Exploring God’s Word with Brad Thurston

He is, so be saved

Episode Summary

Acts 2:15-41 Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost. The amazing beginning of the church starts with an unusual act of God, and then a masterful presentation of the Gospel to a multicultural group of onlookers.

Episode Notes

The text of the sermon is both powerful and culturally relevant.  Peter knows who his audience is, and how to approach them.  This is important, as cultures change and methods change, but the Gospel does not. The truth of the lawgiver and creator remains unchanged, and his truth is absolute.  It does not change with the culture and that is what makes this sermon to this audience so powerful.

  1. Peter addresses their mistaken notion of being ecstatic as being equivalent with drunkenness. He draws their attention to the prophetic and the “last days”.  (Not the last day!) this is something the Jewish leaders had been debating since they were about 490 years after Daniel. 

““I kept looking Until thrones were set up, And the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow And the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, Its wheels were a burning fire. “I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.”

Daniel 7:9, 13-14

““Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place. So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress.”

Daniel 9:24-25 NASB1995

  1. Peter picks up on the discussion Jesus had with the scribes in Luke 20:41-44 and speaks of David and the Messiah making the case for Jesus being not only the Messiah, but the Lord over all. 29,30
  2. He uses the knowledge 22 and experience of those listening both past (you killed him23,36) and present (what you see and hear 33) to authenticate Jesus role as the Messiah.
  3. He speaks of the eyewitness account of the apostles. 32
  4. And of the scripture 17-21 and cause 25-35

 

Truth builds faith - the scripture brings faith: Romans 10:17 faith comes by hearing the Word of God

Truth reveals God’s perspective: man crucified AND killed Jesus, God raised him and gave him power which you see and hear

Truth convicts of sin: you are guilty, you are broken, you are deceived by all that is in the world.

Truth reveals God’s love: this promise is for you, do not remain in your sin. Repent

Truth leads to Jesus: you too can experience this outpouring of God’s love and power

JESUS IS THE TRUTH: the truth is, you need Jesus for there is salvation in none else.  Repent and be baptized and receive all that God has for you!