Acts 13:38-39. “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.”
PREACHED UNTO YOU. “Preached the forgiveness of sins:” what does this mean to me? By the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ alone can this blessing possibly be. No man has the authority to forgive – only He who knows every one; When He says your sins are forgiven, then you really know it is done.
“Continue in the grace of God:” forgiveness is only a start. The grace of God is needed for living, it’s the attraction in a believers’ heart. A truly forgiven person, sincerely wants his Lord to please – And to pass on from him to others, what he in faith has received.
“Hear the word of God:” not some trivial message from men. God through Christ has spoken and the Spirit makes us born again. The word gives assurance to all that what God gave to me is real – And the Holy Spirit Himself, is the believer’s assurance and seal.
“The word of the Lord was published:” this comes from the highest source. This is not something we dare ignore; the Lord’s word has a given course. I can’t take it or leave it on a whim, because it came to me from God – May I never consider the thought to turn from the Word of God.
“Father in heaven, this clear presentation of Thy Word in such a powerful way is a reminder that Thy Word was proclaimed every time Paul spoke. He was clear in the way he applied it and it had the desired result. Tonight, we are going to present the Gospel again in this place. May some of the people here be like the people there when Paul preached: “glad… glorified the Lord… believed… filled with joy.” I ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”