Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Freed from that which the Law of Moses could not free you.

34 And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way, “‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’  35 Therefore he says also in another psalm, “‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’ 36 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, 37 but he whom God raised up did not see corruption. 38 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and by him everyone who believes is freed [3] from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:34-39 (ESV)
 “Through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.” It seems to occupy center stage in Paul’s sermons, the forgiveness of sins. This man frees you from all that you could not be freed by the law of Moses, Paul says.  This would be death, sin, the power of the devil, guilt, shame. This is what Christ came to do, and it ought to be the aim of any sermon preached in the name of Christ.
And that this was the point of Scripture from the very beginning Paul uses the Old Testament and shows how David was a type for the Christ, but failed to be the Christ. The promises offered through David are delivered through Jesus. Jesus rose from the dead. He is the one who has not seen corruption. And in doing this Jesus has shown his victory over death, now he can share that victory with you who believe, and through faith you are freed, from sin, death and the power of the devil, from guilt and shame. It is what Christ came to do. It is what Christ comes to do, wherever two or three are gathered in his name, to hear his word, to receive his baptism, to participate in his body and his blood.


No comments: