Paul was coming to the end of his message in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch (in what is now southwest Turkey).  Speaking to the Jews and God-seeking Gentiles, he had explained how Jesus is the fulfilment of God's promises to Israel.  Then Paul made it very personal.  The message was not just about interesting history, but eternal destiny: their destiny.  The heart of the gospel message is that forgiveness of sins is offered through the sacrifice of Jesus (Luke 24:46-47).

Paul boldly stated that Christ's death will fully liberate sinners from the bondage of guilt, and totally justify all who believe in Him.  That was never possible even under the Old Testament system of sacrifices (Hebrews 10:2).  So the death of Jesus is unique in its atoning efficacy.  In every religious system, the key question to ask is, ‘How can you totally get rid of the weighty guilt of sin?’  Only in Christ, is there a sure and validated answer.  It is not just a way to help cope with a guilty past; Jesus actually removes the cause of guilt – our sin ... because Jesus has paid the penalty-price for all our sin (Hebrews 10:22).

This free offer of forgiveness is not universally applied to everybody; it demands a positive, personal response (Acts 4:12).  Those who do not want forgiveness will not be forgiven.  Those who do not trust in the sacrifice of Jesus will not be forgiven.  Those who mock the message and fail to honour Jesus in His death will not be forgiven (Habakkuk 1:5). And what will happen to unforgiven people? They will perish eternally but those who believe in Jesus will never perish (John 3:36).

That is why Paul, and generations of believers down to us, have all urged people to consider the grace of Christ and respond - before it is too late (Acts 2:40).  This is the message of the church to a dying world; and it is carried in the hearts and mouths of ordinary people like us who believe in Jesus.  We owe it to our friends and colleagues to tell them and encourage them to respond in faith and give their sin to Jesus, who has already paid for it.  We also owe it to the Lord, who died to save them, that we should make His forgiveness available to them as we share the gospel message.