53 you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.”
54 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. Acts 7:51-54.
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The “cut to the quick” effect and the consequence of hostility to this word of God is similar to what we have read two chapters earlier.
“29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
30 “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross.
31 “He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
32 “And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
33 But when they heard this, they were cut to the quick and intended to kill them.” Acts 5:29-33.
But, although an earlier word of God also had a piercing effect in Acts 2:36-41, it caused a very different consequence, namely repentance and salvation.
“36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ–this Jesus whom you crucified.”
37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?”
38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.
40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!”
41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.” Acts 2:36-41.
In all three Scriptures, we see the piercing and cutting effect of the word of God.
Hebrews 4:12
“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
However, in two of the Scriptures, we see the consequence of the word of God as hostility, and in one of the Scriptures, we see the consequence of the word of God as repentance and salvation.
In conclusion, there are going to be some who hear the word of God and repent and humbly come to salvation. There are going to be others who hear the word of God and resent and proudly rage to their own destruction. “For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?” 2 Corinthians 2:15-16. We trust God to cause our preaching and teaching of God’s word to accomplish His purpose. “… the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,” 2 Peter 2:9.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 