PAUL PROCLAIMS GOD’S MESSAGE OF SALVATION
May 7, 2006 - EASTER 4 - Acts 13:15,16a; 26-33
Dear Friends, Fellow-Redeemed:
Today, once again we are going to hear about the apostle Paul. And who can forget Paul, once called Saul? Last week we heard how the Lord changed his life with a miraculous conversion. We are reminded that we have been changed by the very same kind of miraculous conversion. Every believer has been brought back from death and darkness into life and the light of the knowledge of salvation by the power of God in his word and sacraments. We have seen how Saul’s life was changed from a persecutor of the followers of the Way to become the greatest proclaimer of Christ’s message. Paul gave up everything he had known before. He no longer wanted to live in ignorance and no longer wanted to act in ignorance. Instead, Paul now understood and believed the powerful message of the Gospel now given to him was given to him so that he might share it with others. It is the same with us today.
Paul writes in Philippians: "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ" (Philippians 3:8). Paul wanted to learn more about Christ. So it is that we find that this text is Paul’s first recorded sermon for us. Paul preached before this, of course; but this was his first recorded sermon as preached in Antioch. Paul proclaims God’s message of salvation. We heard that term in the beginning of our text that he says, "God sent to us this message of salvation."
PAUL PROCLAIMS GOD’S MESSAGE OF SALVATION
I. A message revealing ignorance, disobedience and sin
II. A message providing knowledge, forgiveness and life
I. A MESSAGE REVEALING IGNORANCE, DISOBEDIENCE AND SIN
We first note the similarity as our text begins with the service in the synagogue thousands of years ago and our service today. It says: "After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue rulers sent word to them, saying, ’Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak.’" As they had the Law and the Prophets, so they read the message from the first five books of the Bible. The early Christians also had the Psalms, and the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. They had Scripture readings and then had the sermon. A little bit different is that they would ask those who had come as visitors to get up and speak to them and for them. Of course, they realized Paul and his friends, Barnabas and his companions, had just come from Jerusalem. What better way to find out about the message of reconciliation and salvation, then to ask those who know. They asked Paul to come up and tell them what he knew about the Savior.
"Standing up, Paul got up, he motioned with his hand and said: ’Brothers, children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.’" Here too, we notice the fact that as he is in the synagogue now, it is no longer just the Jews by themselves, no longer just God’s people who were considered first chosen. Paul addresses both the children of Abraham and God-fearing Gentiles. In the synagogue or congregation there were Jews who believed on the Savior and also Gentiles who believed on the Savior. Paul is going to tell them about this message of salvation. We also want to remember that the early church did not have newspapers or mass communication or telephone and Internet service. They simply relied on the word of mouth brought to them in person.
Paul is going to review for them briefly and quickly what took place in Jerusalem. He says to them: "The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath." The original says they didn’t recognize what God’s word said. They acted in ignorance and disobedience leading to sin. We remember the leaders thought it beneficial that Jesus would be put to death. They acted out of ignorance, even though every Sabbath they gathered in the synagogue. Every Sabbath they read and heard the Law and the Prophets. They failed to believe what God’s word said to them. So their ignorance really became sin. God’s Word was spoken and they rejected it. The people of Jerusalem and their rulers wanted to put Jesus to death, but they wanted to be innocent.
We know what they did. We heard it in the other message from Acts (today’s first lesson, Acts 4:23-33), from Peter. The people handed Jesus over to Pilate. Paul says the same: "Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed." Again, we see that their ignorance goes right over into sin. They found no reason to put Jesus to death. The chief priest sent him back and forth. They found nothing wrong, so they sent him to Pilate – the officer of the government. Pilate says the same thing and tries to wash his hands of the affair. The crowds continually cry out, "Crucify." So they carry out their action of ignorance and disobedience and sin.
Paul continues preaching: "When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb." So the leaders of the synagogue and Pilate put Jesus to death. Then they asked to make sure he was dead, and put him into a tomb and sealed it up. They thought that was the end of the story. But remember not only were they acting in disobedience and sin, they were acting in ignorance. They didn’t listen to any of God’s message of salvation.
What does this mean for us? It means a lot, doesn’t it? We too, when we look at ourselves and at our spiritual condition, realize that from time to time we act out of ignorance. When we honestly look at our lives, we realize we have also acted more often in a way that is disobedient and sinful. We gather together in our church on Sundays (our Sabbath), our day of rest, and we hear the reading of the Law and the Prophets. We listen to the sermon from God’s Word. We sing hymns that are scripture-based. Yet, when we walk out the doors and live in this world, it is hard not to be affected by the attitudes, by the teachings, by the philosophies of this world in which we live as people of the world. Even though as our second lesson (1 John 3:1-2) declares that we are children of God, we often live as people of the world. In doing this we give up some of God’s good mercy and precious blessings.
Why? Ephesians tells us: "They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts" (Ephesians 4:18). We know how that happens. Each generation sin increases. Things that were not spoken about ten or twenty years ago are now the accepted norm in our society. People hardly use the excuse anymore that everybody is doing it. They just do it. They do the sin and need no excuse. Those things that were considered shameful are often displayed in front of everyone. There are more and more children born out of wedlock and more and more never get married. This becomes the standard of this world rather than the exception, all due to the hardening of our hearts. How does that happen? They are darkened in their understanding….
In our Bible Study we have been following the children of Israel as they wander through the wilderness. We saw that even though the Lord provided them with daily food and with clothing that did not wear out and gave them direction and water, they grumbled and complained. They hardened their hearts and made for themselves their own false gods. They came through the Red Sea, and then they worshipped the golden calf. We may not be so bold to put up a golden calf in our house, but we worship those things that have become important to us in this life. We may worship ourselves. This happens when we feel we are too busy to spend much time carrying out what God wants us to do. Maybe we worship our family by working harder to provide everything that they need. We might even worship those golden calves in the form of precious earthly possessions. Our society likes to make us think, we have to put away what we need for today and enough for the future so we can take care of ourselves. All those become false idols and our own righteousness. They all lead us to act in ignorance, disobedience and sin. Paul writes in Romans: "Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness" (Romans 10:3). Paul speaks about those who do not recognize God’s righteousness.
We are a little bit different because we know about God’s righteousness. We know that the righteousness of God was purchased for us with Jesus’ precious blood. The righteousness of God covers up our unrighteousness. The holiness of God covers up our ungodliness. But we need to be reminded of that, don’t we? In this world people are not going to talk to us about the righteousness of God or sin or the blood of Christ. So we do need all the more to gather together on our Sabbath, our Sundays as Scripture says, "to hear God’s Word and to encourage one another." From Hebrews: "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness" (Hebrews 3:13). We are urged to encourage one another not just once a week, but daily. As we encourage one another, we can encourage one another to avoid the deceitfulness of sin.
As Paul proclaims God’s message of salvation, this message reveals ignorance, disobedience and sin. But it is also a message that provides for these people and for us today knowledge, forgiveness and life.
II. A MESSAGE OF KNOWLEDGE, FORGIVENESS AND LIVE
When Saul was converted, remember he was going to travel a 150 miles one way, from Jerusalem to Damascus, to find the followers of the Way. Today in our text, he is in Antioch; and this is the beginning of his first missionary journey. Already, he has left Jerusalem, sailed through the Mediterranean Sea and landed in the city of Perga on the coast. Then Paul travels to Antioch to the north. It is a trip of 100 miles on foot. There is a climb of 4,000 feet, almost a mile up in a rugged, mountainous area. Paul does all this for the sake of the Gospel. Paul does all this for the one simple line in verse 30: "But God raised him from the dead." What a joy it was for Paul to proclaim this to who never heard it. What a joy it was for Paul to proclaim this to people who thought, "Was Jesus the Messiah? Did he come back to life?" Paul says "But God raised him from the dead."
Then Paul explains that if they didn’t want to listen to his word and believe it, listen to the testimony of the witnesses who were there. "But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people." The disciples saw Jesus. The disciples on the way to Emmaus saw Jesus. We are told that they saw him on the shore of Galilee and in the upper room. Jesus performed miracles after his death and resurrection for forty days. Jesus was alive for over a month among the people. Many people not only saw Jesus they also recognized him as the One crucified and now come back to life. God raised him from the dead.
Paul continues with even more witnesses and testimony. He says: "We tell you the good news: What God promised our fathers he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus." Paul stated that God promised this long ago and now the promise is fulfilled for us, his children. God promised the Savior to Adam and Eve. He promised the Savior to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and to Isaiah and Jeremiah and to every Old Testament believer. Now that promise is fulfilled. We are told that Jesus fulfills more than thirty prophecies of the Old Testament exactly. We are also told that for anyone to fulfill even seven prophecies, less than ten, after a thousand years or even a couple hundred years, would be more than one in one thousand chance. But this fulfillment is not chance.
Paul says, "But God raised him from the dead." People had seen him. It was foretold. Remember, at the very beginning of the text: "After the reading from the Law and the Prophets,". The early believers also had the Psalms that they sang as hymns. Therefore Paul adds, "As it is written in the second Psalm: ’You are my Son; today I have become your Father.’" They had sung that Psalm time and again. Paul reminded these believers that even the Psalm writer realized that Jesus was the Son of God. The Father accepted Jesus’ sacrifice and raised him from the dead with his power. Paul proclaims God’s message of salvation, a message of knowledge and forgiveness and life.
Now this was a new message in Paul’s time. In our day and age this new message of salvation has become an old message. It is a tried and true message. The sad part is that for many in today’s society they feel and think this message is too old. Many think the resurrection may be out-dated. For people to believe in the resurrection takes a leap of faith. It is by grace God has given us that leap of faith. It is all the more important then to remind others that, yes, God raised Jesus from the dead. This is a very simple and straightforward message of salvation. Yet, always time and again in this world this message is put to the test, and in this world challenged and not believed. So what does the Lord say to us? He says today that you and I are Paul, Peter, Barnabas, the Prophets, the Apostles, and the disciples. We are chosen to proclaim this light of the knowledge of salvation. In 1 Peter: "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9). There are many who sit in the darkness and wonder, "Did Jesus come back to life?" There are many who sit in the darkness and wonder, "Is heaven really their home?" You and I sit in the light by God’s grace, not by our own doing. We know that Jesus came back to life and that heaven is our home. That is the light this sin-darkened world needs to see in our lives and hear from our lips.
There is a difference in our life of faith and our Christian living compared to the Apostle Paul’s coming to faith. The fact is Paul led part of the time in his life as an enemy of Christ. When Jesus changed that for him, he realized he could spend the entire rest of his life and never repay back God for his grace. The difference is you and I have grown up from early on in God’s grace. Maybe sometimes we forget the joy that is there. Maybe sometimes we forget the miraculous change that took place in each one of our lives. Maybe we forget the zeal that we have. To remember God’s great love for us reminds us of the zeal we have for carrying God’s light to the ends of the earth. We turn to Scripture and let it encourage us when it says in Timothy: "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst" (1 Timothy 1:15). We say with Paul, "I am the worst of sinners. There is the good I don’t do. There is the evil that I do, but Christ Jesus came to save me." That is the pure joy that is ours. It is the blessing we can share with others when they wonder and question and aren’t sure. We say to them, "But God raised Jesus from the dead." He has died for the sins of the worst sinner.
Our lives are to be filled with joy. It is all the more important for this joyous message because of the news stories that are out there and in the media. One wonders how some people can exist or survive, because they don’t have faith. They have nothing else to cling onto. If they listen to everything that is going on around them, they certainly would close the door and lock themselves in their house and wait for the end of the world to come. Not the end as we know it, but the end as the world makes it seem--rising prices, rumors of wars, scandals, and the list goes on. All of the worldly fear merchants cannot change or take away the joy of eternity for the believer. This joy is ours. From Psalm 16 we are reminded: "You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand" (Psalm 16:11). That is our joy, a joy that drove Paul to live a life dedicated to Christ. That is the joy that drives us to have a good attitude in this world and this life no matter the attitude of people around us. Let our light shine in the joy of our Christian living.
Paul proclaims God’s message of salvation, a message that reveals ignorance, disobedience and sin. This is also God’s message of salvation that provides us knowledge and forgiveness and life. That is our joy. That is our faith. That is God’s word. Jesus himself said: "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31b, 32). We are to hold fast to the word of God. This word of God, this truth has set us free. We are no longer slaves to sin. We are no longer destined for eternal death. We have been set free from the power of sin that enslaves mankind because of the message of salvation: "God raised Jesus from the dead." May this always be your joy and the message that shines in your life. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
Sunday radio broadcast @ 9:05am on KQNK 106.7FM or 1530AM + www.kqnk.com
Easter 4 readings: ACTS 4:23-33; 1 JOHN 3:1-2; JOHN 10:11-18
