And I Beseech You, Brethren, Suffer the Word of Exhortation - Part 1506

"Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." (Hebrews 11:3)

After the first reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, "[Ye] men [and] brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on." Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with [his] hand, said, "Men of Israel, and ye that fear God give audience." (Acts 13:15-16)

As we see in this passage of scripture, apostle Paul rose to the occasion. He did not miss an opportunity to speak of the goodness and mercies of His Lord and Saviour. Educated from the best of educators in his youth, Paul was about to provide a historical account and timeline of the old covenant scriptures, and the giants of faith contained therein, so that no one would be without, and ignorant of the good news gospel of Jesus Christ. ((Hebrews 11:1-40)

Paul spoke to those that dwelt at Jerusalem, and their rulers, "because they knew Him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day. They have fulfilled [them] in condemning [Him]." (Acts 13:26-28; Psalm 66:16; Matthew 10:6; Luke 23:34; Matthew 27:22-23) Paul begins:

"The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought He them out of it. And about the time of forty years, suffered He their manners in the wilderness. And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, He divided their land to them by lot. And after that He gave [unto them] judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.

And afterward they desired a king; and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. And when He had removed him, He raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also He gave testimony, and said, "I have found David the son of Jesse -- A man after Mine own heart -- which shall fulfill all My will." Of this man's seed hath God according to His promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus." (Acts 13:16-23; Numbers 14:34; Deuteronomy 7:1; Joshua 14:1-2; Joshua 19:51; Judges 2:16; I Samuel 3:20; I Samuel 10:20-24; I Samuel 15:23-28; Psalm 89:20; Isaiah 11:1-2; Psalm 132:11; Matthew 1:21-23)

When John first preached (before His coming) the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel, and as John fulfilled his course, he was seen asking, "Who think ye that I am? I AM NOT HE. But behold, there comes One after me, whose shoes of His feet I am not worthy to loose. Men [and] brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you fears God, to you is the Word of this salvation sent." (Acts 13:24-52)

"The Word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ; (He is Lord of all). (Acts 10:36; Acts 2:36; Isaiah 57:19; Romans 10:19-13`; Isaiah 9:6; I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 42:13)

The same Word which was in the beginning with God and was God, and was made flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:1-18)

The same Word of God which we now (through faith) understand framed the worlds ... "so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." (Hebrews 11:3)

Yes, as John so aptly pointed out when He saw Jesus coming -- "Behold, the Lamb of God," (John 1:29) This is your promised Christ. The Messiah which according to the prophets was to come.

Herein, Paul reminded the rulers of the synagogue that even though they found no cause of death in Him -- Jesus -- yet desired they Pilate that He should be slain. "And when they had fulfilled all that was written of Him, they took [Him] down from the tree, and laid [Him] in a sepulchre ... but God raised Him from the dead, and He was seen many days of them which came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses unto the people. And how we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that He hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, "Thou art My Son. This day have I begotten Thee." (Acts 13:27-33; Luke 18:31-33; Acts 1:2-3, 11; Genesis 3:15)

"And as concerning that He raised Him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, He said on this wise, "I will give you the sure mercies of David." Wherefore He saith also in another psalm, "Thou shalt not suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption." For David, after he had served his won generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid upon his fathers, and saw corruption, but He, whom God raised saw no corruption. Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren that through this man is preached unto you forgiveness of sins; and by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts 13:34-39; Psalm 89:28; Isaiah 55:3; Psalms 16:10; Acts 2:29; Jeremiah 31:34)

Why? Because Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. (Revelation 1:8,11)

"In that He saith, a new covenant, He hath made the first old." (Hebrews 8:13)

"And all things are of God who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. To with, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and hath committed unto us the Word of reconciliation." (II Corinthians 5:17-19; John 6:62-63; Romans 8:9-11; Isaiah 43:18; Isaiah 65:17; Romans 5:10-21; Romans 6:3-10; Romans 3:23-26; Isaiah 52:10; Isaiah 53:1, 6-7, 9; Romans 1:17; Romans 3:21; I Corinthians 1:30-31)

"This cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you." (Luke 22:20)

And in this current dispensation of grace, the Lord has made a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. Not according to the covenant that He made with their fathers in the day "that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, which My covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them," saith the Lord, "But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel. After those days," saith the Lord, "I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God and they shall be My people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, "Know the Lord, for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them," saith the Lord, "for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." (Jeremiah 34:31-34; Hebrews 8:8-12; Hebrews 10:16-17; Deuteronomy 1:31; Jeremiah 32:40; Jeremiah 24:7; Jeremiah 30:22; Jeremiah 32:38; II Corinthians 3:3; Psalm 40:8; John 6:45; I Corinthians 2:10; I John 2:20; Acts 10:43; Acts 13:39; Romans 11:27; Ezekiel 36:27-28)

Thus saith the Lord. Stand in the offering plate.