One Rejects Salvation, Another Receives It

One Rejects Salvation, Another Receives It

“It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.” Acts 13:46.

In those days it was necessary for the Word to be spoken to the Jews first because they had the calling and were chosen by God. God’s gifts and calling are irrevocable. They were promised the blessing in Christ and therefore were given the opportunity either to receive or to reject the salvation that God had revealed to them through Jesus, according to the election.

Therefore the apostles went first to the Jews in every place, and as it became evident that only a few of them received the message and the rest rejected the Word, God, through the apostles, turned to the Gentiles. He hadn’t promised them anything, but now they would receive what the Jews had rejected.

That is also true in these days. We are His witnesses concerning eternal life, and concerning complete victory over all sin and becoming partakers of the divine nature. Through the leading of the Spirit we have turned to the believers so that they should be the first ones to have the opportunity to receive what God has promised them as His people. It is necessary for this to happen, but only the few receive it; all the others turn back to their own interests in this world. Therefore God’s Spirit leads us to the unsaved, and they shall receive what the others rejected. This is a good guideline. You turn away from those who reject it after they have had the opportunity to receive the Word. We are not forced to dispute to no end with people, and as we read in Acts 28:26-28: “‘Go to this people and say, ‘Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you will see, and not perceive; for the heart of this people has grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their heart and turn [be converted], so that I should heal them.’ Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” Consequently, be encouraged and bold, all you faithful brothers; we can expect a rich harvest among the unsaved. For this is the Lord’s commandment to us: “‘I have set you to be a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.” Acts 13:47-48.

So the unbelieving who do not want to acknowledge the truth and do not want to be saved from indwelling sin will see that the glory that was intended for them in Christ is given to the unconverted, as they are repent and believe.

“Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.” Matt. 22:9.