Romans 1:4
Romans 1:4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,
The many prophets and founders of all the false religions throughout history share one thing in common. They all died when their bell tolled and stayed dead just like everyone who has ever lived except for one person. This proved they were peddling a false, powerless religion. In contrast, Jesus Christ demonstrated, through many miracles and his resurrection from the dead, that he was indeed the Messiah that the prophets of the Old Testament predicted would come and deliver his people. Jesus told his disciples exactly what was going to happen with His crucifixion before it happened and then met with them after his resurrection to prove he had risen and to give them their instructions. In addition to these Apostles, He was seen by over 500 witnesses. Paul, as recorded in Acts 17:30-31, explained why Jesus was raised from the dead:
“The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
God demonstrated His power by declaring that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and He is commanding all people everywhere to repent. Notice that Paul does not say that God is inviting and asking people to let him come into their hearts. No, God is commanding people everywhere to repent and believe because the times of ignorance is over.
4 comments:
Thanks. It is too easy to appeal for repentance instead of saying our Lord commands it.
Yes, it puts a different light on repentance!
Repentance - the dead coming to life through the preaching of the message of Christ's resurrection. The message accompanied by The Spirit's regenerating influences brings one from the power of the devil and sin into the Kingdom of the Son, wherein one experiences, for the most part (Gal. 5:17), freedom from sin and slavery to Christ.
Amen, Jazzy!
Post a Comment