Our Forever King (Acts 13:32-37)

Children's Lesson (click here)

I. On Terms Limits

I know you didn't come today for a civics lesson, so bear with me if you would. Recently, if you've been paying attention to the news, then you might know that there's been a renewed interest in the 22^nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. That's the amendment that limits how many terms the same individual can serve as President of the United States. Though the amendment is some-what recent (ratified in 1951), it was partly inspired by the unofficial precedent set by our very first President, George Washington, who only served two terms (and eleven years later, Thomas Jefferson followed suit). Since that time, leaders from both sides of the aisle have sought to ratify that precedent and make it a requirement. But it wasn't until 1945, after Franklin Roosevelt died while serving his fourth (!) term, that enough congressional and popular support led both Con-gress and three-fourths of the states to ratify the 22^nd Amendment.

Now today, as has always been the case, there are those who support and those who oppose this restriction. In general, those who oppose the 22^nd Amendment do so because it limits good and electable Presidents from continuing effective governance and building something more enduring than might be possible in just two-terms. On the other hand, those who support the 22^nd Amendment do so because it limits, yes, potentially electable, but ultimately bad Presidents from holding onto power, and thus, possibly becoming a dictator or tyrant. As one commentator summarized our third President's opinion, “Jefferson saw little distinction between a long-serving executive in an elective position and a hereditary monarch.” (Michael Korzi)

Now think about that: those on one side of the issue are eager to see a good leader endure and accomplish even more good, while those on the other side of the issue are eager to establish safeguards against bad or inept leaders who are unwilling to step aside for the common good.

What is striking about those two positions is that they both emphasize something vital, some-thing important, especially given the human capacity for both good and evil. We absolutely need enduring goodness. But we also need restraints, because our goodness is so corruptible.

II. The Passage: “He Whom God Raised Up” (13:32-37)

As we turn to God's word this morning, specifically Acts 13:32–37, you'll see that the topic remains the same; that is, we are still talking about leadership, specifically, the kind of leadership that all of us desperately need. So beginning in verse 16, the Apostle Paul, having left Antioch in Roman Syria, is here speaking here to a group of Jews living in another Antioch, this one in modern day Turkey. This is what he proclaims in that local synagogue...

And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, [33] this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, “‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you.’ [34] And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way, “‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’ [35] Therefore he says also in another psalm, “‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’ [36] For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, [37] but he whom God raised up did not see corruption.

Brothers and sisters, friends, what Paul is declaring here is the history-altering and life-changing truth about Easter; about the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. But for this Jewish audience, notice how Paul does this by couching his entire message in the thematic context of King David. In fact, even though Paul begins with their Exodus from Egypt in verse 17, every-thing he mentions about Hebrew history from that point forward is simply meant as an introduction for his main focus on David five verses later. And once he gets to King David, he doesn't waste any time getting to Jesus. In the very next verse, verse 23, Paul declares, “Of this man’s offspring [i.e., David] God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised.”

And it's that word, “promised”, that we see again in our main passage (in verse 32). Paul begins his focus on Jesus by focusing on David because David is the one who received that promise. What promise is Paul thinking about here? It's not one that he explicitly cites in this sermon, but there's good reason to believe he's referring to God's promise to David in 2 Samuel 7:16, “And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’” Please meditate on that word for a moment: “forever”. “Forever”. Please hold on to that word, if you would. It's absolutely critical.

Okay. One of the clearest problems with the fulfillment of this promise is the very problem Paul highlights in this message; specifically, in our main passage (vs. 32-37). Paul highlights and then solves this problem by citing three OT verses: Psalm 2:7, Isaiah 55:3, and Psalm 16:10. What is this problem that Paul highlights? It's the fact that David received a promise about “for-ever”, even though he (and his offspring) would eventually die. Now God could have solved this problem by planning for an eternal pattern of succession to David's throne; that is, descendants of David would continue to be raised up... forever... in order to fulfill this promise.

But that was not God's plan. God's plan was not for an eternal succession of kings. God's plan was for the succession of an eternal king. Look back at our passage. Jesus is the eternal King who was (v. 33) declared to be the Davidic “Son” (or heir), figuratively “begotten” through his resurrection from the dead. Jesus is the eternal King who (v. 34) received forever “the holy and sure blessings of David”. Jesus is the eternal King who as the (v. 35) “Holy One” of God, will not “see [who will never again see] corruption” (i.e., the corruption of physical death).

Again, Paul is exalting Jesus in light of the problem I mentioned, and that he mentions in v. 36... “For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption”. Clearly then, David was not speaking about himself in Psalm 16:10. He was speaking about the One to come. He was pointing us to Jesus.

III. “Yesterday and Today and Forever”

Though Christmas is the holiday we usually associate with gifts, think about the gifts God has given us because of Easter. More specifically, think about the gift that Paul was highlighting here for his listeners, and that God is highlighting for us this morning. “What God promised... this he has fulfilled”. Through Christ's resurrection from the dead, God has given us, he has given you, a forever King.

Now, that declaration may sound satisfying to you in terms of sound doctrine. But if you're honest, maybe it sounds somewhat irrelevant in terms of your everyday life. For some, this idea of a 'forever King' could sound too 'pie in the sky'. Too fanciful. Too abstract. Too 'out there'. If it does, even a little bit, think with me about our earlier discussion regarding... term limits.

As I said at the outset, we absolutely need enduring goodness. But we also need restraints, because our goodness is so corruptible. If both of those statements are true, and if they serve to highlight a genuine dilemma when it comes to human leadership, then take heart, brothers and sisters; be encouraged, friends. Why? Because God has solved that dilemma by giving us the perfect human leader: Jesus, our forever King. Wonderfully, there are no term limits to his blessed reign, and there is no need to limit the Holy One of God, since He is not susceptible to any kind of corruption. Therefore, we never have to fear that he will become a forever tyrant.

But again, what should this mean for your everyday life? Well, if we see value in human govern-ments, if we see value in civic order and the administration of justice and a strong defense and the overall flourishing of society, then how could we not see even more value in the governance of our souls? I think most of you can confess along with me that our hearts desperately need leadership. The reality of that need is clear from our experience and from God's word. The only real question we need to answer is this: To whom or to what are we turning for that leadership? Who or what legislates right and wrong within you? Who or what keeps the peace in your soul? Who or what defends you from danger and provides relief when disaster comes?

If your answer ultimately boils down to... you, then God wants to provide a wonderful correction this morning. Only Jesus, the forever King, can offer us the leadership we need to truly enjoy God's perfect design for “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. Think with with me about that leadership in light of this simple verse from Hebrews 13. We read there in verse 8 that, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” That's not a statement about the eternality of the Son. It's a statement about the unchanging quality of our King's character and his reign.

Think about it: if our King is “the same yesterday”, then the Jesus who worked in Peter and Tabitha and Paul and Lydia and Barnabas and Polycarp and Perpetua and Athanasius and Augustine and Hus and Wycliffe and Luther and Calvin and Knox and Susanna Wesley and William Carey and Sojourner Truth and D.L. Moody and Amy Carmichael and C.S. Lewis and your spiritual parents and grandparents, the same Jesus who led them wants to lead you today.

Think about it: if our King is “the same... today”, then there's a solid rock under your feet, more firm than anything in the universe. Jesus does not have good days and bad days. There is no potential scandal brewing in terms of his administration. He is never overruled. He is never a lame duck. He is not swayed by public opinion, nor is he threatened by any outside power. The benefits he extends cannot be cut, he will always take your calls, and there is absolutely no red tape when it comes to the outworking of his perfect leadership in your life.

Think about it: if our King is “the same... forever”, then there is a comfort, a reassurance he can offer us that is unassailable, even by death. As Paul wrote to the Thessalonian disciples, one day we will meet our King face to face, and when we do, “...we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:17–18) The King who wants to lead you today is the same King who will rule one million years from now. Talk about stability! Talk about enduring goodness! Is that the leadership you're looking to today?

Why, brother and sisters, why friends, would we ever let lesser things rule our hearts and minds?Things that not only lead us from life, but things that simply cannot last. Praise God that he has set term limits for this world, the devil, and our flesh. Amen? One day, everything will change for the better. Easter represents the fulfillment of that promise. So let's be directed back this morning, and strengthened in light of the incomparable leadership of our forever King, Jesus. Let's pray for a renewed vision of the King's power and his position and his presence with all those who trust him, and for hearts that are submitted with a humble, joyful trust in his goodness.