#22 | Take Time to Think
Read: Acts 13:13-41
Meditate on your own:
- What are the main sections of Paul’s sermon? How does Paul tie the main sections of his sermon together?
- What is Paul arguing in his sermon? How does he use Scripture to strengthen his argument? (If you have time, read the context of the verses he quotes.)
- How does Paul’s argument lead to his appeal in verses 38-41?
- What verse/phrase in this text stands out to you?
- What is its purpose in the sermon? Why does Paul say it when he does?
- What truth about God or mankind can you draw from this?
- Where else is this truth seen in Scripture?
- How is this truth good news for you and others? Who needs to hear it?
- What does this truth reveal about your own heart?
- What are some ways you can respond to the truth of this passage? Is there something you need to repent of? What do you need to ask God for? What can you thank/praise God for?
Consider
Our lives are full of problems. But our biggest problem is our natural inclination to decide for ourselves what is best and chart our own course instead of obeying God’s law and trusting what he says is the path to life.
Essentially, everyone tries to be like God by doing as they personally see fit (cf. Gen. 3:5; Judg. 21:25). The Bible calls this sin, and it corrupts our relationships with each other and the created world and keeps us from enjoying life with God both now and forever.
What’s more, God must judge every sin, and ultimately, the payment for sin is death. But it gets worse, for sin is also depicted as a force that holds us as willing captives. We are each bound to our sinful nature that lures and entices us to sin, and we gladly do what it says and so heap condemnation on ourselves, because we have bought the lie that what we are doing is best.
To make matters worse, we would need an infinite amount of time to pay our just sentence for sinning against an infinite God and people made in his image, and that’s if we stopped sinning right now! We are stuck, and without help, we are doomed. We need someone to break us free from the chains of sin, grab us by the hand, and lead us out of this darkness. In the Old Testament, God promised a king who would do just that — a Savior King who would sit on the throne of David forever. He would rule over Israel and the nations and would lead them all to delight in God and obey his law as a royal priesthood and a holy nation. Moreover, he would represent the people of God and would ultimately stand in their place by bearing their sins in himself and dying as a sacrifice for sin on their behalf. Jesus’ resurrection emphatically declared
that he is that king! (Acts 13:23, 32; cf. Rom. 1:4) He is the Savior King we desperately need. He is the Suffering Servant King of Isaiah 49-55 which Paul quotes in Acts 13:34. He died in the place of sinners, but he did not stay dead because death cannot hold a sinless man! He broke the power of sin and so removed the sting of death (1 Cor. 15:56).
Now, he offers forgiveness and freedom from the power of sin to everyone who would confess and turn from their sins and trust in his finished work alone to free them. If you have not accepted this offer of forgiveness and freedom in Jesus, talk to someone about what is holding you back.
If you have, what are you tempted to trust in to free you from sin’s power? What sins are you tempted to accept as, “Just the way you are,” instead of believing the promise that in Christ “sin will no longer be your master” (Rom. 6:14)?
Pray:
Use the acronym IOUS, turning the prayers of the Psalmist into your own.
Incline my heart to you and not to prideful gain or any false motive!
Psalm 119:36
Open my eyes to behold wonderous things out of your Word.
Psalm 119:18
Unite my heart to fear your name.
Psalm 86:11
Satisfy me with your steadfast love.
Psalm 90:14
