Get Close To The Lord

WORTHY OF ETERNAL LIFE #2

Acts 13:44-52
“And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution
against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.”

Notice the beginning of vs. 46 - “Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold.” Brother, if there is need for anything today, it is for us to wax bold. It seems that when opposition arises we have a tendency to hush up. You know! What will people think? But you listen to me, what we need is for somebody to rise up and be heard.

Notice something else, their proclamation was directly to the unbeliever and without pulling any punches. Look at a phrase in vs. 46 - “...and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life...” Here were the chosen people - people who had been waiting hundreds of years for the coming of the Messiah. And at last when He came, they deliberately shut their eyes to the truth. You say, “What a pity”. But wait a minute, many gentiles have done the same thing. Perhaps even you have said the same thing even in your actions. You have heard the message of grace over and over. You know something of the corruption of your own heart and your inability to save yourself. You know
God sent the Lord Jesus Christ into the world to redeem you. And you also know that if you would turn to God and trust Him you would be saved. Now what are you doing about it? Is it not true that you have turned away from the true God, and thus show that you judge yourself unworthy of eternal life? Strictly speaking, no man is worthy of eternal life. But God in His grace offers it to all men everywhere. When you turn to Him in repentance and receive the Saviour He has provided, you are counted worthy of this great gift. But you turn away from Him, trample the love of Christ underfoot and spurn the message of grace, you judge yourself to be utterly unworthy of eternal life. The man or woman who rejects the Lord Jesus Christ sins against his or her own soul. You are shutting the door of heaven in your own face. Therefore you are responsible for your own judgment.

The apostle says, in paraphrase, “You have made up your own minds; you are responsible for the message you have heard". In other words if you refuse to receive Christ as your personal Saviour, you are damning your own soul.

Russell Stolp
Chaplain, CFO

Psalm 37:4 "Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy
ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.