Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen (Ga 1:3-5).
Maybe you have a strong opinion when it comes to the competition between the two main cola companies—which you prefer to drink. Perhaps it just comes down to the heated debate as to what it is called—“pop” or “soda.” Possibly you avoid the drink altogether.
No matter what, this is not a product endorsement. But Coca-Cola is one of the most recognizable logos in the entire world. I didn’t fact check these statistics. But it came from a daily devotion put out by our church body. So I am going to trust that the following is true.
Last year, the company spent almost 4 billion dollars, nearly 12% of all the money it earned, on advertising.
More than 90% of the world’s population can identify the classic red can and cursive white script.
In the 200 countries where it is sold, the average person consumes a coke product every four days.
That is impressive.
What about another symbol—the cross? How many around the globe are familiar with the importance or are aware of its significance? Right before his ascension into heaven, Jesus commissioned his disciples: “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). They were to talk about what they had seen and speak about what they had heard because they had personal experience and knowledge of the facts.
What their ministry was then is our mission now. Shine the Light of salvation to the ends of the earth.
We actually come in at the tail end of the apostle Paul’s sermon one Saturday in the synagogue. It was on his 1st missionary trip. He and Barnabas had arrived in the city of Pisidian Antioch in Asia Minor (which is modern day Turkey). And just like when someone walks up to you three-quarters of the way through a conversation, you might need to catch him up. That is what we have to do.
Worship in the synagogue was a lot like ours. There were readings from the Law and the Prophets. (That is code for the Old Testament.) And then if there were any guests, they might be invited to expound on a section of Scripture. Paul was asked if he had “a message of encouragement” (Acts 13:15). Paul took the opportunity to comfort the Jews and Gentiles assembled there.
Paul does more than give a summary of the history of the patriarchs to King David. He centers on the Savior (Acts 13:16ff.).
He began with the fact that the Lord selected their fathers.
When they spent some time in Egypt, he blessed them.
After their release from slavery in that country, he brought them to the Promised Land after the 40 years of wandering.
Then a number of judges led the people. But they asked for a king.
God gave them Saul. And then David, a man after God’s own heart. He was a good king. But more important, he was the ancestor of Israel’s great King—Jesus (2 Sa 7:12,13).
Paul then fast-forwards to the forerunner of Jesus, John the Baptist, who turned the people from their sin to the Savior with his preaching.
Jesus was the One the Jewish leaders condemned, crucifying him on Good Friday. But Easter Sunday followed three days later. God raised him from the dead, restoring him to life. This was all according to God’s detailed plan.
Why the condensed or compressed review? Paul wanted them to draw a conclusion. “Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you” (Acts 13:38). It is through this One that Paul can announce to each one (including us): “Your sins are forgiven.” For each and every time that we have gone against God, he has removed the guilt, sending it away like what we do with an email or text. Or we might think along the lines of canceling a huge debt. It is completely gone.
As Paul preaches, he puts it another way: “Through him [that is, “this One”—Jesus] everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:39). Paul paints a courtroom scene. The law of Moses—the Ten Commandments—convict us. “Guilty.” But the love of God acquits us. “Not guilty.” God clears our account of all charges. Since we cannot keep the law perfectly, continually, Jesus did for us (Ga 3:10-12). And he credits his holiness to us. And then he died for our disobedience. Our faith grabs ahold of that like a hungry beggar does with a free meal.
But Paul adds a solemn and serious warning that we need to hear: “Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you” (Acts 13:40). They were to open their spiritual eyes to a possible danger of rejection. “‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’” (Acts 13:41). Paul didn’t want them to look down on the good news about Jesus. God had done “something”—sending his Son to sacrifice himself so that we might be freely forgiven. “Someone”—Paul is telling us this. While some may refuse this salvation, we rejoice in it. It is not reserved for some, but revealed to all so that no one be destroyed, but delivered. Whoever believes has everlasting life (Jn 3:16).
The conversation continued outside like if you carry on a chat with someone in the parking lot. The people wanted more. “As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath” (Acts 13:42). But seven days was not soon enough. “When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God” (Acts 13:43). Paul used the opening to persuade them to stay in God’s grace—to keep on trusting in God’s undeserved kindness.
The subsequent Sabbath there was standing room only. “On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord” (Acts 13:44). Note that it was not the “word of the apostle,” but the “word of the Lord.” They wanted to listen to what God had to say. We don’t want to take that word of the Lord for granted. But we take advantage of hearing what it has to communicate to us—whether we are in a church pew or around a kitchen table.
That didn’t sit well with everyone: “When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying” (Acts 13:45). It wasn’t because Paul was all of a sudden popular. They thought that they were defending the honor of God as the One who had given the law. They saw it as a way to impress God and earn his favor. So they tried to ruin Paul’s reputation. But they missed the point. We value God when we rely on Jesus as the One who fulfilled the law and freed the sinner. It is not what we do, but what he has done.
Paul could not let that go. So he was open and honest. “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles” (Acts 13:46). Jesus came from the Jews and for the Jews (Ro 1:16). But they pushed him aside. It was their choice. It might be like a girl who contends that she is not fit to marry a certain boy. He gets down on one knee to propose, but she doesn’t accept the ring. It is on her. She has come to that conclusion by herself. The Jews did that to Jesus. They were not interested in the life that Jesus had to offer for free, for nothing. So Paul calls attention to the detail: “We are off to the Gentiles.”
Paul cites a segment from Isaiah (Is 49:6): “For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” (Acts 13:47). The Lord is addressing his Servant, the Messiah. Part of his work would be to restore God’s remnant among the Jews. But he says that is “too small a thing for you” (Is 49:6). In a way, we might compare it to this. A dad informs his son: “It is too little just to rake our yard. You will rake the whole neighborhood.” The Gentiles would come to see the Light of the World (Is 60:1-6). They would not walk in the darkness of sin but bask in the Light of life (Jn 8:12). Recall when Simeon held the baby Jesus in his arms, he sang the same thing—“a light for revelation to the Gentiles” (Lk 2:32). Paul saw himself as an extension of that as he worked among the non-Jews. The Gentiles were not to be excluded, but included.
How thrilling that was to Paul’s listeners. “When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed” (Acts 13:48). They were filled with joy and gave God the glory for his work for them and also in them.
We join them. God has made us who were once unworthy ones to be worthy of his salvation. He covers us and clothes us with Christ. And that is something that is for all. God doesn’t want anyone to be left out, but everyone to be brought in. So Jesus sends us: “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:19). Inside and outside of the United States. Around our community and in every country. We can extend an invitation to those near us and express our gratitude for those who do it in our name and on our behalf as missionaries around the globe. We can pray for others to go and pay for them with our offerings. Shine the Light of salvation to the ends of the earth.
Those of us who were around in the 70s remember the jingle for Coca-Cola. They wanted to teach the world to sign in perfect harmony. They also wanted to buy the world a Coke and keep it company. It is not critical that everyone taste that sugary, caramel concoction. But it is crucial that all come to know Jesus—no matter the continent or culture. And we are a part of that. And as the psalmist had us chant: “God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him” (Ps 67:7). Shine the Light of salvation to the ends of the earth. That is the real thing.
We read from Acts 13:38-48:
38 “Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.
39 Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.
40 Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you:
41 “ ‘Look, you scoffers,
wonder and perish,
for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’ ”
42 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath.
43 When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.
44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.
45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying.
46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.
47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen (Ga 6:18).
October 21, 2018
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