Acts 13:34-41: a reflection

34“Concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he has spoken thus: ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’ 35Therefore he says also in another psalm, ‘You will not allow your Holy One to see decay.’ 36For David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell asleep, was laid with his fathers, and saw decay. 37But he whom God raised up saw no decay. 38Be it known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man is proclaimed to you remission of sins; 39and by him everyone who believes is justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. 40Beware therefore, lest that come on you which is spoken in the prophets: 41‘Behold, you scoffers! Wonder and perish, for I work a work in your days, a work which you will in no way believe, if one declares it to you.’”

In his sermon at Antioch, Paul proclaims the risen Christ and then declares the heart of the gospel: Let it be known to you that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. Paul names plainly what the law could not do: it could not justify, could not free from sin's guilt. But what the law could not accomplish, Christ has, offering full forgiveness and justification to everyone who believes.

Notice the contrast Paul draws: what the law could not do, Christ does. The law of Moses, for all its holiness, could not free a person from the guilt of sin, could not justify. It could reveal sin, but not remove it. But in Christ, everyone who believes is freed from everything the law could not free them from, given a full forgiveness and a right standing with God that no amount of law-keeping could achieve. Christ accomplishes what the law never could.

That is liberating news for anyone weary of trying to be right with God by their own efforts. If you have tried to earn a clear conscience, to justify yourself by your own goodness and rule-keeping, and found that you could not, that the guilt remained, hear the gospel: what you could not accomplish, Christ has. Through him, everyone who believes is freed from everything from which no law-keeping could free them, forgiven fully, justified freely. Stop trying to achieve by your own effort what only Christ can give. Believe in him, and receive the forgiveness and freedom the law could never provide. What you could not do, Christ has done.

Lord, Paul proclaimed that through Christ forgiveness of sins is offered, and that by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which the law could not free them. Thank you for what the law could never do. When I have tried to earn a clear conscience, to justify myself by my own goodness and rule-keeping, and found that I could not, that the guilt remained, remind me of the gospel: what I could not accomplish, Christ has. Through him I am freed from everything no law-keeping could free me from, forgiven fully, justified freely. Help me stop trying to achieve by my own effort what only Christ can give, and to believe in him and receive the forgiveness and freedom he alone provides. Thank you that Christ has done what I never could.