Monday, April 26, 2010

Scripture On Sundays - Don't be the ones left behind; the unforgiven

The first reading, along with some extra verses so that you can understand the context....

14 Paul and Barnabas continued on from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia.  On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down. 
15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue rulers sent word to them, saying, "Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak."
16 Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: "Men of Israel and you Gentiles (non-Jews) who worship God, listen to me!
26 "Brothers, children of Abraham, and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.
27 The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning Him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath.
28 Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have Him executed.
29 When they had carried out all that was written (by the prophets) about Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.
30 But God raised Him from the dead,
31 and for many days He was seen by those who had traveled with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now His witnesses to our people.
32 "We tell you the good news: What God promised our fathers
33 He has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: 
" 'You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.
34 The fact that God raised Him from the dead, never to decay, is stated in these words:  " 'I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.'
35 So it is stated elsewhere:  " 'You will not let your Holy One see decay.'
36 "For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed.
37 But the One whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.
38 "Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.
39 Through Him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.
40 Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you:
41 " 'Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.' "
42 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath.
43 When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to remain faithful and continue in the grace of God.
44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.
45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying.
46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: "We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.
47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us:  " 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.' "
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
49 The Word of the Lord spread through the whole region.
50 But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.
51 So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.
52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 13:14-16,26-52

The second reading....

9 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
13 Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?"
14 I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tent over them.
16 Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their Shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water.  And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
Revelation 7:9,13-17

The gospel, with some lead in verses....

The Unbelief of the Jews

22 Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter,
23 and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade.
24 The Jews gathered around Him, saying, "How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly."
25 Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in My Father's name speak for Me,
26 but you do not believe because you are not My sheep.
27 My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.
28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand.
29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father's hand.
30 I and the Father are One."
31 Again the Jews picked up stones to stone Him,
32 but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone Me?"
33 "We are not stoning You for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because You, a mere man, claim to be God."
34 Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are gods'?
35 If He called them 'gods,' to whom the word of God came—and the Scripture cannot be broken—
36 what about the One whom the Father set apart as His very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse Me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'?
37 Do not believe Me unless I do what My Father does.
38 But if I do it, even though you do not believe Me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father."
John 10:22-38

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