A Biblical Vision, Part II: Mastering the New Testament Witness to Christ

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A B i b l i ca l Vi s i on, Par t I I : Mas ter i ng the New Tes tament Wi tnes s to Chr i s t

b. They are his chosen ambassadors to deliver the good news of salvation to the world, beginning with the Jews, Acts 13.46-47 – And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. [47] For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” 2. The Jesus rejected, crucified, and spurned by the nation of Israel was in fact the Lord and Messiah of God, Acts 2.36 – Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified. a. The day of Pentecost is the fulfillment of prophetic Scripture related to the end times, cf. Acts 2.16ff with Joel 2.28-32 – And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. [29] Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit. [30] And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. [31] The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. [32] And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls. 3. The Age to Come, the promised life of the Kingdom and the reign of God, has now come in the presence of Jesus of Nazareth in the world