From corruption to incorruption.

Acts 13:32-37

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click for a description of the image of the beast.

“And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You.’” Acts 13:32-33

The “glad tidings” that the Apostles were/are declaring to the Jewish people is that Jesus is alive, despite them thinking He was dead and buried. That’s the Good News because their hope of Salvation is still alive through Jesus. Although they are wandering in the wilderness and have rejected Him as their King and Savior, they still have hope. Jesus is alive to lead them out of the wilderness of unbelief into the eternal New Jerusalem in the new heaven and earth. They can still make Jesus their King, Lord, and Savior by believing God sent Him as their Christ and Son of God. Our Lord Jesus is the Son of God, begotten by the Spirit of God, and Savior for the whole world to receive.

Paul is quoting this verse, “Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You.’” Psalms 2:6-7 The Apostle Matthew [Levi] wrote, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit….So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin will be with child, and bear a Son, and they will call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Matthew 1:18, 22-23 [Isaiah 7:14].

“I serve a risen Savior He’s in the world today. I know that He is living, whatever men may say. I see His hand of mercy; I hear His voice of cheer; And just the time I need Him He’s always near. He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.” [Church Song].

“And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: ‘I will give you the sure mercies of David.’ Therefore He also says in another Psalm: ‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.’” Acts 13:34-35

Paul is letting the Jewish people know that the resurrection of Jesus is a permanent one, He never returned to the grave after being resurrected and His body saw no decay [corruption] while in the tomb. Jesus ascended into Heaven where He lives today. In other words, the opportunity for Salvation in the name of Jesus Christ has no expiration date, it’s never too late to say “Yes” to Him, but “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.2 Corinthians 6:2

What are the sure mercies of David? Isaiah says plainly, “Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul will live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you—the sure mercies of David.” Isaiah 55:3 The sure mercies of David are included in the eternal covenant, eternal life. That eternal covenant is as quoted, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Paul quotes Psalms 16:10 as the Old Testament scriptures was the Gospel of Jesus Christ, “For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.” Psalms 16:10 Jesus Christ saw no corruption in the grave and God rose Him from the grave to live eternally. Likewise, because He lives, we who believe in Him will live eternally with Him. We will not be left in the grave because we are going to be resurrected when Jesus returns. Our mortal body is sown in corruption but is raised in incorruption. “So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.” 1 Corinthians 15:42-44

“For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; but He whom God raised up saw no corruption.” Acts 13:36-37

The Jewish people put a lot of faith in king David, but he fell asleep [now waiting for the resurrection of the dead], was buried with all of the forefathers of the Jewish culture, and his body saw corruption by decaying in the grave. However, Jesus [who God resurrected] saw no corruption whatsoever while in the tomb. This was the Good News to the Jewish people that their hope of Salvation was still alive, after being responsible for putting Jesus in the grave. Salvation is something that David cannot provide, being dead and awaiting his resurrection, but we serve a risen Savior who is alive in Heaven. When we are raised from the grave, we will have a new immortal and incorruptible body. Click here for a post on the resurrection of dry bones from Ezekiel 37.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11