Daily Bible Verses for 3/20/2016
Bible Verse
But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged.”
Reading Notes
Paul was brought before the ruling council of Sadducees and Pharisees for preaching Christ crucified. He addresses the council directly from the scripture. He is explaining we are saved through faith, our old nature has been crucified with Christ. Therefore, we have been risen again with Him in the power of His resurrection. And through the sovereignty of God we walk with Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells all believers. Christ’s resurrection confirms Jesus is who He claimed to be, that is God in the flesh. And today because of this event we have the surety of heaven and eternity spent in Christ’s presence. However, Luke tells us through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the resurrection is foolishness to those who are perishing. Those who are in rebellion against God, those who reject Jesus and the salvation He alone can provide. To those who are perishing, the resurrection is foolishness.
It is foolishness because their hearts have been given over to a world at enmity against God. The wicked have hardened their hearts against God, therefore they cannot accept the resurrection of Jesus. Because to do so would be to admit Jesus is indeed Lord and Savior. Salvation would mean turning control of their lives over to Jesus and becoming bondservants of Christ. And because they love their wickedness, they want to remain in their sins. For this reason they deny the resurrection of Christ and the power it brings into the lives of those who follow Him by faith. Acknowledging a Savior is to acknowledge God is in control and not us, and this is something the wicked heart rejects. The wicked do not want to answer to a morality which stems from the love and holiness of God. Instead, they are children of the one the Apostle Paul calls, “the prince of the power of the air,” who is Satan. Therefore, they reject the Gospel, they reject the resurrection and the salvation only Jesus can provide, why? Because they wish to remain in their sins and continue in rebellion against God.