Acts
15:1-35 - The Gospel is for all
nations. In the Old Testament, we catch a glimpse of this (Genesis
12:1-3; Psalms 96:1-3;100:1; Isaiah 45:22). Here, we have the Gospel
made clear. Peter says, ‘We shall be saved through the grace of the
Lord Jesus’ (11). Paul says, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will
be saved’ (16:31). This is the Gospel: ‘By grace you have been saved
through faith’ (Ephesians 2:8). Together with the Good News concerning
salvation, there is also an ‘exhortation’ to go on with the Saviour
(31). In this call to submit to the Lord, we hear the word, ‘abstain’
(20,29). Does this sound negative? It is a positive call to be set apart for God
- ‘saved... for good works...’ (Ephesians 2:8-10). Christ is our
Saviour. He is also our Lord. In salvation and surrender, we find our
true joy (31).
15:36-16:40 - Notice the importance of prayer in the advance of the Gospel. They were looking for a prayer meeting when Lydia was saved (13-14). They were going to a prayer meeting when the girl was saved (16-18). They were having a prayer meeting when the jailer was saved (25-34).
They had gone to Philippi ‘to preach the Gospel to them’ (10). Even
when they were ‘in chains’, the Gospel proved itself to be ‘the power of
God for salvation to everyone who has faith’ (Ephesians 6:20; Romans
1:16). ‘The Word of God is not bound’. It is ‘living and active’.
‘Sharper than any two-edged sword’, it is ‘the sword of the Spirit’ (2
Timothy 2:9; Hebrews 4:12; Ephesians 6:17). Do you want people to ask
the Salvation question and heed the Gospel answer (30-31)? ‘Pray at all
times in the Spirit... with all perseverance’ (Ephesians 6:18).
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