The Promise Fulfilled

Acts 13:32-41

“We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors He has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: “‘You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.’ God raised Him from the dead so that He will never be subject to decay. As God has said, “‘I will give You the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’ So it is also stated elsewhere: “‘You will not let Your Holy One see decay.’ “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed. But the One whom God raised from the dead did not see decay. “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through Him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses. Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you: “‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’”

I have been privileged to get a first look at the new reasonablefaith.org's animated video on the self-understanding of Jesus of Nazareth, here it is: bit.ly/JesusClaims. I have shared some of these claims in my devotions a couple of times and today we read the same in the words of the Apostle Paul, that Jesus of Nazareth is attested by prophecies, signs, and miracles, and especially that His resurrection ultimately vindicated and validated His claims, that He is indeed, (1) The Christ, the one and only Messiah, (2) the only begotten Son of God, and (3) the divine Son of Man;. "Then the high priest said to Him, “I charge You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.” “You have said it yourself,” Jesus answered. “But I say to all of you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” At this, the high priest tore his garments and said, “He has blasphemed! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy (Matt 26:63-65)." The narrator in the animated video says, "by applying these three titles to Himself, Jesus was claiming, in no uncertain terms that He [is] the very God His accusers worshipped." Indeed, friends, the Good News is "what God promised our ancestors He has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus (vv. 32-33), and "through Him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses (v. 39)." The Son of God has set us free and we are free indeed (John 8:36). The last of today's verses remind me of the danger of an unreasonable and unrepentant response to Christ, to God, The rich man implored father Abraham, "‘Then I beg you, father,’ he said, ‘send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them so they will not also end up in this place of torment.’ But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let your brothers listen to them.’ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone is sent to them from the dead, they will repent.’ Then Abraham said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’ (Luke 16:27-31)." God confronts each and every one of us at one important juncture in our lives: “But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven (Matt 16:15-16)."