Acts 13: 26: Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent....38: Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. 40: Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; 41: Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.
It was a day like hundreds of days before. Jew and Gentile came from far and near to the synagogue in Antioch, Pisidia. It was their Sabbath day; they were faithful to observe the Sabbath day each and every week. The services had been conducted as usual. One of the elders read from the law of Moses because they were faithful to walk according to all that Moses commanded. One of the elders read from the prophets because they were faithful to respect the prophets and their words and they read the prophets to find out how to live their lives. But on this particular day something was different. God's messenger was sent by God to their synagogue with God's word of salvation.
After this day if they went on rejecting Christ it would not be due to ignorance any longer, it would be due to willful rejection. So it is for all who have heard the word of salvation which declares that forgiveness with God is found through faith in Christ Jesus apart from any works of righteousness which the sinner has done or can do.
The original prophecy by Habakkuk announced the destruction that would come upon the nation of Israel by the Chaldeans. The original prophecy was fulfilled. But it was as applicable to the Jews in the time of Paul, and is just as applicable to all who hear the gospel today. The principle of Habakkuk's prophecy is that if men held in contempt the doings of God, they would perish. The work which God was to do by means of the Chaldeans was so fearful, so unusual, and so remarkable, that they would not believe it was God's work though a man declared it to them.
Likewise, the doings of God in giving his Son, Christ Jesus the only Savior of sinners, is so contrary to man's expectations--he being born of a virgin, appearing as a Man, brought up by a carpenter, salvation being completely accomplished not by man's power and strength but by his Person and Work and through his Spirit, salvation accomplished in full received by faith alone apart from anything in man--is so much at variance with man's thoughts, that multitudes hear, yet disbelieve; though given the fullest proof, they despise it; they wonder at Christ's work, they are amazed and astonished to think on it, they are unable to refute it, yet they refuse to believe him.
The word is clear. If we go on looking to the law of Moses and our flesh, the Holy Spirit declares, he that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith [Moses] was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10: 28-29.) Either declare Christ victorious and his people complete or declare him a failure--Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit (Matthew 12: 33.) To continue claiming that justification or sanctification is accomplished by the believer, by the flesh, by obedience to the law, by intellectual attainment, rather than fully by what Christ accomplished for us and what he does in the new creation through the Holy Spirit through the gospel within us is to crucify Christ afresh, to blaspheme the Holy Ghost, and there remains no more sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 6: 4-6; 10: 26-29; John 5: 45.) Those who hear the word of God's salvation and believe Christ alone by faith alone have eternal life both now and forever. Those who hear the gospel of Christ's finished redemption and yet attempt to add a sanctifying work of man reject Christ and are doubly-damned by God.
SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH Of Princeton, New Jersey
LOCATION & TELEPHONE Rocky Hill Firehouse, 2nd floor 150 Washington Street, Rocky Hill, NJ, 08553 Pastor's Telephone: 615-513-4464
SCHEDULE OF SERVICES Sunday 10 AM Bible Class 11 AM Morning Worship Thursday 7:00 PM Mid-week Service (The first Sunday of each month, morning worship begins at 10am followed by observing the Lord's Table. Afterwards we have lunch together.)
For those who might like to visit us without missing their regular services, we welcome you to join us for our Thursday night mid-week service.