God Exalted
Today’s Verse:
Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. ~Acts 5:31
Peter and John had been arrested, imprisoned, and commanded to cease speaking and teaching about Jesus’ death and resurrection. Most of us would probably be intimidated and back down. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, they gave a strong and confident testimony to the elders of the plan of salvation. Peter testified of how Jesus had God’s approval upon His sacrificial death by saying, “Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour.” Let us see the One Whom God hath exalted.
We see the wrong.
“The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.” This is the third time Peter indicted the Jewish elders of their manipulation in having Jesus crucified. In effect, these self-righteous were told that they were guilty of murdering the Son of God. All of the human race stands guilty and condemned for the death of our Lord Jesus.
We see the Redeemer.
“Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour.” Jesus shed His blood and died on the cross to pay the sin debt for every sinner. The name Jesus means Jehovah saves. Savior means the One Who saves us from sin’s condemnation. Exalted means to be lifted up. Jesus was lifted up on a cross to die for our sins. He was in full, public view so that every visible eye at the cross could see Him as He suffered and died for us. We have been purchased out of the slave market of sin by His shed blood. We have been bought with a price: the supreme price of the life of our Lord Jesus.
We see the Royalty.
Exalted not only means lifted up, but it also means reverenced and honored. Jesus Christ is our Prince of Peace. He purchased peace for us through the blood of His cross. At salvation, every sinner attains peace with God. He is the Author and Sovereign of the only true peace available to the sinner. He is also the Prince of life (Acts 3:15) and the Prince of the kings of the earth (Revelation 1:5). He reigns over sin and death.
We see the representatives.
“And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.” The exalting of Jesus is to draw all men to Him. We are His witnesses who testify of His death and resurrection. I think of a message that I received this afternoon from one of our core church members who shared how God opened a door for him to present the gospel to one of his co-workers, and how the man accepted Christ as his Savior. We must be witnesses that are active, avid, and available.
We see the receiving.
“...For to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” The attaining of salvation is through repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is freely available to all who will repent and call on the name of the Lord to be saved. Peter’s bold witness gave the Jewish elders opportunity to repent of their sin and receive Christ. Christ is exalted every time someone calls on Him to be his Savior. If you have not received Him as your Savior, do so today. God has exalted Him: will you exalt Him today?
Have a Christ-exalting God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Job 24-28