A MODERN-DAY "CHURCH OF ANTIOCH." (6 OF 10)
by Tim Melton
Scripture: Acts 11:1-30
This content is part of a series.
A Modern-day "Church of Antioch." (6 of 10)
Tim Melton
Series: Acts
Acts 11
The Jews of Jesus' day traced their lineage all the way back to Abraham. They were the chosen people of God. Even though they were under the rule of the Romans they awaited the fulfillment of ancient prophecy. They awaited a Messiah who would come to be their Deliverer, and who would sit on the throne of the King of David, forever.
In Jesus of Nazareth, God kept His promise, sending His Son to be the Savior of the world. While most Jews did not recognize Jesus as the Christ, some did. But these Jewish believers still were stuck in their past ways of thinking. Many of the Jews believed Jesus was the Promised Jewish Messiah but they did not yet see that Jesus had come to save men and women from every nation. Because of this the Jewish believers kept Jesus to themselves.
In Matthew 28:18-20 we find some of Jesus' last words.
"And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
The earliest followers of Christ were told to make disciples of all nations. The book of Acts shows us that they were making disciples in Jerusalem, but somehow the "of all nations" part of Jesus' command was not being fulfilled.
In Acts 1:8 we see another similar instruction from Jesus. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Once again, the instructions were clear but seemed to be neglected by those earliest of believers.
In response God orchestrated several events to usher the Jewish believers out of this closed mindset and to grant them a vision for the world. As Paul wrote in Phili ...
Tim Melton
Series: Acts
Acts 11
The Jews of Jesus' day traced their lineage all the way back to Abraham. They were the chosen people of God. Even though they were under the rule of the Romans they awaited the fulfillment of ancient prophecy. They awaited a Messiah who would come to be their Deliverer, and who would sit on the throne of the King of David, forever.
In Jesus of Nazareth, God kept His promise, sending His Son to be the Savior of the world. While most Jews did not recognize Jesus as the Christ, some did. But these Jewish believers still were stuck in their past ways of thinking. Many of the Jews believed Jesus was the Promised Jewish Messiah but they did not yet see that Jesus had come to save men and women from every nation. Because of this the Jewish believers kept Jesus to themselves.
In Matthew 28:18-20 we find some of Jesus' last words.
"And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
The earliest followers of Christ were told to make disciples of all nations. The book of Acts shows us that they were making disciples in Jerusalem, but somehow the "of all nations" part of Jesus' command was not being fulfilled.
In Acts 1:8 we see another similar instruction from Jesus. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Once again, the instructions were clear but seemed to be neglected by those earliest of believers.
In response God orchestrated several events to usher the Jewish believers out of this closed mindset and to grant them a vision for the world. As Paul wrote in Phili ...
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