rebellion. God, who knows all hearts, did find David with  a surrendered heart. Through his ancestral line, Jesus the Saviour was to come.

Paul, who had been a strict Pharisee, then points out the ministry of John the Baptiser as a significant announcement, -- that the promised Messiah was Jesus. John also preached that the people should repent of sin and turn to God.

      The people who listened to Jesus teach, were so religious that they didn’t understand their need to repent. The leaders objected to the teaching of the Lord Jesus and so rejected Him when He claimed to be the Messiah, the Son of God. (Mark 14). But God had actually prophesied about these sufferings for the Servant of the LORD. (Isaiah 53). The cross seemed a cruel reward for someone who had always done good and always spoken truth.

    This message emphasises that the Jesus they crucified , God raised Him to endless life. This was and is the Good news! In keeping with other prophecies, God vindicated Jesus as His unique Son. Not only so, but God has exalted Him in heaven as the Saviour for all people. Now the great and precious promises given in the Old Testament and the New Testament can be fulfilled for all people!

Please carefully read the conclusion:

“In this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. Everyone who believes in HIM is freed from all guilt and declared right with God – something the Jewish law could never do.” (Acts 13;39 NLT)

Many believed and millions more have since. By believing in the Lord Jesus Christ they received the gift of eternal life. This gift is available to all.

Gospel to Gentiles

 

Peter perplexed, propelled, perception, preaching, praising

     God’s most important plan – to include Gentiles in the blessings of the Gospel. Some non-Jews like Cornelius were continuing with prayer to the God of the Bible. The angel appeared and instead of telling the Gospel to him, Cornelius is referred to Peter, for Peter is to learn much about this special purpose of God.

Peter’s prayer time was interrupted by a heavenly vision of unclean animals for food. A voice pronounced an astounding new arrangement “What God has made clean, do not call common.” Perplexed Peter was then invited, commanded to go to the house of the Roman Centurion, Cornelius – what should Peter do as an observant Jew? Mixing with Gentiles was forbidden.

       But propelled by the Holy Spirit, he set out for Caesarea, taking witnesses with him. At the hose of Cornelius, he asked, “why have you sent for me?”

   Peter perceived that God was at work, teaching him the wide embrace of God’s GRACE. “In every nation God accepts those who fear Him and do what is right”.

  Peter immediately preaches Jesus Christ as LORD of all ( all people) without any introduction of Torah, temple or Judaism.

The message about Jesus Christ is most important  especially the conclusion in verse 43  - “Everyone who believes in HIM, will have  their sins forgiven through HIS Name.”

Peter explained about John the baptiser, followed by Jesus the one anointed by the Holy Spirit to do great and good things. Peter then identifies himself with others who were witnesses of Jesus dying and rising again from death. Jesus Himself had commanded them to preach the Gospel of forgiveness to the whole world in His Name.(Luke 24)   Also that He would be the final judge of the living and the dead.

    The message might have continued, but enough said, enough to believe and God who knows the hearts, interrupted by the giving of the Holy Spirit to these new believers!  Just like it had been given to believing Jews in Acts 2, so these Gentiles were able to speak in various languages (maybe Hebrew) and to praise God.

     So Peter joined in the praise of God for putting this plan together to include the Gentiles . He then authorized them to be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ, as was done for the Jews. Peters later presentation to the Jerusalem conference summed it up well –( Acts 15:8) 

   “ ……. God made no distinction between us and them……….we are all saved the same way, by the favour of the Lord Jesus Christ”

   “God has also given the Gentiles the opportunity to repent and receive eternal life”  (Acts 11:18)

 

I with Peter praise the LORD for His providence and grace!

Many relevant issues flow from this incident, but chiefly it shows God at work taking this Gospel beyond Jewish boundaries to include the whole world.

Amazing grace and the final accountability of all to the Lord God.

Gopel to the Jews

 

Peter’s second message to a privileged people.

Please read Acts chapter 3 for the full response.

This chapter begins with a serious contradiction. The extravagantly adorned temple had at its gates people begging for money!  So today, a world of billionaires and religious wealth, while so many are starving!

But once again in our Bible record, God takes the initiative to turn a bad thing into something good. And so the crippled man was the means to the glory of God. He was miraculously healed and the crowd were excited.

Peter’s response is important. Way beyond the healing was the significance. This was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob at work. This was done in the Name of ‘Jesus of Nazareth’. So Peter describes this Jesus: - the Holy and righteous one, the author of life, raised from the dead. By His name the lame man was made whole!

But I missed something – the guilt of the people.

V14  - the Jewish people denied any loyalty to Jesus before Pilate

-      They chose the release of a murderer for festival celebration

-      They killed the true source of life

Peter was not preaching a feel good gospel – no – he exposes the significant sin, particularly the sin of rejecting Jesus the Christ.

Peter commands – ‘repent’, and then gives a beautiful description of God at work.

God foretold the sufferings of Christ. (Psalm 22, Isaiah 53 etc).

God can blot out sins and send times of restoration, refreshing and hope. It can only be valid as it comes from the presence of the Lord.

Verse 21 indicates that there was still an opportunity for all Israel as nation to be saved. God is the God of a second chance!

So Peter outlines the means of their restoration:

1           V13 – Relational connection to Abraham, Issaac and Jacob

2           V18 – Revelation of prophecy about Messiah

3           V22 – Raising up of the Prophet to speak again for God

4           V23 – Retribution for deaf  ears

5           V25 – Remembrance of the covenant

6            V26 – Real possibility of recovery from past wickedness by Him whom God raised up to bless instead of curse.

Then would be fulfilled the ancient purpose of God to Abraham –  ‘ through your descendants all the families of the earth will be blessed.’  Oh such a God of mercy and grace to such an underserving people!

 

And the rest of that story??? Keep reading the Bible book of Acts, or read the newspaper to see a nation largely far away from God.