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Year 2 Day 32
Pray (ACts) Read - Mark 1:12-13, Hebrews 4:15 Message - Alan Burke All of us face temptations in so many ways, don’t we? Yet we are called to obedience to our God that’s what we thought about on Wednesday. Obedience to him should mean more than what we want, more than our comfort, more than having our perceived need met, more than our well being, more than our pleasure, for as Jesus said “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? (Mk 8:34-36). You may rightly say to me that I know nothing of what you face, I can never understand the temptations that you face and you are probably right but the good news is our Saviour can. In Hebrews we are reminded that; “we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Heb 4:15). Our Lord and Saviour was tempted in every way but as without sin, we may think, well he wasn’t tempted in the way I am, he wasn’t tempted with the things I face, so then how was he tempted in every way? He was tempted in every way because behind his temptations throughout his life, he experienced temptations that were real and beyond our understanding, greater temptations that we will ever face and at each point he resisted, he overcame. He knew what it was like to be tempted, he was fully human, yet he never sinned. He can sympathise with us in our weakness because he experienced what we experience and now he at the Father’s right hand intercedes for us, speaking on our behalf (Heb 7:25). The temptations that Jesus faced that we summed on in the words ‘pleasure, pride and power’ are temptations that we all face, but the point is not to be like Jesus, instead look to this Jesus who overcame Satan for you. Stop trying to do it in your own strength to resist temptation, instead look to him in what we face, the one who is able to sympathise with us our weaknesses. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q44 What doth the preface to the ten commandments teach us? The preface to the ten commandments teacheth us, That because God is the Lord, and our God, and Redeemer, therefore we are bound to keep all his commandments. (Luke 1:74–75, 1 Pet. 1:15–18)
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Year 2 Day 31
Pray (ACts) Read - Acts 15v1-21 Message - Scott Woodburn We've already seen in Acts that the church was not going through a golden age in the years after Christ's Ascension. They knew problems, splits, false teaching and theological debates. As a new chapter begins we see once again some from a Jewish background stating that “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” (v1). Paul and Barnabas completely disagreed (v2a) but it was arranged for them to travel to Jerusalem to put this question to the Apostles and elders (v2b). As they travelled and told many about the conversion of the Gentiles there was great rejoicing (v3), but still when they arrived in Jerusalem some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.” (v5). So the stage is set. The question is clear. To be saved does someone have to keep the law of Moses? Do we need Jesus plus? Peter stood first and reminded the council that he had been chosen to take the Gospel to the Gentiles (v7). Indeed God had given the Gentiles the gift of the Holy Spirit and had cleansed their hearts by faith (v9). Peter understood the Gospel. It was by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. To add anything to the Gospel was to put God to the test and to place a yoke on the necks of Christians that no one has ever been able to bear (v10). Paul and Barnabas were able to testify about the great work that had been done among the Gentiles (v12) and then James stood and took the council into the Word of God. Quoting directly from Amos 9v11-12, James was clear that the prophets had predicted the calling of the Gentiles (v12). Therefore new Christians shouldn't be troubled with keeping the law of Moses for their salvation. Practically new converts should be encouraged not to have anything to do with idol worship (v20a). They should remain sexually pure (v20b). They shouldn't eat animals that have been strangled to death (v20c). This seems strange to us but James knows that such an animal will not have all of its blood drained. To eat such food would potentially cause division among Jewish and Gentile believers and therefore sensitivity to one another should be essential. Moses is read weekly in the synagogues (v21) and so the church should be sensitive to the culture it found itself in. James' response is mature in seeking to bring harmony to a multicultural church but the council at Jerusalem couldn't be more clear. The Gospel is all of grace and no barriers should be placed in front of new converts. Brothers and sisters nothing has changed. The Gospel says that Christ died for sinners and was raised for their justification. The response to the Gospel is to repent of sin and trust in Christ. We should act towards other Christians with grace and sensitivity but we should never compromise the Gospel. Jesus plus anything is not the Gospel. "Do this and live" is not the Gospel. "Do more" is not the Gospel. Here is the Gospel "For our sake God made Jesus to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Christ we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5v21) Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q43 What is the preface to the ten commandments? The preface to the ten commandments is in these words, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Year 2 Day 30
Pray (ACts) Read - Mark 1:12-13 Message - Alan Burke We are told here how Jesus was immediately driven out into the wilderness after his baptism to be tempted by Satan with the angels attending him afterwards. What we are not told are the temptations that he faced or if Jesus was victorious, for Mark wants us to understand that Jesus faced temptation not only at the beginning of his public ministry in this ’40 day’ temptation throughout his life as Satan endeavoured to subvert God’s great plan of salvation. While we are not told here the temptations Jesus faced in the wilderness we are told in Matthews gospel account (Matt 4:1-11), as Satan tempts Jesus to turn the stones into bread (Mt 4:3), to throw himself down from the highest point (Mt 4:6) and the top of a mountain offered the kingdoms of the world (Mt 4:8-9). It may not sound like a lot or a big deal but remember Jesus faced starvation that most of us can barely even comprehend. The three temptations he can be summed up in the words ‘pleasure, pride and power’, these are three temptations that we all face and they are the very stuff of our dreams. Yet in each temptation Jesus chose obedience to the Father. Jesus chose obedience! In a world that says that’s it’s all about our comfort, having our perceived needs met, our well being, our pleasure, Jesus does something that goes totally opposite to our self centred nature and choose obedience. More important than anything he was offered by Satan was obedience to the Father. For us, likewise God’s will and obedience to Him should mean more than what we want, more than our comfort, more than having our perceived need met, more than our well being, more than our pleasure. The example of our saviour is that of obedience. We can be tempted to sin even in the good things of this life, and for all of us even the very highest and best ends do not justify operating contrary to God's will. That’s so important for all of us to know and that’s what Jesus made clear. Satan though tries to get us to go after good things for the wrong reasons, to tempt us into things that are good but without the cost, I want to leave you with the words of Jesus in Mark 8:34-38 where he says… “And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels””. We are called to obedience. The Westminster Shorter Catechism sums up what is required of us, in Question 39 up What is the duty which God requires of man? The duty which God requires of man, is obedience to his revealed will. (Mic. 6:8, 1 Sam. 15:22). Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q42 What is the sum of the ten commandments? The sum of the ten commandments is, To love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbour as ourselves. (Matt. 22:37–40) Year 2 Day 29
Pray (ACts) Read - Acts 14v19-28 Message - Scott Woodburn Those of you of an Edengrove persuasion will know all about Robert Irvine. He was our minister for a short time in the 1800s before making his way to 1st Presbyterian, Augusta, Georgia. If you visit that church you will find a statue of Irvine outside. There's no statue of him in Ballynahinch but once upon a time, some locals did seek to burn an effigy of Irvine before blowing up the remains with gun powder just outside the Market House. I suspect when its all said and done we would much rather have a statue than to have a mob who seeks to do us harm. Unfortunately, that choice is not ours. Paul and Barnabas continued to exercise faithful Gospel ministry. Sinners were saved (v21), Christians were encouraged (v22) and the church was established (v23) and yet as chapter 14 closes, we also discover that in Lystra, Paul had been stoned and dragged outside the city and left for dead (v19). A modern TV preacher might skip that verse. Everyone knows that if we have enough faith then nothing bad will ever happen to us. Right? Wrong. We reject any message that says the Christian life is all about health, wealth and prosperity. Brothers and sisters, as you well know, sometimes the Christian life is incredibly hard. Christians are washed clean in the blood of the Lamb, but that blood doesn't stop them from getting Covid as some have believed over the past year. Christians hear every single day about a cancer diagnosis. They hear that their job is under threat. They stand in graveyards and weep like everyone else. We have been redeemed but Jesus is clear that in this world we will have trouble. I don't want a hall named after me, nor do I want a statue. Equally though, I don't want my effigy to be burnt outside the Market House in Ballynahinch. If I tell the truth of my sinful heart, I want a quiet and peaceful life. I'd prefer no boats to be rocked. I want to celebrate my 100th birthday. I want to be fit and well and playing golf in my 80s like those auld lads on TV. I want to keep my teeth and my hair and hopefully I'll die in my own warm bed after retiring from a 40 year ministry in 1st Presbyterian, Augusta, Georgia. Brothers and sisters, please don't mock me nor pity my foolishness. I'm willing to state that I suspect you would rather have the easy path. Am I right? Perhaps this last wee bit is just for me or perhaps it will speak to many, regardless, hear what a beaten, stoned, left for dead Apostle reminded the church - "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." (v22) The one who has received Christ by faith will not be lost. We will not slip through the Lord's fingers. He will certainly not leave us nor forsake us. We will cross the finish line and we will see glory. Yet also certain is that the road ahead will be beset on all sides with tribulation and heartache. Hurting and wounded child of God may you know the Lord's help and strength today. I know that this day may not be easy but much more importantly - God knows. The One who has begun the work in you, will certainly bring it to completion at the day of Christ. Hear the Word of your Saviour. "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world." (John 16v33) Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q41 Where is the moral law summarily comprehended? The moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten commandments. Year 2 Day 28
Pray (ACts) Read - Mark 1:12-13 Genesis 3:1-9 Message - Alan Burke Today we continue on in Mark’s gospel but as we do so we go back to the book of Genesis. You may wonder what Genesis has to do with this passage, yet what takes place here in Mark and what took place in the garden was a trial of obedience. The first man Adam was tempted by Satan in the form of a serpent in the paradise of Eden and Jesus the second Adam was tempted by Satan in the barren, desolate wilderness. Let’s start with Adam, he was created by God in His image, with the ability that he needed to do what God required (God... made man upright. Eccl 7:29), he had the ability to refrain from sin, he did not have to sin, Satan could not make him, he was not deceived the apostle Paul tell us (1 Tim 2:14), he knew that Satan was tempting him to do something he ought not to do. Adam was surrounded with abundance and God told him, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat” (Gen 2:16). That of course included the tree of life that was also there (Gen 2:9), and since we know that God had freely offered and it all was very good (Gen 1:31) there was no need for Adam to go against God’s word. He was warned how failure to obey would result in a terrible penalty, that of death, for the day he should eat of it he would surely die. The death that God spoke of here was a warning to Adam that the consequence was that of physical as well as spiritual and eternal. We know what happened, Adam gave into the temptation before him and right now we face this terrible penalty, we will all physically die no matter how we pretend that it’ll never happen to us or sanitise our hands and we are born spiritually dead in our trespasses and sin (Eph 2:1). Now think of those verses in Mark, two of them. Jesus after his Baptism was at once’ or ‘immediately’ driven out into the wilderness (depending on what translation you have before you) driven out by the Spirit to the wilderness. The wilderness portrayal in scripture is that of an evil, desolate, wasteland, a hostile environment, a dark place that is the opposite of Eden where the first Adam was tempted. This place where Jesus was led immediately and was the opposite to what God intended for his people. Unlike Adam who was surrounded by the beauty and abundance of Eden and lost, Jesus faced Satan in a place of curse and would come out the other side victorious. Jesus would continue to face temptations throughout his life here on earth yet he was victorious throughout, he was sinless unlike you and I, but on the cross he became sin for us. The apostle Paul explains to us what happened because of Adam’s trespass and Christ’s obedience in Romans 5; 18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous (ESV). Jesus was the second Adam, he was the true and better Adam, he did what Adam did not so we might know life through his obedience and through faith in Christ alone we are made righteous. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q40 What did God at first reveal to man for the rule of his obedience? The rule which God at first revealed to man for his obedience, was the moral law. (Rom. 2:14–15, Rom. 10:5) Year 2 Day 26
Pray (ACts) Read - Acts 14v8-18 Message - Scott Woodburn In Acts 12 a crowd gathers and declares Herod to have the voice of a god and not of a man. If you remember the story then you will know that Herod didn't do anything to change their opinion. Those who oppose Christ, those who are anti-Christ, happily receive the worship and adoration that is due to God alone. As Paul and Barnabas minister in Lystra they heal a man who had never walked in his life. He had been crippled from birth (v8) but at Paul's command he sprang up of the ground and started walking (v10). Needless to say the crowds were amazed and declared boldly that the gods had come down to earth in the form of Paul and Barnabas (v11). They named Barnabas, Zeus (the Greek god of the sky and thunder) and they named Paul, Hermes (the Greek god who acted as a messenger of the gods) (v12). Even the priest of Zeus was convinced and he brought gifts to offer a sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas (v13). I'm sure such adoration was all very flattering but Paul and Barnabas didn't fall into Herod's trap. He was delighted when told how god-like he was but Paul and Barnabas were distraught. They tore their garments in frustration and ran to tell the crowd that they were only men just like them (v15). Even in the midst of the idolatry Paul faithfully proclaimed the Word. In the past God had allowed the nations to walk in their own ways (v16) but even back then the rains from the sky and the fruitful seasons acted as a witness that there was indeed a God (v17). The Lystrans owed the Lord God almighty their praise and Him alone. Sadly even with words of warning Paul and Barnabas could barely stop the people from making a sacrifice to them (v18). John Calvin famously wrote that "the human heart is a perpetual idol factory." In other words we constantly make "gods" who receive our attention and who get our worship. For one man nothing is as important as his career. Another individual lives for pleasures of the flesh. Another gathers wealth and prosperity. Still another rests in self-righteousness. Our hearts deceive us, only Christ is King. Today we mourn alongside our Monarch as she attends the funeral of her beloved husband Philip. I was amazed in the past week when I read that a tribe in Vanuatu will also mourn the Duke. For them Prince Philip was the physical representation of an ancient warrior leader and his spirit will now return to the island of Tanna. This is simply a tragedy. Once more, only Christ is king and everyone will stand before Him. As the world looks to these shores today and mourns the death of a war hero and national servant, I pray that the Gospel of Christ will ring out and be preached clearly. From shore to shore and from sea to shining sea may the nations hear what has been written in this short devotion. Only Christ is king and He alone is able to save to the uttermost all who call upon Him. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q39 What is the duty which God requireth of man? The duty which God requireth of man, is obedience to his revealed will. Year 2 Day 25
Pray (ACts) Read - Mark 1:11, Genesis 22:2,13 Message - Alan Burke The heavens were torn open, the Spirit descended like a dove and then a voice from heaven declared "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (ESV). This announcement from heaven confirms what Mark had told us about Jesus in verse one that this gospel is the good news about Jesus the Son of God. But before we think of this announcement we think of another beloved son. The son of Abraham, Issac. God tested Abraham, telling Abraham to take his son, his only son, Isaac whom he loved and sacrifice him (Gen 22:2). Some call it barbaric, heinous, but it was to give us a picture of what God himself would do. As they went Issac asked where is the lamb for the sacrifice and Abraham answered that God himself would provide the lamb and indeed God did. Not in the ram caught in the thicket (Gen 22:13), rather his beloved sinless Son who was sacrificed for our sin. Jesus came as the sacrificial lamb. He is unlike anyone else who has ever lived, many titles are used in the scripture, Abraham was a friend of God (Isa 41:8), Moses a servant of God (Deut 34:5), Aaron was a chosen one of God (Ps 105:26), David was a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam 13:14), and Paul was an apostle (Rom 1:1). Only Israel (Ex 4:23) and the king as Israel’s leader (Ps 2:7) had been called God’s Son before. But where Israel failed, Jesus takes Israel’s place. This announcement does not teach us that Jesus became the Son of God at baptism, for there was never a time that he was not as John’s Gospel makes clear (Jn 1:1), rather it is the announcement of what already was and is and ever more shall be. Here in these verses all three persons in the Godhead; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirt are present and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory. (1 John 5:7, Matt. 28:19). All three persons all play a part in salvation that is freely offered to sinners and this inauguration event declared to those watching on and ultimately the world that Jesus the Son of God, that he had come and he was here to fulfil all righteousness to bring salvation. This was the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus Christ, that would see him die as the sacrificial lamb, making atonement for our sin. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q38 What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection? At the resurrection, believers being raised up in glory, (1 Cor. 15:43) shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment, (Matt. 25:23, Matt. 10:32) and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoying of God, (1 John 3:2, 1 Cor. 13:12) to all eternity. (1 Thess. 4:17–18) Year 2 Day 24
Pray (ACts) Read - Acts 14v1-7 Message - Scott Woodburn As we make our way through the book of Acts we can be incredibly thankful for the spread of the Gospel. Paul's first missionary journey continues and he finds himself in the city of Iconium. Iconium is today called Konya and is in the great nation of Turkey. The men entered the city and set about preaching in the synagogue (v1). Their preaching was powerful, so much so that a great number of both Jews and Gentiles believed. Yet the place where the Gospel is preached and believed, always comes under the scrutiny of Satan. In Iconium some unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas by poisoning their minds against the traveling preachers (v2). As I've said before in these devotions, Satan rarely rolls his tanks up to the door of the church. He operates in the shadows, in the carpark, in emails and text messages. In Iconium the words of the Jews against the preachers of the Gospel became like poison in the minds of the Gentiles. Eventually the opposition was so bad that a group tried to mistreat and stone Paul and Barnabas (v5). The men had to flee the city and went to other places where they continued to preach Christ (v7). It should be no surprise that from rotten little acorns great poisonous oak trees grow! I wonder how often the work of the Gospel has been hindered in our churches by words of whispered poison? I wonder how many brothers and sisters have wept through the night because of untruths that have been spoken against them? I wonder how often our chats fall into gossip and slander rather than encouragement? Many years ago in a land far, far away I sat in a home and tried to counsel an individual whose words against another person had become poisonous, public and divisive. My memory of that day has largely gone but I do remember utterly failing in changing the person's mind. They didn't want to hear an alternative and they refused to believe that their "enemy" wasn't actually the worst person in the world ever. They wouldn't hear of forgiveness, they didn't want any reconciliation and sadly the poison continued to seep out into the fellowship. Brothers and sisters I beg you to remember that we are not our own! We belong to Jesus Christ and He has not called us into cliques, camps or factions. The words we speak about one another can build up or they can destroy. The poison that leaves our lips into the ears of another has the potential to destroy the work of the Gospel and make no mistake they can impact another mentally and emotionally, opening the door to depression and many other troubles. As our garden centres and coffee shops open, may we be wise to the enemy. As we sip our lattes and eat our scones, may we not slip effortlessly into sinful slander and persuasive poison. If the Gospel is preached in your church then make no mistake, your fellowship will be a target for Satan. Don't offer him any help with a few quiet words in the carpark or grumbling or discontent in Dobbies. "Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." (Colossians 4v6) Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q37 What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death? The souls of believers are, at their death, made perfect in holiness, and do immediately pass into glory; and their bodies, being still united to Christ, do rest in their graves until the resurrection. Year 2 Day 23
Pray (ACts) Read - Mark 1:10 and Isaiah 64:1 Message - Alan Burke In these verse we are given three signs that confirm who Jesus is, the first is heaven being torn open. This is a picture of the sky opening, being ripped apart, darkened room, open the curtains and reveals so much more, this is a revelation of God. We need to go to the book of Isaiah here as those who were gathered from Judea and Jerusalem would have been familiar with how the prophet is moved to instruct God’s people on how to pray for demonstrations of God’s saving power and in this, with eloquence Isaiah pleads with God to make His presence unmistakably clear; he says "Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down…”(Isa 64:1). Rend, tear, the same meaning. The heavens being torn open here is a revelation for all who had eyes to see, hearts to understands. This great tearing open of the heavens at the baptism of Jesus is the moment that they the people of God had been waiting for, the Messiah had indeed come and was being revealed to them, and to the world in an unparalleled manner. This is the announcement of God’s saving activity. This imagery of being torn is used in one other instance in Mark’s Gospel, one that no doubt that we are familiar with as the temple curtain (Mk 15:38) is torn in two from top to bottom. In both cases these are barriers being removed between God and man, barriers being torn open, torn apart, supernatural in their occurrences that reveal Jesus as the Son of God. A tear in the curtain at his death at the crucifixion signified that he accomplished his ministry and a tear in the heavens at his baptism signified the beginning of his ministry, this is the glory of the incarnation that God revealed himself to us. The barriers are torn down and torn open, and God is now in our midst. At that moment the Spirit descended on Jesus like a dove which marks the beginning of a new creation, the coming of the Spirit signifies a news creation a turning point in the history of salvation, this was a new beginning. Before we go any further, I want to draw something to your attention, in Mark’s Gospel there are only six references from beginning to end about the Spirit. Yet three of them are here in chapter one at the beginning, verse eight which we thought about last week, verse ten that we have just thought about, and verse twelve that we will think about next week. Half of the references to the Spirit in this opening chapter. Why? Because Mark wants to make it clear to us, right from the beginning that the Spirit is essential in the ministry of Jesus, and that Jesus when his work here is done will give the Holy Spirit to those who are his. And there is something significant that happens here, this new beginning matters, this start of the ministry of Jesus and the coming of the Spirit matters, as Jesus at his ascension would give us the Holy Spirit to dwell in us (Acts 2). No longer do we need to go to the temple in Jerusalem which was signified was the temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom, instead the Spirit of God dwells in the believer, as we are baptised by the Spirit. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q36 What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification? The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification, are, assurance of God’ s love, peace of conscience, (Rom. 5:1–2,5) joy in the Holy Ghost, (Rom. 14:17) increase of grace, (Prov. 4:18) and perseverance therein to the end. (1 John 5:13, 1 Pet. 1:5) Year 2 Day 22
Pray (ACts) Read - Acts 13v44-52 Message - Scott Woodburn As a preacher when you are invited back to speak it is a tremendous encouragement and so Paul and Barnabas accepted the invitation to preach again on the next Sabbath day. Amazingly, this time round, almost the whole city gathered to hear Paul preach (v44). Unfortunately this news didn't go down too well with everyone. Out of jealously many Jews began to contradict Paul's preaching and to verbally abuse him (v45). Paul's response to their antics is powerful. He tells his critics that the Gospel came to them first as "was necessary" (v46a). God had not forgotten the Jewish people. Christ came first to the Jew and so the Gospel was preached among the Jews before it went anywhere else. But the Jews have forcefully pushed the Gospel aside and therefore they have deemed themselves unworthy of salvation. So the Gospel will now go to the Gentiles. The Lord has set Paul apart for this work and Isaiah 49v6 (v47) is fulfilled. Salvation will be brought to the ends of the earth. The Gentiles rejoice at this news and as many who were appointed to salvation believed (v48). Indeed the Word continued to spread throughout the region (v49) causing great joy among the disciples (v52). The Jews however stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas which resulted in them being driven out of the district (v50). The men respond by shaking the dust off their feet (v51). What did Paul and Barnabas mean by such an action? To shake the dust off your feet was a sign of judgement. Paul was saying to his critics that no trace of his ministry would be left, even the dust from his feet would be left behind. The Apostle was signifying that his critics had heard the Gospel, they had rejected the Gospel and the responsibility for their condemnation was their own. It has always been this way. To some the Gospel is the sweetest of honey upon the lips. To others it is disgusting, an offense, a disgrace. It is imperative that we listen well to the Gospel. To repent and believe the Gospel is the required response which will see you rejoice in the heavenly courts for eternity. To hear it and reject it will see you damned to the horrors of hell. So one and all...hear this...Christ died for sin and was raised again to life for our justification. Here is the Gospel. Heed it and believe it, lest you too find yourself with nothing but dust. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q35 What is sanctification? Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness. |
Alan
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