The First Christian Sermon: Part 2

Last week we saw how Peter with a new boldness stepped up and proclaimed the miracle at pentecost was the work of the Holy Spirit which was the third person in the trinity.

Here we see Peter get into the meat and potatoes of His message by proclaiming that the message he was preaching was that of Christ as messiah.

Why was this so bad?

because just a few months before this these same people had hung Jesus on a cross for saying the same thing.

Peter was making himself a target by proclaiming Jesus was the Messiah.

In their eyes he was a blasphemer.

The Life of Christ (v22)

Peters boldness was because of two undeniable truths.

God had worked miracles through Jesus.

They (the Jews) had seen them.

Even though they had not believed in who Jesus was and put Him to death for saying that He was the son of God, salvation was still being offered to them.

This just shows how great the love and mercy of God is.

And how powerful grace is.

Peter reminds the people that Jesus was empowered by God, through signs and wonders.

He gave them overwhelming evidence that He was who he said he was.

The Jews knew He was the real thing but just did not want to admit it.

John 3:2 ESV

2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

Why did they not what to admit who Jesus was?

Because when you know who Jesus is and what He is (the son of God) then you know what you are and that is a sinner in need of a savior.

Miracles, wonders, and signs all proving who Jesus was.

They have no value in themselves except as they point beyond themselves to the divine power behind them, and so lead to faith.

The miracles of our Lord were thus mighty manifestations of Gods Power designed to get peoples attention and point them to spiritual truth.

Jesus did not do miracles on His own; God performed them through him.

John 5:36 ESV

36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.

John 14:10 ESV

10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.

The miracles God performed through Jesus Christ, Peter reminds them, were done “in your midst just as you yourselves know”

They could not claim ignorance.

Their rejection of Jesus was not based on lack of information, but on hatred and love of sin.

It is important to remember that they did not deny Christs works, but they rejected His claims of who His power came from.

The big question is why did they hate Jesus so much?

John 3:19 ESV

19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

The Death of Christ (v23)

The main question that a lot of Jews had was if Jesus was the Messiah why was He a victim?

Why did He not use His power to avoid the cross?

Peter told them that Jesus was no victim, rather he was delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God.

The word here for “delivered up” “Ekdotos” appears only here in the NT. It describes those surrendered to their enemies, or betrayed.

The death of Christ was no accident it was preplanned by God Himself, not for Jesus’ actions but for our actions.

The Resurrection of Christ (vv 24-32)

As already noted, the resurrection of Jesus Christ was not only the central theme of apostolic preaching but also is without question the climax of redemptive history.

It proves beyond doubt the deity of Jesus Christ and establishes His messianic credentials.

The resurrection is the crowning proof that God accepted the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Without it, His death becomes the heroic death of a noble martyr, the pathetic death of a madman, or the execution of a fraud.

The greatest proof that Jesus is the Messiah, then, is not His teaching, His miracles, or even His death.

It is His resurrection.

That becomes the main theme of Peter’s sermon.

After spending one verse each on Christ’s life and death, he spends nine verses on His resurrection.

The Exaltation of Christ (vv33-36)

Not only did Jesus rise from the dead, but He also was exalted to the place of honor, glory, and power, which was at the right hand of God.

From that exalted position, Peter says Jesus Having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit has poured forth this which you both see and hear.

He tells them that what they had just sen resulted from Gods promise to send the spirit to inaugurate the messianic age.

Now that Christ was risen and glorified, God fulfilled that promise.

Peter has provided overwhelming evidence from Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and exaltation that He is indeed Israel’s long-awaited Messiah.

He now draws his sermon to a powerful conclusion with these ringing words: Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.