Article for May 26, 2024
Acts 2:22–23 22“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
Murder is being committed every day by the hands of lawless men and lawless women. We have leaders who command murder to take place. Not unlike David who tried to kill a man for the man’s wife, and maybe for even less reasons people are being murdered all over this world. And what is very sad is that children, babies, the unborn, and elderly are among those being murdered. It is a sad world that justifies its sins.
The world is not a nice place to live in forever, though the world might have niceties within it. Some say the world is not so bad, but we see the tears of many who suffer, many who think they don’t fit in, and many who cry for the ones who were murdered, injured, or raped and abused. A bleak and sobering sight that is becoming too common in a world who claims they are a post God world.
Has the world made the correct choice to abandon God. Has some of our churches made the correct choice in abandoning God’s word? The world says that God is just an idea to explain what the world cannot. The world says that religion is old fashion, and they still call Christianity a religion. The world does not realize that religion is manmade, and Christianity is God made.
We misuse what we know, put too much faith in unproven theories, and the world forces upon us what it thinks we should desire, and wonders why many are drowning in their tears. The world blames the good and says it must be the fault of those who hold on to this belief of a God who is a creator and a savior.
Acts 2:24–26 24God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25For David says concerning him, “‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; 26therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope.
There was a book I read in junior high during study hall. It was titled “Death be not Proud”. The book was written by a father who lost his son to cancer of the brain. I don’t know why I read the book; I don’t like non-fiction. But I read it, and it has stuck with me all these years. Hear what Peter is saying to the people of Jerusalem. God raised Jesus Christ up from death because death could not claim victory over His one and only begotten Son.
Because of Jesus Christ death cannot be proud or claim any victory. Would that we realized that our God, Jesus Christ defeated death. For Jesus life came and because of Jesus, life even for us will come again. We will live in a real life in a real body, on a real earth, under a real heaven, and with the everlasting heaven the very home of the real God.
David knew of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and David knew of his own resurrection. Even though David sinned, David knew he was forgiven. And David knew this forgiveness also brought sanctification from the Holy Spirit. And we can all know the sanctification the Holy Spirit gives also gives us hope.
Acts 2:27–28 27For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. 28You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
The Holy Spirit who sanctifies us, that is, He makes us Holy, gives us the sure hope of never being abandoned to Hades by our loving God. As it was made known to David it is made known to us. The path of life is Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Our hope is Jesus Christ who always has a presence in our lives. Even when we fall Jesus is here to pick us back up and brush us off and set us on His path time and time again.
Acts 2:29–31 29“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.
Our time is now, let us live in this time of Hope. Jesus was the first born of from the dead. Defeating death Jesus saw no corruption and saved us from our shame. Though we will take the same path as Jesus we can be assured that Jesus is guiding us all the way as He leads us through death, resurrection, and to our eternal home with Him.
David realized the greatness of God as he prayed and wrote Psalms to share his faith with all who read them. God has sworn an oath to many whom we read about in God’s word. God even swears an oath of salvation to us the forgiven, the believers in His Son Jesus Christ. Amen.
Written By Pastor Curtis May
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