This Jesus: Lord and Messiah
Acts: To the ends of the earth • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction: The Moment the Kingdom Opened
This is the sermon that launched the church.
NOt my one, but the one we’re just read in Acts 2 by the apostle Peter.
It wasn’t a strategy meeting, not a concert, not a vision night—but Spirit-filled preaching of the risen Christ.
Peter stands up, Bible in hand, and he proclaims Jesus.
By the end of the day, 3,000 people are baptised.
It is the first-fruit offering of Pentecost,
as we condsiderd last week, the beginning of the harvest of nations.
People hearing and responding to the Gospel, the good news of Jesus.
The book of Acts is a historical account of the fulfilling of Jesus’ promise to the Apostles which we read in
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’
And so it begins.
Right here in Jerusalem.
And so there is no mistake as we go through the book of acts as to what the Gospel is, Peter explains it right at the beginning for us.
The Gospel -the Good nEws, is to Witness about Jesus.
Let’s eavesdrop on his sermon,
and see how it helps us as well:
1. Jesus’ Death Was God’s Plan and our Responsibility (vv. 22–23)
1. Jesus’ Death Was God’s Plan and our Responsibility (vv. 22–23)
‘Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.
Peter begins with what they already know.
Jesus of Nazareth had walked among them.
His miracles weren’t done in secret.
His works—healing the blind, calming storms, raising the dead—were public signs.
And they where in part to prove his divine commission.
That being the case,
the next line should absolutely shock them, and us,
but in reality,
they and we know that despite his miraculous work and teachings,
Jesus was, and still is, on the whole very much rejected.
This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.
The wicked men is most likely a common reference ‘gentiles, non-Jews’,
so the Roman authorities who carried out the execution and sentencing.
IN other words, so called righteous Jews
and the wicked Gentiles all conspired to Kill
this man who had been confirmed to have been of God.
Many of them were there when Jesus was killed,
and undoubtedly Jerusalem was alive with gossip
about these events which were only 50 days ago.
The real shock for them is coming, as they realise what they have done to the promised Messiah,
But for now ‘their involvement’ is balanced by Peter by ‘someone else's involvement’ in the plans for Jesus death.
God, had a deliberate plan, knowing what was to happen, handed Jesus over to them to be killed!
It seems quite backwards,
why would God hand God the son, the incarnate man, over to be killed.
Well in the words of Joseph in the OT who was sold into slavery by his brothers:
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
Two truths stand side by side:
God’s soverignty and HUman responsibility.
God’s sovereignty – Jesus’ death was no accident or slip up on God’s behalf.
It was planned before the foundation of the world.
Notice it was not just that God knew the wicked plans of man in advance, and allowed them to do it, no it was actually God’s plan.
IN his plan he handed Jesus over to mankind,
knowing what they would do.
But God’s soverignty does not eliminate the second truth of:
Human responsibility – “You put him to death.” v23, ‘you crucified’, v36.
‘You will need your sins forgiven’ v38
We today, may not have been there at the time, literally calling for Jesus’ death,
But the crowds will get the point, they are all guilty and so are we.
Why, because God handed Jesus over not just to face a bad bunch of people,
but to offer Jesus as the passover lamb,
the sacrifice to pay the penalty all human being deserve.
THis is why God is involved in the death of Jesus in His soverignty.
Because this has been his plan since the beginning,
his design to save a people fro himself.
Just like some of the crowd weren’t there in person,
just as only 1 or 2 Roman soildiers actually nailed in Jesus’ hands and feet,
the fact that God has to punish sin means that if you want Jesus to save you,
to stand in your place between your deserved judgement and God,
If you want to revieve HIs righteounsess in stead of your own
so you may have eternal life with God in glory, ratehr than in hell,
well then we need to take responsibility for the nails, the raising up, the death and tourment of JEsus.
God planned it so,
so that those who realise they deserve the same, might repent for our sin.
If we deny we have sinned - Jesus didn’t die for you.
If we accept that we sin, but deny Jesus as the only way to salavation, then we deny God’s only plan of salavation for humanity.
And so, the moment we accept our sin
- we see God’s gracious soverignty in giving us Jesus to kill in our place,
and the moment we accept God’s sovereignty to do just that,
then we must repent for our responisbility.
2 truths - central ot the gospel of salvation.
Romans 3:23 – “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Isaiah 53:5 – “He was pierced for our transgressions.”
1 Peter 2:24 – “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree.”
You and I are not innocent bystanders to the crucifixion.
Our sin demanded it.
Our guilt required it.
We are as responsible as that first-century crowd.
And until we see that, we won’t be ready for the grace that follows.
2. Jesus’ Resurrection Was God’s Plan and We Have Witnesses (vv. 24–36)
2. Jesus’ Resurrection Was God’s Plan and We Have Witnesses (vv. 24–36)
But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
This is the great reversal: man condemned Jesus, according to God’s will,
but.
Death could not hold him.
Why? Because he was the sinless Son of God who not only came to die for sinners,
but to rise to eternal rule to give life to the redeemed:
And Peter is on a mission to prove this resurected Jesus as not only histroical fact,
but has always been God’s promise and plan.
A. Psalm 16 (vv. 25–32)
A. Psalm 16 (vv. 25–32)
David said about him: ‘ “I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay.
Peter quotes Psalm 16:8–11, a psalm of confidence. On the surface, David seems to be speaking of himself. But Peter insists: David was speaking prophetically.
afterall, v
‘Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day.
In other words: David did see decay. His body is still in the grave.
So the psalm must refer to someone else..
But he (David) was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay.
Psalm 16 predicts not just that the descendant of David will live forever, but that through death he will not be decayed or abandoned, but regathered into glory with God.
Jesus was not abandoned to the grave. He was the one who could say “I will not be shaken. v25”
God’s plan from the benginngin.
Ok, so we see the promsie of God,
but what about the historical facts,
did Jesus really rise from the dead: well says Peter
God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.
120 people speaking foreign languages,
all the poeple in Jerusalm understanding,
all confirming this same eyewitness message of Jesus resurection.
We’d be hard pushed to think any other explanation,
other than that this really happened.
Most the apostles will go on to die for what this cliam about the resurection of Jesus.
People might die for something they think is true,
but no-one dies for something they know isn’t true.
Stories that aren’t true don’t last 2000 years like this.
Events like this aren’t predicted hundereds of years earlier as they were here.
No
God kept his promise. The resurrection is not a surprise—it is the fulfilment of what was foretold.
then Peter keeps going, he’s determined to teach God’s word,
so that he HS they have reivced may convict and save those listening.
So he opens another Psalm:
B. Psalm 110 (vv. 33–35)
B. Psalm 110 (vv. 33–35)
THis time he offers a preinterpretation of it:
Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, ‘ “The Lord said to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’ ”
Psalm 110:1, is the most quoted verse in the New Testament.
David, under inspiration, is overhearing a divine conversation:
“The LORD” (Capital letters in Psalm 110 - meaning the Name of God Almighty,) speaks to “my Lord” (David’s Lord).
In other words, David foresaw not just a descendant King of His - but a Lord of His decent.
Just a adecendant would be an equal at best, but no - he anticipates a Lord.
He can’t be referring to himself, or Solomon. This is someone greater: Jesus the Messiah.
Peter’s point: Jesus is now exalted as Lord. He reigns at the Father’s right hand. He is the fulfillment of Psalm 110.
And so Peter concludes all his eveidcen from scripture,
And is the living witness to their fulfilment!
And in case you weren’t listening well to his sermon (or mine)
here is a very simple conclusion,
‘Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.’
Everything Peter has said proves one thing: Jesus is Lord. He is the promised King. He is the Anointed One who brings salvation.
This was God’s plan all along, and His plan has now been enacted.
God is soverign, Jesus in the Lord and Messiah.
and notice the other side of the same coin again:
this Jesus: “whom you crucified.”
If Jesus is Lord - you can’t remian neutral to him.
You either ignore him - which wont go well for you if he is Lord,
or you akcnowldeg that you took your part in crucifying him!
Which also sounds like it won't go well for you!
And that’s kind of the responce from the crowds:
‘Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.’
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’
3. Our Response Must Be Repentance and Baptism (vv. 37–41)
3. Our Response Must Be Repentance and Baptism (vv. 37–41)
The Spirit is at work. The crowd doesn’t argue—they are pierced to the heart.
The gospel wounds before it heals.
As we keep saying, you can’t have Jesus as Lord,
if you don’t first realise he died becasue of you!
DOnt’ be afriad of telling people they have sinned,
don’t be afraid of bringing them to church where they might hear that they can only be saved through the death of Jesus.
Because that is the only way to be saved?
It is the only true way someone can ask, ‘what should i do!?
And Peter answers with clarity:
Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
What is repentance?
What is repentance?
It’s not mere sorrow.
It’s not a promise to do better.
It’s a turning—from sin to Christ, from self to God.
A turning from our love and reliance on self and sin,
to a love and reliance on the work of Jesus.
We must repent because we are guilty.
But we can repent because Jesus is risen and taken our just judgement.
He offers an ongoing forgiveness to those who put their trust in him.
And What is baptism?
And What is baptism?
It is a sign of repentance.
It is a way we benefit from the death of Jesus and his resurection.
We die to sin, are washed clean and given new life.
It’s not an optional extra, it’s a sign of who we truely are.
So if you haven’t been baptised, please do talk to me, so we can help you prepare for it.
pause
Peter goes on: v38
“You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
The gift is not just pardon, but presence.
The same Spirit who filled Peter now fills all who believe.
And he will live in you.
We will still sin, but we are not living for sin, but for Jesus.
And we don’t know, as witnesses, who God is calling.
But he is calling some!
We do know many will reject the Gospel,
but we must never right anyone off, or think it’s useless to Witness!
God in his soverignty, is calling His own.
Witnessesing will work - not for all we tell,
but for all who are being called!
And so, like Peter, we must keep going on and on about Jesus:
With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’
Salvation is urgent. It is not automatic. It requires response.
You cannot be neutral about Jesus.
Pause
So, it turns out it was pretty good day atthe office for Peter:
Those who accepted his message were baptised, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
An extraordinary day,
where the procliamed word of God, through a man of God,
by the power of the HS,
calls 3000 people whom God loves.
This is the power of gospel preaching.
One sermon. One Savior. Three thousand souls.
And today, millions and millions of souls saved!
The Kingdom of God is still Open
If you’re not yet a Christian:
Don’t excuse yourself by saying “I wasn’t there.” You were. We all were.
Come to Jesus. Repent. Be baptized. Be forgiven. Receive His Spirit.
If you are a believer:
Let repentance remain our daily habit.
Let the resurrection be our daily hope.
Let the Spirit be our daily strength.
and
Let’s preach this Jesus. Crucified, risen, reigning. Lord and Messiah.
Let’s never lose confidence in the gospel.
Let’s call people to repent and be baptised.
The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call
Amen.
