Rob's Expository Sermon Preparation | Acts 4:1–12 (2)

Introduction:

· The Elephant in the Room: Isn’t it arrogant to claim that you have THE true religion?

· If Peter were transplanted to Salem, and made this claim, he’d be labled arrogant; as would we.

WHAT’S OUR REPSONSE? I WANT TO TAKE YOU INTO THIS STORY AND GIVE A FAIR HEARING, AND THEN SHOW HOW THIS CLAIM IS ACTUALLY GOOD NEWS.

I) Christianity’s Claims Offend Modern Sensibilities

A. Is Christianity the Only Way to God? (vv. 1-4)

i. Context:

1. The gospel spreads & the church grows…but now opposition (vs. 4)

2. Peter & John heal a poor cripple in Jesus’ Name (ch. 3:6)

ii. Religious people see in Jesus a threat to self-suffeciency

1. Religious: reject Jesus as threat to their self-sufficiency (vv. 1-2, 5-6)

2. Moral, religious people: “The best way to avoid Jesus was to avoid sin.”

iii. Progressive people reject the supernatural & Exclusive

1. Religious liberals: reject Jesus because he preached a resurrection

2. Irreligious people: All truth claims are power plays, and therefore it’s wrong to claim that YOU have the corner on truth

B. “Inclusivity” Fails to Offer Satisfying Answers

i. Inclusivity has an arrogant underpinning

1. If we make the claim that all religions are equal, we are claiming to know all of reality

2. EXAMPLE: The elephant in the room falls apart

ii. Inclusivity is inconsistent

1. Inclusivity maintains all are equal, and matter, but this has proven false

2. QUOTE:“We champion tolerance, except for conservatives and evangelical Christians. We want to be inclusive of people who don’t look like us– so long as they think like us.” – Nick Kristoff

C. Exclusive Claims are Necessary

i. Truth is not personally Defined

1. Behind this: truth has changed into a personal and experiential reality

2. “My truth…” – Oprah, and the Cecil DeMille award @ Golden Globes

3. Yes – truth is personal, but it also must be objective

4. EXAMPLE: Oprah again – her statement carried weight only because there is an objective believe that perpetrators of sexual violence against women shouldn’t be able to live “their truth.”

ii. Truth is by nature exclusive

1. So: all religions are equally true, equally valid

2. But: This is impossible, since they all make contradictory claims

3. EXAMPLE: Judaism (died, stayed dead); Islam (Never died); Christianity

Transition:

II) Christianity’s Claims point to the Hope that Can Save Us

A. The Exclusivity of God

i. God chooses by grace

1. God Chooses one person, to father one family, to lead one nation

2. But: God is always choosing people who don’t deserve

ii. Jesus chooses by grace

1. To mainstream Christians – contend with the exclusive words of Jesus

2. Yet, it’s always grace

B. The Hope of Salvation

i. Context again:

1. What Enables you or what authorizes you? (vs. 7)

2. Peter points to the name of Jesus as power and authority (vs. 9)

ii. The name of Jesus is a gift (so religious people are humbled) (vs. 12a)

1. Not “We haven’t found” or us is “given” to us – it is a gift

2. Every other religion claims you must do; Christianity operates on grace

3. The moment that we start bragging that we are superior is the moment we have forgotten what the gospel is all about

4. Everyone claims “superiority” – but Christians are incredibly humbled

iii. The name of Jesus is what saves us (vv. 9, 12)

1. Peter uses the word “save” for physical healing…then spiritual healing!

2. Salvation is just a bigger picture – we’re all helpless, and dead, unable to fix ourselves – but Jesus came to us

3. We all have a far bigger problem than we realize

Transition:

Conclusion

asd