4/1/26

Acts 20:21 NASB95 solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul shares that he solemnly testified. This is to testify earnestly as under oath or with charge to do so under penalty. Paul felt like testimony was required of him. He is correct! It is not that he will lose salvation if he doesn't but instead, he will not be pleasing to the Lord.

Because of this, he feels like it is a have-to situation.

Paul knows God as fully Holy. His desire is not to earn or pay back his salvation. His desire is to strive to worship the Lord with the type of service that He desires.

This same Paul said to live is Christ, to die is gain. Meaning to live is to sacrifice all for the Father and to die is to gain immediate intimate fellowship with and in the presence of the Lord who is pleased with me.

Our lives should be lived not only in appreciation for what God has done but even more so in complete worship, love, reverence, and service, for His Holiness. His Holiness is His perfectly indescribable and unattainable omni attributes. He is God and He, is above ALL ability, to describe, understand, and be. Therefore He is deserving of a life that is committed to sacrificial living with a testimony solemnly given to ALL (Jews and Greeks in Paul's time).

This testimony given out of an abundance of yearning, is to show that repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, are the Highway that God's Grace travels delivering Salvation. A salvation that God desires all to have!

Salvation is God's gift to all who will freely receive. If we will freely receive this gift then we will hopefully grow to the point in our relationship with God to have the yearning to solemnly testify!

Paul was like Jeremiah. He wasn't required to but his desire was so strong it felt like a requirement.

Jeremiah 20:9 NASB95 But if I say, “I will not remember Him Or speak anymore in His name,” Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; And I am weary of holding it in, And I cannot endure it.

Is your yearning, to live life and have salvation, or is it to be a sacrificial blessing to the completely Holy Lord?

Praying that we Christians will feel in our hearts the burning fire shut up in our bones. Requiring us to Solemnly Testify to ALL, of our own freewill and desire to worship the Lord. Repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, is our testimony. Our adoration, devotion, piety, fear, awe, respect.... No, none of these words are strong enough. Our Solemnity (serious, reverent and sacred view) of God requires us to be solemnly testifying to ALL of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord didn't require this of Paul. He desired it. So in turn Paul required it of himself.

Is this what our life looks like?

Love Bro. Scott