Sun 9:30a Class; 10:30a Worship; 11:35a Communion
Bible Bites
Unafraid to Die
“If, then, I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die.” (Acts 25:11)
Christianity is the religion of mercy and forgiveness. After all, Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost (Luke 19:10) and tells us to forgive others even seventy times seven times (Matthew 18:22). However, in the midst of all this love and forgiveness, Christians also are comfortable with the idea of capital punishment. The Bible has no problem with the idea of the government wielding the sword of capital punishment against those who break laws (Romans 13:1-4). It is an odd juxtaposition.
I believe that Paul’s answer in Roman court shows consistency on that topic. Paul knew he had the hope of salvation and life eternal. He also was unafraid to die if he was guilty of doing something wrong here. The Bible is consistent on this point. The eternal consequences of sin are removed through Christ, but the earthly ones are not. A death row inmate can be saved, but that shouldn’t expunge their sentence.
Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites
Today’s Reading: Acts 25:1-12
Questions to ask:
- How does this show the continuation of Jesus’ work now going on in the church?
- How is the gospel, Paul’s preaching, and/or Paul’s defense received?
- What is the Holy Spirit doing in this text?
- What in our reading shows how Paul handled adversity and difficulty?
This year, #Biblebites are following the life and writings of Paul. If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2023-vision
