SATURDAY February 17, 2024

First to Rise From the Dead

“Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come— that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”
Acts 26:22-23

Paul was not preaching anything new or different; everything could be verified within the Jews’ own Scriptures! Why was the Jewish council accusing him of riotous preaching when his discourse was from what Moses and the prophets had said? According to these Old Testament Scriptures, Psalm 16:10 and Isaiah 53, Christ would suffer and yet be the first one to rise from the dead.

Also written plainly from the Old Testament Scriptures is the fact that the Gospel was intended not only for the Jews, but for the Gentiles as well. Isaiah wrote of Christ, God’s Servant, that He would be given “ ‘...as a light to the Gentiles, that He should be God’s salvation to the ends of the earth’ ” (Isaiah 49:6).

Cleverly, as Paul gave his defense, he had an ulterior motive. He was preaching the Gospel with the intent of reaching the heart of King Agrippa. He knew exactly what He was doing. Paul was narrowing down his points to challenge him to come to Jesus Christ and make Him Lord of his life.

Paul preached the Cross of Christ, knowing that when Jesus died on the Cross, Satan’s power was disarmed: Having disarmed principalities and powers, He [Jesus] made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them... (Colossians 2:15). Paul knew that here was a way made for sinners to enter into eternity after death––it was through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Narrow down your preaching. Preach the truth of Christ and the Cross so others can be shown the way of salvation.

My calling is to preach the love of God and the forgiveness of God and the fact that He does forgive us. That's what the cross is all about, what the resurrection is all about, that's the Gospel.
~Billy Graham~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!