Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

Paul (speaking through his words as recounted by Luke in the cited passage) is emphasizing the message found repeatedly in the New Testament (as well as in the Old Testament (Habakkuk 2:4), as cited also by Paul in Romans 1:17 and Galatians 3:11), that salvation and eternal life are not (and cannot be) gained through obedience to the Law that was given to Israel by God through Moses (since the purpose of the Law was to convict humanity of its sinfulness through its inability to keep the Law perfectly, as God required), but through faith, and specifically faith in Christ's sinless life, atoning death, and resurrection to receive the forgiveness of sins from God (as also stated elsewhere by Paul in passages such as Ephesians 2:8-9), and to be reconciled to Him..

November 15 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

Luke in Acts 13:38-39 was writing about a Personal Salvation—unto you (AC 13:32 And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, 
AC 13:38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins.

Luke in Acts is writing of a Plenteous Salvation—all that believe (Acts 16:31) – Romans 5:20 --

“ 	Now the law came in so that the transgression may increase, but where sin increased, grace multiplied all the more,”

Luke spoke of a Present Salvation—is preached (1PE 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.)... and a Perfect Salvation—justified from all things AC 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
38 	Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:	

39 	And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.	
“Justified” means “to be declared innocent and therefore to be absolved from the charge of sins.” (Acts 13:38-39)

Luke, the author also of Acts speaks of a Peerless Salvation—could not be justified by the law of Moses
NKJV Gal. 2:16	"knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

NKJV Gal. 3:10
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law[of Moses], to do them."

November 15 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

After reading the account mentioned by Luke in Acts Chapter 13 - 38-39, my opinion based on what I read is as follows:

Be it known unto you therefore, brethren,—That through this man unto you remission of sins is declared; 39 and from all things from which ye could not by the law of Moses be justified by this man everyone that believeth is justified. Rotherham Bible.

It is interesting when you read Hebrews 7:19 - For the Law made nothing perfect, but the introduction of a better hope did, through which we are drawing near to God.

Paul highlights that salvation and eternal life cannot be gained through obedience to the Law that was given to Israel by God through Moses, because the purpose of the Law was to show that imperfect man could not keep the Law perfectly due to imperfection.

“SINCE the Law has a shadow of the good things to come, but not the very substance of the things, men can never with the same sacrifices from year to year which they offer continually make those who approach perfect.” (Hebrews 10:1) There, in one bold statement, the apostle Paul affirms that all the sacrifices offered under the Mosaic Law were of no permanent value as far as man’s salvation is concerned.​—Colossians 2:16, 17. -16 Therefore, do not let anyone judge you about what you eat and drink or about the observance of a festival or of the new moon or of a sabbath. 17 Those things are a shadow of the things to come, but the reality belongs to Christ.

A shadow of the things to come: 

The shadow that an object casts can give an idea of the general shape or design of the reality that casts it. However, a shadow is temporary, or transient, in comparison with the object or reality that the shadow represents. In this connection, Paul explains that the Law, including its festivals, tabernacle, and sacrifices, was a shadow that represented greater things to come.​—Heb 8:5; 9:23-28; 10:1.

Conclusion:

Drawing from the book of Acts, Luke's understanding of salvation is presented as a gift from God, universally available through faith in Jesus Christ, and powerfully at work in the lives of believers.

Luke highlights that salvation was always intended to extend beyond the Jewish people to all nations, a theme foretold by the prophets and reiterated by Paul.

From Luke-Acts, we learn that Jesus Christ is the sole agent of salvation, whose crucified and resurrected life is the foundation of God's plan for all people. Salvation is available universally, reaching beyond ethnic or social boundaries to the Gentiles, the poor, the marginalised, and the “lost”. It requires a personal submission to Jesus’ teachings and the Holy Spirit, leading to a transformed life.

7 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report