The Word of This Salvation
Acts 13:26

INTRO:
Good morning. I invite you to turn your Bibles to the 13th chapter of Acts. The verse I want to focus on is Acts 13:26 which says; “"Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent.”

However let us start in Acts chapter 13 at verse 14 and 15 where we read: Acts 13:14-15 – “14. But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. 15. And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, "Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.''

Acts 13 and part of 14 are the record of Paul’s first missionary journey. They were in Antioch of Syria when the Holy Spirit called them in 13:2 and sent them to this work. Now in verse 14 we find them in Antioch of Pisidia, which was a very Roman city near the region that we know as Galatia. The 13th chapter of Acts is devoted in a large part to the visit of Paul and his company to that city. We’re told there was a synagogue of the Jews there, and on the sabbath day this little company of “missionary” preachers went to the synagogue “and sat down”.

After the “reading of the law and the prophets” which was part of the synagogues worship activities on the Sabbath Day, the rulers of the synagogue invited the company to speak to the people in attendance there. It was in this address to the people that the expression “the word of this salvation” (13:26) is heard. This is another of those expressions in scripture that is descriptive of the way in which the word of God may be known—the word of this salvation. Paul’s sermon is recorded in Acts 13:16-41.

What I’d like to do this morning is to examine how the apostle comes to the point of the word of this salvation.

I. The Main Points of His Address Leading to This Expression – We will be looking at other scripture but please mark Acts 13 as we will refer to it from time to time.
A. In Acts 13:17 we read; “"The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He brought them out of it.” Paul begins by remembering and reminding them of the historical fact that the children of Israel had gone into Egypt and had dwelt there for centuries. In the course of him reminding them, they would remember that things began to be very difficult for the children of Israel when there arose a Pharaoh who did not know Joseph and the burdens for the children of Israel became great. “...Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage.” Exodus 2:23.
1. In the next verse, Exodus 2:24 we see “So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.” In remembering this event then, the apostle Paul is taking the people all the way back to Abraham.
2. We remember, for example, in the 15th chapter of the book of Genesis what God had spoken to Abraham with reference to His people going into a land that was not theirs, coming out of that land with great possessions and possessing a land. I’m reading beginning at verse 13 of Genesis 15: Genesis 15:13-16 – “13. Then He said to Abram: "Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. 14. "And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions. 15. "Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. 16. "But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.''” They’re going to possess this land. In reminding them at Antioch of Pisidia that God brought them out bondage, they are also reminded of these wonderful promises.
3. Even earlier in the 12th chapter of the book of Genesis (so significant) verse one through three: Genesis 12:1-3 – “1. Now the Lord had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you. 2. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. 3. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.''” In this reminder of Egypt, all of these things are implied to the people in what the apostle Paul has begun to say.
B. In verse 18 of Acts 13 he said this: Acts 13:18 – “"Now for a time of about forty years He put up with their ways in the wilderness.” He refers to the 40 years of wilderness wandering. They’re delivered from Egyptian bondage. The tabernacle is built.
1. Spies are sent into the land that is promised to them and the spies come back. It’s a land that flows with milk and honey, but there are giants in the land.
2. We cannot take it for they are much larger than we. Yet, there were two men, Joshua and Caleb, who said we are well able to take it. Let’s go up at once.
3. The majority report won the day and the people began to mummer against God, wishing they had been left in the land of Egypt. For their murmuring and for their unbelief, (one year for every day the spies were gone) God said they would wander in the wilderness until all that were 20 years old and upward had died. An entirely new generation would then go to possess the land.
C. He goes on with what is undeniably a time line and reminds them of this in verse 19: Acts 13:19 – “And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land to them by allotment.”
1. They’d wandered 40 years and they’ve come to the Jordan River. Moses as you will recall was not permitted to cross the Jordan River because of his disobedience to God when he struck the rock and should have spoken to it. He was given an opportunity to see into the land. Finally they crossed the Jordan River and began the conquest of Canaan.
2. When the nations therein were destroyed, (yet not fully destroyed as you will recall) the land was divided by lots. We recall Joshua who said as for me and my house we will serve The Lord.
3. There’s one other recollection that I have of the dividing of the land and that is of Caleb. Caleb, an old man now, comes to Joshua, his faithful partner, and says to him: Give me the mountains where the giants are. He goes on to say: I may be 80 years old, but I am not dead. I’m still as strong and faithful as I ever was and I’m ready for the giants that were so frightening to our people 40 years ago.
D. We move on at verse 20: Acts 13:20 – “"After that He gave them judges for about four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.”
1. Joshua is gone now and the period of the judges begins. What can I say about the period of the judges?
2. In chapter 21 of Judges at verse 25 we are reminded Judges 21:25 – “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Three times in the book of Judges we are reminded of this fact. People were doing what was right in their own eyes.
3. What you would expect this to lead to is a period that was chaotic, a period that was often unfaithful and indeed that was true. This is a dark period in the history of the nation of Israel as it developed. A period of great chaos.
4. Finally, the Bible says in verse 20 that God gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.
E. Then we go on to discover in verse 21 they desired...a king. Acts 13:21 – “And afterward they asked for a king; so God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.”
1. Here was Samuel, arguably the greatest of all of the judges, Samuel who ended up with the duty of king maker, Samuel who was so disgusted by their requesting a king.
2. “...Now make for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” The people would say in I Samuel 8:5.
3. God says they’ve not rejected you, Samuel. They’ve rejected Me from being their king. 1 Samuel 8:7 Give...them...what...they...want. 1 Samuel 8:22
4. God gave unto them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. Saul, the first king of Israel, is anointed. He serves as king for 40 years and what an amazing period of time it was.
5. Early on in the reign of Saul the stage is set for the way his life is going to be lived—a life of disobedience before God.
F. Paul goes on with the time line of his sermon in verses 22 and 23: Acts 13:22-23 – “22. "And when He had removed him (that is Saul), He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.' 23. "From this man's seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior, Jesus”
1. In referring to David, the apostle Paul makes mention of the fact that Saul has been removed. In your Bibles, if you are interested in doing so, you can look at First Samuel 13, verses 14 and 15 and find the record of this very fact.
i. In our thinking we might figure: Well, I remember when Saul was told to destroy the Amalekites and he didn’t do it. That must have been the occasion he was removed.
ii. Oh, no. It was much earlier than that. Saul took it upon himself to do that which he had not been authorized to do. He took it upon himself to do something that he had been told to wait for Samuel to do.
iii. For that disobedience he was removed from being king. He was told even on that occasion that God would find a man after His own heart—which we know was David.
2. In the text from Acts 13 we are told that David shall fulfill all “My” will. That is the kind of man he is, in contrast with Saul.
3. One more very important fact, From this man's seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior, Jesus —the promise...promise. Isaiah prophesies of this in Isaiah 9:6-7 – “6. For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
4. I’m remembering all the way back to Genesis chapter 12 verse three, the seed of Abraham, the promise that is made to Abraham, of this man’s seed has God according to His promise has raised unto Israel a savior, Jesus.
5. You see how by using this historical timeline the apostle Paul is bringing the people carefully, to a declaration that Jesus Christ is the Savior.
G. Acts 13:24-25 – says: “24. "after John had first preached, before His coming, the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25. "And as John was finishing his course, he said, 'Who do you think I am? I am not He. But behold, there comes One after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loose.'” Paul goes on and reminds them of a man whose name was John the Baptist. He reminds the people of his audience that John the Baptist came as prophesied; he preached a message of repentance and the imminent coming of the kingdom of God.
1. John was a man amazing in his own right, imposing in his own right. There would have been those who no doubt would have mistaken him for the messiah, the long awaited messiah.
2. When he had finished his work he declared: I’m not He. I’m not the messiah. There’s one coming after me. Oh, the amazing humility of John the Baptist. There’s one coming after me, the fastenings of his shoes I am not worthy to loose.
H. It is at this point in his sermon in verse 26 that the apostle Paul declares the “Word of This Salvation”: Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.
II. How Does Paul Explain “The Word of This Salvation”? - The question arises: How does Paul develop information about the “word of this salvation”? There are four major points to the remainder of his lesson.
A. The first of them is that he declares the execution, the unjust death, of Jesus Christ. Verse 27 and 28: Acts 13:27-28 – “27. "For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. 28. "And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death.”
1. Why declare the death of Christ? Turn in your Bibles look at the ninth chapter of the book of Hebrews at verse 28. As you’re turning there, let me make mention that what I see here in Acts 13 seems to be very much like a sermon outline, the skeleton of Paul’s sermon perhaps. I suspect, and this is just my viewpoint, that he elaborates more on these things as he goes along.
i. Hebrews 9:28 says: “so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.”
ii. Then while we are in Hebrews look at Hebrews 10:10-12 – “10. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11. And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,”
iii. So why did He die? Why declare His death? Because His death was the atoning sacrifice for sin.
2. In First Peter chapter three at verse 18, 1 Peter 3:18 - “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,” Peter refers to the death of the just for the unjust that He might (listen to these words) bring us unto God.
i. Why declare something concerning the death of Christ?
ii. If this is “The Word of This Salvation” we should just be hearing good news.
iii. Why are you burdening us with the fact of His death?
iv. Because we’ve got to know that Jesus had to die.
v. He died in keeping with the prophecy.
vi. He had to die so there would be an atonement for sin. Jesus is now dead.
B. Second then, he says He was buried. Verse 29: Acts 13:29 – “"Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.”
1. Paul is reminding us of what we read in the 27th chapter of the gospel of Matthew beginning there at verse 57. Matthew 27:57-60 – “57. Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. 58. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. 59. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60. and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed.”
2. Here in the midst of this awful deed is this most loving and kind act by a disciple of Jesus. He was buried. There’s even significance to that.
3. Turn with me to second chapter of the book of Colossians and we read at verse 12: Colossians 2:12 – “buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” Buried...with...Him in baptism.
i. Why declare the death of Jesus?
ii. It’s the atonement for our sins.
iii. Why declare the burial of Jesus?
iv. Because, folks, when we are buried with Him in baptism, we are united into His death.
C. The apostle Paul wasn’t finished. Acts 13:30-32 – “30. "But God raised Him from the dead. 31. "He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. 32. "And we declare to you glad tidings, that promise which was made to the fathers.”
1. Hallelujah! Everything about “the word of this salvation” hinges on this great historical fact—Jesus lives. These people who were so far away from Jerusalem could understand the significance and the historical authenticity of the event he tells about, and there were witnesses.
2. He refers to those witnesses who come with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They’re mentioned in the second chapter of the book of Acts verse 32. Here in that first sermon we read “We are all His witnesses”, Peter says. We saw Him for over a month. We companied with Him. We ate with Him. He taught us. We touched Him. We saw Him. We know that He is risen from the dead.
3. The apostle Paul has the marvelous privilege to bring to these people so far from the event, the declaration that Jesus died on the cross for their sin. He was buried in a borrowed tomb. In baptism they are united into His death to receive the benefits of His atonement. He was raised from the dead even as you are raised to walk in newness of life.
D. Paul goes on in verses 32-37 "32. "And we declare to you glad tidings that promise which was made to the fathers. 33. "God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: 'You are My Son, today I have begotten You.' 34. "And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: 'I will give you the sure mercies of David.' 35. "Therefore He also says in another Psalm: 'You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.' 36. "For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; 37. "but He whom God raised up saw no corruption.” Here Paul explains to these people who are listening that Jesus, not David, is the Savior.
1. See what Paul is doing and the amazing way he argues his position.
2. He died, He was buried and He was raised again and there’s proof of this.
3. First of all he cites the prophets and the fathers, then takes us all the way back to Genesis chapter 12 verse three: In thy seed shall all nations of the earth be blessed. In his letter to the Galatians chapter three verse eight, Paul says this was a declaration to Abraham of the gospel and he quotes that very passage.
4. Then he says: listen, you remember all of these prophecies. He cites some of the well-known prophecies concerning the messiah. These people understood these were messianic prophecies.
5. He tells them Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of these prophecies. How does he prove it? By telling them this: David is still buried, and his body is decayed but Jesus is alive. The risen, living Jesus is the fulfillment of all of these promises and prophecies.
III. The Good News - What is the good news of the word of this salvation then?
A. Acts 13:28 – “"Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins;” That’s the good news—the word of this salvation, your sins can be forgiven.
1. Sin has always been the human problem. Inevitably in every life it alienates a person from God.
2. The resurrection of Jesus along with His atoning death is conformation of the possibility, that forgiveness, real forgiveness, has been made available.
3. It seems to me that in this world people have so little eternal hope. Their hope is put in things, and when those things are gone hope is gone.
4. Eternal hope—that’s the kind of hope we need. That’s the hope we need to preach. That’s the hope we need to proclaim. That’s the hope we need to fill our breasts.
B. It seems to me that this declaration that now there can be forgiveness, real forgiveness, is a glorious message.
1. We recognize that under the old covenant, real forgiveness could not be proclaimed. There was some sense of forgiveness, that’s true in atonement.
2. We read of atonement in the old covenant, but I’m talking about remission. Remission is such a beautiful word. In Acts 2:38 we find “Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Here we find the word “remission”, aphesis, release from bondage, pardon of sin as if it had never been committed.
3. The term remission is familiar to us. When a person has cancer and treatment has been completed, tests are run and hopefully the doctor comes in to say “I can find no evidence” (listen to that) “I...can...find no evidence of any cancer.” Complete remission. It’s as if it had never been there. That’s the kind of forgiveness that can be proclaimed in the word of this salvation.
4. The word remission is such a beautiful word. This forgiveness was not possible under the law of Moses. Hebrews 10:1-4 – “1. For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purged, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3. But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.”
5. Then in Hebrews 10:15-18 – “15. And the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, 16. "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,'' 17. then He adds, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.'' (listen now to verse 18) 18. Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.”
6. The blood of bulls and goats could not take away sin. Hebrews 10:1-4. The atoning death of the Lord Jesus Christ once and for...all...time could. Every year there was a day of atonement. Every day there were sacrifices for sin under the old covenant. When Jesus came and died on the cross, buried in the borrowed tomb, raised to walk in newness of life there needed to be no more sacrifices for sin.
C. In the second chapter of the book of Acts is the conclusion of a sermon very similar to the one that is preached in Acts chapter 13.
1. At the conclusion of Peter’s sermon in verses 37 and 38: Acts 2:37-38 – “37. Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?'' 38. Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
2. Now look at verse 40: Acts 2:40 – “And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation.''”
i. When the word of this salvation is preached there is an expected and a required response in order to receive the salvation of which we speak. In this passage we have read of that expected response. Believing people are told to repent of their sins and be baptized—every one of them for the remission of their sins.
ii. There’s that word—remission. When it happens it’s as if you had not sinned. You are that clean. You are that pure. God remembers sin against us no more. That’s what’s required.
3. When the apostle Paul had finished his sermon there in Antioch, the Bible tells us that it was the Gentiles, of all people, who received it positively. The Jews that were there rejected it and even persecuted and abused the messengers.
4. Then the sad words in verse 46 were spoken to the Jews: “...It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life...” Harsh words but when you reject the word of this salvation, you pass judgment on yourself.

CONCLUSION:
What will you do with “the word of this salvation”? A response is expected.

If you have never been baptized for the remission of your sins, if you’ve never been united in the death of Christ, a response is both expected and required in order for you to receive the blessings of the word of this salvation—the REMISSION of your sins.

If you have not been baptized, precious friend, you have not received that remission of sins. You are still in your sin. Receive the word of this salvation with joy this morning.

Respond and say I want to be a child of God. I want to be baptized into Christ. I want to do exactly what the Bible says I should do in order to receive the blessings given unto us by the death of Jesus Christ and the blessing indeed of His resurrection.

What will you do? The song we’re about to sing says “He lives salvation to impart”. Don’t you love those words—He lives? I do.

Because He lives the message of not just forgiveness, but REMISSION can be proclaimed, because He lives. I may not know what’s going to happen to me in the next five minutes. I could fall down dead right here. Who knows?

I know because He lives I don’t have to worry about the next five minutes of my life.
Because He lives I don’t have to worry about tomorrow. I can face whatever comes knowing that even if death comes everything’s fine because He lives.

What will you do this morning with Jesus who is called the Christ? Make a decision, neighbor. If your decision is to be a child of God, to accept the blessings of His life, His death and His resurrection then come and be united into His death in baptism. It is after all, your decision.

We are going to be lead in the invitation song. This song we sing traditionally, by the way, as an opportunity for folks to make known their needs. If you have a need of which you would like to make us aware, which you want to share with us, please come now as we stand together and sing.

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# 154
Reference sermon, Cecil A. Hutson, 07 October 2007