Acts 13:13-34: Who Will Save Us?

Presented to TSA Corps 614 Regent Park, 18 October 2015 
by Captain Michael Ramsay

Some review questions for us:

1. Who wrote Acts?
2. What Gospel did he also write?
3. About how much of the NT do these two works comprise?[1]

The General Election is coming up very quickly - tomorrow, October 19 -  and I encourage all of you, if you haven't already, to vote AFTER spending some time in prayer, fasting, and study to determine which candidate you should support in your riding. The Canadian Council of Churches has a VERY good election resource that I invite you to look at. I have a few copies of it at the back. I will also re-post it on-line and can email it to people it they like https://www.councilofchurches.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/CCC_FederalElectionResource_FINAL_WEB_REV.pdf . This does seem to be a very significant election. It really does -according to some -seem to be a choice between light and darkness, love and hate, acceptance and rejection. We are encouraged in our pericope today not to reject our Salvation. We are also encouraged to learn, know, and remember who is the ONLY Messiah.

Some more questions for us today:

1. Who is the Messiah? (Jesus)
2. Messiah is a Hebrew word, what is the Greek equivalent? (Christ)
3. What is the Messiah/Christ? What does it mean? What does he do? (Anointed One/King)

This is important. Acts 1:8: " But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Do we know what and where these places are?

Jerusalem was the capital of the united kingdoms of Israel and Judah and later the capital of the southern kingdom of Judah while Samaria was the capital of Israel. The countries of Israel and Judah both ceased to exist as independent nations by 586 BCE. As occupied nations, they were each looking for a saviour; Samaria was looking for prophet, a teacher and many in Judea were looking for a King to deliver them from their occupier and set everything right in the world.[2] Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria were looking for a saviour, a Messiah, the Christ.

One of the key differences between Christianity and Judaism is that contemporary Judaism (like Acts 13:27ff) rejects Jesus and his Kingdom while Christians accept Jesus as King of Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the world.[3] The King has come and he is gone away (sort of) but he is coming back. In both Biblical records and in history we have seen kings do this sort of thing before (cf. Luke 19:11-28). Herod the Great - for one example - who was a king of the Jews, went to the Emperor in Rome in 40 BCE to confirm his victory and authority and then returned to have his realm placed at his feet (cf. Josephus, Antiquities i..358) at which time among his supporters there was much celebration and among his adversaries a certain amount of weeping and gnashing of teeth (cf. Matthew 25).[4] Jesus won the victory between the cross and the empty tomb and Jesus is now in Heaven and he will return tot his realm placed at his feet.[5] Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Romans 14:11).

Some more good news: This has been the longest election campaign in memory. Who is sick and tired of all the hate and attack ads? Who is ready  for this election to be done? Tomorrow, it is done. I hope you vote and vote well but I have some more good news: When Jesus ultimately returns you won't ever have to vote again. You won't ever have another election campaign like this one. You won't ever have to vote again. So vote now while you have the chance! Jesus is King of the world and that is NOT nor should it be nor will it ever be an elected position.[6] We are not asked to choose who we want to rule for eternity, we are only asked do we want to serve the ruler or not. If we do, we are in. If we don't we are out. It's that simple.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ really is that simple. Jesus is the King of the World. He is coming back. If we serve Him we are part of His Kingdom, if we don't we aren't. And Jesus' Kingdom is and is going to be the best of the best of best of the best.[7]

There is an even greater hope embedded in this as well. You will notice that the central part of all Christianity, what the Apostle Paul talks about most and NT relates more than anything else is the resurrection of the dead.[8] This pericope mentions Christ's resurrection more than once (Acts 13:30, 34,35,35). This Kingdom to come is the greatest thing ever and God loves us so much that he doesn't want any of us citizens of heaven to miss its culmination; he cares about us all so much that even people who die before Jesus returns will come back to life so that they can be a part of his Kingdom. All election scandals, attack ads, corruption and the like will be wiped away as the whole world is made anew!

King Jesus - who died and rose from the grave - went to be with the Father in Heaven and He will come back to claim His Kingdom here on earth. At some point (I am not going to get drawn into any amillenial apologetics, rapturous pre-trib, post-trib, or other trivial pursuits here), those of us who die before Jesus returns to sit on His throne will be raised from the dead and invited to be a part of His Kingdom forever - no more elections, just everyone loving God and loving their neighbour (Leviticus 19:18; Mathew 5:43-44, 19:19, 22:39; Mark 12:31-33; Luke 10:27; Romans 13:9-10; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8). These are the basics of early Christian beliefs. And this love for one's neighbour and serving the unelected Jesus as Christ is one reason why some good Christian groups throughout history have actually refused to partake in democracy - because we don't serve the powers and principalities of this age but instead we serve the unelected Messiah, Jesus, the Christ (Ephesians 6:12).

If ruler of this world is not an elected position and Jesus is ruler of this world and He is coming back to set everything straight anyway, why should we vote? What difference will it make? The leaders of the four of the main political parties in Canada have claimed Christianity. Justin Trudeau has a great testimony of growing in his personal relationship with Jesus Christ around the Promotion to Glory of his brother. Thomas Mulclair credits the clergy at his school for teaching him the Christian basics of loving God and loving and taking care of your neighbour. And listen to this quote from Elizabeth May of the Green Party: She said, "We have a moral obligation to our Lord and Father to ensure we don't destroy the creation that was given to us. Through the power of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we can meet this moral obligation." That's a pretty solid proclamation of faith in action. I would probably vote for any of them if they were running in my riding, which they are not.

Even our Prime Minister I think may still attend an Alliance Church; and even in the USA - a nation born of rebellion against God, King and country - today their leaders profess Christ. But how can that be possible? I have been asked more than once in my role as an evangelist, how can servants of the King of the World - Jesus Christ - be attempting to conquer the world in the name of the twin gods of democracy and capitalism?[9] How can they be invading county after country after country after country to further the interests of their own country at the expense of all other countries and still claim to be servants of the King of the World? I am not at all convinced that we can both have this cake and eat it too. I remember being involved in ministry on the streets of downtown Winnipeg years ago and someone asked/told me: 'how can you be a Christian? George Bush is a Christian and look what he's doing!' We had a good conversation but - whether you liked George Bush's presidency or not - the question does arise that has arisen many times in history: why should Christians get drawn into all this? Why should we bother to vote? Our battle, after all is not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers (Ephesians 6:12). The Liberals, NDP, Greens, the Conservatives won't save us.

This is truth. People will let us down. The Messiah does not lead any of these parties and I would caution you about getting drawn into the idea that He does. The prolonged feverish pitch that has overtaken social media and coffee shop conversations since this election began is terrible. You talk to some people and so-and-so is the only chosen one who can deliver us, who can save us from the enemy. Don't get drawn into all that.

Do not vote for the fallacy that a leader of a political party will make everything right. Trudeau cannot walk on water, Mulclair cannot part the seas, May may not add a moment to your life. Harper will let you down. Leaders will disappoint you. Vote and vote well but please don't put your faith in them. As important as this election is, our next Prime Minister will not cause the lame to walk or the blind to see, no matter what their campaign ads tell us; so vote to make this world a better place but remember Salvation comes from Christ alone. Jesus tells us that his followers will love God and love their neighbour. Vote for a candidate in your riding who loves God and loves your neighbour. Jesus tells us that the nations who will be a part of His Kingdom to come - Matthew 25 and elsewhere - will be the ones who take care of the sick, the poor, the widow, the prisoners, and the immigrants. After praying and fasting, vote tomorrow for the person in your riding who most reflects Christ in this way (This is one of the reasons -by the way- that I tend not to vote for proponents of tax-cuts because taxes are the primary way that a society provides for the poor and the needy; cf. Exodus 22:21, 23:9; Leviticus 19:34; Numbers 19:10, 35:15; Deuteronomy 10:18-19, 14:10, 16:11-14, 23:7, 27:19; Isaiah 10:2; Jeremiah 7:6, 22:3; Malachi 3:5; etc.). Vote for Jesus.[10]

But remember whoever wins the election tomorrow is probably not the devil incarnate and they are definitely not the Christ. Vote for someone who will help the less fortunate for Jesus' sake and then hold them accountable but more important that than even: pray, pray, pray! And pay attention to where God is moving in our community and follow the Holy Spirit. The whole book of Acts records what happens when we follow the Holy Spirit in proclaiming Jesus - not Caesar, not the president, not the Prime Minister - as Saviour of the World.  Acts 13:38 tells us that it is only through Jesus that the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed and it is only through Jesus that we can be set free from committing sin (TSA doc 10). Just think, if every Christian talked and posted on social media as much about the love and the forgiveness of sins offered by Jesus Christ as some have spoken about the election, hate, and attack ads in the past few weeks what a different world this would be (cf. Acts 13:38-39). For one, If we spent as much effort promoting God as politics, I imagine every church in this city and country would be full today. So vote tomorrow and vote well but remember: the Gospel of Jesus Christ really is simple. Salvation comes through Christ alone. Jesus is the King of the world. He is coming back. If we serve Him we are part of His Kingdom, if we don't we aren't. Salvation comes from Christ alone. 

As such it is my prayer that we will all spend our lives campaigning for Jesus.

Let us pray.

www.sheespeak.com

---

---

[1] Luke, 2) Luke, 3) 30%

[2] Cf. Robert W. Wall, ‘Acts’ The New Interpreter’s Bible 10, (Nashville, Tenn.: Abingdon Press, 2002), 191.

[3] Cf. The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Pradis CD-ROM:Acts/Exposition of Acts/Part II. The Christian Mission to the Gentile World (12:25-28:31)/Panel 4-The First Missionary Journey and the Jerusalem Council (12:25-16:5)/C. At Antioch of Pisidia (13:14-52)/2. Paul's synagogue sermon at Antioch (13:16-41), Book Version: 4.0.2

[4] Cf. R. Alan Culpepper, Luke (NIB 8: Nashville, Tenn.: Abingdon, 1995), 363.

[5] Cf. Captain Michael Ramsay, 'Luke 19:11-27: Time, Talent and Treasure Series, Part 2: Employee Evaluation: What About the Slaves?' (Swift Current, SK: Sheepspeak, 19 December 2010) On-line: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2010/09/luke-1911-27-time-talent-and-treasure.html

[6] Cf. William H. William, ‘Acts’, Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, (Atlanta, Georgia: John Knox Press, 1988), 125.

[7] Cf. N.T. Wright, Acts for Everyone Part 2 (Louisville, Kentucky, USA: WJK, 2004), 16.

[8] Cf. William H. William, ‘Acts’, Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, (Atlanta, Georgia: John Knox Press, 1988), 125.

[9] Cf. N.T. Wright, Acts for Everyone Part 2 (Louisville, Kentucky, USA: WJK, 2004), 14.

[10] Cf. Captain Michael Ramsay, 'Vote for Jesus' in Journal of Aggressive Christianity, Issue 57, October 2008 – November 2008 (pp. 27-39). On-line: http://www.armybarmy.com/pdf/JAC_Issue_057.pdf