New Covenant | Easter: The Foundation of Our Faith
Acts 6:7, 9:1-15, 10:13-45, 11:1-21
The resurrection of Jesus is the FOUNDATION for everything we DO and everything we BELIEVE as followers of Jesus.
It’s only when you no loner fear personal loss that you become:
SELFLESS. COMPASSIONATE. GENEROUS.
“The word of God SPREAD. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a LARGE number of PRIESTS became OBEDIENT to the faith.” – Acts 6:7
Acts 9:1-15 (pg. 1,706)
9 v.1: “Saul was still breathing out MURDEROUS threats against the Lord’s DISCIPLES.”
9 v.4: “Saul, Saul why do you persecute ME?”
9 v.5: “Who are you, Lord? I am JESUS, whom YOU are PERSECUTING, the voice replied.”
Not only did Saul regain his PHYSICAL sight, his eyes were also opened with extraordinary clarity about the NEW COVENANT launched by Jesus.
Saul began his mission with the goal of PURGING HIS nation from the influence of Jesus, to Paul’s ambition of REACHING EVERY nation with the message of the RESURRECTION of Jesus.
10 v.14: “Surely not, Lord! I’ve never eaten anything IMPURE or UNCLEAN.”
Has God changed His MIND? God changed COVENANTS.
“Do not think I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets, but to FULFILL them. Not the least stroke of a pen will by any means disappear from the law UNTIL everything is ACCOMPLISHED.” – Matthew 5:17-18
10 v.28: “GOD has SHOWN me that I should not call any person IMPURE or UNCLEAN.”
10 v.34: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism, but ACCEPTS those from EVERY nation who WORSHIP Him and does what is right.”
To minimize the difference between these two COVENANTS is to minimize the difference that JESUS makes.