"And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made to the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that, He hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten thee."
Acts 13:32-33
Part 2
Yesterday: Declaring Glad Tidings!
“And we.”
Paul and Barnabas faithfully shared the Gospel with those in the synagogue.
“Declare unto you glad tidings.”
Our lost world desperately needs the glad tidings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are His proclaimers who spread the good news far and wide!
Today: God’s Ancient Promise to the Fathers
“How that the promise which was made unto the fathers.”
What was that promise? Let’s follow the promise made to the fathers, through the Old Testament.
These “good tidings” are the fulfillment “of the promise” which was “made” by God “unto the fathers.” The first time the good news is told, the promise of salvation through the coming Redeemer was given to Adam and Eve after their sin.
“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15).
Because of man’s sin and God’s love, He will send the Redeemer to pay the sin-debt that Adam passed on to his children, and grandchildren, and on…. That sin-debt, no one can pay on their own. Unless the debt is paid in full, that soul will face eternity without God, in the devil’s Hell (Matthew 25:41).
Years later, to Abraham, God promised,
“And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice” (Genesis 22:18).
This blessing, the glad tidings, tell that God’s Redeemer will come through the seed of Abraham.
To Isaac, God also promised,
“And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven and will give unto thy seed all these countries, and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 26:4).
The nations of the earth will be blessed by the Redeemer who comes to save sinners of every “people, tongue, tribe, and nation.”
To Moses and Israel, God promised,
“The LORD, thy God, will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him, ye shall hearken” (Deuteronomy 18:15).
The coming Redeemer will be the Prophet, Priest, and King. He will provide salvation and lead His people.
To the “House of David” God promised,
“Therefore, the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).
The coming Redeemer will be named “God with us.” He is “God in human flesh,” born of a virgin. He will redeem sinners who put their faith and trust in Him.
To Israel, God promised,
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass” (Zechariah 9:9).
And Zechariah’s prophesy was fulfilled, at Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, when He went to present Himself to the priests in the Temple.
“All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass” (Matthew 21:4-5).
Yes, the signs of the Redeemer’s first coming were marked out so clearly in the promises to the fathers that no one could miss His arrival! Or could they? Incredibly, this last sign was done just days before the Jews sent Jesus to His crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. How could they be so blind? How could we?
With Jesus’ resurrection, the promise “to the fathers” was fulfilled![1] Jesus, the Redeemer, had come and given His innocent life as a sacrifice for our sin. He paid our sin-debt. He is the propitiation for us, Jesus’ death has appeased God’s righteous anger for our sin. His resurrection proves that His sacrifice has been accepted by His Father! The atonement is finished, our salvation complete! To God be the Glory!
Please come back tomorrow when we will see that this great redemption was not just for “the fathers” but also for their children and even the Gentiles who came after them.
Quote: “And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life” (1 John 2:25).
[1] These were only a few of the promises to the fathers. There are many, many, others scattered through the Old Testament. God made the coming of the Messiah clear to those who believed His Word.