Now in that 17th verse of Acts 4 it says “17 But to keep them from spreading their propaganda any further, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in Jesus’ name again.”
Let me say that teaching the gospel of Grace is not for wimps. The same way the Apostles were chastised, ridiculed, belittled and questioned concerning their teachings of the grace of God, so will you if you teach this dynamic truth. You know how I know that? That’s right. We’ve been called everything from false teachers, to heretics, to liars. However, verses 19 and 20 of Acts 4 have compelled and driven us to continue to declare the great grace of God.
In my words here’s what those scriptures say. “I know that people bound by religion, legalism, performance and works are going to push back hard against the teaching of the truth that God doesn’t bless us based on our performance, He blesses us based on His promises. Also, that we have been set free from the law of sin and death and we are righteous, because of what Jesus did, not because of what we do. But, God called us to minister the truth of His powerful Word of Grace and we know it’s better to obey God in this than to give into the taunting of religious man. Besides, we’ve received the revelation of His great grace and have been set free from the tyranny of others and the tyranny of ourselves, therefore we can’t help it. We are just driven to preach and teach those things we have heard from God and seen Him perform.
Study Acts 20 where the great Apostle Paul talks about some of his challenges. I love what he says in verse 24 of Acts 20 and it’s what gave me the title for this writing. He says: “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” There it is again. The gospel of the grace of God.
Here it is in the NLT – “But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” You see….there it is again. The Good News about the wonderful GRACE of God. The Good News is the grace of God. It’s the gospel of the grace of God. It’s Jesus, the Good News. It’s Grace and Truth.
How much clearer can it be. It’s not keeping the law, or a set of rules, or following a program or method, it’s simply letting Him do what He said He would do. That’s working in and through you (Phil 2:13). I like the way the ERV says it – “Yes, it is God who is working in you. He helps you want to do what pleases him, and he gives you the power to do it.”
First, He helps you want to do what pleases Him, and then He gives you the ability to do exactly that. What’s your part? Simple……LET HIM!!! Receive all that He has and wants for you. God is not honored by me denying what He’s done for me. Jesus took what I deserve to give me what He deserves. It’s not pride for me to receive what I deserve, it’s actually arrogance and pride to reject it.
So if you’re trying to live in obedience to the law. Trying to do works to please God.Then you haven’t got a functioning high priest, unless you have animal sacrifices. Jesus’ sacrifice was under a different priestly order. None of the law of Moses works today. If there is a change in priesthood, there has to be a change of law to permit it.
Look what it says in Hebrews 7:12. Here it is in the ERV – “And when a different kind of priest comes, then the law must be changed too.” And in the NLT – “And if the priesthood is changed, the law must also be changed to permit it.” Finally, in the NAS – “For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.”
Are you getting this. The reason I put this in here three times is because it’s so important, and I like the way the separate versions present it. It makes it very clear that you can’t have Jesus functioning as a high priest over the law of Moses. Whenever you start to operate under the law, you’ve got the wrong priesthood in operation. You need to go find yourself some animal sacrifices, because Jesus’ sacrifice was perfect and complete, once for all time. Hebrews 10:12 says “but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD.” And 1 Peter 3:18 “For Christ also died for sins once for all”.
He’s not getting back up on that cross. He’s not going back to calvary. When you make a mistake and think you committed a sin, don’t beg God to forgive you, because He already has. When you say “Oh God, please forgive me for that sin”. In effect what you’re saying is that Jesus didn’t finish the work on the cross, like He said He did when He declared “It is finished”. Did He lie? When you continue to beg God for forgiveness, what you’re in effect saying is “Hey Jesus, I know you died on the cross for my sins, but you forgot one”.
When you ask for forgiveness, God looks over to the right where Jesus is sitting and says “What are they talking about? I thought you took care of all that at the Cross”? Jesus replies “I did. They just are not understanding the power of their conversion. They haven’t realized how powerful my grace and mercy is for them. They haven’t heeded the words of our good friend Paul the Apostle in Romans 5:17. They’ll get it because of the revelation of Grace given to many to spread the Good News, the ridiculous, radical, inexhaustible, gospel of Our Grace to them”.
Whenever I present this dialogue about asking for forgiveness, people want to know how we are supposed to react when we make a mistake, or sin. The answer is simple. Thank Him for what He has already done for you, when He forgave and removed all sin from your life – past, present, and future – and seek Him for more Grace to move past whatever caused you to stumble at that time.
So, like the Apostle Paul, no matter how many times we’re challenged, no matter how many people push back on the powerful message of Grace, THESE THINGS DON’T MOVE ME. Grace and Peace.
