The Gospel's Presentation (Acts 28:23-24)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 10/10/2018 10:09 AM

My Worship Time                                                                      Focus:  The Gospel’s Presentation

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 28:23-24

            Message of the verses:  “23 When they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening. 24 Some were being persuaded by the things spoken, but others would not believe.”

            The Jewish leaders set a day to hear what Paul had to say and so when they came to him we see that he spent the whole day trying to persuade them concerning Jesus.  He also was testifying about the kingdom of God.  This is something that is interesting and perhaps difficult to understand exactly what the “kingdom of God is.”  John MacArthur writes “The ‘kingdom of God’ encompasses God’s rule in the sphere of salvation, not just the future millennial reign of Jesus Christ.  ‘Testifying about the kingdom’ meant preaching the gospel, the good news that God sovereignly calls sinners hopelessly caught in the realm of Satan, death, and destruction to enter the realm of salvation, life, and glory.  Paul proclaimed the truths concerning Christ, the way of salvation, and righteous living (Rom. 14:17).  He pointed the way for them to enter the sphere of salvation end enjoy fellowship with God.”

            Paul used what was written in the OT concerning the coming Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ as this at that time was that entire he had, as the entire Bible would not be complete, which included the NT until around the end of the first century.  It was because that the Jewish leaders knew their Bible (Our OT), that this would not be a problem for them. 

            Just as in many cases that we saw when Paul was on his missionary journeys, going from town to town to preach the gospel, going to the Jews first we find that only a few were persuaded that what Paul was preaching to them concerning salvation through the OT, that only a few were being persuaded by what he has spoken.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Ruth.”

Today’s Bible question:  “What two things were on the hem of the priest’s garment?”

Answer in our next SD.

10/10/2018 10:23 AM