Lord And Christ

Lord and Christ

Acts 2:34-39

An authentic Christian is someone who is converted from death to life. When a person truly receives Christ, they become a new creature.

An authentic Christian is converted by the LORD, from their own righteousness to the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

True conversion means no longer relying on our own righteousness or good works but rather trusting in what Jesus accomplished for us on the Cross.

After salvation, the Holy Spirit empowers Christians. Authentic Christians don’t harbor hate for others, instead, they display forgiveness, love, and compassion. 1 John 2:9-11, 4:16-20

An authentic Christian does not love the world or the things of the world, nor the world’s system, ruled by Satan. 1 John 2:1

The Holy Spirit empowers authentic Christians to hope and longs for the return of the Lord. 1 John 3:2-3

The Holy Spirit empowers Christians to desire to serve and help other Christians. 1 John 3:14, 17

The Holy Spirit empowers Christians to desire to be with other believers and to hear the Word of God. 1 John 5:1

An authentic Christian remains in the truth and perseveres in the faith and an authentic Christian is thankful. 1 Thess. 5:16-18

Please open your Bibles to Acts 2 as we continue in that study.

Last time, we studied the portion of Peter’s sermon where he spoke about David’s prophecy concerning Jesus.

Peter showed how this prophecy was about Jesus because David was dead and buried, but the Father resurrected Jesus and did not leave Him in the grave.

Today, we will hear the closing statement of Peter’s sermon and learn how the people who heard it, responded.

I. Peter’s closing statement.

Read Acts 2:34-36

Notice Peter continued his sermon trying to reason with these men who knew the Old Testament well. Remember, King David was a prominent and well-respected figure in their history.

Acts 2:32, “This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.

Acts 2:33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.” NKJV

Peter said, “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself”. We studied this in Psalm 110 in December.

The authors of Hebrews and the Gospels quoted Psalm 110 demonstrating the superiority and dominion of Christ.

Psalm 110 shows how David was privy to a conversation between God the Father and God the Son.

Psalm 110:1 The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool." NKJV

LORD (all caps) is translated as Yahweh, the Triune God, which can refer to each, the Father, Son, or the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 1:6 when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: "Let all the angels of God worship Him."

Hebrews 1:7 And of the angels He says: "Who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire."

Hebrews 1:8 But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.

Hebrews 1:9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions." NKJV

In Psalm 110 God the Father is calling God the Son, God.

This is the First Person of the Trinity speaking to the Second Person of the Trinity, calling Him God, which is a unique and powerful piece of evidence for the deity of Jesus.

Shepherd’s thoughts said, “The Messiah is not just a great king in David’s line; He is the Son of God.”

“The Messiah’s greatness surpasses human understanding, and even the great King David recognized Him as Lord.”

Jesus is King of kings and LORD of lords, who has complete victory which was proven by His resurrection.

Again, Peter said in Acts 2:32, “This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.

The phrase “Make Your enemies Your footstool”, refers to a complete victory and dominance over an enemy.

1 Corinthians 15:54 "Death is swallowed up in victory."

1 Corinthians 15:55 "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?"

1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.

1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. NKJV

Then Peter said, “Let all the house of Israel know”.

The age-old question of who crucified Jesus.

Many people lay the blame for the crucifixion on the Romans, after all, Jesus was hung on a Roman Cross, after receiving permission from Pontus Pilate.

Some blame the religious leaders of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, those who brought the charges against Jesus.