“Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.”
Acts 13:39 (NIV)
Acts 13 records the beginning of church-sponsored missionary activity. The church at Antioch set aside Paul and Barnabas to take the gospel to the Gentiles, and so they sailed to Cyprus and then on to what we call Asia Minor or present-day Turkey.
The details of how the Holy Spirit works through churches to send out missionaries are fascinating, yet I would like us to consider the message that Paul and Barnabas took. As with any true gospel message, Paul ends with a call to action, for he warns the people not to have the prophecy of destruction fulfilled in them.
However, the conclusion of his “good news” portion of his message contains the startling claim that the forgiveness of sins available to us through Christ Jesus provides a justification that was not available through the Old Testament system of temple worship set up under Moses. Perhaps the old preacher’s method of defining justification as “just as if I hadn’t sinned” comes from verse 39, for being set free from all sins is equated with justification. This greater forgiveness does not come through a system of laws and holidays and sacrifices but through the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Pharisees refused to heed the Words of Jesus spoken in Matthew 12:6 “I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.” May we be those who heed this truth and run to Christ Jesus daily for forgiveness of our sins. May we know (experientially experience) the truth that God desires mercy rather than sacrifice.
No comments:
Post a Comment