This morning I was reading Acts 17 and again reminded of the amazing mystery of Christmas that has now been revealed. In the "B.C." years, people (mainly the Jews) looked for a coming Messiah that would restore God's rule. The mystery was revealed in Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Read Paul's inspired words:
The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” ~Acts 17:30-31
The Jews experienced a period of "ignorance" or mystery in which they did not fully understand what the the prophets spoke. For example, reading Isaiah 53 prior to the coming of Jesus could have been understood very differently than after Jesus (and these words were inspired 700 years before Christ!). "But now" God commands all people everywhere to repent. There is no exception period any longer because we didn't know. There is a coming day on which all will be judged. The standard of our judgment is Christ. Anyone who meets the standard of Christ will be restored to eternal fellowship with God in Heaven. Anyone falling short of the standard of Christ will be eternally separated in conscience punishment for failing to meet God's standard.
How can we meet the standard of Christ?! He was perfect. He never sinned. I can't go an hour a day without some sinful thought or action. In comes the beauty of the gospel!
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” ~Romans 10:9-13
Here is a very simple recap of this passage:
1. IF you confess Jesus is Lord
2. AND believe God raised him from the dead
3. You will be saved
4. There is now no distinction between Jews and Gentiles
5. Everyone who calls on Jesus will be saved.
Note the conditional "if" and then the promise of salvation stressed twice! Praise God that the Mystery of Christmas has been revealed in Jesus Christ, my risen Lord and Savior!
Merry Christmas to all! May the Spirit help you understand the words of God so that you too may experience salvation through the revealed mystery of Jesus Christ. I am always willing and eager to help any of you reading this better understand salvation in Jesus Christ. You may contact me via email at joshua.flowers@hotmail.com.
2 comments:
In acts 17 when Paul is in Athens and says in verse 30 the times of ignorance God overlooked but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. Paul is speaking to the areopagus which included epicureans and stoic philosophers and i am sure there where some Jews there but the message was for the greeks. It is their edu. lifestyle, and culture that God is calling ignorant. Which is why in the passages before he explains who God is. So it is not a period of ignorance for Jewish people. Lets discuss more if you think I am not on the right track
I didn't mean to make such a distinction between Jews and Gentiles. Paul was most definitely speaking primarily to Gentiles at the Areopagus. However, to a degree both Jews and Gentiles were in a time of ignorance prior to Christ. The Jews certainly had the prophets which provided them potentially more insight into the coming Messiah, but they were still to a degree ignorant of who, what, when, and how the Messiah would come. Paul uses the idea of mystery, which I am equating with ignorance, in Romans, Ephesians, and Colossians to refer to the period of time prior to the revelation of the Messiah Jesus Christ. Again, all three of these letters are addressed to primarily Gentile churches, but I do believe Jews were also ignorant to a degree. The Greek lifestyle, education, and culture may have contributed to their ignorance of Christ (similar to the way American affluence contributes to our culture's ignorance of God), but I believe the primary ignorance Paul is addressing in Acts 17 is their ignorance of Jesus Christ. I apologize for the possible confusion. The mystery or ignorance is primarily about Christ. Who was ignorant is likely tertiary to Paul's address in Athens. I hope this helps clarify my thoughts a little. Let me know if you disagree or have additional thoughts.
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