My Favorite Verses - Vol V (Feb 17 to Jun 17)

Acts 20:24 … To finish our Course
(04/21/2017)
“I do not count my life of any value to myself; if only I may finish my course and the
ministry I received: to testify to the Good News of God‟s Grace.” ~ Luke (Acts 20:24)
First & foremost, it is important to consider the context of the passage from
which this verse is taken – in this case a context that has Paul speaking to the
elders of the church at Ephesus in true Paulinic form: namely, building up his
own accomplishments (Acts 20:19-20) while passive-aggressively guilt-tripping
his listeners into both giving him homage (Acts 20:22-27) & adhering to his
gospel about Jesus (not into actually following Jesus‟ teachings or into abiding in
Jesus‟ given Gospel about The Way) … Indeed, it is well worth remembering here
that Paul had essentially no clue about the teachings of Jesus – that for him,
“faith toward our Lord Jesus” (Acts 20:21) was an act of Jesus-based worship that
Jesus himself frequently repudiated & vehemently rejected (see Mark 10:18, John
5:41, John 7:16, John 8:50-54, John 12:44 et al) … In addition, for Paul “the Good
News of God‟s Grace” was that Jesus rose from the dead and that worshiping
him as the only Son of God was enough to grant entrance into Heaven for
eternity after one‟s death (see 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 & Romans 10:9 et al) -- whereas
for Jesus himself, the “Good News” was something else entirely; namely A) that
Heaven was already right Here & right Now, viable in every single moment of
every single sentient life (see Matthew 10:7, along with Luke 17:20-21) -- and B)
that entrance into this Bliss-full “Kingdom of God” was attained by persistently
& humbly choosing to serve others ahead of one‟s self (see Matthew 24:12-14,
along with Matthew 18:3-4 & John 13:15-17).
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