It’s Not You
The True Human Community
August 27, 2023
Rev. Dr. Gabe Sylvia
Paul's sermon in Acts 13 portrays God's promises as the foundation of creation and redemption—demonstrated through historical acts and Christ's resurrection—and calls people to repent, trust God's sovereign plan through suffering, and live in holiness sustained by the Spirit.
Summary
The sermon emphasizes how indispensable promises are for ordered life and flourishing, arguing that God's faithful promises undergird both creation and the redemption of his people; Paul recounts a series of historical acts showing God's persistent covenant commitment (even amid apparent silence), presents election, justification, and glorification as grounds for hope, explains that suffering is part of God's refining pursuit of his people, and points to Christ's public resurrection as the decisive assurance that God's plan will prevail—therefore listeners are urged to repent, embrace the gospel, cooperate with the Spirit, and trust that God will preserve them to glory.
Key Points
- Promises are essential to orderly, flourishing life and relationships.
- God's promises are foundational both in creation and in the redemption of his people.
- Paul targeted population centers to spread the gospel so it could organically take root and grow.
- He recounts ten historical acts illustrating God's ongoing, faithful covenant commitment.
- Election, justification, and glorification show that God's saving work is secure and grounds hope for the unsaved we pray for.
- Suffering is part of God's persistent pursuit and the process by which saints are refined and brought to glory.
- Christ's resurrection, publicly demonstrated, guarantees God's plan will succeed despite human ignorance or opposition.
- The sermon calls for repentance, trust in the gospel now, and a life of holiness in cooperation with the Spirit.
- Assurance: God's power preserves believers to eternity—holiness and perseverance are gifts to be received, not produced in our own strength.
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