The Appeal to One

The apostles go to the one.

The event of Pentecost is a remarkable display of God’s power through the Holy Spirit. The people witnessed an amazing sight as 3,000 people gave their life to Christ. The apostles were commissioned to go to the world with the gospel. At Pentecost, they were faithful to share the gospel message and lives were changed. The Spirit moved powerfully and people of different parts of the world who spoke vastly different languages, were able to hear the good news in their own dialect.

The believers are being faithful to both go and grow together as they are seeking to connect people to Christ.

If something isn’t broke…then why fix it? Have you ever heard someone say this?

The sports team doesn’t need to change because we are winning.

We do not need to add another individual to our task, because what we have is working.

Not so fast...

These disciples very easily could of decided, well 3,000 lives changed…what is the next big event going on and we will continue to do what we are doing.

Chapter three reveals to us and shows us that we as believers must care about the individual as well.

The bible elsewhere shows us people taking care of the individuals

James 1:27 ESV

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

INSERT OTHER PASSAGES ABOUT THE GOSPEL FOR ONE

Chapter three the apostles are teaching us and showing us the need to go to one.

Acts 3:1–10 ESV

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Acts 3:

The apostles message is exclusive.

Peter begins a sermon in verse 11 that will continue over the next several chapters.

Acts 3:11–26 ESV

While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all. “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

The Gospel message that we hold to if you are a believer in Christ is one of exclusivity. The bible is clear that there is no other way to salvation than through Jesus Christ

John 14:6 ESV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

A message of exclusivity means that it excludes people who do not accept the free gift. Scripture is very clear that we can be apart of God’s salvation through Jesus Christ, which is done by grace through faith. Us, individuals, your friends accepting the free gift of salvation.

5 Traits of Exclusive Messages

1. Exclusive Messages are hard to swallow.

Acts 3:11-

Acts 3:11–13 ESV

While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.

2. Exclusive Messages are hard to believe.

Acts 3:14-

Acts 3:14–16 ESV

But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

3. Exclusive Messages are fool proof.

Acts 3:17–18 ESV

“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.

Acts 3:17-

4. Exclusive Messages are for the one.

Acts 3:19–22 ESV

Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.

Acts 3:19-

5. Exclusive Messages are intended for all.

Acts 3:23–26 ESV

And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

you may be miraculously healed today, but your heart and body will eventually wear out. You need the message of eternal life more than a miracle of temporary healing…Jesus is the source of life. He gives life! Jesus heals the disabilities of the human heart! He causes redeemed sinners to dance in his presence with joy! Tony Merida