Acts 13:26-41
26 “Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. 27 For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. 28 And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29 And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. 32 And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, 33 this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm,“‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you.’
34 And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way,“‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’
35 Therefore he says also in another psalm,“‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’
36 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, 37 but he whom God raised up did not see corruption. 38 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. 40 Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about:
41 “‘Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.’”
Reflection
With the coming of Christ, forgiveness of sins is now available (Acts 13:38). The law of Moses provided priests to mediate between God and his people, but the law could not lead to eternal and ultimate forgiveness (v. 39). The law only increases our understanding of our sin, but it does not eliminate the reality of our sin (Rom. 7:7–12). What the law was powerless to do, God did by “sending his own Son” to be a sin offering (Rom. 8:3).
Only God’s grace motivates changed lives, as Paul writes: “The love of Christ controls us” (2 Cor. 5:14). The law threatens and demands, but in itself cannot produce the love God demands (Matt. 22:37–38). This does not discount the value of the law. The law of God is “perfect . . . true, and righteous altogether” (Ps. 19:7–9) and “holy and righteous and good” (Rom. 7:12). But the law has no power to produce the life it requires. The apostle Paul writes, “If a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law” (Gal. 3:21). Law does not empower us to do what it commands—only grace can do that (Matt. 10:8; Rom. 2:4; 6:14; Titus 2:11–12).
Revelation 2:1-7
2: “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
2 “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
Reflection
Jesus now addresses seven churches in threats of discipline and promises of reward. Because of what he accomplished and his status as our heavenly enthroned Lord, he can guarantee both.
As Jesus walks among the “lampstands” (Rev. 2:1) he threatens to remove the lampstand of the church in Ephesus (v. 5; cf. 1:13). In some sense, this church is working hard and enduring patiently (2:3), yet there is a serious problem; the church in Ephesus has abandoned its first love (v. 4). Jesus is making a severe call to “repent” (i.e., turn from sin to Christ; v. 5). When Christ confronts our sin and calls for our repentance, it is motivated by his gracious love for us (cf. 3:19). He disciplines and corrects us because he loves us and refuses to stand by quietly as we self-destruct. Those who hear and respond to the instructions of the Spirit in these verses will be victorious and will eat from the tree of life (2:7).
Psalm 119:10
10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!
It is crucial that Christians respond to Christ’s instructions as he graciously confronts our sin. Pray once again for responsiveness to the Lord’s discipline, knowing that he is continuing to transform you into the image of his Son (Rom. 8:29).