ACTS 11
"If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?"
How quickly we forget......
In this week's text, the people of God come to grip with the new reality that the love of God is for all people. That the blood of Jesus that is offered for the sins of the world actually mean the world. We see that grace is not only for the people of Jewish heritage or those that fall under traditional approvals, but it's for all people who place their trust and faith in the finish work of the Son of God!!!! In this week's text, the people understand how good the good news really is!
I love how the story begins in chapter 11. Verse 3 in Acts 11 reads, "You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!" Don't overlook the power of pronunciation. Even the exclamation mark is from God with a message in scripture. The people of Jewish heritage are looking at Peter saying, "What are you doing!"
Isn't it amazing how quickly people forget that they were once the people who had no business sitting with the saved. Not even that far back, the pharisees were looking at the same confused people asking Jesus why He was sitting with them! Now they are confused why they should sit with others. Isn't it wild how we forget how good the good news is for all people?
Today, we still see this take place. Racism is still alive, denominational superiority reigns in many churches, and social economic class defines where many people worship. All the while, we forget that we were once poor, without a church, and enemies of God.
The circles of "haves and have nots" is still alive today, even within believers. In this week's text, we continue to take notice of all that the gospel shatters and gives life to. We see that Jesus did not simply come for some, but for the world. He did not come for a certain skin color, background, family last name, or just the popular kids on the playground. Jesus came for anyone that places their faith in Him.
This is such good news!!!
Today, there are thousands of people of who believe in God but can't fathom that they are the "type" of person that Jesus died for. They believe this because of their own insecurities, but also because they have been made to feel this way by others.
In where we are in Acts this week, the love and grace of Jesus is calling all makes and models to "follow Me." No matter your background, heritage, or looks, "follow Me!"
This is why Jesus is such good news to the world!
In this week's text, the people of God come to grip with the new reality that the love of God is for all people. That the blood of Jesus that is offered for the sins of the world actually mean the world. We see that grace is not only for the people of Jewish heritage or those that fall under traditional approvals, but it's for all people who place their trust and faith in the finish work of the Son of God!!!! In this week's text, the people understand how good the good news really is!
I love how the story begins in chapter 11. Verse 3 in Acts 11 reads, "You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!" Don't overlook the power of pronunciation. Even the exclamation mark is from God with a message in scripture. The people of Jewish heritage are looking at Peter saying, "What are you doing!"
Isn't it amazing how quickly people forget that they were once the people who had no business sitting with the saved. Not even that far back, the pharisees were looking at the same confused people asking Jesus why He was sitting with them! Now they are confused why they should sit with others. Isn't it wild how we forget how good the good news is for all people?
Today, we still see this take place. Racism is still alive, denominational superiority reigns in many churches, and social economic class defines where many people worship. All the while, we forget that we were once poor, without a church, and enemies of God.
The circles of "haves and have nots" is still alive today, even within believers. In this week's text, we continue to take notice of all that the gospel shatters and gives life to. We see that Jesus did not simply come for some, but for the world. He did not come for a certain skin color, background, family last name, or just the popular kids on the playground. Jesus came for anyone that places their faith in Him.
This is such good news!!!
Today, there are thousands of people of who believe in God but can't fathom that they are the "type" of person that Jesus died for. They believe this because of their own insecurities, but also because they have been made to feel this way by others.
In where we are in Acts this week, the love and grace of Jesus is calling all makes and models to "follow Me." No matter your background, heritage, or looks, "follow Me!"
This is why Jesus is such good news to the world!
SCRIPTURE TO GO ALONG WITH THE MESSAGE
Read Matthew 9:9-13 as we see a perfect example of Jesus's love and the world's confusion.
Posted in Year One
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