When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, (Acts 7:54-57)
When confronted about his faith and his practice, Stephen gave the Sanhedrin a history lesson concerning the Jews and God’s plan to bring the Messiah into the world through them. He reminded them of all God had done, and all that He said He would do, and then indicted them for their stubborn refusal to see that indeed, Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah of God, crucified by God at their hand, but raised from the dead by the power of God.
Stephen’s accusation concerning their actions in crucifying Jesus and opposing God cut them deeply and they became increasingly agitated. His pointed reference to Jesus, in His authority as our intercessor, standing next to God, was the final straw for the Jewish leaders. To them, his blasphemy in declaring Jesus as the Son of man and at the right hand of God (making Him God) was too much and they stoned him, despite not having the legal authority to put any one to death under Roman law. They had become an incensed wicked mob in their defense of their religion and tradition.
When confronted with the truth, whether about themselves or about God, wicked and sinful men will often resort to physical and personal attacks. Having nothing left to discuss and not willing to see their own faults and sin, especially when it comes to rejecting Jesus as the Jews had done, they will turn debates into accusations and witness encounters into confrontations. It is not that they are rejecting us, but that their sin has them blinded to the Saviour, and they are rejecting Him. Deep down they know there is a God and that they are sinners, but they cannot acknowledge that, or they would have to admit that they cannot change or save themselves but need God, and that is not something that they are yet willing to do.
Until God changes their hearts and minds through His Word and they see themselves as they are, those who do not yet have a relationship with Jesus Christ are lost and dead in their trespasses and sins. Lost people do lost people things, and we are, while still being salt and light in this world, are not going to change them or their behavior, for we are not God. We can witness of Christ, but we must understand that until God works in them, no amount of preaching or appeals to anything in this world will accomplish what only God can do. They must repent and surrender to Him on His terms. God must bring sinners unto Himself and cause them to want to turn from their sin and be saved from sin by faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary.
Because God is not willing that any should perish but that all should repent and be saved, God calls all His people to holiness and obedience to Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our GOD has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of GOD so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD might have life in His Name.
GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
Stephen’s accusation concerning their actions in crucifying Jesus and opposing God cut them deeply and they became increasingly agitated. His pointed reference to Jesus, in His authority as our intercessor, standing next to God, was the final straw for the Jewish leaders. To them, his blasphemy in declaring Jesus as the Son of man and at the right hand of God (making Him God) was too much and they stoned him, despite not having the legal authority to put any one to death under Roman law. They had become an incensed wicked mob in their defense of their religion and tradition.
When confronted with the truth, whether about themselves or about God, wicked and sinful men will often resort to physical and personal attacks. Having nothing left to discuss and not willing to see their own faults and sin, especially when it comes to rejecting Jesus as the Jews had done, they will turn debates into accusations and witness encounters into confrontations. It is not that they are rejecting us, but that their sin has them blinded to the Saviour, and they are rejecting Him. Deep down they know there is a God and that they are sinners, but they cannot acknowledge that, or they would have to admit that they cannot change or save themselves but need God, and that is not something that they are yet willing to do.
Until God changes their hearts and minds through His Word and they see themselves as they are, those who do not yet have a relationship with Jesus Christ are lost and dead in their trespasses and sins. Lost people do lost people things, and we are, while still being salt and light in this world, are not going to change them or their behavior, for we are not God. We can witness of Christ, but we must understand that until God works in them, no amount of preaching or appeals to anything in this world will accomplish what only God can do. They must repent and surrender to Him on His terms. God must bring sinners unto Himself and cause them to want to turn from their sin and be saved from sin by faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary.
Because God is not willing that any should perish but that all should repent and be saved, God calls all His people to holiness and obedience to Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our GOD has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of GOD so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD might have life in His Name.
GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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