Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 17, 2019

“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.”

Today’s devotion comes from Acts 5:17-32.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+5&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“17 But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy.  18 They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail.  19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said, 20 “Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life.”  21 Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and began to teach.

Now when the high priest and his associates came, they called the Council together, even all the Senate of the sons of Israel, and sent orders to the prison house for them to be brought.  …

27 When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council.  The high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.”  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.”  Acts 5:17-21 and 27-32.

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Notice the short and simple message by Peter of Who God is and what God has done.

Who is God?

“He is the one (Jesus) whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior”.

What has God done?

He has granted “repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”

Yet, other doctrine continues to focus on man and what man has done.

But, Reformed Doctrine continues to focus on God and what God has done.

“6 Men shall speak of the power of Your awesome acts,
And I will tell of Your greatness.
7 They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness
And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness.”  Psalm 145:6-7.

Yet, other doctrine trusts in the alleged free-will of man, the wisdom of man, and the works of man.

But, Reformed Doctrine trusts in the will of God, the wisdom of God, and the works of God Who provides all that is needed for salvation from the beginning to the end:   from the beginning of “Unconditional Election” through “Limited Atonement” through “Irresistible Grace” to the end of “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, as more fully set forth in the Canons of Dordt.

“But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.”  1 Corinthians 1:30-31.

“Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;  but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth;  for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.”  Jeremiah 9:23-24.

“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.”


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