“Word Of Exhortation Pt. 2”
Acts 13:26-41
With Paul standing up as was the custom he began his Exhortation - a calling near, summons, (esp. for help), encouragement
He spoke of the heritage from Abraham through David and then turned his attention speaking of John the Baptist and Jesus explaining the gift that was given by God the Father unto this world.
As we continue with the preaching of Paul, he begins to reveal Jesus in a way that the Jews would understand.
Acts 13:26 “Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.”
I. The Law Exposed
Acts 13:27-29 “For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. 28 And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. 29 And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.”
You read about the promised redeemer every Sabbath and still you condemned the very Saviour.
Matthew 23:14 “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.”
There are 613 Commandments “Laws” in the Old Testament broken down into 32 categories.
1. God and His existence
2. Torah
3. Signs and Symbols
4. Prayer and Blessings
5. Love and Brotherhood
6. The Poor and Unfortunate
7. Treatment of Gentiles
8. Marriage, Divorce and Family
9. Forbidden Sexual Relations
10. Times and Seasons
11. Dietary Laws
12. Business Practices
13. Employees, Servants and Slaves
14. Vows, Oaths and Swearing
15. The Sabbatical and Jubilee Years
16. The Court and Judicial Procedure
17. Injuries and Damages
18. Property and Property Rights
19. Criminal Laws
20. Punishment and Restitution
21. Prophecy
22. Idolatry, Idolaters and Idolatrous Practices
23. Clothing
24. The Firstborn
25. Kohanim and Levites
26. T'rumah, Tithes and Taxes
27. The Temple, the Sanctuary and Sacred Objects
28. Ritual Purity and Impurity
29. Lepers and Leprosy
30. The King
31. Nazarites
32. Wars
It was believed that “if” they kept most of them as best they could that God would understand and pass over the few mistakes they made.
Yet we know James 2:10 “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”
II. The Law Extinguished
Acts 13:30-35 “But God raised him from the dead: 31 And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.
32 And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, 33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. 34 And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. 35 Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.”
The proof of the compete forgiveness was not just the death of Jesus but also His resurrection.
In this resurrection we found that God the Father was satisfied with the final sacrifice.
Hebrews 1:3 “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”
Vs. 32 Paul said “And we declare unto you glad tidings” = in the NT used especially of the glad tidings of the coming kingdom of God, and of the salvation to be obtained in it through Christ, and of what relates to this salvation
III. The Law Explained
Acts 13:36-39 “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: 37 But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption. 38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.”
Illustration:
Chain of 613 links (plastic) laid out on the floor to symbolize the “Law of God.”
separate 10 Links with the 10 Commandments on each chain with a tag.
Have 2 people hold the 10 links and speak of the law and how it is impossible to keep the “Law of God” perfectly.
Take a cutting instrument and cut one link severing the law showing our failure.
The point is that Christ came to earth to do what we could not and became my sacrifice of MY sin.
IV. The Law Excused
Acts 13:40-41 “Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; 41 Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.”
Paul finishes his preaching with a word of caution:
Beware - to see, discern, take heed
Lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets - The punishment, the fall, the condemnation
Conclusion:
The Law could not save one person in the Old Testament, and the same is true today.
It must be Jesus and Him alone.
