In staff meeting this past Monday, I asked Pastor Brian if he had any particular insights on this passage from Acts 13 that he would be preaching through this morning. After a moment’s thought, he said, “Well … it’s straight gospel.” Given an audience in the Antioch synagogue, Paul immediately takes his listeners to the person and work of Jesus Christ: “God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as He promised” (Acts 13:23). The hymns we’ll be singing this morning do the same. We’ll confess that we trust in “Jesus’ blood and righteousness” and that we stand on “Christ, the solid rock” (My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less). We’ll remember His sacrificial death on the cross (When I Survey The Wondrous Cross), how He washed us in His own blood to make us “kings and priests unto God” (Unto Christ Who Loved Us). We’ll declare our love for Him (My Jesus, I Love Thee) and rejoice that He is our hope in life and death, the truth to calm the troubled soul, and the victor over death (Christ Our Hope In Life And Death). The final hymn reminds us that though He was “humbled for a season” on behalf of sinners (At The Name Of Jesus), this Lord Jesus shall return again—and every knee shall one day bow before Him. This simple gospel was certainly good news for the people of Antioch, and no less good news for us today.
—Henry C. Haffner