The Promise to Israel

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Acts 13:24-39
November 6th, 2016
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Okay, we left off with Paul and Barnabas teaching in the synagogue and Paul taking his audience through a brief history of the Jews. At verse 23, speaking of David, Paul said:

23 Of this man's seed (David)
hath God
according to his promise
raised unto Israel
a Savior
Jesus.

The Savior Promised to Israel

I want to reiterate (though we talked about this last week) that Paul says that, God (according to His promise) raised UNTO ISRAEL a Savior, Jesus. God did not promise the world a savior, he promised Israel a Savior – Paul makes this plain. And it was in and through Israel’s general rejection of Him that the rest of the world would be invited in to join the Nation as God’s covenant people.

When Jesus walked the earth He taught a revealing parable. He said:

Matthew 22:2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were invited to come to the wedding: and they would not come.

These would represent the majority of the House of Israel who wouldn’t receive the Son of God.

4 Again, he (the King) sent forth other servants (John the Baptist, the Apostles), saying, Tell them which are invited, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.”
5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: (they were indifferent)
6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. (the literal opposition)

Gathering the Guests

7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. (this culminated at the destruction of Jerusalem)
8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. (heaven was furnished with believers).

These latter verses speak to the Apostles being sent out into the land to gather others to become His bride and fill His Church with believers who would enter the celebration.

Acts 13:24-39

So let’s now read in Acts 13 beginning with verse 24 to 39:

24 When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
25 And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.
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.
27 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 deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God. 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.
30 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.
36 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

The Message of Salvation in Acts

39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Jesus and the Baptism of Repentance

Alright back to verse 24. In verse 23 we are introduced to Jesus the Savior whom God sent to Israel.

Acts 13:24 When (or whom, speaking of Jesus) whom John had first preached (of) before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. In other words Jesus, whom John was preaching of before He arrived on the scene, the baptism of repentance. Verse 25.

25 And as John fulfilled his course, (as John did what he was called to do) he said, (to those who he was preaching the baptism of repentance in preparation of the coming of the Savior) “Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.”

Now, we have an interesting observation to make here. Luke is citing Paul who is citing John and the recitation is not verbatim to the words recorded in the Gospel accounts. It’s a summary that hits all the essentials. And in this summary John is telling the people whom he is preparing to receive the Messiah that he is not the promised one but one was coming whose shoes he was not worthy to even tie.

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.

The Role of Ancestry and Prophecy

Notice the respectful, fraternal language. These are Paul’s people – and he is appealing to their hearts to embrace the Lord Jesus as the Messiah. Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham. “Descendants of Abraham, those who regard Abraham as your ancestor.” Because they valued their ancestral link to Abraham (and the promises made to him by God) Paul mentions him I’m sure.

Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, (probably proselytes at the gate) “to you is the word of this salvation (that only comes by this Savior) sent.”

27 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.

In other words Paul says here that the Jews who lived in Jerusalem, along with those who ruled over them, because they were blind to who He was nor understood the words of the prophets (which were read every Sabbath day) went forth and fulfilled the prophetic utterances about Him in killing Him.

28 And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they (they asked) 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. Meaning that some of them, specifically Joseph of Arimathea, a Jew, Nicodemus, and their companions – they laid Him in the tomb – ready for this, the keystone of our faith, the single most important capstone event of the Christian religion?

30 But God raised him from the dead:

The Resurrection of Christ

Who raised Jesus of Nazareth from the dead, which the Jews sought to place upon Him? God. He was born of a woman, born under the Law. He lived a life among men – His own. He suffered death. On the cross and was buried by his own but God raised Him from the grave…

I think that in the story of Jesus – the things I just mentioned about Him and His life – that there is something really, really important to be observed.

We too are born of women – all of us. We too live in the flesh and we too, in all probability will be put to death (through some means of another) and the goal and hope and expectation is that God will raise us from the dead. Notice that if God would allow His only begotten to live and suffer and die we cannot expect anything less. We go through this existence, but trusting in

The Promise of Resurrection

Him and an expected end and in the end God will illustrate (for all to see) that we are His Sons and daughters – and will raise us, in the likeness of His Son – “up from the dead” and bring us into the life of eternal living. All the talk and debate about those who are not His at death aside, the focus on this is so much more concrete – so much more knowable – so much more reassuring. That as we, like His Son, submit to His will, endure this life, suffer in the flesh, die daily, and are ultimately buried God will also raise us . . . from the realms of the dead.

Witnesses to the Resurrection

Speaking of Jesus and His resurrection, Paul continues and seems to be speaking of the apostles specifically, says:
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.

We know that we was also seen by others but they are especially mentioned her as having been chosen for this special objective, to bear witness to him, and to then give their lives for this witness.
(verse 32)

Having introduced the apostles in verse 31 Paul continues and says:

32 And we (either the apostles, or Paul and Barnabas, or both) We declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,

We declare unto you glad tidings. The Greek translated glad tidings here in the King James is “yoo-angle-idzo” which most of you will recognize as “Good News.”

The Apostolic Mission

Now notice something: Jesus has been born, lived, completed His earthly mission, suffered, died, was raised again and ascended into heaven. The apostles – who were very special hand-picked witnesses of His earthly life – were left to preach their EARTHLY witness to the Jews alive in that day and now also to whatever Gentiles would here. Once these first hand witnesses, those especially culled and called to witness of this Messiah whom they put to death – except John (who would die a natural death) . . . here we go . . . they specific outreach to the Jews would be over.

Do you get what I am saying? Jesus called twelve and then Paul to preach the Good News to people directly. They preached, and they warned them in the flesh about receiving Him before judgement would fall on them. When the last of these living first hand witnesses had died off there was nobody remaining to preach to the House of Israel with a first-hand witness of Him and His resurrection! From this fact we know, therefore, that SOMETHING significant had to occur at the time of the last living apostle. And it did! The utter destruction of that Nation and all that it entailed. No apostles to reach to the Jews with the Good News, no reason for the Nation to remain a focus.

And in the absence of living apostles, the Good News was then – and now – in the hands of the Holy Spirit and available to all peoples, all the time, with the special group and their material nation that the living apostles were called to reach completely shaken to the ground. Anyway Paul here tells “his brethren” that they (either the apostles or he and Barnabas) were there to preach “the good news” – that the promised Messiah had come.

Let’s read the last line of 32 along with verse 33 where Paul continues saying: “how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, (verse 33) God hath fulfilled the same (the promises) unto us their children, in that He hath raised up Jesus again (this again is a poor word addition and is only in the King James. What it means from the Greek is that “God has raised up Jesus to stand” but for some reason the KJV translators again there); as it is also written in the second psalm, “Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.”

So, speaking of Jesus being raised – this is the context as Paul has been talking about Resurrection – Paul says, referring to resurrection “as it is also written in the second psalm, “Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.” This passage is taken from Psalm 2:7 and is considered to a Messianic prophecy. And notice the interesting connection Paul has made here. He has been talking about resurrection and he ties Psalm 2:7 to it (where God says, “This day have

Interpretation of Psalm 2 in the New Testament

I begotten thee.)” It is evident that Paul uses the expression here as implying that the Lord Jesus is called the Son of God because he raised him up from the dead; and that he means to directly imply that this was the meaning of Psalm 2. This interpretation (by an inspired apostle) fixes the meaning of this passage in the psalm; and proves that it is not used there with reference to what is called the doctrine of eternal generation, or to his incarnation, but that he is here called his Son because he was raised from the dead. If we look at the Psalm closely this interpretation accords with the scope of it.

Psalm 2: The Rejection and Establishment of the Messiah

In Psalm 2:1-3, the psalmist describes the rulers of the earth that are against the Messiah and their efforts to cast off his reign. This was done, and the Messiah was rejected – not in his pre-mortal existence but here on earth. Then in Psalm 2:4-5 the psalmist says that these efforts would not be successful, that God would in fact laugh at their attempts to stop his reign. And then in verse 6-7 the psalmist knows that the Messiah would be established as a King; that this was the fixed decree, that he had begotten him for this. All this is represented as after the heathens tried to rage against him and the counsel of kings sought to end Him, that God would raise Him and that day God would begat a King who would reign from His right hand. Again, this is the interpretation of the Psalm by the apostle Paul which proves that this passage is not to be used to establish the doctrine of the eternal generation of Christ, which is defined as . . . I’m not going to even attempt it here as it is a construction of Man to attempt to understand Jesus as the Son amidst the Father.

Jesus as the Son of God by Resurrection

Just know this – here, God says that He has begotten Christ on the day He resurrected him. Now, in scripture, Jesus is called the Son of God from various reasons. In Luke 1:35 it is because he was begotten by the Holy Ghost. I would suggest that in the Luke account God begets a Son in the flesh – that here he is begotten as God’s only begotten in the flesh.

But I would simultaneously and strongly suggest that while in the flesh He was not yet begotten as “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” until He was resurrected, having overcome His flesh by the Spirit, and therefore overcoming the grave and all things God begat Him to new life from the human grave. On that day, when God raised Him from the dead God says that He begat Him (I would suggest as King and Reigning Lord.) Therefore we read in Colossians 1:18 that Christ is "the first, born from the dead" and Revelation 1:5 calls him "the first-begotten of the dead." Hence, this day I have begotten thee.

The idea that Christ was begotten at His resurrection is reiterated in Romans 1:3-4 where Paul writes:

Romans 1:3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

Prior to this Jesus had submitted to the power and will of the Father completely, as a man, in the flesh. But it was only after passing through mortal existence perfectly that he was . . .

“declared to be the Son of God . . .

with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

Therefore both in Christ – and in us – the resurrection from the dead is represented in some sense “the beginning of life,” and it is with reference to this view that the term “Son” and “begotten from the dead,” are used.

I would put it this way: at Jesus physical birth God had an only begotten human son and at his resurrection God’s human son was the first born, the first begotten, Son from the grave, beginning His life as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Notice that here God says, “Thou ART (you are my Son – this is a foregone conclusion. You were born of me and Mary, my only begotten in the flesh) however “today I have begotten you.”

Not as His Son but as a King, and Lord, to reign at His

The Path to Becoming Sons and Daughters of God

Jesus is God’s connection to the human world. His only begotten Son in the flesh that overcame all things out of love for the Father and for us, and who was given all things by the Father, to rule and reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Now here’s the deal. God begat a Son in the flesh – His only Begotten – not just to have a single Son in the flesh but as a means to begat many sons and daughters in the Spirit. Through faith on His Son. In other words, God did not send His Son to overcome sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace. and death and the grave just so we could all worship Jesus and call it a day. We are to worship and know God the Father and His Son whom He has sent, but the knowing is not the end game – we are to also, also, also follow the path of the Son, and be begotten of the Father through the Spirit by faith on His perfect Son.

The Power to Become Sons of God

In 1st Corinthians 4:15 we read: "In Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." Bringing this all together we read in John 1:12-14:

John 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But . . . as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

By belief on His name we are empowered with the ability to become His Son’s and daughters – which will be made manifest at our respective resurrections – just as it was with Christ. For this reason we read things like:

Romans 8:16 “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

And how did Christ suffer? He gave His will up to the will of God, that’s how. But unlike us He did it perfectly. And so we, through faith, look to Him, become children of God, and are given the power to become heirs or sons – if it so be that we suffer with Him.

From Children to Sons

There is an enormous chasm that often lays between the message of becoming children of God and the children becoming sons and daughters. Many evangelical churches repeatedly speak to the becoming children of God stage but then ignore the having the power to become Sons. Or, if they do speak to “the power of becoming a Son” phase they often make the mistake of appealing to it by (or through returning to the Law) when in fact our “suffering to become Sons or joint heirs” is not done through the flesh and the law but by the Spirit and through love. Often people will say, isn’t our being a child of God through faith the same as being His Son. No – not even close.

We discover this plainly through the existence of Jesus, who was God’s only begotten in the flesh (his child) at birth but was told that on the day God raised Him from the dead that on that day He was begotten as the first fruits from the grave and set at his right hand to rule and reign. See, here’s the deal. In the ancient world a child was born to a king but was called a child (teknon in the Greek) and never a Son (huios) until he had learned his lessons and was worthy to reign.

This is why Paul says in Galatians:

Galatians 4:1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world (our flesh)):
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7 Wherefore thou art

Rebirth and Sonship

no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (adding in Romans 8 – “if we suffer with Him”)

To liken rebirth and becoming a child of God to being a full grown joint –heir Son would be like saying an apple seed is the tree. No, while the seed has all the potentiality to become a tree (meaning if it dies it is in its fullness) it does, if allowed to tarry, have to suffer and experience growth in order to produces produce fruits – which are of the Spirit. This has been a lot of instruction for Milk but important to Paul, teaching the Jews here in the synagogue, that it was upon Jesus resurrection, that God said, “Thou art my Son, this day I have begotten thee.”

Paul's Teaching in the Synagogue

Verse 34

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. “And as concerning” OR “in further proof of this” or “to show that he actually did it,” Paul quote from another source of Scriptures which says that Christ would “not RETURN to corruption.” Corruption is emblematic with death. What Paul is saying here is that Christ will never die again. And then he quotes Isaiah 55:3 to support his position.

The thing that’s interesting is Isaiah 55:3 doesn’t appear to be speaking to the way Paul is using it but he takes the liberty to use it as if it does. Also, his purpose in this verse is not to prove that he would rise from the dead; but that being risen, he would not again die. And he appeals to the line, “the sure mercies of David.” The word mercies here refers to the promise made to David or the mercy or favour shown to David by promising him a successor who would not fail to sit on his throne. These mercies and promises are called "sure," meaning that they are true and unfailing and would be accomplished.

Paul is speaking to a group of Jews in the synagogue and this promise was understood by Jews. What Paul is saying is that the promise has been fulfilled. But how? David, the Jews knew, were promised someone who would forever reign on the throne in His steed – who was this? Paul was telling them that it was Jesus who, overcoming the grave and never dying again, would fulfil this promise made to David so long ago.

In other words, it was impossible that the Messiah, (the promised successor of David, the perpetual occupier of his throne) could remain under the power of death. “So He was raised, He lives, and reigns,” Paul is saying. Now look to Him . . . and be live, and be saved.

Old Testament Support

Not stopping with just one verse for support, Paul appeals to another Old Testament passage and says at verse 35”

35 Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. In the same vein, he said in another Psalm “Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” Which is a Psalm where God promises that the Holy One would not remain in the grave.

And then, like Peter before Him, Paul compares King David with King Jesus and says:

36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, (died) and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: By Paul bringing this passage in to the presentation he was showing the Jews that there was no way that it was speaking of David as this Holy One because David saw corruption – in fact his grave was within reach by a few days travel. Therefore, it must relate to some other person. And in the next verse Paul reveals to this group who it must relate to, saying

37 But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.

The Good News Proclaimed

He was raised without undergoing the usual change that occurs at death. As David had returned to corruption or to the worms and dust Jesus did not, therefore it is obvious that the passage Paul quotes from Psalm 16:1-11 refers to the Messiah, and the man who was witnessed as having overcome the grave, was this Jesus of Nazareth.

And finally, here at verses 38 and 39 Paul gives them the core of the Good News, saying:

38 Be it known unto you therefore, men

Justification and Salvation Through Faith

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.

Seeing that David and all his family have failed in the political kingdom this King who saw no corruption reigns over a spiritual kingdom, which has been the intention of His reign from the start and all the blessings and promises given by God to us are present and being offered to you today. David has died but Christ lives.

Forgiveness Through Christ

Receive Him because . . .

“through this man is the removal of the power, guilt, and pollution of sin that is present with all of us. Through this man comes forgiveness . . . Through this man, my brethren the Jews, comes salvation, comes life, comes a King we have as a people been looking for for centuries.

How? To whom?

39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Faith Over Law

Remember, Paul is in a synagogue speaking to Jews not in the streets preaching to gentiles. His message therefore is in accordance to their views of the world, the Law, the Prophets, and all that they lived culturally. And so he introduces to them the fact that if they simply believe – to have enough faith to look to Christ, like the COI who had enough faith to look to the brazen serpent and live – that if they believed on Him they would be justified from all things – and Paul adds to this Hebrew audience –

“from which ye could NOT be justified by the law of Moses.” And here we see yet another example, from Paul even, that the Law justifies nobody before God – not in any way or fashion – but only faith on Him who saves. If this was true to Jews who had the law than this is more than true to all gentiles who have never had the law or a Moses. Have faith on Him and receive forgiveness for all things.

Let’s stop here.

Q and A