“And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name. While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.” Acts 10:42-44
Devotional Thought For The Day
The essential message is quite simple and uplifting, but so contrary to the basic dynamics of common sense and reason within us. And according to Peter and all the apostles, the message has been the same throughout all the ages, asserted and confirmed by “all the prophets.” The invitation is open ended, extended to all with the hope that all might receive the blessing God wills for them, that God has provided for them, and that is “the forgiveness of sins.” Where there is forgiveness of sins nothing stands between God and man, and the sentence of death is lifted, emptied of its sting and force, so that salvation and eternal life are freely and graciously given. This is what Jesus Christ commanded the apostles to preach to the people – and this message brought with it the power of the Holy Spirit. This is what Christianity is all about – although it has been terribly difficult for sinful human beings to believe, and for preachers and teachers to keep straight and proclaim forthrightly. But clearly “everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”
We are not alone in struggling to receive this message, to believe it, and to promote it whenever we speak of God and His Christ to others. Many of Jesus’ hearers also rejected His message as contrary to the law and the prophets. Paul’s detractors also understood his message, this same message given to him by Jesus to preach and teach wherever he went, the word of the cross and God’s free and gracious forgiveness in Christ Jesus, as promoting sin and evil. This good news was also compromised within the institutional church through the centuries – both in Eastern Orthodoxy and in Roman Catholicism, so that people were taught that they still had to do something in order to gain God’s forgiveness, grace, and salvation. Purgatory had to be invented to provide some hope for the more honest members of the church, and hideous indulgences. What wretchedness and futility prevails when the simple truth preached by Peter, Paul, and all the apostles is discounted, disregarded, and rejected. Any institution which teaches “another gospel,” different than that preached by Peter and Paul is “anathema,” that is, condemned by God [Gal. 1:8,9]. And the Scripture, and the assertion of Jesus Himself is quite clear: “Jesus is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.” There is no escape if we reject this great gift of God’s salvation [Heb. 2:3]. So it is not difficult to understand how God feels about those who present themselves as being Christians but who deny or compromise the reality so simply and forcefully set forth – “that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”
If we want to fare well on the day of judgment, we had best trust Jesus for forgiveness, eternal life, and salvation – and negate our works as any basis for gaining God’s favor. If we want others to believe and receive the Holy Spirit, we had best keep to what Jesus commands us to preach – free, full, and complete forgiveness of all our sins for Jesus’ sake, already provided for us in His suffering, death, and resurrection, without any compromise or qualifying of this reality. If we want Christianity, and Christian ministry, we do well to speak just as Christ commanded Peter and Paul to preach. It is certain that this will be opposed – by numerous people of other religions, and also by hypocrites within the institutions of Christianity. We ourselves struggle to grasp the full wonder and beauty of God’s gracious and merciful love. So we must continue to turn to the Word given by Him Who is appointed by God to be judge of all people – and hold firmly to His grace, blessing, forgiveness, and salvation – as all the prophets bear witness to Him, that “everyone who believes in Him shall not be put to shame,” and “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” [Rom. 10:11,13] God grant each of us such blessedness and faith, that we receive with joy and gladness all of the blessings He earnestly wills for us to have in Christ Jesus.
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, Your message and Your command is simple and straightforward, yet obviously resisted and fought against by so many. Break down every stubborn resistance in our hearts and minds, and enable us to simply embrace the joys of Your forgiveness and salvation with childlike faith and trust in You. Forbid that we should compromise, distort, or pervert Your blessed Word when speaking to others. Grant Your church today faithful preachers and teachers who preach as You have commanded – that on the day of judgment the number of sheep, true believers, be numerous, and that we be among them. Amen.