FOCUS ON JOYFUL CHRISTIAN LIVING (Outline)
April 18, 2010 -
Easter 3 -
ACTS 2:36-47
INTRO: The infant Christian church was about to drastically change. On Pentecost thousands of souls would be added to the small group of believers who had followed Jesus. These thousands of new believers would come, literally, from the ends of the earth (cf. 2:9-11). These “outsiders” would forever change the dynamics of the church. "For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’" (ROMANS 10:12,13). From a few beliers to thousands – what a change. The one Lord is the Jesus who lived, died, and rose again for all people. What joy!
FOCUS ON JOYFUL CHRISTIAN LIVING.
I. Believe God’s forgiveness.
II. Treasure faithful fellowship.
I. BELIEVE GOD’S FORGIVNESS
A. Peter is preaching to the crowd in Jerusalem at Pentecost. Peter publicly proclaims Jesus’ resurrection.
1. For Jesus to be raised from the dead meant that he was first put to death. The crowd is guilty.
2. Verse 36. The crowd crucified Jesus. This Jesus was Lord and Christ, the Messiah, Anointed.
B. Verse 37. The crowd is stricken with guilt for their sins, “cut to the heart”. Thus God’s law works.
1. Verse 38. God offers forgiveness for the guilty. Baptize means to wash with water.
2. God’s gift in baptism is forgiveness. The gift of the Holy Spirit is faith. God washes sin away.
3. Verse 39. God’s promise was for the crowd and the next generation and others in the future.
C. Verse 40. The Greek uses the passive voice: “Be saved”. The power of salvation is in God’s hands.
1. Verse 41. Many repented. God forgave them. The Holy Spirit provided them faith to believe.
2. God changed their lives to be able to escape the “corrupt generation”. Believers rejoice!
D. Sin is disobedience. From the first sin of Adam and Eve no one is exempt from sin. God’s law re-minds us of our sin and disobedience. This is not pleasant to hear. Sometimes the truth is not that pleas-ant to hear. God’s truth does not change. Today not many want to take responsibility for any of their ac-tions, especially those with bad consequences. All too many try to deny sin. Even more have tried to change sin into a sickness or a disease. Sin is still sin in the eyes of God as revealed in his word. "Everyone has turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one" (PSALM 53:3). We cannot escape sin on this side of heaven. God’s law reminds us of our disobedience.
E. We do not think with the same mind as God. Our finite, human minds try to put almost everything into a category or place. We often think of sin as big or little. Sometimes we look at sins according to quantity – many or few. We might even compare ourselves to others. Then we become guilty of thinking that our sins and our lives are not as bad as someone else’s life. God looks at sin as sin. In God’s mind each sin is the same. "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it" (JAMES 2:10). One sin means complete guilt. One sin needs God’s forgiveness.
F. Purely, by God’s free grace we are saved. Our sinful thoughts, words, and action deserve only eternal punishment as the just reward for our wickedness and rebellion. Thankfully and joyfully, we do not have a vengeful God. Scripture reminds us time and time again of the great love that God has for all of his creation. God truly does not desire the eternal death of anyone. God’s gift of forgiveness reminds each of us of God’s grace and mercy. "Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity" (JOEL 2:13). This is our God. Once again, our God is almost the complete opposite of our earthly thinking. Grace, compassion, and love are rare commodities in today’s society. For believers, God’s forgiveness reveals divine grace, compassion, and love. God’s forgiveness causes our joyful living.
FOCUS ON JOYFUL CHRISTIAN LIVING.
Our Christian lives are joyful by God’s free forgiveness.
II. TREASURE FAITHFUL FELLOWSHIP.
A. This Pentecost crowd was stunned when they realized their sins crucified Jesus. God changed them.
1. Verse 42. These newly forgiven sinners wanted to know more about this Jesus.
2. The crowd gave themselves over to the apostles’ teaching = the resurrection of Jesus.
B. These believers studied together, ate together, and prayed together: different nations and cultures!
1. Verse 43. This was miraculous that Jews and Gentiles worshiped, ate, prayed together.
2. Verses 44,45. There was no difference among any of them, a miraculous wonder and sign.
C. Verse 46a. They gathered at the temple every day because that is where the Scriptures were kept.
1. They met together and later ate together in one another homes, verses 46b, 47.
2. They ate together with “glad and sincere hearts praising God”. God added many.
D. Such was the joyful fellowship of the early Christian church. These believers enjoyed fellowship with one another simply because of their fellowship with God. Nothing has changed throughout all the generations since that first, early Christian church. As believers we need to have a right fellowship or connection with our God. This is our vertical fellowship. We look up to God. God looks at us as his forgiven children. Sin separates us from having a perfect fellowship or understanding with God. How do we overcome our tainted relationship with God? "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me" (JOHN 5:39).
E. Christians have fellowship with God through his word. This relationship also brings believers into a special relationship with one another. This is our horizontal relationship. We are reminded of fellowship with one another here on earth. Rather than looking up (vertical) we look around us (horizontal) and see others whom God loves, calls, and forgives for time and eternity. Christian fellowship is vital for every believer. "See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness" (HEBREWS 3:12,13). Believers are blessed to encourage each other.
F. What joy is ours because we are in fellowship with God. What joy is ours because we have people of faith to be an encouragement in this discouraging world. We are reminded of the importance of focusing on our joyful Christian lives. Our world has become a place of despair, terror, and seemingly sense of despair. It is all the more important for us as believers to be ever filled with hope, peace, and joy. "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" (1 PETER 3:15). Pray that others would see in you the hope of Jesus’ resurrection. Pray that others would ask about your hope, peace, and joy that they see in your life. Then answer them: Jesus loves you and forgives you!
CONC.: There are plenty of people in this world who will always focus on the doom and gloom that surrounds us. Our news is filled with dire reports every day and day after day after day. If we want to be sad we ought to be saddened by our disappointing, sinful lives. Then we realize that it is only God who can and does help. It is only God who can and does forgive. God’s forgiveness causes our joyful Christian life. We are also filled with great joy because of our precious fellowship with God and with believ-ers. "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (1 CORINTHIANS 15:58). FOCUS ON JOYFUL CHRISTIAN LIVING. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
EASTER 3 rdgs:
ACTS 9:1-19a;
REVELATION 5:11-14;
JOHN 21:1-14;
(PSALM 66)
SERVICES: 1:00pm @ NCF Min. (Sat)/12:00pm @ NCF Medium (Sun) / 9:30am @ Redeemer (Sun) / 7:00pm @ Hays (Sun)
BIBLE STUDIES: 10:55am @ Redeemer (SUN) / 6:00pm (Min) + 7:30pm (Med) @ NCF (TUES.)
/ Sunday radio broadcast @ 9:05am on KQNK 106.7FM or 1530AM
