WHAT TO SAY WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT
Acts 3:11-26 While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: "Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see. 17 "Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you--even Jesus. 21 He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. 22 For Moses said, ’The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. 23 Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.’
24 "Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days. 25 And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ’Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’ 26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways."
INTRODUCTION: THE PASSAGE BEFORE US TODAY IS THE SECOND SERMON OF PETER IN THE BOOK OF ACTS, WITH THE FIRST TAKING PLACE A PENTECOST IN RESPONSE TO THE CROWD THAT HEARD THE NOISE OF THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. THIS SERMON IS PROMPTED BY THE REACTION OF THE CROWD TO THE HEALING OF THE CRIPPLED MAN WHO USED TO LAY AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE TEMPLE BEGGING FOR ALMS.
WHAT IS SO INTERESTING AS THIS STORY UNFOLDS IS HOW PETER USES THE EVENTS, AND WHAT PETER CHOOSES TO SAY. THESE WORDS WOULD ULTIMATELY GET THEM IN TROUBLE WITH THE AUTHORITIES OF THE TIME, YET ALSO RESULTED IN MANY COMING TO KNOW THE LORD AS SAVIOR!
TRANSITION: SO, LET US TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT PETER CHOSE TO SAY WHEN GOD PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM TO SPEAK, …
I. YOU SAY THE THINGS THAT POINT TO JESUS
A. BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY IS ABOUT JESUS CHRIST
B. WITHOUT JESUS CHRIST YOU DO NOT HAVE BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY
1. YOU HAVE FALSE RELIGION
2. YOU HAVE A CULT
3. YOU HAVE APOSTASY
4. YOU DO NOT HAVE CHRISTIANITY
C. PETER TURNED THE ATTENTION AWAY FROM HIMSELF
1. DID NOT HAVE THE MIRACULOUS POWER TO MAKE THE MAN WALK
2. DID NOT HAVE THE GODLINESS TO MAKE THE MAN WALK
3. SHOULD NOT SURPRISE ANYONE THAT THEY WOULD OR COULD DO THIS MIRACLE
D. PETER FOCUSED THE ATTENTION ON JESUS
1. JESUS THE SERVANT
a. THE WORD USED TO DESCRIBE THE MESSIAH IN ISA 52 AND 53
b. THE SERVANT WHO WAS PIERCED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS
c. THE SERVANT WHO WAS BRUISED FOR OUR INIQUITIES
2. JESUS THE HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS ONE
a. AGAIN IMAGES FROM ISAIAH
b. DECLARING THAT JESUS WAS THE MESSIAH!
3. JESUS THE AUTHOR OF LIFE
a. SPIRITUAL LIFE – UNIFICATION WITH GOD
A KEY POINT IN COMMUNICATING THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL IS GET THE MESSAGE CENTERED ON JESUS AND AWAY FROM ANYTHING ELSE!
II. YOU SAY THE THINGS THAT HIGHLIGHT OUR SIN
A. WE HIGHLIGHT SIN BECAUSE SIN SEPARATES US FROM GOD
1. FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD
2. FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH, BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE
3. SIN – OUR SIN IS A PIVOTAL ISSUE REGARDING SALVATION
B. PETER FOCUSED ON THE SIN OF EVERYONE
1. HAD CHRIST KILLED EVEN THOUGH PILATE HAD FREED HIM
2. HAD DISHONORED GOD BY ASKING FOR HE DEATH OF AN INNOCENT MAN AND THE RELEASE OF A GUILTY MAN
3. HAD ACTED IN THE BEST OF INTENTIONS, YET THE INTENTIONS THEMSELVES WERE FLAWED
a. IF YOU LOOK AT THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE DEATH OF CHRIST, WHAT YOU WILL SEE IS THAT THE JEWISH LEADERS WERE TRYING TO PROTECT THEIR WAY OF LIFE.
b. IN ORDER TO DO THAT, THEY WOULD PUT JESUS TO DEATH
c. THEY DID THIS WITHOUT TAKING THE TIME TO APPLY THE PROPHECY ABOUT MESSIAH
d. JESUS FULFILLED PROPHECY
e. GOOD MADE THAT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR
4. THEIR ACTIONS VALIDATED THE SCRIPTURE -- Proverbs 16:12 Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through righteousness.
5. LEST WE THINK THAT WE ARE BLAMELESS IN THIS AREA, THERE IS A LITTLE WORD I WOULD LIKE YOU TO SEE IT IS THE WORD “YOU” ; USED THREE TIMES IN VERSES 13-15
a. IT IS A PLURAL WORD THAT SIGNIFIES NOT ONLY THE GUIILT OF THE JEWS, BUT THE GUILT OF PILATE, THE GUILT OF THE ROMANS, THE GUILT OF THE GENTILES, AND YES, OUR GUILT AS WELL
b. WHILE JESUS WAS ON THE CROSS OUR SIN WAS THERE AS WELL!
A KEY POINT IN COMMUNICATING THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL IS THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF OUR OWN SIN AND COMPLICITY IN THE DEATH OF CHRIST! IT WAS NOT DONE APART FROM OUR INVOLVEMENT!
III. YOU SAY THE THINGS THAT GIVE A REASON TO REPENT
A. GOOD GIVES US ALL WE NEED TO KNOW IN ORDER TO REPENT
1. CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH
2. BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART
B. GOD HIMSELF WANTS TO WIPE OUR SINS AWAY – 3:19
1. GOD ACCOMPLISHES THIS WHEN WE TURN FROM OUR SINS
2. GOD COMPLETES THIS WHEN WE TURN TO GOD
a. WORD TURN IN VERSE 19 IS AN INTERESTING WORD, IT MEANS TO FLEE
b. IT IS THE WORD USED IN REGARD TO THE OT CITIES OF REFUGE
c. ONE COULD FLEE TO THESE CITIES FOR PROTECTION AND SAFETY
d. GOD IS TELLING US THAT COMING TO HIM IS PROTECTION AND SAFETY FROM SIN AND ITS CONSEQUENCES
C. GOD WANT TO REFRESH OUR LIVES – 3:19
1. NEW CREATURE – OLD PAST AWAY AND ALL THINGS BECOME NEW
2. SALVATION IS REFERRED TO AS A WASHING/REGENERATION
D. GOD WANTS TO BLESS US – 3:26
1. NOT JUDGE US
A KEY POINT IN COMMUNICATING THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL IS TO REVEAL THE BLESSING OF SALVATION.
SIMPLE TRUTH: GOD PROVIDES TEACHABLE MOMENTS FOR THE GOSPEL, WE NEED TO BE READY WITH THE RIGHT THING TO SAY
