30th Mar 26 | 13:54
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Luke 24 36-49 COMMISSIONED TO BE HIS WITNESSES 15 29Apr2022 Luke 24 46-49 Understanding of the gospel
📖 Luke 24:36-49
15 – 29Apr2022 – Understanding of the gospel - Luke 24:36-49 - COMMISSIONED TO BE HIS WITNESSES - Bible reading: I Corinthians 15:1-4
“Thank You, Lord Jesus, for the wonderful plan of salvation that You have made available to us. We are reconciled with You and all that is needed for us has been provided and set in place. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.”
The Lord explained to the disciples who He was. He helped the disciples understand and comprehend the Scriptures. The study that the Lord did with the disciples was vast, for the study covered the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms. As we look further, we see that some details of the study have been given.
Luke 24:46-49 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, (47) and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (48) And you are witnesses of these things. (49) Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."
The Lord explained that it was necessary for Christ to suffer and rise from the dead. This is the core message of the gospel.
I Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, (2) by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.(3) For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, (4) and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
Apostle Paul is saying that this was the core gospel message, which he received, which he preached, which people received, by which were saved, and on which they stood.
The core gospel message consisted that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, He was buried, and Christ rose again according to the Scriptures.
This is the gospel message that has remained through history. This core gospel message does not and will not change. This is the gospel message that brings man and creation to be reconciled with God. We have been reconciled with God because of this gospel message and this is the message that we share with people around us.
For the gospel message to be realised, we must believe. Believing requires that we identify with the death of Christ, His burial and His resurrection.
The disciples were endued with the fullness of the Holy Spirit and they shared the gospel message, boldly. It is here that we see the beginning of the disciples being His witnesses. This is a strong statement by Peter because the disciples had comprehended the Scriptures.
Acts 2:32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.
We see the impact of the gospel message.
Acts 2:36-39 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." (37) Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (38) Then Peter said to them, " Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (39) For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."
It was necessary for Jesus to suffer and then rise from the dead because this gospel message would impact the lives of people.
We see the message of Peter and John to the Jews in the temple.
Acts 3:22-26 For Moses truly said to the fathers, 'THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN. HIM YOU SHALL HEAR IN ALL THINGS, WHATEVER HE SAYS TO YOU. (23) AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERY SOUL WHO WILL NOT HEAR THAT PROPHET SHALL BE UTTERLY DESTROYED FROM AMONG THE PEOPLE.' (24) Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. (25) You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, 'AND IN YOUR SEED ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.' (26) To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities."
The suffering and the resurrection of Jesus were necessary for the Jews to see that they would now be beneficiaries of God’s covenant with Abraham. It was not through the Law that they inherited the blessing but it was through Christ.
Galatians 3:18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise. Galatians 3:29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Thought to ponder
It is the suffering and the resurrection of Jesus that gave us the core gospel.