God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior

 

God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior

Acts 5:31-32 『Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 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 reason Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected was to make humans (Israel) repent and give them forgiveness of sins. However, Apesin is freedom from sin. It is not forgiveness of sins, but liberation from sin. The one who can liberate sinners from sin must be a ruler and also a savior.

The Pharisees were very angry because the apostles said that the resurrected Jesus was a king. At that time, the only king was the Roman emperor, and under the Roman authority, there was King Herod, but they thought that their council was the only ruling class that ruled Israel, so they could not help but be angry because they said that Jesus was a king.

Before Jesus died on the cross, he also said that he was the king of the Jews. Matthew 27:11-12 "When Jesus stood before the governor, the governor asked him, 'Are you the king of the Jews?' Jesus answered, 'You have said so.' But when he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he made no answer." The Jews were a nation ruled by God. Therefore, their king was God himself. Jesus' statement that he was the king of the Jews should be understood in this context. However, could the Son of God, who was born to die on the cross, become the king of the Jews?

He could be called the king of the Jews because God delegated all authority to the Son. All authority is the authority to forgive sins and the authority to open and close the gates of heaven. You can never enter the kingdom of God without going through Jesus Christ. Jesus' disciples testify to this, so they become witnesses, and the Holy Spirit also becomes a witness.

Jesus said that when the Holy Spirit comes, He will testify about sin, righteousness, and judgment. He said that not believing the words Jesus spoke is sin, but here sin does not mean sin that leaves God, but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. When we enter into Jesus’ atoning death, we are free from sin and all sins are forgiven. However, there are still too many believers who do not believe this even today. Being free from sin means being free from the law. Therefore, there is no law that applies to sin.

In Romans 8:1-2, the Bible says, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life has set you free from the law of sin and death." The believers think that they are not free from the law and confess their sins every day and want to be forgiven by the blood of Jesus.

When we are free from sin, there is a change in our identity. We change from our fleshly self to our spiritual self. That is why Romans 8:5-8 says, “For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace. Because the mind set on the flesh is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor indeed can it. And those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” Those who still think they are sinners are those who follow the flesh. That is why their sins come to mind every day. No matter how much they try to be forgiven of their sins, they commit the sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit.

The righteousness that the Holy Spirit testifies to is that Jesus, who died on the cross, was resurrected for righteousness, so those who are in Christ are also resurrected for righteousness. Righteousness means resurrection life. Those who do not have resurrection life are those who do not have God’s righteousness. Resurrection is not a physical resurrection, but a spiritual resurrection that grants eternal life. Most believers today believe in physical resurrection. They become those who do not believe in what the Holy Spirit testifies to.

In 1 Corinthians 15:50, it says, “This I say, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.” It is saying that the flesh received from parents cannot receive resurrection life.

1 Corinthians 15:51-53 “Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable must put on imperishability, and this mortal must put on immortality.” Being changed suddenly refers to a change in the soul. It means that those who died with Jesus Christ will be resurrected with Jesus. This does not refer to something that happens after death, but to a spiritual change that occurs while one is alive. It means that the spirit was trapped in the body and died, but through Jesus Christ, the spirit that was dead will be given a spiritual body and live with resurrection life. It means that it is not a physical body received from parents, but a spiritual body received from heaven.

Regarding the third judgment, those who are in Jesus Christ are purchased by God from Satan with blood. John 16:11, “The judgment is that the prince of this world has been judged.” Satan Satan’s handing over of sinners signifies the judgment of Satan. It means that Satan has no right to rule over sinners. The reason is that those who are united with the cross of Jesus have already been judged. Romans 6:6-7, “Knowing this, that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died has been freed from sin.”

Even though the Holy Spirit testifies in this way, believers who do not believe are those who believe according to their own thoughts. No matter how much the Bible says, believers who are separated from fleshly experience and knowledge do not want to believe. Therefore, they are those who are under the law and under sin. The Holy Spirit cannot come upon them, and there is only judgment.