grace and promise

Good morning friends,
This morning's reading continues Paul's sermon in the synagogue. Yesterday Paul recalled the promises God made to Israel and moved from there to John's testimony about Jesus. Today Paul continues by explaining Christ's death and resurrection as the fulfillment of those promises. Christ fulfills the promise because God promised to raise up a descendent of David as the chosen one to bring forgiveness. This is what we see in Christ.

Paul proclaims that in Christ there is freedom from sin that we can't find in the law. There's something about us that feels we have to earn our standing with God. The truth is that God forgives us as a gift. We can't earn God's love and we don't have to. Truly we are saved by grace, by pure love. Paul concludes with a warning not to let the opportunity of God's mercy in Jesus pass but to trust in Christ. I pray we would take the opportunity of Lent and especially of Holy week to trust God more in our lives.

God bless,
Sam


Acts 13:27-41
27Because the residents of Jerusalem and their leaders did not recognize him or understand the words of the prophets that are read every sabbath, they fulfilled those words by condemning him. 28Even though they found no cause for a sentence of death, they asked Pilate to have him killed. 29When they had carried out everything that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.

30But God raised him from the dead; 31and for many days he appeared to those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, and they are now his witnesses to the people. 32And we bring you the good news that what God promised to our ancestors 33he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising Jesus; as also it is written in the second psalm, ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you.’

34As to his raising him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way, ‘I will give you the holy promises made to David.’ 35Therefore he has also said in another psalm, ‘You will not let your Holy One experience corruption.’ 36For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, died, was laid beside his ancestors, and experienced corruption; 37but he whom God raised up experienced no corruption.

38Let it be known to you therefore, my brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you; 39by this Jesus everyone who believes is set free from all those sins from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. 40Beware, therefore, that what the prophets said does not happen to you: 41‘Look, you scoffers! Be amazed and perish, for in your days I am doing a work, a work that you will never believe, even if someone tells you.’”