Witnesses of the Resurrected King

What is the solution to life's toughest problems? Poverty, injustice, greed, corruption, hatred, violence, suffering, death? What is the answer to YOUR problems?

Here is the answer, and if you truly believe it your life will be radically different.

Paul and his companions were at a Jewish Synagogue in Antioch one Sabbath day, and they were asked to speak a word of encouragement, so Paul stood up and gave a sermon about Jesus being the Christ, their Savior. This is how it concluded:

"Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him; And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm,

"'You are my Son,
today I have begotten you.'

And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way,

"'I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.'

Therefore he says also in another psalm,

"'You will not let your Holy One see corruption.'

For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, but he whom God raised up did not see corruption. Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about:

"'Look, you scoffers,
be astounded and perish;
for I am doing a work in your days,
a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.'"

As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. And after the meeting of the Synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God." (Acts 13:26-43 ESV).

When Paul was asked to say some words of encouragement to this Jewish congregation, he was very eager to tell them about Jesus. He reminded them of God's gracious promises to their people, how He had dealt with them, and the leaders who had led them to Canaan. When Paul spoke to them about King David, who's offspring was promised to be a ruler forever. Paul made it clear to them that God had fulfilled that promise in Jesus. He told them of His death, and also of how God had raised the Lord Jesus from the dead. This is how Paul presented the solution to life's biggest problem:

"Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses." (Acts 13:38-39).

My biggest problem is the same as your biggest problem; our sins have separated us from God. That includes eternal separation from God in hell forever, which is described as a lake of burning sulfer. But God has provided a way to remove our sins, to justify us, to free us from our sins by forgiving them through His Son Jesus Christ. His death is the payment for all our sins if we beleive. How do we know this is true? We know because God has raised Jesus from the dead.

"But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people." (Acts 13:30-31).

Now, we can know Jesus was in fact raised from the dead, because there were eye witnesses who saw Him risen. They spoke to the people, and they have left us a record of what happened and of what they said. That record is the New Testament. There always will be scoffers and doubters, but when the Living God awakens faith in your soul, you will see that God is satisfied with the death of His Son for your forgiveness, and that He has indeed raised Him from the dead as King and Savior forever. This is true for you if you have hidden yourself from the coming wrath of God in Jesus, who's blood was sacrificed.

That is the solution and answer to all of life's biggest problems, including all the pain and suffering you and I experience. Pain, death, suffering and difficulties are the result of man's fall into sin. Christ is the ultimate solution, because it is through Him that we find forgiveness of all our sins. He will come again to make all things new, and there will no longer be death and pain. When God promised Christ would come the first time, He fulfilled that promise. We know that He will also fulfill His promise again, that Jesus will come to save His people forever, and will judge the world.

We certainly have a lot to be thankful for, as well as a lot to look forward to. Praise the Lord! Amen.