Both Lord And Christ Series

Both Lord and Messiah

Text: Acts 2:22-36

Introduction

1. Illustration: “The cornerstone of God’s plan is the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ” (Hugo Montoya).

2. As God always does, he had a plan B. He set us up with paradise, but that wasn’t good enough for us, we had to have more. So, we messed everything up by choosing the one thing he said we couldn’t have, and because of this we deserved death.

3. But God’s plan B was to send his own Son to die in our place.

4. God’s plan had three steps…

a. God’s plan of the Cross

b. Gods plan of the Resurrection

c. God’s plan of Exultation

5. Read Acts 2:22-36

Proposition: God’s plan to save us centered around declaring Jesus both Lord and Messiah.

Transition: The first part of God’s plan B is…

I. God’s Plan of the Cross (22-23).

A. His Prearranged Plan

1. As Peter’s sermon continues his sermon, he shifts from the events of the day to evidence of Jesus as Messiah and Lord. In v. 22 he says, “People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know.”

a. There’s an old saying that “the proof is in the pudding.” In other words, there’s evidence in the results.

b. It is obvious that Jesus’ ministry was approved and empowered by God, and his miracles, wonders, and signs were evidence of it.

c. The three terms miracles, wonders, and signs were not three different kinds of action, but they describe the same divine action displayed by Jesus.

d. They were mighty works because God empowered Jesus to do them.

e. The encouraging thing for us is that Jesus did his miracles and wonders through the same power of the Holy Spirit that is available to us.

f. These people knew about this because Jesus’ ministry was very public, and they had witnessed many of his works in person.

g. Peter stresses this fact by his words “as you well know.” During Jesus’ ministry he was accused by the religious leaders of doing these works by the power of Satan.

h. “The crowds were amazed, 15 but some of them said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.” (Lk. 11:15).

i. Some people were skeptical that Jesus’ miracles, but the disciples, who were with him, knew differently.

2. Then Peter shifts from Jesus’ ministry to his death. In v. 23 he says, “But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him.”

a. Peter points out that Jesus’ death on the cross was all a part of God’s plan.

b. Instead of recognizing Jesus as the Messiah and Lord, they crucified him.

c. But what happened to Jesus was not there doing, but rather it was a part of God’s plan to save us.

d. The religious leaders were assisted by “lawless Gentiles,” which refers to the Romans, and they were the ones that nailed Jesus to the cross.

e. Without realizing it they were playing right into the hands of God.

f. This was all a part of God’s plan, and the Jews and the Romans were merely tools in the hands of God to bring salvation to the world.

B. Salvation Prepared for You

1. Illustration: The purpose of the Bible? Salvation. God's highest passion is to get His children home. His book, the Bible, describes His plan of salvation. The purpose of the Bible is to proclaim god's plan and passion to save His children. (Max Lucado)

2. God’s plan to save us was for his own Son to go to the cross.

a. “This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you.” (1 Pet. 1:10)

b. God’s original plan was for us to live in paradise, but we messed it up by choosing sin.

c. But he loved us so much that he came up with a plan to save us.

d. It was always Jesus’ mission to go to the cross.

e. It was always his purpose to go to the cross.

f. Even in his greatest anguish in the garden he prayed that if it was possible to be released from this, but he said, “not my will be done but your will.”

g. He loved you so much that he created this plan for you.

h. He prepared it long before you were born, but he did it with you in mind.

i. All he wants you to do is receive it!

Transition: The next part of God’s plan of salvation is…