Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 29, 2011

History is “His Story” of God Accomplishing His Work.

Today’s devotion comes from Acts 13:13-40 in which Paul reminds his audience of the history of Israel in much detail.  Here is a link to that Scripture.

 
“38  “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 
                                   
 39  and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses. 
                                    
 40  “Therefore take heed, so that the thing spoken of in the Prophets may not come upon you:
    41  ‘BEHOLD, YOU SCOFFERS, AND MARVEL, AND PERISH;
         FOR I AM ACCOMPLISHING A WORK IN YOUR DAYS,
         A WORK WHICH YOU WILL NEVER BELIEVE, THOUGH SOMEONE SHOULD DESCRIBE IT TO YOU.'”

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There are those like the “proconsul (who) believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord”.  Acts 13:12.  And, there are those scoffers who “WILL NEVER BELIEVE, THOUGH SOMEONE SHOULD DESCRIBE IT TO YOU.'”  Acts 13:41. 

Yet, we can discern if we study this Scripture carefully that salvation is not ultimately in the control of either group as if their own free-will ultimately decides who is saved and who is not saved.  We discern that God is the One accomplishing His work.

The purpose of the detailed history of Israel is to show that history is “His story”, namely God’s story. 

His story starts with God and His work.  “The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out from it.”  Acts 13:17.

His story continues with God and His work.  “He put up with them in the wilderness.”  Acts 13:18.  “He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land as an inheritance”.  Acts 13:19.  “He gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.”  Acts 13:20.  

“”Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.  “After He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, ‘I HAVE FOUND DAVID the son of Jesse, A MAN AFTER MY HEART, who will do all My will.’  “From the descendants of this man, according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, ”  Acts 13:21-23. 

They crucified Jesus.  “But God raised Him from the dead;”  Acts 13:30.  “God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus”.  Acts 13:33. 

This promise is the good news of salvation.  “And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers,”  Acts 13:32.  

Is it really good news if salvation is ultimately in the control of “totally depraved” man whether it be by man’s works or even as little as man’s will of faith?

Is such a salvation ultimately in the control of “totally depraved” man consistent with the detailed control of God throughout history?

No.  God is accomplishing His work.  “… This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”  John 6:29.

“For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.”  So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.”  Romans 9:14-16.

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