Man’s Greatest Need, God’s Greatest Gift
Sunday, April 26, 2026
Pastor Jojo Ma
Weekly Bulletin | Song Lyrics | Nicene Creed
Acts 25:13-32
13 At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” 15 And I said, “Who are you, Lord?” And the Lord said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles --- to whom I am sending you 18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”
What is man’s greatest need?
If we have everything in this world but have not Christ, we truly have nothing. But if we have Christ and nothing else in this life, we truly have everything.
1. Salvation depends upon the resurrection [25:19]
19 Rather they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive.
1 Cor 15:3-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.
1 Cor 15:17-19 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
C.S. Lewis: “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance, the only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
2. Salvation is about the glory of Christ [26:13]
13 At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me.
Col 1:15-16 [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities --- all things were created through him and for him.
Mal 4:1-2 For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings.
John Owen, The Glory of Christ: “That one of the greatest privileges and advancements of believers, both in this world and unto eternity, consists in their beholding the glory of Christ.”
13 At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me.
3. Salvation is an opening of the eyes [26:18]
18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light…
2 Cor 4:4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.
C.S. Lewis: “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”
18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light.
4. Salvation is entrance into God’s Kingdom [26:18]
18…and from the power of Satan to God…
Col 1:13 [God] has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son.
Brothers and sisters, live for this Kingdom and love its King.
5. Salvation brings forgiveness of sins [26:18]
18…that they may receive forgiveness of sins…
“Sin is ugly. The gospel is beautiful. But you need to see the first clearly before the second can take your breath away.”
Charles Spurgeon: “I have a great need for Christ; I have a great Christ for my need.”
6. Salvation requires repentance and faith [26:20]
20…that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.
Martin Luther: “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, ‘Repent’ (Mt 4:17), he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.”
John Newton: “I am not what I ought to be. I am not what I wish to be. I am not what I one day will be. But, by the grace of God, I am not what I once was.”
7. Salvation flows from the Old Testament [26:22-23]
22…saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: 23 that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead…
8. Salvation is for all peoples [26:23]
23…he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.
9. Salvation is true and reasonable [26:25-26]
25 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. 26 For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner.”
Mohammed is dead, Buddha is dead, Ghandi is dead, Zoroaster is dead, Confucious is dead…but Jesus is alive.
26…for this has not been done in a corner.
10. Salvation is deeply personal [26:29]
29 And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am --- except for these chains.”
Man’s greatest need, your greatest need…is God’s greatest gift. Trust and treasure him today.
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