“Acts 13:44-52”

Sunday, January 17, 2016

“The next Sabbath nearly the whole city assembled to hear the word of the Lord. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, and were blaspheming. Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, ‘It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, “I have placed You as a light for the Gentiles, that You may bring salvation to the end of the earth.”’ When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region. But the Jews incited the devout women of prominence and the leading men of the city, and instigated a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. But they shook off the dust of their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”

---End of Scripture verses---

“When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed” (verse 48). This is one of the favorite verses of the people who believe that God predestines certain individuals to be saved and predestines all others to be lost. When Paul referenced Isaiah 49:6 and said, “I have placed you as a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the end of the earth,” the Gentiles who heard this were jubilant. As many of them who had been “appointed to eternal life believed.” But how had they been appointed to eternal life? Was this something that God did against their will? And since God “desires all people to be saved” (1 Timothy 2:4), is this something that God did against His OWN will? Of course the answer to both these questions is “NO”.

First lets consider what Paul said to the Jews in the audience who were “contradicting the things spoken by Paul, and were blaspheming” (verse 45). Paul told these rebellious people that, “you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life” (verse 46). These people judged themselves unworthy of the message that Paul had been preaching to them, so they were rejected by God. They were lost because of their own faithless hearts and shameful actions, not because God had determined before time that those individuals would be lost. They put themselves in that dreadful position because of their thoughts and their behavior. The same is true with the receptive Gentiles in the audience. When they heard the inspired revelation of God, they “began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord” (verse 48). The difference between those who were accepted (appointed) and those who were rejected was the condition of their hearts. The receptive Gentiles “heard the word in an honest and good heart” (Luke 8:15). The soil was primed and ready for the seed of the word of God, and it produced much fruit.

The only thing predetermined by God is that only people with willing and receptive hearts can come to Him, because only those kinds of people are going to be properly affected by the living word of God. We read a similar statement in John 1:11-12 that makes this truth much more clear. “He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.” Receiving the word of God is what “gives you the right” to become children of God. That is the precondition. The thing that has been “preordained” by God is not the individual person. It is the type of heart that is necessary to receive His word of salvation.

One other point on this subject. The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 13:1, “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.” That word “established” or maybe “ordained” in your version of the Bible, is the exact same word rendered “appointed” in Acts 13:48. Does anyone believe that God predetermines who the individual government officials are for each principality in the world? If so, does that mean that God hand-selected Adolph Hitler to be ruler over Germany in the 1930’s and 40’s? Well of course He didn’t do that. God established governmental rule, but He doesn’t choose the maniacs who sometimes ascend to places of preeminence. In the same way, God has foreordained a plan for mankind to be saved, but He doesn’t handpick the people would will choose to believe and obey that plan. We all have been given the free will to accept God’s offer or to reject it. The choice is always up to us!

Consider the invitation of Jesus himself: “Come to Me, ALL who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." The invitation is for ALL. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOEVER believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16).

Please read Acts 14:1-18 for tomorrow.

Have a blessed Lord’s Day!

-Louie Taylor

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