"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS AND BEING JUSTIFIED BY GOD"
Acts 13:38 “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins;
Acts 13:39 “and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Some explanatory thoughts/application/questions, and a prayer:
The above verses, were spoken by Paul in a Synagogue in Antioch He had been asked by the leaders there to share any words of exhortation (Encouragement). Of course Paul was not hesitant to accommodate their request. Thus Chapter 13:16-41 (from the daily reading today, June 20th in the One Year Bible) is a record of Paul's message that includes a review of the historical work and blessings of God among His people the Jews, leading up to the coming of the Messiah, and the heavenly blessing of forgiveness of sins, and the doctrine of being Justified. So, let's take a look at these two rich verses and enjoy learning what our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ has done for all who will believe. (Which I trust includes you also)
1. God wants His truth to be known by people.
Acts 13:38 “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins;
God does indeed through teaching and preaching make His Word, His truth known to people. And, one of the main things at the heart of His truth is this. "that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins;" How beautiful and amazingly wonderful is that. Through Christ, and the work of Christ in dying on the cross for our sins, and our turning to Him, and believing in Him, we receive the forgiveness of sins.
Forgiving men of their sins is the primary reason that Jesus came to the earth, and it's the primary blessing that God wants to give to people. He wants their sins to be forgiven. This is the truth that the Devil does not want people to know. He wants them to be condemned, to not know about forgiveness, and to keep men bound and enslaved to lies, to corruption, to unbelief, to a sure and certain eternal destruction. He hates the Lord, and he hates the fact that God forgives sins.
I'm certain he also hates the fact that he and his band of evil spirits know they can never be forgiven. They are truly the ones that are enslaved, and headed for eternal judgment.
2. God especially explains His truth among those are His children.
Acts 13:38 “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins;
This message was preached among "brethren" And, it's among God's people, the church, where the truths of God are the most widely proclaimed and enjoyed. It's called teaching the Word. This is why God has placed pastor-teachers in the church, to explain His truth to His people, to our brothers and sisters in Christ. What a blessing that God who takes us out of darkness, and then places us in Christ, then through preaching and teaching takes the time to unpack His Word to us, explaining the wonders of His grace, love and mercy to us.
With the above in mind, one can see how we ought to pray for our leaders, our teachers, and how we ought to take full advantage of all the opportunities to gather together for worship, and for hearing the precious Word of God, so that we might be fed, be instructed, be encouraged, be enriched, be restored, corrected, helped, and made to overflow with the knowledge of God in Jesus Christ.
3. God's Son Jesus Christ came into this world to provide us with the forgiveness of sins.
Acts 13:38 “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins;
Again, we see the emphasis on "the forgiveness of sins" Man cannot forgive his own sins. Although we often hear, that "we need to forgive ourselves" I disagree. We need to let God forgive us. Since it's more true than we know, that we cannot forgive ourselves. Only God can forgive sins. Look at these wonderful verses below that speak to the issue of being forgiven of sins.
Acts 5:31 “Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
Acts 26:18 ‘to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’
Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
Colossians 1:14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
4. God also, through faith in Jesus Christ, will and does justify everyone who believes.
Acts 13:39 “and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Now, here is another of God's blessings. It's called "justification" And, please notice again what the verse says.
Acts 13:39 “and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Not only are we forgiven of our sins by and through Jesus Christ, but also, for everyone who believes in Jesus, that person becomes justified from all things. What does this mean? One simple way to say it, is that we are not only freed from all guilt, ( that's forgiveness of sins ) but, we are "declared right with God" That's what Justification means. God declares the believing sinner to be right with him, because of their faith in Jesus Christ.
Justification really has two parts to it. God removes our sins from us, and then places on us, or imputes to us the very righteousness of Christ. He then declares that we are justified. No greater declaration could be made about a person. There is no one greater than God and there is no more important declaration He can make. And, how He yearns to make it to any and all who will believe. God is our justifier.
Romans 4:25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.
Romans 5:16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification.
Romans 5:18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.
5. God's justification, is something that could not be found by or through the Law of Moses.
Acts 13:39 “and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
This wonderful declaration of our being declared right with and before God could never be made through the law of Moses. The law came through Moses but grace came through Jesus Christ. The law was important to show us our need for salvation, and that salvation, that forgiveness, that justification is ours, not by the law, but by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ.
So, God has done it all of us. We could not do it. God has done it for us. He has justified us. And, to be sure, please notice,
Acts 13:39 “and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
It's from all things. The Jewish law could never do this. But the Jewish God and Savior Jesus Christ could and has, and will do it for all who turn to Him.
Some questions:
1. Isn't it wonderful to know that God wants to make known the riches of His grace to you.?
2. You as a child of God are privileged to know these truths?
3. God has given you a bible, a church full of other members of God's Family, and He wants to build up the church through Christ.
4. Will you please pray for your church, it's pastor, and the other leaders, it's members, the working of the Holy Spirit, the teaching and the preaching of the Word of God, so that what God wants us to know and understand will take place?
5. If you had to define church attendance on your list of priorities where would it be?
6. Has God been speaking to you about your church attendance and involvement?
7. What steps might you need to take to come into line with heaven's priorities for your life and schedule, and use of your time?
8. Do you pray for Heaven's priorities to become Your priorities?
A prayer:
Father, how blessed the people were who heard Paul preach. And, how blessed we are that you have it on record for us in the Bible. And, how blessed we are that You are actively today, still speaking through pastor's, preachers, teachers, etc, to share with us Your indescribable gift in Jesus Christ. He is the gift of gifts. And, You are the giver of every good and perfect gift.
We pray that You would give us the gift of Spiritual wisdom and insight into the truth of Jesus Christ. We pray that You would flood our hearts with Spiritual insight. In Jesus name, amen.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.
