Okay, let's turn back to the
book of Acts, chapter 13. The book of Acts, chapter 13, verse 14. And when they departed
from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, went into the synagogue,
and this is the assembly of the Jews, that's what that word means
there, synagogue. And they went in on the Sabbath
day. Now the reason they went there
was because they knew a group of people, these Jews, would
be meeting there. And they knew that according
to custom they would take the Word of God and read the Word
of God. And they were praying that somehow,
that as they went there and sat down and waited on the Lord.
Notice it says there they went in and they sat down. They sat
down. They didn't go in there and demand
a hearing. They didn't go in there and protest.
They went in there and sat down. Waited on the Lord. You know,
that's a good thing to do. Sit down and to wait. And then
they read the Word of God, verse 15, after the reading of the
law. I don't know what portion they
read. We're not told. But those five books of Moses,
that's what's being referred to here. Maybe they read the
story about the Passover. Maybe they read about the Day
of Atonement. And they also referred to some
of the prophets. Maybe they read Isaiah. Maybe
they read Jeremiah or Ezekiel or Daniel. And the rulers of
the synagogue sent unto them. Now somehow, I don't know how
this was done other than by the marvelous providence of God.
Somehow He opened the door. And the door was open. If you
men, men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation
for the people, say on. Now maybe this was an open invitation
to the whole congregation. I'm not sure how this went. But
as soon as the opportunity came, when the Scripture was finished
being read, and the open opportunity and the open invitation was given,
what's Paul going to do? Well, he leaped to his feet.
He leaped to his feet to seize the moment. Paul stood up, said,
hey, I've got something to say. Beckoning with his hands. I don't
know, somehow, somehow he motioned, beckoning, listen to me, listen
to me, would you listen? And then he begins his address
here. Men of Israel. Men of Israel. They were Jews.
They were descendants. They were Jewish people. But
He opened the door here. He said, you men of Israel, and
I'm sure they were Apostolites, those who were Gentiles, who
were in this assembly, because He refers to this again in verse
26. Men and brethren, children of
the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you that fears God, to
you this word of salvation is sent. You that fear God, he said,
give audience. Would you listen to me just a
few minutes? I've got a message from the Lord.
Now, I'm sure that he said much more than what is given here,
but we have a condensed version of his sermon and an outline
as to what Paul would have, where's he going to start? Where's he
going to end? How we know, because he's sent of Christ with the
message of the gospel of Christ, determined to preach Christ crucified,
how's he going to get and start, where's he going to start and
how's he going to get to Christ? You know he's going there. Well,
he doesn't delay much. He begins this way, that God,
and what I want to point out here, is everything that he refers
to that God has done. The God of Jacob, the God of
Isaac, the God of Abraham, the God of this people, Israel. He begins with election. God
chose our fathers. Now these Jews, they believed
in election. This nation, as far as national,
physical nation, they were the chosen of God. They had no problem
with election. And Paul declares that God is
God. God has a sovereign choice of
a people, and He exalted the people. When they were dwelt
as strangers in the land of Egypt, then with a high army brought
them out. He not only tells us that God is the God of election,
he teaches and preaches that God is the God of particular
redemption. He saved Israel out of bondage. He said, when I see the blood,
I'll pass over you. So he tells them about the God
who is electing, the God who is saving. Verse 18, he talks
about the God who provides all things. He is Jehovah Jireh.
The Lord will provide. About the time of 40 years. Now
you just think of the logistics here. How do you sustain 2 or
3 million people in a desert for 40 years? You just sit down
with paper and pencil and figure that one out. How much water? How much food? All these things. We've read the record in Exodus
and Leviticus and Numbers, how God rained manna every day. How
God sent the quails, knee-deep in quails. When they begged and
cried for meat, God sent the quails. How God gave them water
out of the rock. All these things God provided
for them when they were bitten with snakes. He said, Moses,
you make a serpent out of brass and raise it up, and whoever
looks lives. He provided provisions, everything
they needed He provided, even though they sinned willfully
against Him day after day after day. He said, you are rebellious
people. Yet God kept right on providing.
The Lord does provide. He is our provider. How about
the cloud that covered them from the heat of the day? How about
the fire that burned at night to light them up? How about the
tabernacle? The mercy seat? The priesthood? All these things God provided
for them. They knew that. They agreed with
that. And then verse 19 he says, God
destroyed seven nations when they were Getting ready to march
into the land of Canaan, to cross over Jordan. You remember what
happened at Jericho? How are they going to defeat
Jericho? Bring down the mighty walls of
Jericho? God opened up the earth and the
wall fell down. God destroyed seven nations for
this people. God has defeated all their enemies. See what God did for them. He
has done for His people. He has chosen us. He has redeemed
us. He's provided for us. He's defeated
our enemies. That's right. All of our enemies.
And it says that God gave them an inheritance. He divided the
land of them by lots. Sovereignly gave them an inheritance. And we are recipients of the
heir. We are heirs of grace. Joint
heirs with the Lord Jesus Christ. We've been made heirs of an eternal
inheritance given to us. And then it says in verse 20,
He gave them judges. He gave them rulers. The powers
that be are ordained of God. All the judges. Samson, Jephthah, all the judges
in Israel. And then God gave them a prophet.
Samuel. God gave them this man Samuel.
to him give all the prophets witness." All his prophets had
one message, Christ, and Him crucified. And then afterward,
this nation desired a king. All the other nations around
them had kings. And they cried unto God for a
king. Well, He gave them a king, Saul. He was a sorry king. And he reigned for 40 years until
God dethroned him, and then God raised up his king. His king. David, verse 22. You see, he
raises up kings, and he puts down kings. The king's heart
is in the hands of the Lord, and he turns it whether so ever
he will. Who's going to be president in
2008? I don't know. God knows. God has his man. that will serve his purpose.
That's right. So he raises up and he puts down
whom he will. God is God. He raised up David
to be their king. He gave testimony and said, I
found David, the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who
will fulfill all my will. David. Such an interesting Story how God sent Samuel down
to the house of Jesse to choose a king. Out of all those sons,
eight sons Jesse had, David was the little runt. They brought
all them big, grown, strong boys before Samuel, and Samuel thought,
well, boy, that looks like a king to me. God said, no, he's not
my king. Jesse, do you have any left? I've got one little runt. Out there, tending the sheep.
Go get him. Fetch him. God said, that's my
king. You see, it takes a nobody. God uses nobodies. And He raises
them up to use them for His glory. God gave them David, the sweet
psalmist of Israel. Thank God for David. And then
He says this, verse 23. Now here, He says, all that Now
this man sees God, God according to his promise, raised unto Israel
the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Now those Jews knew that the
Messiah would come. They were looking for a Messiah.
They were looking for the Christ. But here, Paul, the apostle,
he declared plainly that the Lord Jesus Christ, He is that
Christ and Messiah. I want you to hold your place
there and turn and read this with me. Psalm 132. Who is this
Messiah? Who is this one? Psalm 132. Now get a hold of this now. This
will be a blessing to you. God gave the Savior, the Lord
Jesus Christ, because God is faithful to His promise. God
promised to send the Savior through David's seed. Will it happen? Well, let's read. Psalm 132,
verse 8. Arise, O Lord, into thy rest,
thou and the ark of thy strength. Let thy priest... Verse 9, Psalm
132. Let thy priest be clothed with
righteousness, and let thy saint shout for joy, for thy servant
David's sake. Turn not away the face of thine
anointed." Now look at verse 11. The Lord has sworn in truth
unto David. He will not turn from it of the
fruit of thy body. I will sit on the throne. Who is the Lord Jesus Christ? He's Jehovah. God Almighty and
know whatever said the Lord has sworn in truth and today that
he will not turn from it of the fruit of that body. I will sit
on the throne. Now I want you to find Luke.
Luke 1. That was God's promise. Is he
going to fulfill his promise? Turn to Luke 1. Let's see. Luke
chapter 1. Verse 28. Luke 1, 28. And the angel came into her,
that is to Mary, and said, Luke 128, Hail thou highly favored,
the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women. And when
she saw him, she was troubled at the saying, and cast in her
mind what manner of salutation this should be. The angel said
unto her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God.
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth
a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus. And he shall be great,
and shall be called the Son of the Highest. And the Lord shall
give unto him the throne of his father David." He traits back
the lineage of Mary, but it's right back to David. The Lord
God shall give unto him the throne of his father David, and he shall
reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there
shall be no end. Call his name Emmanuel, God with
us. God sent the Savior, the Lord
Jesus Christ. Now back to Acts 13. So he doesn't preach long until
he skedaddles right to Christ. and shows that the Messiah is
the Lord Jesus, just as the promise of Scripture says that He be
of the seed and house of David, certainly as God promised, He
fulfilled. Now verse 24, verse 25, God identified
this Savior when He came through His prophet John. When John had
preached before His coming the baptism of repentance to all
the people of Israel, and as John fulfilled his course, He
said, whom do you think I am? He said, I'm the voice. One crying
in the wilderness. He said, I'm not he. You remember
he said, he must increase, I must decrease. Behold, there comes
one after me. I'm not even worthy to untie
his shoes. Now what was John the Baptist's
message? He pointed sinners to Christ. He said, behold the Lamb
of God. Behold the Lamb of God. taketh
away our sin. Now you consider this man John
the Baptist. You remember his dad? You remember
what his dad did? His dad was Zacharias the priest. You think growing up how many
times that John witnessed a lamb coming into the temple and sacrificing.
I mean he saw a lamb. It was slaughterhouse religion.
I mean, it was lamb after lamb after lamb after lamb, bullock,
bullock, bullock, he goat, turtle doves, I mean, it was blood everywhere.
He saw all these sacrificial lambs. When the Lord Jesus Christ
came, He said, there's God's lamb. There's God's sacrifice. Behold the Lamb of God. Verse
26, Now men and brethren, Children of Abraham and whoever among
you that fears God, to you the word of salvation is simple. You think of the privilege we
have having the word of God in our hand. To read God's testimony concerning
His Christ to you, to you right now, to you all your life. has come to this one moment,
this one space, to you right now, is this word sin. Would
you hear God? Would you hear the message? To
you is this word of salvation sin. Now look at verse 27. Here's
God's purpose. He's declaring God's gospel.
This is God's gospel concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. And then
He declares God's purpose in the death of the Lord Jesus.
For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they
did not know Him, they read the Scriptures every Sabbath day.
Remember our Lord said in John 5, you are they which search
the Scripture, and in them you think you have eternal life,
and you will not come to me that you might have life. They read
the Word, and they didn't see Christ in the Word, the Lord
Jesus. You see, He declares God's purpose.
They did not know Him. They did not know the voice of
the prophets which are read every day. And yet they fulfilled them
in condemning Him. Now remember, turn back to Acts
chapter 2. Acts chapter 4 rather. Acts chapter
4. They fulfilled them in condemning
Him. Acts chapter 4 says this. The kings of the earth, verse
26. And the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and
against his Christ. For of the truth against thy
holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius
Pilate, who the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered
together to do, whatsoever thy hand thy counsel determined before
to be done." You see, God's purpose was fulfilled in them condemning
him to death. Now you think about this. God
used the wicked motives of wicked men to accomplish His purpose. And unknown to them, everything
they did, they did according to the very word and decree of
God. You see, Him being delivered
by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God. You have
taken and with wicked hands have crucified and slain the Lord
of glory. Verse 28 in our text, though
they found no cause of death in Him, you remember Pilate said
three times, I find no fault in this man." And yet they insisted
when he brought him forth and said, Behold your king! What
did they say? We have no king but Caesar. Away with him and crucify him! And they fulfilled God's purpose
in rejecting the Messiah. And He died for our sin according
to the Scripture, as it says there. Notice if you will, verse
29, and when they had fulfilled all that was written of Him,
everything that was written of Him, our Lord said on Calvary's
tree, it is finished. When they fulfilled all that
was written of Him, they took Him down from the tree and put
Him in the grave in a borrowed tomb, just as the Scripture said.
They laid Him in the grave. But you know what? But God. God raised Him up from the dead. God raised Him up, it says in
verse 30. God raised Him up. And we declare unto you, we declare
unto you, verse 32, good news. It's good news that the Lord
Jesus Christ didn't stay dead. What would happen? If he died, they put him in the
ground, what happens? What would be our case if he
didn't come out of there on the third day? We'd be in big trouble,
because he would prove he's an imposter, not the Christ. That's
right. Paul preached in 1 Corinthians
15, if Christ be not risen, Then is our faith vain, our preaching
is useless, and we are yet in our sins if Christ be not risen,
but thank God. God, it says, God raised Him
from the dead. And He was seen of many days. His resurrection is not a farce.
It is true. Forty days they beheld Him. He
ate with them. He fellowshiped with them. He
went fishing with them. He cooked dinner for them. He
said, Come and dine. He's a risen, resurrected, glorified
body of the Lord Jesus. God raised Him from the dead,
declaring that what He did is accepted and finished, and it's
full proof that He is who He said that He was, the Christ
of God. God raised Him from the dead.
He was seen of many days, many witnesses. Now, verse 32, we
declare unto you, This is good news. He was delivered from our
offenses and raised again because He justified us with His blood. How that God, the promise which
was made unto the fathers, God fulfilled the same unto us, their
children, in that He raised up Jesus again, as is written in
the 2nd Psalm, Thou art my Son this day, have I begotten thee?
Now watch this, verse 34. As concerning that God raised
him from the dead. Now, he's still on his same thing. He's showing all that God has
done. God fulfilled his promise. God
sent his crying. God raised him from the dead.
God fulfilled all things. Now, verse 34. As concerning
that God raised him from the dead. Now, no more. No more to return to corruption. On Calvary's tree, our sin was
laid on Him. God made Him to be sin for us
who knew no sin. He saw corruption in that our
sin was put on Him and in Him. He bare our sin and His own body
on the tree. Now, He said, no more to return
to corruption. That's not going to happen again.
How many times do we need for the Lord Jesus Christ to die
for our sins? One time. By the one offering
He perfected forever them that are sanctified. There's no more. Underscore that. He's no more
going to return to corruption. There's no more offering for
sin. No more. His death was sufficient. His sacrifice, the blood He shed,
sufficient to pay all our sin debts. Now, he said on this occasion,
on this wise, I'll give you. Now, I need mercy. You need mercy. On what basis
should God be merciful to us? On the case that I'm deserving
of mercy? On the case that I'm a pretty good fellow? On the
case of, you know, I've been, I've been, I haven't done this,
I haven't done that, I've been okay. Is that the basis of mercy? Mercy cannot be merited. Mercy
has to be given as a gift of God based upon the sacrifice
of Christ. Based upon justice being satisfied. Mercy, not by works of righteousness
which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us. It's of the Lord's mercies that
we are not consumed. He said, on this case, because
Christ came, because Christ died for our sins, because God raised
Him from the dead, and He's seated at God's right hand, on this
purpose, on this wise, I'll give you the sure mercies of David. Sure mercies. I like things that
are certain and sure, don't you? These are the sure mercies in
Christ expected because of the covenant blessing granted, full
redemption given, righteousness established, salvation freely
given. On this wise, God who spared
not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall
He not with Him also freely give us, freely give us all things
upon this one sacrifice sufficient, effectual, Christ alone. He said, I'll give you mercy.
I'll give you salvation. Based upon Christ. Ordered in
all things and sure. We have the sure salvation in
Christ. Verse 35, 36, and verse 37. He makes a comparison here. He
says also in another psalm, Psalm 16, Thou shalt not suffer thy
holy one to see corruption. When they put that dead body
of the Lord Jesus in the ground, it didn't corrupt. He had no
sin. He put away sin. that he saw
corruption as he was dying for our sin. But after having put
away our sin and satisfying God's justice, when they put him in
the ground, death couldn't hold him. He had no sin. We had no sin in him. Verse 36,
For David, after he had served his own generation by the will
of God, he fell asleep and was laid unto his father's, the body
of David, Corrupted back to the dust, but not the body of the
Lord Jesus Christ. They walked outside that city
that one day. We started in Acts chapter 1.
And they watched Him ascend. The bodily ascension of the Lord
Jesus Christ. And the body of the Lord Jesus
Christ, Christ glorified, is sitting right now on the throne
of glory. Coming again. Behold, He cometh. He's on His way. He's coming
back for us. Now, verse 38 and 39. Be it known. Be it known to you,
therefore. Now, you've heard the message.
You've heard Paul's message given of God. I've tried to repeat
it. Be it known unto you, therefore. that through this one, through
this man, this God-man mediator, now he's just not a mere man,
this one who came as God incarnate, God manifest in the flesh, through
this man is preached to you. Now, in verse 38, 39, it mentions
two things that I need, two things you need, two things we need
desperately. Number one, I need what it says
right there. I need the forgiveness of my
sins. I'm a sinner. You are too. We've sinned against God. How
can I put away my sin? It has to be put away. God has to deal with my sin.
It's only through Christ in whom we have redemption. The blood
of Christ cleanses us from all sin. We are redeemed not with
corruptible things, but with incorruptible. We are redeemed
with the blood of Christ. It is through this man that is
preached to you the forgiveness of sin. I desperately need my
sin pardoned. How can my sin be pardoned? It
has to be paid for. Where is the payment? Man. In this man. In his death. In his blood. in His sacrifice. My pardon is in His blood. And then secondly, it mentions
this. Here's the second thing I need. Not only removal of all
my sin, but I also need this. I need righteousness. I need
to be justified before God. Now look what it says in verse
39. By Him. By Him. All that believe. Not all that work. Not all that
labor. All that believe. It's by Him.
It's by Him that we believe. You see that? By Him, all that
believe are justified. Justified, cleared of all guilt,
and God has freely given to us Righteousness, a justifying righteousness
before God. Now, I must have both things.
All my sin removed and righteousness imputed. How's that going to
happen? But of Him in Christ, who was
made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.
Now, which we could not be justified by the law of Moses. Can I be
justified by my deeds? If righteousness comes by the
law, then Christ is dead in vain. I must have removal of all my
sin. I can't put sin away. And I must
have righteousness imputed. That is all through Christ. Do you see that? Be it known
unto you. Do you see that? You need those
two things. I need those two things. I can't
produce them. He gives them freely by His grace. By Him all that believe are justified
from all things, but you could not be justified by the law of
Moses. And then he closes with a warning
to us, to them and to us. Beware. Now beware. Are you going
about to establish your own righteousness? Are you going about to put away
your own sin? Do you think you have a better
way? Do you think you're smarter than God? I hope not. Beware, therefore, lest that
come upon you which was spoken by God. Behold, despisers, you
despisers, and wander and perish. I work a work in your day. It
is the work of God, the salvation of the Lord, which you shall
in no wise believe, though I have just declared it to you." If
God does not do something for us, you are not going to believe
this gospel. Ask God to do something in you. Ask the Lord to reveal
Himself to you. Ask the Lord to make you a new
creature in Christ. Ask the Lord to reveal Himself
to you as the Savior who is altogether lovely. I've declared unto you.
I can't make you believe it. God can. By Him, all that believe
are justified. Well, the Jews were going out
of the synagogue and the Gentiles thought that these words might
be preached to them. I pray God will give us that
desire to come and hear the gospel again. Through the week, we meet
through the week. They desired Paul and Barnabas
to come through the week between Sabbaths and let's hear this
message again. Let's hear this glad tidings
and good news again. My friend, this is good news.
There is mercy for sinners in Christ. Flee to Him. Look to
Him. Look to the Lord Jesus. Well, I pray the Lord will bless
that word to your heart. Go back and read this scripture
again. Read this message again and ask the Lord to open it up
to you and show the gospel to you clearly by his scripture.