17th Jun 26 | 05:17
Studies by Book
Entrusted with God’s message
📖 Acts 15:30-31
Acts 15 - Series 2/Episode 21 - Mon, 27th Apr 2026 - Entrusted with God's message - Acts 15:22-35 - THE ANNOUNCEMENT - II Corinthians 05:17-20
Acts 15:30-31 So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. (31) When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.
Judas, Silas, Barnabas and Paul, with the others, were sent off to Antioch. We have been following the process of the Jerusalem Council. We have followed the verdict and the letter to the churches. We now come to the place of the execution of the decision of the Jerusalem Council.
As these leaders were being sent off to the churches with this letter from the Jerusalem Council, we can imagine the immense weight of responsibility that those who were sent must have felt upon themselves. This was not a simple handing over of a letter. They carried the entire thought, understanding, and deep conviction of the elders in Jerusalem for the Gentile believers and for the church at large.
As we examine this matter, we are reminded of the letter that God has placed on our hearts. We are God's epistles to the world. II Corinthians 3:2-3 You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; (3) clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.
God is writing a love letter to the world. The heart of God is for humanity and His entire creation to be reconciled with Him. Colossians 1:19-20 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, (20) and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
Man and creation are in a state of alienation from God because of man's sin. Colossians 1:21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled / Romans 8:19-22 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. (20) For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; (21) because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (22) For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.
God's heart laments over the alienation of man and creation from Him. Psalms 81:11-13 "But My people would not heed My voice, And Israel would have none of Me.(12) So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, To walk in their own counsels. (13) "Oh, that My people would listen to Me, That Israel would walk in My ways! / John 1:9-12 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. (10) He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. (11) He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
To those who received Jesus, He called us the children of God. (12) But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
Now that we are the children of God, He has placed on us the responsibility to reconcile the world (people and creation) to Him. When we come to Christ, we are a new creation. II Corinthians 5:17-20 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (18) Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, (19) that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. (20) Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.
As ambassadors of Christ, we plead with the world to be reconciled with God through Jesus Christ. We shine as God's light in a dark world, holding out the word of Life, which is the message of God. Philippians 2:15-16 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, (16) holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
Just as the leaders were sent out to Antioch with the message and letter of the Jerusalem Council, we too carry on us this great message of the Gospel. We are trustees of the Gospel. I Thessalonians 2:4 But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.
Let us be worthy carriers of the message of God to man and creation.
Community Feedback
Reviews for Entrusted with God’s message
☆☆☆☆☆
0 reviews
Leave a Review
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.