Acts 19 -- Which Side Of The Cross?

Twelve men Paul met professed to be Christians and had been baptized with John’s baptism, but did not have the Holy Spirit.  Paul explained to them what the problem was:  “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance that looked forward to the coming of the Messiah, while Christian baptism is a baptism that looks back to the finished work of Christ on the cross and His victorious resurrection.  John’s baptism was on the other side of Calvary and Pentecost.  It was correct for its day but now that day was ended,” my commentary said.

 

In verses 18-19, Luke mentions people who had “apparently not made a clean break with sin and were still practicing their magic, but the Lord had dealt with them,” according to my commentary.  “They kept coming … kept confessing …kept showing,”  and when God was finished with them, they didn’t bother to count the cost.  They were sold out to God and burned magic books worth the wages of 150 men for a year.  When we get our priorities straight with God and sell out wholeheartedly to Him, it’s important that we let nothing hold us back either.

 

Father, a clean break with sin was called for here.  If we hold out a part of our lives for ourselves – not willing to give it up to You – then we resemble the people in this chapter.  Help us to hold back nothing, but instead to let You be Lord of everything in our lives.

 

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford