“Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.”
(Acts 13:38-39 ESV)
After proclaiming Jesus’ kingship (or at least a summary centered around his death and resurrection), Paul explains the benefits of “believing”.
The Greek word for “believe” is pisteuo, and this means exercising believing loyalty. It is more than just a mental assent, which is what Christianity in the west is often reduced to. No, believing loyalty is a faith that is willing to demonstrate itself even in the face of persecution. This is why a process of discipleship is so important before and after someone expressed believing loyalty in Jesus. Faith without works, without a demonstration, is dead faith, as James says.
So in the two verses that I quoted, you can see that one of the benefits of submitting yourself to King Jesus in believing loyalty is forgiveness of sins. The other one is “freedom”, or “justification” as the Greek literally says. We’re justified, acquitted from things from which the Torah was not able to acquit us.
Later on, in verse 46, it also becomes clear that “eternal life” is one of the benefits of responding positively to the gospel of the Kingdom.
The Gospel of the Kingdom is not about us. It’s about the King and his Kingdom, but it has huge benefits for us when we respond in believing loyalty: forgiveness of sins, freedom / justification and eternal life!
Respond in faith to that Gospel. And demonstrate it, live it out by your good works!
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