Acts 13: 38-43 Need Forgiveness? Justification By Faith Alone

“Fellow children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.  The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath.  Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed.  When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb.  But God raised him from the dead, ³¹ and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people. “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.  Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.  Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you:

 “‘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.’”

As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath.  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.

The bedrock of the Christian faith is that our sins can be forgiven us and that by this, we may inherit eternal life.  This is the essence of the message Paul and Barnabas were preaching and it is the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It lives on today and more powerful than ever.  Today, about 6 billion people profess faith in Jesus Christ and depend upon His saving grace for everlasting life and reconciliation with God.  So if you need forgiveness and everyone does, then turn to Jesus who is the way, the truth and the light.  Amen.

Daily Prayer.  Lord Jesus, grow faith in those who still cannot see.  People are void of faith, even when the evidence of Your work is before us.  So let the scales that preventing us from seeing be removed so that the family of Christ may be grown.  In Your holy name I pray Amen.