Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promises Pt 2

Paul has given the men of Israel and God fearers at the Antioch Pisidian synagogue Israel’s history from the time they were in Egypt to king David, and that Jesus is the descendant of David, who is the promised Savior. Now Paul mentions John the Baptist who pointed the way to Jesus. (Let’s begin in our text)

Acts 13:24 “after John had first preached, before His coming, the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

Before the Jesus began his earthly ministry John the Baptist preached the baptism of repentance to all of Israel. Paul knew that John the Baptist was well known to the Jews and the God fearers, for many of John the Baptist disciples lived in Asia Minor at Ephesus (Acts 19:1-3). John the Baptist ministry was to prepare the way of the Lord with a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins (Luke 3:3-6) which was a fulfillment of prophecy:

Isaiah 40:3–5 “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth; The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.””

Malachi 3:1 ““Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” Says the Lord of hosts (Matt. 11:10–11).”

Acts 13:25 “And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not He. But behold, there comes One after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loose.’”

As John finished his course - this refers to his mission in life to proclaim the coming Messiah - Jesus. You and I have been given a mission in this life and that is to glorify God and be a witness of Jesus Christ. Once Jesus arrived John the Baptist mission came to a close, but while he was finishing his ministry he had to answer questions by he priest and Levites who asked him who are you? (John 1:19-27) wondering if he was the Messiah, and John the Baptist answer to them was " I am not the Christ.” And that he was a voice that was crying in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord, They furthered questioned him by saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet? John’s answer, John 1:26–27 “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.””John the Baptist humble response was that he wasn’t even worth of the lowest slave to untie the sandals of Jesus’ feet. To further prove that he wasn’t the Messiah he said of Jesus, John 3:30–31 “He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.”

Paul’s use of John the Baptist was to let his audience know that Jesus is the Messiah, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29).

Acts 13:26 ““Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent.”

Paul with deep compassion informs both the Jews, the family of Abraham, and the gentiles, those who fear God, to let them know that the fulfillment of God’s word of salvation to us has been provided through faith in Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

Acts 13:27 “For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him.”

Paul doesn’t dismiss the fact that the people of Jerusalem and their rulers (scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees) failed to know that Jesus was the Messiah even though by condemning Jesus they were fulfilling the very words of the prophets that they read every Sabbath. The reason that they didn’t know that Jesus was the Messiah was due to the hardness of their hearts and the prophetic OT Scriptures that pointed to Jesus’ death went over their heads.

Judas betrayal of Jesus Jer 32:6-9; Zech11:12-13; fulfilled Matt 26:14-15; 27:3-10.

Jesus nail pierced hands and feet were prophesied in Psalm 22:16 “For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet;” Isaiah 53:5 “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.” Zechariah 12:10 ““And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.”

Psalm 22:1 “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?” This was fulfilled in Matt 27:46 as Jesus cried out from the cross.

The dividing and casting lots of Jesus’ clothes was prophesied Psalm 22:18 “They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots” Matthew 27:35 and John 19:24“Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: “They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.””

There are many other passages but in short everything that was prophesied pertaining to Jesus’ death in Isa 53 and Ps 22 was fulfilled as Jesus said it would, Luke 18:31 “Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished.”

The people and rulers read the prophets every Sabbath and because of the hardness of their hearts they didn’t know that prophets were pointing to Jesus Christ. Much like today there are people who sit in church ever Sunday and don’t know who Jesus Biblically because of the hardness of their hearts.

Acts 13:28–29 “And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death.”

The people and the rulers ignorance didn’t absolve them of their sinful actions. Even though Jesus was innocent of all the false accusations the Jewish leaders and their false witnesses made against Jesus they pleaded with Pilate to have him crucified to death.

Luke 23:2 “And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.”” Luke 23:21–25 “But they shouted, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Then he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go.” But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed. So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested. And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will.”

Acts 13:29 “Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.”

Everything that they did to Jesus was purposed and determined by God before it happened.

Acts 4:25–27 “who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against His Christ.’ “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together”

Even Jesus burial in a rich man’s tomb. Isaiah 53:9 “And they made His grave with the wicked— But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth.”

Matthew 27:57–60 “Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed.”

Acts 13:30 “But God raised Him from the dead.”

Paul has come to the climatic point of gospel that God raised Jesus from the dead. The resurrection of Jesus by God is central to sharing the good news of the gospel. Five times in the book of Acts the resurrection of Jesus by God was shared to those who were lost (Acts 2:24, 32; 3:15; 4:10; 5:30; 10:40).

Paul shares the proof of Jesus’ resurrection.

Acts 13:31 “He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people.”

Jesus showed himself to be alive after death during a 40 day period (Acts 1:3). Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:6 “After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.” That Jesus was seen by his half-brother James, 1 Corinthians 15:7 “After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles (John 20:19-29).” And then by Paul himself, 1 Corinthians 15:8 “Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.” This happened to Paul on the Damascus Road (Acts 9:1-8).

Acts 13:32–33 “And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.’”

Paul then says we are bringing you the good news of the gospel that what God had promised to our fathers He has fulfilled for us their children. What children is Paul referring to? Every person in that was in the Pisidian synagogue, both Jew and God fearing gentile, that the promises of God has fulfilled for us who are spiritual heirs of the promises made to the patriarchs.

Galatians 3:29 “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

To prove that the promise that God made to the fathers has been fulfilled to them, that He has raised up Jesus, Paul quotes from 3 OT text, The first in 33b comes from Psalm 2:7 ““I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.” Paul implies to his audience that the promise of God’s Son to be exalted to His divinely appointed throne was fulfilled in Jesus Christ resurrection and ascension back to heaven.

Acts 13:34 “And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: ‘I will give you the sure mercies of David.’” (2) fulfillment Paul quotes is from Isa 55:3 which is tied to the everlasting Davidic covenant (2 Sam 7:13, 16), by which God raised Jesus from the dead and his body being glorified will never decay and lives forever.

Romans 6:9 “knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.” That mercy is extended to us who are in Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:20–22 “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.”

Acts 13:35 “Therefore He also says in another Psalm: ‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.’”

The third OT Scripture Paul quotes to prove that God fulfilled his promise he made to the fathers to raise Jesus from the dead is from Psalm 16:10 “For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.”

Paul needed to let them know that this Psalm wasn’t about David. But it was Messianic Psalm that pointed to Jesus. This same Messianic Psalm was used by Peter on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:27. Both Peter and Paul told their audiences that God did not allow His Holy One, Jesus, not David, to decay, to see corruption.

Acts 13:36: Just in case there was any doubt among Paul’s audience that Ps 16:10 didn’t pertain to Jesus. He tells them, David after he had served his own generation by the will of God, David fell asleep, meaning he died, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption, his body decayed.

But on the other hand… as it pertains to Jesus Christ Paul says

Acts 13:37 “but He whom God raised up saw no corruption, Jesus body did not see decay.” Peter also told his audience this about David.

Acts 2:29–32 ““Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.”

Both Peter and Paul prove the resurrection of Jesus from Scripture to their audiences. When you are dealing with people who doubt the truth claims about Jesus you don’t reason with them with your opinions, you reason with the from the Scriptures.

Acts 13:38 “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins;”

Paul has come to the close of his sermon. He appeals to his audience and calls the brothers. He has given them the gospel of Christ, His death, burial, and resurrection. But Paul’s sermon isn’t complete until he addresses their sins and their need for forgiveness through Jesus Christ. To many preachers fail to address people sins when sharing Jesus Christ. As Paul says, it is through this man (Jesus) is preached to you the forgiveness of sins. Jesus Christ is the only means by which your sins can be forgiven, but you must repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ to be forgiven of your sins.

Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 3:19 “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,”

Acts 10:43 “To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.””

Acts 26:18 “to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’”

Ephesians 1:7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace”

Acts 13:39 “and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.”

Paul again points to Jesus. Everyone who believes in Him is justified from all things, to be justified means God declares you righteous, that when you believe in Jesus Christ you have right standing with him because He forgives you from all things.

Colossians 2:13–14 “And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”

Paul says to his audience you could not be justified by the law of Moses. No matter how much they tired the law could not justify them, make them right with God. The only way to declared to be right with God is not by the law but by faith in Jesus Christ.

Romans 3:20–22 “Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;”

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

Galatians 2:16 “knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.”

Galatians 3:11 “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.””

Philippians 3:9 “and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;”

All your attempts to just live a morally good life will fall short. Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

You must come to Jesus by faith to have right standing before God.

Acts 13:40–41 “Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you: ‘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.’ ””

Paul ends his sermon with a strong warning to his audience not to reject their only hope of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Acts 4:12 “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.””

He quotes the OT again this time from Hab 1:5. The prophet Habbakuk warns Judah because of their sin that God’s judgment was coming. God was going to use the Chaldeans to take them captive and destroy Jerusalem and Solomon’s temple. The people didn’t believe that God would bring such a harsh judgment against them, but God did.

Paul’s warning to his audience is that if they didn’t repent of their sins and continue to reject Jesus Christ as their Savior God’s judgment will be upon them as well.

This warning holds true today. If you don’t repent of your sins and continue to reject Jesus Christ as your only hope for salvation, God’s judgment is upon you.

John 3:36 “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.””