Friday, August 4, 2017
Acts 15:28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us ...
IT'S A MIRACLE!
Yesterday we noticed that the Spirit's opinion comes first, but we should not take that second part "and to us" for granted, either. How often it happens that even when something seems good to the Holy Spirit, it still does not seem good to us.
As one man once put it, "You can't just go out there saying that Jesus died for all sins, or people will take that as an invitation to go out and sin." ... "But that is what the Bible says." ... "That may be, but think of the effect it will have."
Our human nature does not like the Spirit's word of forgiveness for several reasons. One, because when the Spirit proclaims forgiveness, that implies that we need it, that we are poor, wretched sinners who cannot save ourselves. Two, because if we ever do come face to face with our true sinfulness, the Spirit's gift seems way too easy, since it doesn't require a payment on our part. The good news has no teeth in it, no threats or even a reward for people who straighten up and fly right.
But for those who believe that their sins were laid on Jesus, that He willingly died their death, a love is kindled in their heart for that Savior, and it makes them want to please God, so that what seems good to the Spirit also seems good to them.
It is truly a miracle of the Spirit, then, when we can say, "It seemed good to the Spirit AND TO US..."
Lord grant us such a faith as this,
And then whate'er may come,
We'll taste even now the hallowed bliss
Of an eternal home.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 396)
