Continue in The Grace of God

 Meditations on The Acts of the Apostles

March 4, 2021

Continue in The Grace of God 

“Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.”

Acts 13:38

Read: Acts 13:26-43       

As Paul concludes his message in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch, he spends most of his time proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus. This was the foundation the Apostles first laid in Acts 1:22, “For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” Paul quoted three different Old Testament texts to make his point about the resurrection of Jesus, once again connecting the Good News of Jesus to the history of the Jews.  (Psalm 2:7, Isaiah 55:3, and Psalm 16:10)

The leaders in the synagogue were intrigued by Paul’s message and invited him to come back on the following Sabbath. Some even followed him out of the synagogue to talk further. Paul encouraged them to continue in the grace of God. Paul didn’t use the word grace in his proclamation in the synagogue; however, he certainly alluded to God’s grace. After he said forgiveness of sins is through Jesus, he noted this forgiveness yields “a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.” (v.39)

My Takeaway: In our readings so far in chapter thirteen, I am seeing patterns which I believe are desperately needed in our twenty-first century churches: worship (in truth and Spirit – see John 4:24), fasting and prayer, a proclamation of the Gospel grounded on the resurrection of Jesus, and forgiveness of sins (which assumes a confession of sins).

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.