Acts 13:36-41

GRACE…amazing, undeserved, unmerited grace!!

The gift of salvation was given in the sacrifice of  Jesus Christ. It is finished!

It was too small a thing for it to be for Jewish converts alone but it was offered to all mankind, to whomever, would believe in God’s Gospel of Grace. John 3:16-17

Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.

Let's purpose to think rightly about righteousness. May we fully comprehend, and then display to those watching us, this important truth: There is nothing in us that makes us clean or good. We needed our Maker (Job 35:10) to send Jesus to deliver us from "the multitude of oppressions" (Job 35:9). May our gratitude to God for His indescribable gift give us the desire to be more like His Son. First5

I was buoyed, reading this; “Yesterday I had a good morning. Once again when I recollect myself, I again find the same simple demands of God: gentleness, humility, charity, interior simplicity; nothing else is asked of me. And suddenly I saw clearly why these virtues are demanded, because through them the soul becomes inhabitable for God and for one's neighbor in an intimate and permanent way. Hardness and pride repel, complexity disquiets. But humility and gentleness welcome, and simplicity reassures.” (Raissa Maritain’s journal entry from the early 1900s)  SabbathMoments

Acts 13:36-41

36 “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; 37 but He whom God raised up saw no corruption. 38 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. 40 Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you: 41 ‘Behold, you despisers, Marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, A work which you will by no means believe, Though one were to declare it to you.’ ” The New King James Version 

This is a legal declaration that someone is innocent and in good standing—right before God. Paul is arguing that justification is based on the work of Christ. Human effort—even when directed at keeping the Law of Moses (as primarily seen in the laws of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy)—could never attain God’s standard. Here, Paul warns that the rejection of the Messiah would also result in judgment. Faithlife Study Bible

Paul argued that David could not have been speaking of himself in Psalm. When David died, his body returned to dust just like everyone else’s. David was speaking of the Messiah, who would be raised from the dead as the final proof of His divine Sonship. 

Everyone who believes is justified: Justification is a legal term meaning “declared innocent” It is a legal declaration that a person is acquitted and absolved. It is by justification that a person is righteous and acceptable to God. The death of Christ was the payment of our sin debt, so that we might be forgiven. The NKJV Study Bible

Let all that hear the gospel of Christ, know these two things: 1. That through this Man, who died and rose again, is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins. Your sins, though many and great, may be forgiven, and they may be so without any injury to God’s honour. 2. It is by Christ only that those who believe in him, and none else, are justified from all things; from all the guilt and stain of sin, from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses. The great concern of convinced sinners is, to be justified, to be acquitted from all their guilt, and accepted as righteous in God’s sight, for if any is left charged upon the sinner, he is undone. 

By Jesus Christ we obtain a complete justification; for by him a complete atonement was made for sin. We are justified, not only by him as our Judge but by him as the Lord our Righteousness. What the law could not do for us, in that it was weak, the gospel of Christ does. This is the most needful blessing, bringing in every other. The threatenings are warnings; what we are told will come upon impenitent sinners, is designed to awaken us to beware lest it come upon us. It ruins many, that they despise religion. Those that will not wonder and be saved, shall wonder and perish. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Habakkuk 1:5 

“Look among the nations and watch—

Be utterly astounded!

For I will work a work in your days

Which you would not believe, though it were told you.

Luke 24:47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.