Skip to main content

Acts 10:34 - 43

By

Since life is short and uncertain and eternity is forever, the most important question one should know is, “How can I be saved?” How can I know for certain that I am right with God?

Peter and the other apostles knew that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by our good works or efforts. In this passage, Peter’s reiterates that:

1. Salvation is not based on national identity nor is it based on good works.

Peter begins his sermon by saying, “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation, the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him” (10:34-35). The application for us is that people from any background are on equal footing when it comes to receiving the gospel. God does not show partiality.

2. Salvation centres on the person and work of Jesus Christ.

The Bible plainly declares that we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23).

How comforting it is to know that God took our sin and laid it on Jesus, who had no sin of His own (Isa. 53). Because He is God, His death has immeasurable value; because He is man, His death is the perfect substitute for the sins of humans.

Isn’t it urgent for us to talk about this Jesus? Salvation spreads to others through the faithful proclamation of God’s appointed witnesses. Peter repeatedly emphasizes this point. He says, “We are witnesses of all the things He did” (10:39). He repeats that they were witnesses of His resurrection, chosen beforehand by God (10:41). He adds that Jesus ordered them to preach to the people and testify about Jesus as the coming Judge (10:42). And, he adds how all the prophets bear witness of Jesus as the One we must believe in to receive forgiveness of sins (10:43).

The point for us is that if God has saved us from our sins, then He has appointed us as witnesses to others of the salvation that is available through Jesus Christ.

3. Salvation comes to everyone who believes in the name of Jesus.

Believing in the name of Jesus is specific and personal. To believe in Jesus means that I believe He is the Lord who gave Himself on the cross for my sins. I believe in the promise of God, that whoever believes in Him receives eternal life as God’s gift, not based on any human merit, but only on God’s free grace. To believe in Jesus means that I no longer rely on anything in myself to commend myself to God. Rather, I trust only in what Jesus did on the cross as my hope for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Do you believe in this powerful name of Jesus?

Suggested prayer

Dear Heavenly Father

Thank you for this gift of salvation. Increase my faith and confidence in you to share this message of the free grace of God that can save anyone from their sins. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Danger of Spiritual Infancy (Hebrews 5:11 - 6:12)

By
Have you met people who refuse to grow up? There are some adults who prefer to remain as children because they do not want to take on adult responsibilities. Not only is immature behaviour unpleasant to observe or deal with, the consequences are often destructive. In Hebrews 5:11-14, the writer expresses his frustration that some members of the church were refusing to grow into spiritual maturity. They were no longer trying to understand God’s word (v 11). Instead of taking on the responsibility of teaching others as they themselves had been taught, they needed to be taught the basics all over again (v12). Therefore, they were unable to take on “solid food” which is for mature Christians, and they were not able to distinguish good from evil (v14) or to understand teaching about righteousness (v13). Spiritual maturity is a necessary part of our walk with God. Remaining as a spiritual infant means that you are not good at discerning right from wrong and you will have a hard time maintain
Post a Comment
Read more

A prophet prophesies and the church fully obeys (Acts 11:27- 12:4)

By
During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) 29 The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul. 12 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3 When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. 4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. When Jewish believers from Cyprus (Europe) and Cyrene (Liby
Post a Comment
Read more

THE BLESSINGS OF HIS NAME (Numbers 6:22 - 27

By
I find this interesting because I remember listening to Pastor Betty’s message for 2021, and it was on the same Benediction Blessing verses. And today’s Scripture reading is exactly the same, and I am sure the Holy Spirit wants to remind us of “The Blessings of His Name” for 2022. Today, our mobile phones are loaded with New Year wishes, TV and radio personalities wish into microphones and cameras – we hear them from so many different sources. Carefully note what God tells us: “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them, The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you; The LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace.’ So, they will put My name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” (Numbers 6:23-27) In this way, God places His all-important NAME on us, His people. A comparison would be that of signing on a cheque. An unsigned check is void and worthless until the owner ‘s “name” has been pl
Post a Comment
Read more