We Must Be Faithful

MARCH 23, 2022 STUDY NOTES ACTS 3:22-26 BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES Act 3:22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. In the previous verse Peter stated that God had “spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets,” Act 3:21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. The word of the “prophet” is a strong point in these last verses of chapter 3 (vs, 18,21,22,23,24,25) Peter gives us an example of God speaking through a prophet, his name is “Moses” He is Israel’s great prophet from the past, Peter puts an emphasis upon his words, he “truly said” Moses spoke the truth, indeed he did, truth that was most important to the nation of Israel Peter identifies Israel by his terms, “the fathers, you of your brethren, unto you” The prophet that God will “raise up” will be a Jew born from and among the Jews The words of Moses were one of many “Messianic Prophecies,”Deu 18:15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; Israel should have known that Jesus of Nazareth was the “Promised Messiah” that Moses spoke of There are several NT references showing that Israel could have easily identified Jesus as the Messiah There is evidence that they were looking for and expecting the Messiah to come The Jews wanted to know who John the Baptist was, Joh 1:19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? John the Baptist confirmed that he was not the Christ, Joh 1:20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. He confirmed that he was not that prophet, Joh 1:21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. (Their mind was upon Deut. 18:15) John the Baptist assured them that his mission was to announce the arrival of the Messiah, Joh 1:23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. Isaiah was one of those “holy prophets” that God spoke through, Isa 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. The Jews were looking for the prophet that God promised to send, Joh 1:25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? John again pointed out that he was not that prophet, the Messiah, Joh 1:27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. The next day John had the opportunity to point out Jesus to them, Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. Joh 1:30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. The Apostle Philip knew that Jesus was the prophet that Moses spoke of, Joh 1:45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. Eyewitnesses to the miraculous feeding of 5,000 knew that Jesus was “that prophet,” Joh 6:14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. Many after hearing Jesus speak stated that Jesus was the “Prophet,” Joh 7:40 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet. Even though there was a recognition of Jesus as the Messiah by some, Israel still rejected Jesus Page 1 of 5 They did not understand all-of the prophecy referring to the Messiah, especially that of His death They heard what they wanted to hear, an earthly King who would deliver them from their enemies Peter quoted from what God had told Moses, Deu 18:18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. Peter said, “A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me” “Raise up” means “to stand again,” there was a prophet yet to come that would be “like unto” Moses What does Moses mean when he states that there is a likeness unto the coming Messiah? The answer to that question varies among Theologians, some take the answer to extremes It is certain that both were raised up by God to communicate His will to the Jewish people Jesus often spoke of the words that He communicated from the Father, Joh 8:26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. Joh 8:38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. Joh 12:49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. Joh 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Joh 17:8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. Jesus spoke the “Word of God,” that is why Peter said, “him shall ye hear in all things” Moses said, “unto Him you shall hearken, Peter said, “hear whatsoever He shall say unto you” Not only are we to hear what Jesus says, we are to obey what He has spoken, we are to heed His words James preached the same message, Jas 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. Jesus identified the one who obeys His word as a wise man, Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: Obeying God’s Word is a solid foundation for our daily life, Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. Anyone who does not heed the Word of God is a fool, Mat 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: A fool without a foundation for the storms of life, Mat 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. Peter speaks the same truth that Jesus did--Act 3:23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. Peter again takes us back to the words of Moses, Deu 18:19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. All will stand accountable unto God concerning our response toward His Word God said to Moses, “I will personally hold “whosoever” responsible, “I will require it of him” “Peter’s description is, he “shall be destroyed from among the people” Peter is not only warning the Jews that to reject Jesus is to experience destruction He warns “every soul,” every person ever born upon this earth, everyone who does not hear Jesus Paul identifies them, 2Th 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: (They don’t know God because they reject the gospel) People go to Hell because they do not believe in Jesus, Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not Page 2 of 5 condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. People go to Hell because they “die in their sins, Joh 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. (Only Jesus can save you from sin) Those who die in their sins will enter-into the eternal state of Hell, the state of separation from God, 2Th 1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; Everlasting destruction is the opposite of everlasting life in the presence of the Lord The destruction is not an annihilation of being, it is not a ceasing of existence The word does not describe a loss of being but a loss of “well-being” Their destruction will be the loss of all that they have valued in life All that they have committed their earthly life too will be gone forever, an utter and hopeless ruin It is the loss of all that is good and worthwhile, the end of all good that is from God Those who are lost never experience the God given purpose of life upon the earth They refuse to live the life that God intended for man to live upon earth Now they will be separated from the future life that God has for those who are saved They will experience eternal separation from the glory of God and the blessings of God Hell is a place of sorrow and despair, Luk 13:28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. (They will see the prophets who foretold the coming of Jesus, they will hear their message) But they will never experience the promises of the Messiah’s blessings because they rejected His words Those same words will judge them, Joh 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. Paul writes that Jew and Gentile are accountable unto God, Paul warns every soul, Rom 2:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Rom 2:9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; (The emphasis is that every soul will face the judgment of God, God will judge all people) The Jews were given the first opportunity to receive Jesus as the Messiah and accept His as Savior, Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Because they rejected Jesus, they will be first to receive God’s judgment upon unbelief, Amo 3:2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. Scripture never teaches that salvation is on-the basis of works, Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Scripture consistently teaches that God’s judgment is always according to that which you have done The saved will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ, 2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Their eternal rewards will be based upon their faithfulness unto Christ as they lived their daily life The lost will stand before the Great White Throne Judgment, Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. Their eternal punishment will be according to their works, the daily deeds of their life Saved or lost will never face God in ignorance, God has “foretold” all things Act 3:24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. Page 3 of 5 The Jews knew of the writings of “all the prophets,” they knew what they had “spoken” “All the prophets” in one way or another wrote about and “foretold of these days” What does Peter mean by “these days?” The context is the days of the earthly ministry of the Messiah It is estimated that Jesus fulfilled at least 300 Messianic prophecies during His first Coming Peter has already referred to the prophet’s message that Jesus fulfilled, Act 3:18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. God had clearly confirmed that Jesus was the Messiah through His earthly ministry The Jews rejected the truth that was presented to them, the truth that Jesus is the Christ The truth of Jesus is found in the scriptures, Old Testament and New Testament, Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. On the Road to Emmaus after His resurrection Jesus rebuked the two were walking with Him, Luk 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Jesus reminded them of what the prophets had written, the very things they had witnessed, Luk 24:26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? Jesus shared with them a college course, OT 101, Luk 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. I am sure that His Bible lesson covered Genesis through Malachi, sharing His suffering and glorification Those who had the opportunity to receive the scriptures and rejected them will face the greater judgment Act 3:25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. The Jews were heirs “of the prophets,” the physical heirs, or offspring of Abraham The Jews are the sons of the “Covenant which God made with the fathers” There is no doubt that Peter is referring to the unconditional Abrahamic Covenant What God said to Abraham is known as the “Abrahamic Covenant,” Gen 12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: The condition of this covenant was that Abraham was to leave his country, kindred, and father’s house He was to follow the Lord into the land that God would show him The promises given to Abraham were, Gen 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: Gen 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. God added one other promise, to your offspring I will give this land, Gen 15:18 In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: Thank God for the Covenant, “And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed” Which is repeated for the assurance of Israel and for us, Gen 18:18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? Gen 22:18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. Gen 26:4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; The promise that is realized through faith in Jesus, Rom 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. Rom 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs Page 4 of 5 according to the promise. Act 3:26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities. Peter once again reminds the Jewish nation of their privileged position as God’s chosen nation Through the Jewish nation the Messiah would come to bless all who would receive Him The Messiah is also once again identified as Jesus, “God raised up His Son Jesus” “Raised up” has the meaning of “to cause to exist,” or “to cause to appear” The word translated “Son,” also means “Servant,” the same word used in, Act 3:13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. God sent His Servant/Son to the Jews “first,” the chronological order found throughout scripture Peter is telling the Jews that Jesus is the “Servant Son,” He is the “Servant promised by God, Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. The promises of God through His unconditional covenant will be fulfilled through His Servant/Son “Thy seed, which is Christ,” not seeds plural, but seed singular, a single individual, the Messiah The promises of the covenant are permanent and eternal because they are through Jesus Christ God sent His Servant/Son “to bless you,” Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: The blessings which come to those who repent and receive Jesus, which is described, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities. “In turning away” describes the act of “turning to” in-order to “turn away from,” which is repentance Turning to God in-order to turn “from iniquities,” meaning evil deeds, wicked ways, ungodly behavior The Thessalonians are a good example, 1Th 1:9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 1Th 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. A decision the Church of today must make, “turn to God from idols,” 2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. Because the world is turning away from the truth, 2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. We must turn to God because the world is turning from God to idolatry, 2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. Paul is teaching that difficult days will come, they have come, we are living in them today Those difficult days will exist because of difficult people living their ungodly lifestyle, they are today Which will make it difficult for Christians to live a faithful life for Christ But we can and we must be faithful, Christ will be faithful to fulfill all-of His promises to us Page 5 of 5