Acts 13:48-52
What happens to a family, a nation, a church, that forgets
its history? It begins to drift into
areas without understanding of the price that was paid so that it could be the
people of that family, nation, or church.
We are easily conquered by those who want power and control of those who
are wise in their own minds and as a people we have no understanding of how we
became who we are. I have come to
believe that the Church has looked past the “Cross” and forgotten the price
that was paid; they have forgotten how they became the “Church.”
So let us look back into history, for God has revealed His
plan to us, and it began with the Jewish people, the chosen people of God. Look with me at Deuteronomy 7:6, “For you are a people
holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for
his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the
earth.” These words came from
Moses as he walked with God, and as he was instructed by God to share with the
Jewish people coming out of Egypt, but with them came both blessing and curses,
as seen in Deuteronomy 7:9-11.
And God’s plan was that through the Jews all men would come
to understand His love for mankind found in John 3:16, and yet we find that the
jealousy that is common in man to love religious tradition and power over
others brought with it envy and distrust, along with fear of change to the
customs of the Jewish people. They said
no to the message of the “Cross” that was given to them by the apostle Paul. Now when the Jewish leader of Antioch of
Pisidia rejected the gospel, this is what doctor Luke recorded; “And Paul and
Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be
spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of
eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has
commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may
bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” (Acts 13:46-47 ESV) Gentiles and those of us who read Paul’s words
rejoiced, and glorified the words of the Lord, Yes, at a time we did, but do we
now, or have we forgotten how we were grafted into the Vine, that is Christ,
Him living in us, the hope of glory?
Jesus had this to say about the Vine; “I am the true vine, and my Father is the
vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and
every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in
me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides
in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
(John 15:1-4 ESV) But
the history of us, the non Jew, being allowed into the Vine needs to be visited
often, and we must understand that it has not one thing to do with your
religious beliefs, unless they come on line with the Cross and the blood that
has the power to cover sin, all sin, the worst of sin.
This is the Holy Spirit speaking through the lips of the
apostle Paul, and this is history of how we became the Church; “So I ask, did they stumble (referring to the
Jewish people)
in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass
salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.” (Romans 11:11 ESV) Emphasis added.
And this is the rest of the history found in Romans
11:17-21, “But
if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot,
were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the
olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is
not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Then you will
say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true.
They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through
faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural
branches, neither will he spare you.” If
you are part of the Church that is your graft, that is your history, it is not
founded in a denomination but in the cross and the blood of Jesus that covered
sin.
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
No comments:
Post a Comment