July 28, 2019
Scripture:
Hymn 345 - Jesus loves the little children,
Prayer
Acts 13 is famous for Paul’s first message ever recorded. Last time we talked about the portion on forgiveness and justification. Before Jesus came the Jews had to obey about 316 commandments to go to heaven. Now Jesus has come and has forgiven all of us, giving us eternal life.
Acts 13:40-46
Let’s not forget that Paul was preaching in a synagogue. There was mostly Jewish people there and some proselytes. Proselytes are people who have converted to Judaism. It’s like Ruth. She was a Moabite but she converted from idols to Judaism.
Although this message was given to the Jews it was different to anything they had heard before. It wasn’t only for the Jews. It was for everyone. The Gentile asked Paul to preach the same message to them next Sabbath. When the next Sabbath came the whole city was there to hear the word of God. They didn’t have the New Testament back then, but the part of the Bible Paul did have he preached the Gospel from.
The Jews were upset when the whole city came to listen. God use to be only for them and they didn’t want to share. They were jealous and upset. Paul said the fact that they were upset showed that they thought they were unworthy of everlasting life.
In this chapter we continue to see Paul’s boldness in preaching the Gospel.
John 14:6-14
Jesus is the way. We can know the way by knowing Him. He wants us to have to do with Him. It is precious to know the Person who is the Way. Note it’s not a way, but the way. There is only one way.
If we don’t have bed rock truth we are building on a shaky foundation. Jesus is the truth. Today people say all is relevant or just your perception of it. Feelings and perceptions can change and everyone has a different one. We can be thankful we know the truth.
We have a physical life that only lasts so long. Jesus has divine life that is eternal. That’s beyond our understanding. Eternal life means you can’t see either side of it. But we can be born again into that life and have divine eternal life. This includes the abundant life we talked about in chapter 10. People try to make the natural life abundant, but divine life involves Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit. It is a spiritual life. He’s no longer talking about religion - He’s talking about life.
2 Timothy 3:16
The disciples had been with Jesus for three and a half years. They saw the manifestation of God in Him. Jesus tried to tell Thomas He was showing them the Father the whole time. Someday we will enter into His presence and it won’t be a stranger’s presence.
Jesus tried to open their understanding (v.10). They saw Jesus with the multitudes, feeding the five thousand, giving thanks to God for it. He didn’t pretend to do it apart from the Father. He didn’t walk independently. He was often in prayer.
Hymn 342 Jesus came from heaven
Prayer