God’s Promise Acts

Introduction

Our second part of the original sermon

splitting up chapter three, this is point number 2

last week, Paul and Barnabas had started their first missionary journey

they left the church in Antioch in Syria and traveled through the island of Cyprus

encountered a Jewish sorcerer named Bar Jesus or son of salvation

after the judgment of God comes to Bar Jesus and he is turned blind, the proconsul believes because he was amazed at the word of God

God’s promise

Paul and Barnabas have moved on from Cyprus to Pisidian Antioch

there were multiple cities called Antioch

they left the one in Syria and went to the one in Turkey

We use words and phrases in the church sometimes that we do a bad job defining

sometimes we say things like the gospel and do not really know what that is

Acts 13:16–41 (CSB)

16 Paul stood up and motioned with his hand and said, “Fellow Israelites, and you who fear God, listen!

17 The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors, made the people prosper during their stay in the land of Egypt, and led them out of it with a mighty arm.

18 And for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness;

19 and after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance.

20 This all took about 450 years. After this, he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.

21 Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.

22 After removing him, he raised up David as their king and testified about him, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse to be a man after my own heart, who will carry out all my will.’

23 “From this man’s descendants, as he promised, God brought to Israel the Savior, Jesus.

24 Before his coming to public attention, John had previously proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

25 Now as John was completing his mission, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not the one. But one is coming after me, and I am not worthy to untie the sandals on his feet.’

26 “Brothers and sisters, children of Abraham’s race, and those among you who fear God, it is to us that the word of this salvation has been sent.

27 Since the residents of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize him or the sayings of the prophets that are read every Sabbath, they have fulfilled their words by condemning him.

28 Though they found no grounds for the death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him killed.

29 When they had carried out all that had been written about him, they took him down from the tree and put him in a tomb.

30 But God raised him from the dead,

31 and he appeared for many days to those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people.

32 And we ourselves proclaim to you the good news of the promise that was made to our ancestors.

33 God has fulfilled this for us, their children, by raising up Jesus, as it is written in the second Psalm: You are my Son; today I have become your Father.

34 As to his raising him from the dead, never to return to decay, he has spoken in this way, I will give you the holy and sure promises of David.

35 Therefore he also says in another passage, You will not let your Holy One see decay.

36 For David, after serving God’s purpose in his own generation, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and decayed,

37 but the one God raised up did not decay.

38 Therefore, let it be known to you, brothers and sisters, that through this man forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you.

39 Everyone who believes is justified through him from everything that you could not be justified from through the law of Moses.

40 So beware that what is said in the prophets does not happen to you:

41 Look, you scoffers, marvel and vanish away, because I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will never believe, even if someone were to explain it to you.”

Pray

Explain where Paul is giving this sermon to and how we got to this place

Acts 13:13–15 (CSB)

13 Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia, but John left them and went back to Jerusalem.

The left the Island of Cyprus on boat at the port of Paphos

but John Mark decided to go back to Jerusalem

unable to finish the trip

we get the idea that he could not take the hardships that they endured

this would cause an issue between Paul and Barnabas later

14 They continued their journey from Perga and reached Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down.

Luke writes this as if it is a simple walk from Perga to Antioch

about 100 miles of difficult land

15 After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, you can speak.”

they arrive at the in the city and on the Sabbath go to the synagogue

when preachers that have spent time in Jerusalem come, they want to hear from them

encouragement = word of comfort or encouragement

We are justified by the fulfillment of God’s promise in the old testament to his people.

Promise is Needed

Do they know what they are asking by allowing Paul to speak

remember a conversation that was taking place in a larger group and I sat quiet

not real excited about the direction or tone of the conversation

finally the group got quiet and somebody asked, “What do you think, Doug?”

I told them, and the conversation got real quiet for a bit

Acts 13:16–25 (CSB)

16 Paul stood up and motioned with his hand and said, “Fellow Israelites, and you who fear God, listen!

17 The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors, made the people prosper during their stay in the land of Egypt, and led them out of it with a mighty arm.

18 And for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness;

19 and after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance.

20 This all took about 450 years. After this, he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.

21 Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.

22 After removing him, he raised up David as their king and testified about him, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse to be a man after my own heart, who will carry out all my will.’

23 “From this man’s descendants, as he promised, God brought to Israel the Savior, Jesus.

24 Before his coming to public attention, John had previously proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

25 Now as John was completing his mission, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not the one. But one is coming after me, and I am not worthy to untie the sandals on his feet.’

God provided for a people who have done nothing to deserve it

we understand this

we have either given to those who did not “deserve” our charity

we have received from others things that we did not earn

Ezekiel 20:6–8a (CSB)

6 On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands.

7 I also said to them, “Throw away, each of you, the abhorrent things that you prize, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”

8 “ ‘But they rebelled against me and were unwilling to listen to me. None of them threw away the abhorrent things that they prized, and they did not abandon the idols of Egypt.

they did not listen

even after God led them through the desert

even after the conquered and entered the promise land

after Joshua died it said that the people of Israel did what was right in their own mind

Judges 2:10–11 (CSB)

10 That whole generation was also gathered to their ancestors. After them another generation rose up who did not know the Lord or the works he had done for Israel.

11 The Israelites did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. They worshiped the Baals

Then God sent judges and the prophet Samuel

God’s people desired to be like the world and wanted a king

God provided Saul

a man who defied God to keep his own power and status in front of the people

then God provided David

a man after God’s own heart

not a perfect man

God’s promise is the King of Kings through David

a descendant of David

the savior Jesus

to a people who desperately need the king of kings

not knowing their full depravity of their hearts

Promise is Fulfilled

remember the feeling of waiting for Christmas or a birthday to see what you would get

the anticipation of going to bed on Christmas eve waiting to see what would be under the tree when you got up in the morning

The Israelites have been waiting for the messiah to come for centuries

not only had the messiah come, but he had fulfilled all that the prophets had said about him

Acts 13:26–33 (CSB)

26 “Brothers and sisters, children of Abraham’s race, and those among you who fear God, it is to us that the word of this salvation has been sent.

27 Since the residents of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize him or the sayings of the prophets that are read every Sabbath, they have fulfilled their words by condemning him.

28 Though they found no grounds for the death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him killed.

29 When they had carried out all that had been written about him, they took him down from the tree and put him in a tomb.

30 But God raised him from the dead,

31 and he appeared for many days to those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people.

32 And we ourselves proclaim to you the good news of the promise that was made to our ancestors.

33 God has fulfilled this for us, their children, by raising up Jesus, as it is written in the second Psalm: You are my Son; today I have become your Father.

The promised one has been sent for the salvation of his people

this was then entire purpose of Jesus’s life

to give his life for a ransom

first to the Jew and also for the Greek

the Jewish leaders did not take to heart the very words read to them every week

weekly the law and prophets would be read in the synagogues

the entire Bible, including the OT points to Jesus

we are not any different, we can come in here weekly and listen to the word of God proclaimed, sing songs and not take to heart the words we are singing and hearing

they ended up fulfilling the prophecies that were read to them

But this murdered king would not remain in the tomb

his resurrection is the fulfillment of the promise that we to will have life

Promise is Permanent

Acts 13:34–37 (CSB)

34 As to his raising him from the dead, never to return to decay, he has spoken in this way, I will give you the holy and sure promises of David.

35 Therefore he also says in another passage, You will not let your Holy One see decay.

36 For David, after serving God’s purpose in his own generation, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and decayed,

37 but the one God raised up did not decay.

Jesus is alive now, at the Father’s right hand

he did not die again at a later time, then was buried a second time

some did

some were raised from the dead in scripture only to taste death again

when he rose from the grave and later ascended to the Father

His purpose is not done

David had a purpose for his generation

to resemble and point to a king that would come and

Jesus is always there interceding for his people

until he comes to get his bride

until we are with him in glorified bodies

Jesus fulfills this promise for every generation

this was not like David for his generation

not like John the Baptist and pointing people to him in his generation

Jesus is doing this for all generations

this same promise revealed to them is waiting for you as well

Promise is Waiting

It is easy to look back at those who came before and say how they messed up

they did not understand the prophecy that they read every week

Paul gives a warning to the people of Antioch

Acts 13:38–41 (CSB)

38 Therefore, let it be known to you, brothers and sisters, that through this man forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you.

39 Everyone who believes is justified through him from everything that you could not be justified from through the law of Moses.

40 So beware that what is said in the prophets does not happen to you:

41 Look, you scoffers, marvel and vanish away, because I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will never believe, even if someone were to explain it to you.”

Just like the hearers in Antioch that day, the forgiveness of sins has been proclaimed to you

Those who believe will be justified

What is justification

to be made righteous

we cannot enter into the presence of a holy God in our sinful state

simply saying sorry will not cut it

there must be a price paid

an atonement (reconciliation between one who has wronged another)

imputation of the righteousness of Jesus and our sin to him

something that the law could not do

the law reveals our guilt, not free us from it

Do not be like the religious leaders of that day who fulfilled prophecy

that this amazing work is being done in our day that we cannot even imagine

Paul quotes Habakkuk who at that time would not believe that the Babylonians were going to come to power

the Assyrians were the people to be feared

this truth about the grace God is offering us sound way to good, way to easy

but he is offering it to you today

Discussion Questions

What historical events does Paul recount in his sermon to highlight God's faithfulness to Israel?

Who were the leaders responsible for condemning Jesus, according to Paul?

How does Paul connect the resurrection of Jesus to the promises made to David?

What role did John the Baptist play in the events leading up to Jesus’ ministry, as mentioned in Paul’s sermon?

How does Paul explain the concept of justification through faith in Jesus?