History Of Salvation Series

History Of Salvation

Text: Acts 13:13-31

Introduction

1. I've always been fascinated with history. In fact when our children were growing up they weren't sure what century they were from because we spent so much time at museums and living history events, especially Civil War reenactments. In particular I was fascinated with Ohio history because I would read about places that I was familiar with and had been to.

2. This is another reason that Christianity is so fascinating to me, because of the rich historical aspects of our faith.

3. In Paul's sermon in Antioch of Pisidia he spoke about the History of Salvation.

4. Salvation history is...

A. Based On Scripture

B. Based On Rebellion

C. Fulfilled In Jesus

5. Let's all stand together as we read Acts 13:13-31.

Proposition: Salvation history is the story of how God worked in history to redeem us from sin.

Transition: The most important aspect of Salvation history is it is...

I. Based On Scripture (13-15).

A. Books Of Moses and The Prophets

1. After being set apart by the Holy Spirit and commissioned by the church in Antioch, Paul and Barnabas got right to work.

A. They set out with a band of missionaries and took a boat trip to Pamphylia and landed in the port town of Perga.

B. At this point John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem.

2. Then Luke tells us, "Paul and Barnabas traveled inland to Antioch of Pisidia. On the Sabbath they went to the synagogue for the services. 15 After the usual readings from the books of Moses and the prophets, those in charge of the service sent them this message: “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, come and give it.”

A. From Perga they traveled 160 miles on a dangerous mountain road to an elevation of 3,600 feet at Antioch near Pisidia on the right bank of the River Anthios.

B. As usual, they went first to the synagogue.

C. They would go on the Sabbath, taking advantage of the Jewish custom of inviting itinerant teachers to speak (Jesus also did this—see, for example.

D. Paul and Barnabas did not separate themselves from the synagogues but tried to show clearly that the very Scriptures the Jews studied pointed to Jesus.

E. Someone else was appointed to read the selections from the Law (i.e., the Pentateuch) and from one of the Prophets.

F. Then the "synagogue rulers," or elders, "sent word to them" (for they were sitting in the back of the synagogue) and courteously asked them to give a word of "encouragement" (Horton, Acts: A Logion Press Commentary, 239).

3. However, the thing that we need to see is that they used the Scriptures to tell them about Jesus.

A. They would show them how everything from Genesis to Malachi pointed to Jesus.

B. It showed that Jesus was always God's plan to redeem us from the consequences of sin.

C. It showed how Jesus met every prophecy of the Messiah.

D. It showed how the Scriptures, and everyone they talked about, longed for the day of Jesus coming.

B. Story Of The Bible

1. Biblical Illiteracy Studies show only 17% of Americans read the Bible regularly while Gallup studies show 80% of Americans see themselves as Christians. These statistics establish the sad reality that a large majority of Christians are biblically illiterate and spiritual juveniles(Pen & Sword 11-12/03).

2. Seminaries concerned about lack of basic Bible knowledge has prompted some schools to send CD-ROM Bibles to incoming freshmen. Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville discovered only 1 in 10 students could list the 10 commandments, while 3 in 10 Wheaton College frosh could identify Mathew as an apostle (PWB 2/11/00).

3. The entire Bible points to our need for Jesus.

A. Romans 15:4 (NLT)

Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.

B. From cover to cover the Bible shows us our need for Jesus.

C. From cover to cover the Bible shows us all that God did for our salvation.

D. From cover to cover the Bible shows us how God never gave up on us.

E. So why do give so little of our effort to reading and learning the Scriptures?

F. If the Bible was written for our encouragement why aren't Christians reading it?

G. When are we going to make the Bible one the top priorities in our lives?

H. When our we going to take it off the shelf and into our hearts and minds?

Transition: Salvation History is also...

II. Based On Rebellion (16-22).

A. He Put Up With Them

1. Now one thing that is true of Paul is that he was never one to back away from an opportunity to share the Good News about Jesus.