I Am Persuaded

Love's Work - Acts 26:26 says, "For the knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner."



Paul was appealing to the facts - people were still alive who had heard Jesus and seen his miracles; the empty tomb could still be seen; and the Christian message was turning the world upside down (17:6). The history of Jesus' life and the early church are facts that are still open for us to examine. We still will have eye witness accounts of Jesus' life in the Bible as well as historical and archaeological records of the early church to study. Examine the events and facts as verified by many witnesses. Reconfirm your faith with the truth of these accounts.



Love's Tenacity - Rom 8:38 says, " For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,"



"Principalities" and "powers" are unseen forces of evil in the universe. These are Satan and his fallen angels (see Eph 6:12). In Christ we are super-conquerors, and his love will protect us from any such forces.



Love's Preservation - 2 Tim 1:12 says, "For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."



Paul was in prison, but that did not stop his ministry. He carried it own through others like Timothy. Paul had lost all his material possessions, but he would never lose his faith. He trusted God to use him regardless of his circumstances. If your situation looks bleak, give your concerns to Christ. He will guard your faith and safely guard all you have entrusted to him until the day of his return.



The phrase "keep that which I have committed unto him" has three main interpretations: (1) Paul knew God would guard the souls of those converted through his preaching. (2) he trusted God to guard his own soul until the second coming; or (3) he was confident that, though he was in prison and facing death, God would carry out the Gospel ministry through others such as Timothy. Paul may have expressed his confidence to encourage Timothy, who was discouraged by the problems in Ephesus and fearful of persecution. Even in prison, Paul knew God was still in control.

Does God have control of your life?

Gospel's Threefold Message

The Gospel is a threefold message.

1. It is "the Gospel of the grace of God" proclaiming His favour to the undeserving. Acts 20:24 says, "But none of these things move me, niether count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God."

We often feel that life is a failure unless were getting a lot out of it, recognition, fun, money, success. But Paul thought life was worth nothing unless he used it for God's work. What he put into life was far more important than what he got out. Which is more important to you - what you get out of life or what you put in it?

Singlemindedness is a quality needed by anyone who wishes to do God's work. Paul was a singleminded person, and the most important goal of his life was to tell others about Christ (Philippians 3:7-13). It is no wonder that Paul was the greatest missionary who ever lived. God is looking for men and women who focus on that one great task God has given them to do.

2. It is the Gospel of power, telling out the good news that God never ask us to do a thing without giving us the power to do it. Rom 1:16 says, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first and also to the Greek."

Paul was not ashamed, because his message was the Gospel of Christ, the Good News. It was a message of salvation, it had life changing power, and it was for everyone. When you are tempted to be ashamed, remember what the Good News is all about. If you focus on God and on what God is doing in the world rather than on your inadequacy, your embarrassment will soon disappear.

Why did the message go to the Jews first? They had been God's special people for more than 2,000 years ever since God chose Abraham and promised great blessings to his descendants (Gen 12:1-3). God did not choose them because they deserved to be chosen(Duet 7:7,8; 9:4-6), but because he wanted to show his love and mercy to them, teach them, and prepare them to welcome his Messiah into the world. He chose them , not to play favorites, but so that they would tell the world about his plan of salvation.

For centuries the Jews had been learning about God by obeying his laws, keeping his feasts, and living according to his moral principles. Often they forgot God's promises and requirements; often they had to be disciplined; but still they had a precious heritage of belief in the one true God. Of all the people on earth, the Jews should have been the most ready to welcome the Messiah and to understand his mission and message - and some of them were (see Luke 2:25; 36-38). Of course, the disciplines and the great apostle Paul were faithful Jews who recognized in Jesus God's most precious gift to the human race.

Jews and Christians alike stood against the idolatrous Roman religions, and Roman officials often confused the two groups. This was espesially easy to do since the Christian church in Roman was originally composed of Jewish converts who attended the feast of Pentecost (see Acts 2:1). By the time Paul wrote this letter to the Romans, however, many Gentiles had joined the church. The Jews and the Gentiles needed to know the relationship between Judaism and Christianity.

3. It is a Gospel of glory, declaring a better state of things in the future. 2 Cor 4:4 says, "In whom the god of this world hath blinds the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."

The focus of Paul's preaching was Christ, not himself. When you witness, tell people about what Christ has done, and not about your abilities and accomplishments. People must be introduced to Christ, not to you. And if you hear someone preaching himself or his own ideas rather than Christ, beware - he is a false teacher.

Paul willingly served the Corinthian church even though the people disappointed him. Serving people requires a sacrifice of time and personal desires. Being Christs follower means serving others, even when they do not measure up to our expectations.

The Man Who Had A SubStitute

Barabbas - The notable prisioner, committed to prison for robbery and murder, but preferred to Christ. (Matt 27:16-26)

Who was Barabbas? Jewish men had names that identified them with their Fathers. Simon Peter, for example, is called Simon Bar-jona (Matt 16:17; also translated "Simon, son of Jonah). Barabbas is never identified by his given name and this name is not much help either - bar-abbas means "son of papa" He could have been anybody's son and that's just the point. (Luke 23:17-19)

Mark 15:7; Matt 27:15-16; John 18:40 tells us that Barabbas was arrested for his part in a rebellion against the Roman government and was an enemy to Rome. As a political insurgent, he was no doubt a hero among some of the Jews. The feircely independent Jews hated to support the despised government and its gods. Most of the Roman authorities who had to settle Jewish disputes hated the Jews in return so the time was ripe for a rebellion.

Matt 27:21 tells us that crowds are frickle. If they loved Jesus on Sunday because they thought he was going to inaugurate his kingdom, they could easily hate him on Friday when his power appeared broken. In the face of the mass uprising against Jesus, his friends were afraid to speak up.

Luke 23:17-19 also tells us Barabbas , son of an unnamed papa, committed a crime. Because Jesus died in his place, this man was set free. We too are sinners and criminals against Gods holy Law. Like Barabbas, we deserve to die. But Jesus has died in our place, for our sins, and we have been set free. We don't have to be important to accept our freedom in Christ. In fact, thanks to Jesus, God adopts us all as his own sons and daughters and gives us the right to call him Abba - "papa" (see Gal 4:4-6)

Barabbas should have died for his crimes but Jesus occupied his cross, along with the two other thieves. What a night Barabbas must have spent before Christ was selected in his place! The thief and murderer had visions of a terrible death. All the torture of crucifixion came up before him. Then as the light of morning looked in through the bars of his prision he hears the march of soldiers coming to take him out to his horrible death.

Can we not imagine how stupefied he must have been when he heard the officer of the guard say, "Barabbas you are free. Another is to die in your stead"? When Barabba came to himself and realized how true the news was, out he went, grateful to the One condemned to die as his substitute. A just and holy Man to die in the place of a thief and murderer? Yes, Barabbas was saved at such a cost. What a picture of divine grace this substitutionary death presents! Thereafter, whenever Barabbas thought of Christ, he could say, "He died for me" just as he died for us all.

Don't let his death be in vain, accept Christ today!

What The Lord Wishes Us To Do

We generally see in others what is found in ourselves.

1. If we live consistently. 1 Peter 1:22 says, " Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfiegned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:"

Real love involves selfless giving; therefore a self-centered person can't truly love. God's love & forgiveness free you to take your eyes off yourselves and to meet others' needs. Now you can love others by following his example and giving of yoursef sacrificially.

2. Walk humbly. Micah 6:8 says, "He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"

People have tried all kinds of ways to please God (6:6-7), but God has made his wishes clear: he wants his people to be fair, just, and merciful, and to walk humbly with him. In your efforts to please God, exaime these areas on a regular basis. Are you fair in your dealings with people? Do you show mercy to those who wrong you? Are you learning humility?

3. Act inidividually - Rom 12:5 says, "So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another."

Paul uses the concept to the human body to teach how Christians should live and work together. Just as the parts of the body function under the direction of the brain, so Christians are to work together under the command and authority of Jesus Christ. (Eph 4:1-16) In 1 Cor 12:12 Paul compared the body of Christ to a human body. Each part has a specific function that is necessary to the body as a whole. The parts are different for a purpose, and in their differences they must work together. Christians must avoid two common errors: (1) being too proud of their abilitites, or (2) thinking they have nothing to give to the body of believers. Instead of comparing ourselves to one another, we must use our different gifts, together, to spread the Good News of salvation.

4. Love heartily. 1 John 3:23 says, "And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment."

In the Bible, a person's name stands for his character. It represents who he really is. We are to believe not only in Jesus' words, but also in his very person as the Son of God. Moreover, to believe "on the name" means to pattern ur life after Christ's, to become more like him by uniting yourself with him.

5. Work personally. Col 4:12 says, "Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God."

Epaphras found the Colossian church (see 1:7) and his report to Paul in Rome caused Paul to write this letter. Epaphras was a hero of the Colossian church, one of the believers who helped keep the church together in spite of growing troubles. His earnest prayers for the believers show his deep love and concern for them.

6. Help spiritually. Gal 6:1-2 says, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken (trapped) in a fault (sin), ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness (gentleness); considering (watching) thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one anothers burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

No one should ever think he or she is totally independent and doesn't need help from others, and no one should feel excused from the task of helping. The body of Christ - the universal church - functions only when the members work together for the common good. Is there someone near you who needs help in a task of daily living? Is there a Christian brother or sister who needs correction or encouragement? Humbly and gently reach out to that person. Any who feel they are too busy to help others take their work far too seriously.

John 13:34-35 tells us that we are to love others based on Jesus' sacrificial love for us. Such love will not only bring unbelievers to Christ, it will also keep believers strong and united in a world hostile to God. Jesus was a living example of God's love, as we are to be living examles of Jesus' love.

Jesus says that our Christlike love will show we are his disciples. Do people see petty bickering, jealousy, and division in your church? Or do they know you are Jesus' followers by your love for one another.

7. Forgive Christly. Eph 4:32 says, "And be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

This is Christ's law of forgiveness as taught in the Gospels (Matt 6:14-45;18:35; Mark 11:25). We also see it in the Lord's prayer - "forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtor's," God does not forgive us because we forgive others, but out of his great mercy. As we come to understand his mercy, however, we will want to be like him. Having received forgiveness, we will pass it on to others. Those who are unwilling to forgive have not become one with Christ, who was willing to forgive even those who crucified him. (Luke 23:34)

We can cause the Holy Spirit sorrow by the way we love. Paul warns us against bad language, meanness, improper use of anger, quarrels, harsh words and bad attitudes towards others. Instead of acting that way, we should be forgiving, just as God has forgiven us. Are you grieving or pleasing God with your attitudes and actions. Act in love towards your brothers and sisters in Christ, just as God acted in love by sending his Son to die for your sins.

Have you been living, walking, acting, loving, working, helping and forgiving the way God wishes for you do do? God's easy to please and he is waiting on your call!