We Grow by Teaching About Jesus
Notes
Transcript
ME:
ME:
We jumped into our passage this morning in the middle of a story,
Where Peter says to a crippled man,
“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!”
In the 13th century, Thomas Aquinas was a scholastic theologian in Italy.
And he wrote this story about how he visited the Pope.
When He came in, the Pope had huge stacks of gold coins just spread out before him.
And the Pope was counting the coins.
Thomas writes that he just stood there quietly.
Then the Pope looked up at him and said,
“Look Thomas! The church is in an age where it can no longer say, ‘silver and gold, I have none.’”
Thomas quickly replied,
“That is true holy father, but neither can she say to the lame, ‘rise and walk.’”
What Thomas was implying is that sometimes,
When the church goes after worldly power and possessions, like money,
It can lose spiritual power.
No, I am not saying that if we were giving away all our material possessions,
Then God would give us spiritual power to do signs and wonders.
But I am saying that pursuing worldliness drains power.
So, Aquinas’s comment begs the question,
Can the church today say rise and walk?
Not necessarily in the sense of miraculous healing,
But in a spiritual sense.
Rise and walk in the footsteps of Jesus.
Because if we pursue worldliness,
We may lose the spiritual power to win people for Christ.
In Acts 3, the apostles show that they were not pursuing worldliness,
They were continuing to teach about Jesus,
So, that even those who were religious would grow in Christ.
Slide
First, in vs. 1-10, they perform Deeds that Draw.
Then in vs. 11-16, Peter is quick to give Glory to God.
Before Speaking What Saves in vs. 17-26.
Teach the Person and Work of Jesus that we might Grow in Christ.
This chapter seems to come to an abrupt end.
Because the next chapter begins with the the Jewish religious authorities angrily interrupting Peter.
Which Lord willing, we will look at next week.
WE: Deeds that Draw (vs. 1-10)
WE: Deeds that Draw (vs. 1-10)
Slide
But the first half of our passage is the narrative of a miraculous deed that draws a crowd.
As we saw in ch. 2 last week,
The early church still regularly gathered in the temple.
And that is what we see Peter and John on their way to do here in vs. 1.
Later in Acts, the church does begin to separate more definitively from Judaism.
But at this point, the early church continued to go to the temple,
As they grew in their understanding that they are now the holy temple of the Lord.
And just because they went to the temple,
Does not mean they continued to practice the OT sacrificial system,
Because they knew that Jesus is their perfect sacrifice.
So, in Acts 3, Peter and John are on their way to the temple,
Slide
Vs. 2 shows them encountering a beggar on his way to the Beautiful Gate.
This gate was a key spot for this beggar to go to,
Because Jews who were on their way to worship Yahweh in the temple,
Could feel more compelled to give this man alms.
Outside the temple was a series of courts that limited who could get closer to the temple.
These courts were divided by gates,
One of them being the Gate called Beautiful.
This was a large gate covered in Corinthian bronze.
Believed to be the most commonly used entrance.
Vs. 2 shows this beggar is not just broke,
He is broken.
It says he was born with a disability.
This was a time where there was no real government aid.
Even though he had people to carry him here,
He very likely struggled with hopelessness.
Slide
So, we can picture the scene in vs. 3,
This hopeless man sees Peter and John,
Likely, with his head hung,
And unwilling to make eye contact,
He asks Peter and John for money.
But when he does,
Something miraculous happens.
Slide
First, Peter and John take a personal involvement in this man.
Vs. 4 says they stopped and looked directly at him.
Now, I do not want to read too much into this,
But I wonder why Luke included this detail.
It seems to add nothing to the narrative,
He could have just skipped to Peter and John’s response in vs. 6,
But he made a point to mention that Peter and John directed their gaze at this man.
Perhaps it is just my own conviction,
But some of you may be able to relate to this.
As I read this,
I reflected on how I respond when someone begs for money.
Generally, if I have no money on me, which is common,
I actually make a point to not look straight at them.
I try to keep my eyes forward and if they ask for money,
I apologize and say I have no cash and just keep moving.
So, as I read this,
I was convicted by Peter and John’s approach.
They do not apologize and keep making their way to the temple,
They first look directly at him,
Acknowledging his humanity.
Then, in vs. 5, they command him to look back at them.
We can imagine his eyes lifting up from the ground,
Hopeful to receive money from them.
Slide (vs. 6)
However, vs. 6 shows that Peter and John had no silver or gold,
Instead they give him something better than a temporary fix!
They give him Jesus.
Peter says, “In the name of Jesus Christ, get up and walk!”
Imagine you are a crippled person being commanded to stop being crippled.
At this time in history,
There was enough scientific and medical knowledge to understand he had a permanent disability.
He was not about to stand up and walk on his own.
Slide (vs. 7)
So, after giving this command,
Peter extends his hand in vs. 7, and helps the man to his feet.
Once on his feet, it says his feet and ankles are immediately strengthened,
They are made firm,
He can use his muscles for the first time in his life,
He is miraculously healed.
This is not some magic trick.
Jesus Christ healed this man.
Peter teaches how in this chapter.
During His ministry, Jesus used healing,
As a manifestation of the kingdom of God in this world,
And evidence of His identity as the Messiah.
Now, Peter and John are demonstrating that Jesus continues to do this work,
Through His apostles.
Slide (vs. 8)
Vs 8 shows how this is an instantaneous and dramatic healing.
A known crippled man not only stands,
It says he jumps up,
And begins walking and leaping through the temple praising God!
He is filled with joy for what Jesus has done and it overflows into praise for God.
Slide (vs. 9-10)
Vs. 9 says the people in the temple see this man’s transformation.
And understandably, vs. 10 says they are astonished!
Slide (Deed Application)
Peter performed Christ’s ministry here.
It was a deed that drew people to him,
So, he could go on to give glory to God and speak what saves.
The same is true for us.
Part of doing Christ’s ministry,
Is doing deeds that draw people to us,
Paired with giving glory to God and speaking what saves.
GOD: Glory to God (vs. 11-16)
GOD: Glory to God (vs. 11-16)
Slide (vs. 11)
The second half of our passage turns from the narrative of the miracle,
To Peter’s evangelistic teaching.
First, Peter gives Glory to God in vs. 11-16.
He used the miraculous healing as a launching pad into his teaching.
He did not just heal the guy,
Then continue on his way.
No, there was a purpose to this miracle.
In vs. 11, the astonished crowd rushes to gather in the portico called Solomon’s.
This is essentially a porch along the east side of the temple.
The Gospels record Jesus occasionally teaching at this same location as well.
Slide
From this porch, Peter offers a message worth more than a miraculous healing.
Because you can be healed in this world,
But you will still eventually die physically.
So, you need the message of eternal life that Peter teaches,
More than physical healing.
This man’s miraculous healing is a powerful reminder that Jesus gives life!
He not only heals our physical disabilities,
He heals the disabilities of our heart!
This is what Peter teaches to a crowd of religious people,
Who think they already know God’s Word.
So, if they know God’s Word,
Peter asks in vs. 12, “Why are you amazed by this miracle?”
Implying that if they knew God’s Word,
They would not be surprised by this.
They would recognize that God is working.
So, he asks the question in a different way,
“Why are you looking at me?
As if have some sort of magical healing power!”
Peter is confessing this miracle is not because of his power or holiness.
He is giving all glory to God.
This miracle was not about Peter,
It was about Jesus!
Slide (vs. 13)
In vs. 13-16, Peter explains how this is about Jesus.
Appealing to this Jewish crowd,
Peter mentions the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
He is saying our God glorified His servant Jesus.
Clearly bringing to mind the suffering servant of Isaiah 53.
Yet, Peter says, you handed Jesus over to Pilate to be killed!
But Pilate judged Jesus as innocent.
He was ready to spare Jesus!
All the people had to do was simply get out of the way,
And allow Pilate to release Jesus.
But they didn’t.
After handing over Jesus to be killed,
They denied Him before Pilate.
Slide (vs. 14)
The depth of this rejection is unthinkable.
In vs. 14, Peter’s emphasis of this denial cuts deep.
He says when they denied Jesus,
They denied the Holy and Righteous One.
Many think that Jesus is just a religious teacher or a historical figure.
No, Jesus is in a class of His own.
He is the Holy One and the Righteous One.
What does this mean?
Well, the prophet Isaiah refers to God Himself as the Holy One and the Righteous One.
So, by referring to Jesus as the Holy and Righteous One,
Peter is indicating that Jesus is not only the Messiah,
But He is God Himself.
So, this means they denied their own God.
They rejected their Holy God,
Their righteous God,
The God of their fathers,
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
The God who they came to the temple to worship.
They denied their Messiah,
Their Savior.
But not only did they deny Him,
When they had the opportunity to let Him be released.
They asked Pilate to have a known murderer released instead!
The layers of conviction here are many.
It underscores the complete and utter rejection of their own God and Savior,
Which the Bible says is sin.
To reject Jesus is to reject God.
The Bible teaches that we all are guilty of this same sin.
We reject Jesus and by rejecting Jesus,
We reject God.
Slide (vs. 15)
Peter continues to drive this home in vs. 15.
Saying that they killed the Author of life,
The source and founder of life.
This is saying that apart from Jesus there is no life.
Not only in heaven, but without Jesus,
None of this world exists.
The Bible teaches that every person will die a physical death in this world.
And every person who does not trust in Jesus dies a spiritual death as well.
Think about using your phone throughout the day.
When it is not plugged in,
That battery slowly drains until it dies.
It needs a source of life.
The same is true for people.
We need a source of life or else we die.
The Bible says that Jesus is the source of life,
And Peter convicts the crowd by reminding them that they killed Him.
They killed the life giver and set free a known life taker.
Yet, Peter’s words offer wonderful news about how we can overcome death.
Because Jesus brings life from death.
So, even though He died,
As the Founder, Source, and Author of life,
He is stronger than death!
Vs. 15 continues, saying, God raised Jesus from the dead.
The apostles constantly preached the resurrection.
Because they are witnesses!
The resurrection validates everything Jesus taught,
It displays the Father’s acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice in our place,
And proves that He is the Author of life!
Slide (vs. 16)
Vs. 16 shows how the same Author of life that rose from the grave,
Has also given a crippled man his health.
All glory for this healing belongs to God.
Jesus heals this man because He is alive!
That is why, it is in the name of Jesus Christ that this man walks.
Peter understands and emphasizes that God performed this miracle through him.
Peter did not do this miracle,
It is by faith in Jesus that this man walks.
Peter is acknowledging that God gave him the faith to heal.
Slide
This is a complicated passage,
So, I am going to let John Piper explains this:
“Notice that the faith to heal is ‘through Jesus’—that is Jesus gave it. It came through the working of Jesus…When [Peter] looked at [the lame man], something happened. What? The faith to heal him came THROUGH JESUS. The living Jesus did something in Peter, and Peter knew it was the day. When he said, ‘What I have I give to you,’ he probably meant, ‘Today I have been given something special for you. Jesus has just given me the faith to speak healing to you and I now share this gift with you. Rise.’ That’s what the last part of verse 16 says, ‘The faith, which is through Jesus has given this man perfect health.’ Jesus gave the faith to heal, and Peter acted on it.”
So, Christ gave the faith,
Christ worked the miracle,
Therefore, Christ alone is exalted.
Jesus is the only name by which people are saved.
We are not saved by the quality of our faith but the object of our faith!
So, put your faith in Jesus,
He came to rescue you.
But after reading an account like this,
It is natural to ask,
Would Jesus miraculously heal someone like this today? Sure.
I have confidence that God still does miracles through His people at particular times for His purposes today.
For example, many missionaries have testified to God doing wondrous works in areas where there is little to no biblical access.
But this passage is not teaching that the norm is for us to miraculously heal people by our faith.
Throughout the NT, God invites us to pray,
It says that He hears our prayers,
And when we pray for healing,
Even if He does not answer in this world,
He promises to ultimately heal His people when He returns.
This means regardless of when healing happens,
All healing, both physical and spiritual, happens as a gracious gift from God.
YOU: Speaking what Saves (vs. 17-26)
YOU: Speaking what Saves (vs. 17-26)
Slide (vs. 17)
After Peter gives glory to God,
He is aware that his listeners are beginning to feel convicted.
Therefore, in vs. 17-26,
He begins speaking what saves.
Vs. 17 begins with Peter acknowledging their ignorance.
Similar to how Jesus prayed from the cross,
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
But, ignorance of the law is no excuse for breaking the law.
So, you can reject Jesus in ignorance,
And still need to repent.
Just because you do not know that Jesus died for your sins,
Does not mean you are not guilty for your sins.
Slide
After His resurrection,
Jesus had taught His disciples in Luke 24:46-47,
and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
Slide (vs. 18)
Now, in vs. 18, Peter is teaching this same lesson:
How God predicted the suffering of the Christ, the Messiah, through the prophets.
The Messiah is your Savior.
The very first promise of the Messiah came in Gen. 3:15 right after sin entered the world.
God says an offspring of Eve would have his heel bruised,
He would suffer,
But He would crush the head of the serpent,
Representing Satan.
This was the first promise of the great work the Messiah would accomplish.
As generations passed throughout the OT,
The promises and prophecies became fuller.
Continuing to heighten the expectation of the Jewish people.
Now, Peter is saying that Jesus is that anticipated Messiah.
And their ignorant participation in His murder reinforces this truth.
Slide (vs. 19)
Peter is not merely making a philosophical argument.
After teaching the Person and Work of Jesus,
Peter convicts us by teaching on our rejection of Jesus,
And His death for our sin.
This teaching leaves us desperately in need.
But Peter teaches how God’s plan was to rise Jesus from the dead.
Because God’s plan is not to leave you in your guilt,
But to make you holy and righteous.
How?
Through Jesus, the Holy and Righteous One,
Who took your place on the cross.
Peter is teaching how your guilt should drive you to repent.
This is God’s plan,
To save you through Christ’s death.
Because you face a guilty judgment for your sin.
But God’s intention is to save you from this judgment through Christ’s death in your place.
Therefore, in vs. 19, Peter calls you to repent,
To turn back to God,
Which wipes out your sins.
Slide
These are the two sides of repentance:
Turning away from your sin,
And specifically turning toward God by faith in Jesus.
Through this you are made holy and righteous.
Other religions teach that you work for righteousness.
But the gospel teaches that you work from Christ’s righteousness.
The Bible says, if you trust in Jesus Christ,
You are declared righteous.
So, you do no simply listen passively to the gospel.
It demands a response.
It demands repentance and faith.
To not respond in repentance and faith,
Is to continue to deny Christ.
Peter is teaching when you repent,
You receive God’s forgiveness and your sins are wiped clean.
Picture it as if all your sins are listed on a white board.
You are hopelessly sitting under judgment for those sins.
But when you confess,
“Yes, those are my sins,”
And trust in Jesus.
He marches up to that white board,
Wipes away those sins for good,
And writes "Holy and righteous,” innocent instead.
Jesus offers to wipe away the guilt for all your sins in the present!
And when He does,
He also promises to wipe away every tear in your future!
Slide (vs. 20)
He promises to do this during the times of refreshing Peter mentions in vs. 20.
This refreshment comes from the presence of the Lord,
When Jesus returns.
Acts shows how the early church consistently anticipated Christ’s return.
But the presence of Christ is not something we have to wait for,
Because He has given us His presence through the Holy Spirit.
So, Peter is teaching if you turn to Jesus,
You find rest from trying to earn God’s forgiveness.
And you are refreshed from the presence of Jesus,
Until, as vs. 21 says, the time for restoring all things comes.
Slide (vs. 21)
The Bible promises a day where all our suffering will give way to glory.
This promise gives you hope to endure the difficulties of this present life,
As you wait for Christ to come and restore all things.
The gospel offers an unshakable hope that the best days are yet to come.
Slide
Isaiah 35:6 prophesied about this day,
then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;
God has promised restoration going back to Moses’s time.
The miracle healing of the crippled man in Acts 3 was a sign of the restoration to come.
When Christ returns and establishes His Kingdom on earth,
There will be no more disabilities, diseases, or death.
You can be confident in the promised restoration,
Because it was inaugurated at Christ’s first coming,
And will be fully consummated at His second coming.
So, take heart,
Because Jesus says that day is coming soon!
But until that day comes,
Jesus refreshes you with His presence through the Holy Spirit,
Who restores you by growing you in Christlikeness by teaching about the person and work of Jesus.
Slide (vs. 22)
Peter continues to teach this in vs. 22 by quoting Deuteronomy 18:15.
This is a prophecy from Moses that says,
God will raise up a prophet like him.
Jesus is that prophet.
In fact, Jesus is the final prophet.
There are no prophets after Jesus because Jesus is Who the prophets prophesy about.
And unlike the prophets before Him,
Jesus does not just speak the truth,
He is the truth!
He does not just show the way,
He is the way!
Jesus is the Hope of all the OT promises.
Slide (vs. 23)
Therefore, Peter quotes Deut. 18:19 as a warning to listen to Jesus.
If you reject Jesus,
Vs. 23 is warning you that you face the tragic reality of hell.
If you do not trust in Christ,
You will be completely cut off, separated, destroyed,
From the people of God.
Peter just taught how if you trust in Christ,
You are promised His presence.
Now he is teaching that the opposite is also true.
Slide (vs. 24)
Peter is desperately trying to drive this point home,
Teaching in vs. 24 how all the prophets have foretold about these things.
The trajectory of the entire OT points to Jesus.
Every promise of salvation,
Every warning for rejecting God,
Is fulfilled in Jesus.
Slide (vs. 25)
In vs. 25, Peter goes back even further in the OT to show this,
Referring to the covenantal promise God made with the Jewish patriarch, Abraham.
A covenant more than an ordinary promise.
It is a sacred bond,
In this case, it reveals God’s plan for having a relationship with Him.
The fact that God would initiate a covenant with humankind is a demonstration of His grace and love toward us.
In the NT, Hebrews teaches how the new covenant is superior to the old covenant God made with Abraham.
It says the new covenant is based on better promises, a better Mediator, a better Sacrifice, a better High Priest, and a better sanctuary.
To put it simply, the new covenant is better because of Christ.
The new covenant restores and fulfills the old covenant that humankind has broken.
We grow by teaching about the person and work of Jesus,
Because it is the person and work of Jesus that fulfills the covenant.
Here in Acts,
Peter is teaching that the offspring God refers to in the old covenant,
Is not talking about the Jewish people,
It is talking about the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Slide
Galatians 3:16 explains this further,
Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.
So, through Christ, the offspring of Abraham,
God blesses all peoples on earth.
This means God does not bless you because of your heritage, your ethnicity, or your religiousness.
God blesses you because of Jesus.
But if you reject Jesus,
You reject the blessings of God’s covenant.
And if you trust in Jesus,
You are blessed by God.
Slide
Again, Galatians 3:29 explains this further,
And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
Like Peter’s audience,
Many of us think that we are religious enough to deserve God’s blessing.
Peter is saying your heritage, ethnicity, or religiousness does not matter.
All people of the earth are only blessed through Jesus Christ.
On the basis of Peter’s teaching,
It is clear that you and I do not deserve this blessing:
Slide (Convicting Charges)
Vs. 13: You handed Jesus over and are worse than Pilate.
Vs. 14: You traded the Holy and Righteous One for a murderer.
Vs. 15: You killed the One who gave you life.
Vs. 17: You are ignorant
Vs. 18: You do not understand God’s Word
Vs. 26: You denied your privilege and you are wicked.
So, what is our hope in light of all our guilt?
The gospel.
In the middle of all these charges,
Peter says, “Repent!”
Slide
The hope of the gospel says turn from sins and turn toward God.
In vs. 26,
Peter again points to repentance.
God desires to bless you,
How?
By turning every one of us from our wickedness.
By bringing us to repentance.
As we are taught about the person and work of Jesus Christ,
The Holy Spirit brings us to repentance,
And we grow in Christlikeness.
WE:
WE:
Slide (Application)
This is what Jesus commissioned us to teach at the end of Matthew’s Gospel.
We must teach the Person and Work of Jesus that we might Grow in Christ.
That is what Peter is doing to this religious crowd in Acts 3.
It is the person and the work of Jesus Christ that fulfills the old covenant and brings about the new covenant.
So, that in Christ, all people might be blessed.
Slide (Lord’s Supper)
Jesus teaches this on the night He was betrayed.
He declared that it was His body and blood that established the new covenant.
When teaching this,
He instituted the Lord’s Supper that we might remember Him,
His person and His Work.
Now, all who trust in Christ are recipients of God’s blessing through the new covenant.
So, if that is you this morning,
In just a moment, I am going to pray,
Then you are invited to come to the table.
If you are unable to come up,
We do have some people who will come to you with a tray.
Once you have the bread and the cup,
Take a moment at your seat to personally remember the person and work of Christ,
Then I will come up and we will participate in the Lord’s Supper together.
The Bible teaches that before participating in the Lord’s Supper,
You must, as vs. 19 says,
Repent therefore, and turn back.
You must confess your sin to God,
And turn toward Jesus in trust as your Lord and Savior.
If you have not done that,
You can do that now in your heart,
Then confess that Jesus Christ is Lord with your mouth.
All who do are welcomed to remember and celebrate God’s blessings through Christ.
Pray.
When Jesus was with His disciples for the Passover, Luke 22:19 says,
And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
So, together, we eat.
Luke 22:20 continues,
And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
So, together, we drink.
Please stand, as we continue this time of worship in song.