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.
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