Friday, February 12, 2010

Assurances

Acts 17:31 KJV
Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

The term that caught my attention is the word assurance.

God has given assurance, the Bible says, unto all men. That assurance is found in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The proofs of that resurrection are indisputable. While so many in our world today (and apparently they did the same in Paul's day) simply scoff it off, not willing to do the homework to discover the truth of it for themselves, those who have researched and considered it have come to the position that Christ's resurrection is irrefutable. My purpose here is not give any of those proofs but simply to acknowledge they exist.

The resurrection of Christ from the dead, according to this passage, provides assurance unto all men. I see that assurance as having two applications.

First, the world may be assured that the judgment of God upon this world will happen. Revelation 19 describes Jesus Christ coming as King of Kings and Lord of Lords and as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Also described are
The seven year Tribulation period
The 1000 year reign of Christ followed by the final battle with Satan
The Great White Throne Judgment
The destruction of this earth and the creation of a new one
Any who cares to consider the truth of Christ's resurrection and then compare it with this verse will find he can be assured such judgment is coming.

Secondly, Christ's resurrection provides assurance for the believer that, though this judgment is sure, we have escaped it.
We have no need to fear, who have fled to Christ for safety. Though the judgment is real, Christ has already suffered that judgment and any who come to Him have assurance of absolute rest and shelter from it.

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