Text: Acts 26:13-18 – Jesus to Paul: I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’
Main Idea: God knew exactly what your problem was He provided a solution.
I. From Darkness to light
The details and process of our coming to Christ are different, but the essence is the same. “We were each and individually called by God “out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
People believe all sorts of things about God, or they don’t believe in God at all. But for us as Christians our faith is quite simple. One word: Jesus!
Paraphrase of Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:15-20
[Jesus] is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature… In [Jesus] all things were created… He existed before all things, and He is the unseen force that holds all things together… God [the Father] was pleased to have everything He is embodied and displayed in [Christ], and through [Christ} to reconcile [the world] to Himself by making peace for us with God through His blood, shed on the cross.
II. Power of Satan to God
In Christ, we have been delivered from the power of Satan. All he has left to affect us is talk. All he can do is lie, deceive, and accuse. All you need to do is cling to the truth of who you are in Christ and who Christ is in you.
• For example, according to the Scriptures, Romans 1:6, we have been called to belong to Jesus Christ. And that is our status today. We belong to Jesus Christ. We are His. God the Father, gave us to Jesus the Son. In John 17, Jesus refers 5 times to those who believe in Him as those whom the Father has given.
• Verse 2 – The Father has given authority to give eternal life to all those the Father has given Him.
• Verse 6 – “He has revealed the Father to those whom the Father gave Him.
• Verse 9 – He is praying for those whom the Father has given Him.
• Verse 24 – He asks the Father to grant that those whom the Father has given Him should one day see His glory that He had before the creation of the world.
John 10:27-30 “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. 28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
Be vigilant but not afraid. Be diligent to believe what is true and it will shield you against what is false.
God and Satan are not equal powers. Satan’s power is limited. God’s is infinite. Satan’s power is temporary and even he knows it is short. God’s power is forever.
III. Forgiveness of sins and an inheritance
2 Corinthians 5:19 – For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.
Forgiveness is not just a pardon. It also includes an inheritance.
• 1 Peter 1:4
o This inheritance is imperishable.
o It is unspoiled.
o It is unfading.
o And it is reserved. It’s being “kept” in heaven for us.
• 2 Corinthians 4:7 says “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17).
• Revelation 21:4-5 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
• And the Lord says, He is making all things new (Revelation 21:5).
IV. Sanctified by faith in me.
Sanctified means to be set apart.
• We’ve been set apart as eternal citizens of heaven.
• And sanctified as temporary residents of earth.
• John 6:29 – The work is to believe. To trust in rely upon, engage with.
A brief meditation for a Saturday morning.
I think it is wise, and without any negative side effects, to attribute to the Lord all that we do to enrich our relationship with Him. As David said, “For all things come from You and from Your hand we have given to You” (1 Chronicles 29:14).
Thank the Lord for a grateful heart. Thank Him for the desire to seek Him. Thank Him for the praise that flows from your heart. Thank Him for the faith you have for today’s journey. Thank Him for the impression His word makes on your heart. Thank *Him* for everything “you” do that makes your relationship with Him more vivid and precious to you. Give no credit to your own strength, wisdom, or righteousness. No credit to your own piety or discipline. Because as the apostle Paul observed of his own relationship with Christ, “By the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10). We are what we are because of His hand at work in us.
Always give due attribution to Him. We are all on grace scholarships because we couldn’t pay our own way.
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