Reflections on Revival and Reformation, Part 2 of 3 - Secrets ...

In Acts 5:31 we find the apostle Peter
witnessing before the Jewish Sanhedrin.
He reminded them that they killed Jesus
but that His Father had called Him from
the dead so that He could be Prince and
Savior over His people. Peter then informed
them:
“Him [Jesus] God has exalted to His right
hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance
to Israel and forgiveness of sins.”
In Acts 10:29-43 we have the same scenario.
Peter reviews the story of Jesus with
Cornelius. He first tells him about His life
(10:37, 38). Then Peter describes how Jesus
was killed but resurrected on the third
day (10:39-41). He then goes on to say that
God called them to preach the story he
had just told that through the name of Jesus
‘whoever [individually] believes in Him
will receive remission of sins.’ (Acts 10:43)
The call and commissioning of the
apostle Paul follows the same pattern.
When the apostle Paul was converted to
Jesus on the Road to Damascus, Jesus told
him that he was a chosen vessel to take the
gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 26:16-18). Specifically
he was told that that he was sent
that the Gentiles might also ‘receive forgiveness
of sins and an inheritance among those
who are sanctified by faith in Me [Jesus].’ Jesus
then directed Saul to go to the house of
a man named Judas and there he was met
by Ananias who laid hands on him so that
he might receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:18).
He then baptized him for the forgiveness
of his sins (Acts 9:18; 22:16).
The apostle Paul, as well as Peter, clearly
understood that his mission was to preach
that Jesus had lived and died for sinners
and that the benefits of His earthly work
were available to repentant and believing
individuals. Several years after his conversion
the apostle Paul explained his central
message and mission:
“For there is [present tense] one God
and one Mediator between God and men,
the Man Christ Jesus. Who gave [past
tense] Himself a ransom for all, to be testified
in due time [His death as ransom
would be preached in due time when the
Holy Spirit was poured out on the Day
of Pentecost], for which I was appointed
a preacher and an apostle [one who is
sent]—I am speaking the truth in Christ
and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in
faith and truth.” (I Timothy 2:5-7)
Paul was simply writing to Timothy
that because the man Jesus gave (past
tense) Himself as a ransom for all He was
now (present tense) qualified to serve as
Mediator between God and men. And
Paul clearly saw that he was appointed as
a preacher and apostle to teach this great
truth to the Gentiles following the Day of
Pentecost!
The apostle John also understood the
relationship between the righteous life of
Jesus and His work in the holy place. He
clearly stated that if anyone sins, we have
an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ
the righteous (I John 2:1). The word ‘righteous’
indicates that because Jesus lived a
righteous life He is qualified to present
that life before His Father as our Advocate.
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