Thought for the Week: Sermon on the Sabbath II

Paul begins phase two of his sermon set in that present day. Of course these Jews are hundreds of miles removed from the scene of the first church, but they are also 20 or more years past the time. I have no doubt they were aware of the things Paul will talk about. He repeats the phrase about "Ye men of Israel," but this time talks about the stock of Abraham and includes "whoever of you fears God." This could well be some who have been brought into Israel as proselytes.

Nonetheless, they were in the synagogue and worshipping God as they had been doing. Now Paul speaks to those who fear God and opens the subject of salvation to them. He tells of Jesus but does not mention Him here by name. He simply says those in Jerusalem who should have known the Scriptures read every Sabbath did not understand the prophecies nor how they were fulfilled in Him. These condemned Jesus without a true cause and brought Him to Pilate to have Him killed. When they had done all these things in fulfillment of the Scripture they crucified Him. Taking Him down from the cross, they laid Him in a sepulcher but God raised Him from death. He lived among them many days. There were witnesses to these facts. Paul gladly bears witness to these things himself.

God has fulfilled His promises to us, as the children of those to whom He had made His promises. One of the prophecies made, found in the second Psalm was, "Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee." Prophecy further states, "Thou shalt not suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption." The evidence of this is Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day. King David died and his grave is found in the land of his kingdom. So, it could not be David to whom this prophecy was kept. It was Jesus, the Son of David.

We have these passages of Scripture to help us understand Paul's sermon. I have a feeling there were other supporting Scriptures and Prophecies he used. I think I would have and there are plenty of fulfilled prophetic Scriptures available to support Paul's message. The conclusion of the message is: "This Man is being preached as the means of forgiving sins. Those who believe in Him are justified. The Law cannot justify." The warning is that those who despise and doubt God's salvation through Jesus will perish.

Clearly Paul wants his hearers to accept his message. He wants them to experience salvation and justification. The meeting ended. Some of the "men of Israel and those who feared God" followed Paul and Barnabas asking them to continue with them and give more information. Beside that Gentiles who were nearby also asked for continued information from Paul, hoping he would preach again the next Sabbath.

This was likely to happen for it was the reason Paul had come on this missionary journey and brought this Sabbath Sermon in the first place. Paul says at other times in other places he wants all Israel to be saved and reconciled to God. Count on it.