Christ’s Credentials
Acts 2:22-39
January 27, 2002
Intro:
A. [Resume Stoppers, Citation: Dave Wilkinson, Leadership, Vol. 12, no. 1.]
In Leadership magazine, Dave Wilkinson write the following to pastors…
Have you ever wondered why your pastoral resume doesn’t evoke more enthusiasm? Do you ever think, "What are these people looking for?"
Perhaps the question should be, "What aren’t they looking for?" because with the numbers of applications pastor nominating committees receive, their first task is to eliminate applicants.
Here, then, as a public service, are statements certain to stop a resume dead in its tracks.
· "I believe empathy is overrated."
· "In the five churches I have faithfully served over the past two years ..."
· "My hobbies are pit bulls and automatic weapons."
· "I am willing to sacrifice my family for the sake of the ministry. I am also willing to sacrifice yours."
· "I have learned to cope with financial crisis at every church I’ve served."
· "I require an attractive secretary and/or organist."
· "My extensive counseling of church members has proved a rich source of pointed sermon illustrations."
· "Amway taught me everything I know about evangelism."
· "I’ve been told that every sermon I preach is better than the next."
· "My personality has provided me ample opportunity to develop conflict-resolution skills."
B. In Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost, Peter lists Christ’s credentials as the Son of God (and they are certainly more credible than these).
I. Jesus was accredited by God to us with miracles, wonders, and signs.
Acts 2:22-23, ""Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross."
A. First Peter says that God accredited Jesus to us with miraculous things.
1. Jesus could do things that humans could not do.
2. Jesus could turn water into wine.
3. Jesus could make the deaf to hear and the blind to see.
4. Jesus could make the lame to walk and dumb to speak.
5. Jesus could make paralytics to walk.
6. Jesus could cast out demons.
7. Jesus could heal people in other towns.
8. Jesus could wither trees.
9. Jesus could raise the dead.
10. Jesus could feed great numbers of people.
11. Jesus could heal people who just touched His garment.
12. Jesus could escape lynch mobs.
13. Jesus could read people’s minds.
14. Jesus could predict the future.
15. Jesus could even predict His traitor.
16. Jesus could reattach cut off ears.
B. Jesus could do things that humans could not do.
1. It is very impressive that Jesus can do those kinds of miraculous things.
2. God has given Him miraculous powers which very much qualifies Him as the Son of God.
C. And absolutely nothing has changed in the past 1970 years!
1. Jesus still has that kind of power today.
2. Jesus is still in the miraculous business today!
3. Jesus can still make the lame to walk in 2002!
4. Jesus can still make the blind to see in 2002!
5. Jesus can still make the deaf to hear in 2002!
6. Jesus can still cause demons to flee in 2002!
7. Jesus can still predict the future in 2002!
8. Jesus can still heal people of cancer in 2002!
9. Jesus can still heal people of strokes in 2002!
10. Jesus can still do everything He could do 1970 years ago!
D. Jesus of Nazareth is a man accredited by God to us by miracles, wonders, and signs!
II. Jesus was accredited by God to us with resurrection power.
Acts 2:24, "But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him."
A. God raised Jesus up from the dead.
1. God freed Jesus from the agony of death.
2. It was impossible for death to hang on to Jesus.
3. Death couldn’t keep Him in the ground.
B. That is certainly a convincing credential!
1. Who else do you know that God has raised from the dead?
2. How ‘bout Buddha?
3. How ‘bout Muhammad? We’ve certainly been hearing a lot about him lately—did God raise him from the dead?
4. Or what about Bill Clinton?
5. No! Jesus is the only one that God has raised from the dead and that is certainly a convincing credential for someone who claimed to be the Son of God!
C. But not only could Christ raise Himself from the dead, but He can raise others from the dead.
1. He proved it when He was here on earth.
a. He raised the widow’s son in Luke 7.
b. He raised Jairus’ daughter in Luke 8.
c. He raised Lazarus in John 11.
2. But the Scriptures say that He will raise us as well!
a. Hebrews 2:14-15, Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil-- 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
b. 1 Corinthians 15:51-57, Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." 55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
c. Jesus will raise you and I from the dead and He has the credentials to prove he can do it!
D. Jesus is a man accredited by God to us by resurrection power.
III. Jesus was accredited by God to us with prophetic utterances.
Acts 2:25-31, "David said about him: "’I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, 27 because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’ 29 "Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay."
A. Peter is now quoting another OT passage of Scripture.
1. This time its Psalm 16:8-11.
2. Peter is quoting the OT king, David who is talking about resurrection.
3. David says that Go would not abandon "me" to the grave and God would not let His Holy One see decay.
4. Clearly (and this is what Peter goes on to say) David is not talking about Himself.
5. The "Holy One" could only be the Messiah.
6. And Peter goes ahead to clarify that the "me" in the passage is not David, but Christ.
7. Peter is using this OT Psalm to back-up His point that God has accredited Jesus to us by raising Him up from the dead.
8. Peter says that he can confidently tell them that David did die, was buried and his tomb is still there.
9. So David was clearly not speaking of himself, but Christ.
B. Peter says that David was prophesying about Christ.
1. David was predicting hundreds of years in advance that Christ would rise from the dead.
2. And David was completely accurate.
3. How many modern day prophets do you know of that are that accurate?
4. There are those who try at the beginning of each year to predict what is going to happen in the coming year and very little of it is accurate.
5. Jean Dixon is one who is very rarely accurate, but people keep paying money each year to hear the newest predictions.
6. But David was accurate hundreds of years in advance and so was every other prophet that prophesied about Christ.
7. David is not an isolated prophet; there are dozens and dozens of prophesies about Christ that were made hundreds of years in advance and all of them were accurate.
8. Clearly not human.
9. Clearly an astounding credential for someone who claimed to be the Son of God.
C. But don’t misunderstand me and think that there are no true prophets today because I believe there are.
1. I believe the same God that revealed the truth to David is still revealing truth to people today.
2. This is still the "Last Days" that Joel predicted and Peter quoted earlier in this chapter and God is still the same God He was then.
D. Jesus Christ was a man who was accredited by to us by prophetic utterances.
IV. Jesus was accredited by God to us with witnesses.
Acts 2:32, "God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact."
A. Peter says that the 120 are witnesses to Christ’s resurrection.
1. What kind of evidence could there be if there were no eye-witnesses to it?
2. I’ve said before that people could have said that a star came down out of the sky and smashed into the tomb and then carried back into heaven; but if no one saw it, who would believe it?
3. There had to be witnesses of Christ’s resurrection or else it wouldn’t be believable.
4. Acts 1:3, "After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God."
5. 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, "Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born."
B. And even though Christ is currently in heaven and we can’t see Him with our eyes, we can still be witnesses of Him today.
1. I told you before what witnessing means.
a. It doesn’t mean to give a theologically accurate dissertation.
b. It doesn’t mean to give an eschatological explanation of the book of Revelation.
c. It doesn’t mean having all the answers to the questions that skeptics ask.
d. Witnessing simply means to tell what we have seen and heard.
e. We are to be a witness like a witness in a court room; we simply tell what we have seen and heard about Christ.
f. When Peter and John were arrested for preaching the gospel, they were told not to speak anymore about Jesus, listen to what Acts 4:18-20 says, "Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. 20 For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.""
g. When you and I can’t help but speak about what Christ has done for us; that in itself is a pretty impressive credential.
h. When there are personal testimonies about what Christ has done for us and others, His credibility certainly goes up.
i. Peter is telling these people as He reads Christ’s resume to this crowd, that all 120 of the disciples were Christ’s personal references on His resume.
C. Jesus Christ was a man accredited by God to us by witnesses.
V. Jesus was accredited by God to us with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:33, "Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear."
A. Peter continues with Christ’s credentials by pointing out the HS.
1. Peter has already given a Scriptural explanation for the HS in verses 17-21.
2. Peter has already said that God had promised to pour out His HS in the last days.
3. Peter has already said that this extraordinary ability to speak in tongues which happened that day was from the HS.
4. Peter has already explained that they could also expect people to prophesy by the power of the HS.
5. Peter has already explained that they could expect people to see visions by the power of the HS.
6. Peter has already explained that they could expect people to dream dreams by the power of the HS.
7. Peter has already explained that they could expect miracles by the power of the HS.
B. And I explained last week from the prophet Joel that we are still living in the last days today.
1. Joel said that God would pour out His Spirit in the last days, which Peter said began on that day of Pentecost.
2. But Joel also said that during the last days the sun would turn to darkness and the moon would turn to blood.
3. And even though we have a lot of gray days here in the winter, the sun does still shine.
4. And even though there may be a lot of clouds in the sky at night, the moon does still shine.
5. But Joel said that the sun and the moon would quit shining before Christ returns.
6. And until Christ returns, we are still living in the last days.
7. And GOD SAID that in the last days, He would pour out His Spirit on all people.
C. And I also explained last week that the only reason God does not pour out His Spirit on all people today is because they don’t believe it.
1. Matthew 13:58, "And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith."
2. And that is the same reason that God doesn’t pour out His Spirit today is because folks don’t have the faith to believe that God does that anymore.
3. But God does pour out His Spirit on both men and women who believe and want it.
4. Luke 11:13, If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
D. And just as the crowd was drawn to Peter and the preaching of the gospel that day by the out pouring of the HS, people today will be drawn when the see the power of the HS at work in our lives!
1. The miraculous power of the HS will draw people to Christ today just as much as it did on the day of Pentecost!
2. When people see the out pouring of the HS in us, they’ll want to know if we are drunk or what exactly is going on and we, like Peter, will have the opportunity to preach Jesus to them.
3. Don’t you understand that this is the reason that we aren’t seeing thousands of people coming to Christ like they did in the NT?
4. Its because there is no HS power to it!
5. When people see the miraculous power of the HS demonstrated through us, they will be drawn to Christ.
E. Peter was exactly right: Jesus Christ was a man accredited by God to us by HS.
VI. Jesus was accredited by God to us with His heavenly Kingdom.
Acts 2:34-36, "For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, "’The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."’ 36 "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.""
A. Peter now quotes another Psalm of David: Psalm 110.
1. Peter is quoting another prophetic announcement about Christ.
2. David said that Christ would sit down at God’s right hand and would make His enemies His footstool.
3. Christ would establish His heavenly reign.
4. Peter said that this Jesus is now Lord and Christ.
a. Lord means supreme in authority.
b. Christ is the anointed Messiah; the Savior.
5. Colossians 3:1, "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God."
6. Jesus is now seated at God’s right hand and has established His heavenly kingdom.
a. First He was God in heaven. Then He was born of a virgin.
b. He walked this earth and established an earthly ministry.
c. He was crucified for our sins.
d. He rose from the dead and has now returned to His heavenly Kingdom.
e. Pretty impressive credentials!
B. Jesus Christ was a man accredited by God to us by the establishing of His Kingdom in heaven.
VII. Jesus was accredited by God to us with salvation power.
Acts 2:37-41, "When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day."
A. When the crowd there on the day of Pentecost realized what they had done, they were cut to the heart.
1. Pretty rude, wouldn’t you say? J
2. They interrupted His sermon.
3. They cut Peter off before He could even extend the invitation to be saved.
4. He wasn’t done yet, you can see that he had more to say in verse 40.
5. They cut Peter off mid-sermon and cried out, "What shall we do?"
B. Can you blame them?
1. Peter was pretty convincing!
2. First there is the miraculous out pouring of the HS.
3. Then there is the extraordinary ability to speak in other tongues.
4. Then Peter proves that this was part of God’s Biblical plan.
5. Peter then preaches that Jesus Christ really is the Son of God.
6. He lists Jesus’ impressive credentials and then He drives the nail home!
7. Peter says that some of those people gathered there that day actually shouted, "Crucify, Crucify!" just a couple months before.
8. Peter had convincingly proven that this Jesus really was the Son of God and then he told them that they themselves had crucified Him!
9. Its easy to see why they were cut to the heart!
C. And I’m telling you its the same today!
1. When God pours out His Spirit on us, we will see miraculous things happen today as well!
2. When people see the miraculous out pouring of the HS, they will want to come and see what’s going on.
3. When the people come, we will tell them about Jesus!
4. And we will tell them that He went to the cross because of their own sins!
5. And when they hear and see these things, they too will be cut to the heart!
6. They too will want to know what they must do.
7. We will lead them to Christ, they’ll be saved, and we’ll baptize them.
8. We’ll tell them there is no other way to be saved, but to believe in Jesus of Nazareth!
9. Buddha can’t do it!
10. Muhammad can’t do it!
11. Colleges can’t do it!
12. Drugs can’t do!
13. No one or nothing in this world can save, but Jesus and Jesus alone!
14. Jesus Christ is a man who was accredited by God to us with salvation power.
Conclusion:
A. Very impressive credentials!
1. Jesus was accredited by God to us with miracles, wonders, and signs.
2. Jesus was accredited by God to us with resurrection power.
3. Jesus was accredited by God to us with prophetic utterances.
4. Jesus was accredited by God to us with witnesses.
5. Jesus was accredited by God to us with the Holy Spirit.
6. Jesus was accredited by God to us with His heavenly Kingdom.
7. Jesus was accredited by God to us with salvation power.
B. And should I ask: What kind of credentials would you expect from a man who claimed to be the Son of God?
1. These are the exact credentials you would expect if Jesus really were the Son of God, aren’t they?
2. I would say that Peter has just preached the best sermon that has ever been preached!
3. And the result? 3,000 people were saved and baptized!
C. What do you need from God today?
1. Do you need a church?
a. Are you an immersed believer who needs to establish a church home and get serious about your relationship with Jesus?
b. Do you need to place your membership in this church?
2. Do you need Jesus?
a. Do you need to come and cry out to Jesus to save you?
b. Do you need to repent of your sins and be baptized like these 3,000 did on the Day of Pentecost?
3. Do you need the Holy Spirit?
a. Do you need to come and ask God to pour out His Spirit on you?
b. Do you need the power of the HS in your life?
4. Whatever you need from God today, you come as we stand and sing our song of invitation.
Christ’s Credentials
Acts 2:22-39
January 27, 2002
Intro:
A. [Resume Stoppers, Citation: Dave Wilkinson, Leadership, Vol. 12, no. 1.]
In Leadership magazine, Dave Wilkinson write the following to pastors…
Have you ever wondered why your pastoral resume doesn’t evoke more enthusiasm? Do you ever think, "What are these people looking for?"
Perhaps the question should be, "What aren’t they looking for?" because with the numbers of applications pastor nominating committees receive, their first task is to eliminate applicants.
Here, then, as a public service, are statements certain to stop a resume dead in its tracks.
· "I believe empathy is overrated."
· "In the five churches I have faithfully served over the past two years ..."
· "My hobbies are pit bulls and automatic weapons."
· "I am willing to sacrifice my family for the sake of the ministry. I am also willing to sacrifice yours."
· "I have learned to cope with financial crisis at every church I’ve served."
· "I require an attractive secretary and/or organist."
· "My extensive counseling of church members has proved a rich source of pointed sermon illustrations."
· "Amway taught me everything I know about evangelism."
· "I’ve been told that every sermon I preach is better than the next."
· "My personality has provided me ample opportunity to develop conflict-resolution skills."
B. In Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost, Peter lists Christ’s credentials as the Son of God (and they are certainly more credible than these).
I. Jesus was accredited by God to us with miracles, wonders, and signs.
Acts 2:22-23, ""Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross."
A. First Peter says that God accredited Jesus to us with miraculous things.
1. Jesus could do things that humans could not do.
2. Jesus could turn water into wine.
3. Jesus could make the deaf to hear and the blind to see.
4. Jesus could make the lame to walk and dumb to speak.
5. Jesus could make paralytics to walk.
6. Jesus could cast out demons.
7. Jesus could heal people in other towns.
8. Jesus could wither trees.
9. Jesus could raise the dead.
10. Jesus could feed great numbers of people.
11. Jesus could heal people who just touched His garment.
12. Jesus could escape lynch mobs.
13. Jesus could read people’s minds.
14. Jesus could predict the future.
15. Jesus could even predict His traitor.
16. Jesus could reattach cut off ears.
B. Jesus could do things that humans could not do.
1. It is very impressive that Jesus can do those kinds of miraculous things.
2. God has given Him miraculous powers which very much qualifies Him as the Son of God.
C. And absolutely nothing has changed in the past 1970 years!
1. Jesus still has that kind of power today.
2. Jesus is still in the miraculous business today!
3. Jesus can still make the lame to walk in 2002!
4. Jesus can still make the blind to see in 2002!
5. Jesus can still make the deaf to hear in 2002!
6. Jesus can still cause demons to flee in 2002!
7. Jesus can still predict the future in 2002!
8. Jesus can still heal people of cancer in 2002!
9. Jesus can still heal people of strokes in 2002!
10. Jesus can still do everything He could do 1970 years ago!
D. Jesus of Nazareth is a man accredited by God to us by miracles, wonders, and signs!
II. Jesus was accredited by God to us with resurrection power.
Acts 2:24, "But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him."
A. God raised Jesus up from the dead.
1. God freed Jesus from the agony of death.
2. It was impossible for death to hang on to Jesus.
3. Death couldn’t keep Him in the ground.
B. That is certainly a convincing credential!
1. Who else do you know that God has raised from the dead?
2. How ‘bout Buddha?
3. How ‘bout Muhammad? We’ve certainly been hearing a lot about him lately—did God raise him from the dead?
4. Or what about Bill Clinton?
5. No! Jesus is the only one that God has raised from the dead and that is certainly a convincing credential for someone who claimed to be the Son of God!
C. But not only could Christ raise Himself from the dead, but He can raise others from the dead.
1. He proved it when He was here on earth.
a. He raised the widow’s son in Luke 7.
b. He raised Jairus’ daughter in Luke 8.
c. He raised Lazarus in John 11.
2. But the Scriptures say that He will raise us as well!
a. Hebrews 2:14-15, Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil-- 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
b. 1 Corinthians 15:51-57, Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." 55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
c. Jesus will raise you and I from the dead and He has the credentials to prove he can do it!
D. Jesus is a man accredited by God to us by resurrection power.
III. Jesus was accredited by God to us with prophetic utterances.
Acts 2:25-31, "David said about him: "’I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, 27 because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’ 29 "Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay."
A. Peter is now quoting another OT passage of Scripture.
1. This time its Psalm 16:8-11.
2. Peter is quoting the OT king, David who is talking about resurrection.
3. David says that Go would not abandon "me" to the grave and God would not let His Holy One see decay.
4. Clearly (and this is what Peter goes on to say) David is not talking about Himself.
5. The "Holy One" could only be the Messiah.
6. And Peter goes ahead to clarify that the "me" in the passage is not David, but Christ.
7. Peter is using this OT Psalm to back-up His point that God has accredited Jesus to us by raising Him up from the dead.
8. Peter says that he can confidently tell them that David did die, was buried and his tomb is still there.
9. So David was clearly not speaking of himself, but Christ.
B. Peter says that David was prophesying about Christ.
1. David was predicting hundreds of years in advance that Christ would rise from the dead.
2. And David was completely accurate.
3. How many modern day prophets do you know of that are that accurate?
4. There are those who try at the beginning of each year to predict what is going to happen in the coming year and very little of it is accurate.
5. Jean Dixon is one who is very rarely accurate, but people keep paying money each year to hear the newest predictions.
6. But David was accurate hundreds of years in advance and so was every other prophet that prophesied about Christ.
7. David is not an isolated prophet; there are dozens and dozens of prophesies about Christ that were made hundreds of years in advance and all of them were accurate.
8. Clearly not human.
9. Clearly an astounding credential for someone who claimed to be the Son of God.
C. But don’t misunderstand me and think that there are no true prophets today because I believe there are.
1. I believe the same God that revealed the truth to David is still revealing truth to people today.
2. This is still the "Last Days" that Joel predicted and Peter quoted earlier in this chapter and God is still the same God He was then.
D. Jesus Christ was a man who was accredited by to us by prophetic utterances.
IV. Jesus was accredited by God to us with witnesses.
Acts 2:32, "God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact."
A. Peter says that the 120 are witnesses to Christ’s resurrection.
1. What kind of evidence could there be if there were no eye-witnesses to it?
2. I’ve said before that people could have said that a star came down out of the sky and smashed into the tomb and then carried back into heaven; but if no one saw it, who would believe it?
3. There had to be witnesses of Christ’s resurrection or else it wouldn’t be believable.
4. Acts 1:3, "After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God."
5. 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, "Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born."
B. And even though Christ is currently in heaven and we can’t see Him with our eyes, we can still be witnesses of Him today.
1. I told you before what witnessing means.
a. It doesn’t mean to give a theologically accurate dissertation.
b. It doesn’t mean to give an eschatological explanation of the book of Revelation.
c. It doesn’t mean having all the answers to the questions that skeptics ask.
d. Witnessing simply means to tell what we have seen and heard.
e. We are to be a witness like a witness in a court room; we simply tell what we have seen and heard about Christ.
f. When Peter and John were arrested for preaching the gospel, they were told not to speak anymore about Jesus, listen to what Acts 4:18-20 says, "Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. 20 For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.""
g. When you and I can’t help but speak about what Christ has done for us; that in itself is a pretty impressive credential.
h. When there are personal testimonies about what Christ has done for us and others, His credibility certainly goes up.
i. Peter is telling these people as He reads Christ’s resume to this crowd, that all 120 of the disciples were Christ’s personal references on His resume.
C. Jesus Christ was a man accredited by God to us by witnesses.
V. Jesus was accredited by God to us with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:33, "Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear."
A. Peter continues with Christ’s credentials by pointing out the HS.
1. Peter has already given a Scriptural explanation for the HS in verses 17-21.
2. Peter has already said that God had promised to pour out His HS in the last days.
3. Peter has already said that this extraordinary ability to speak in tongues which happened that day was from the HS.
4. Peter has already explained that they could also expect people to prophesy by the power of the HS.
5. Peter has already explained that they could expect people to see visions by the power of the HS.
6. Peter has already explained that they could expect people to dream dreams by the power of the HS.
7. Peter has already explained that they could expect miracles by the power of the HS.
B. And I explained last week from the prophet Joel that we are still living in the last days today.
1. Joel said that God would pour out His Spirit in the last days, which Peter said began on that day of Pentecost.
2. But Joel also said that during the last days the sun would turn to darkness and the moon would turn to blood.
3. And even though we have a lot of gray days here in the winter, the sun does still shine.
4. And even though there may be a lot of clouds in the sky at night, the moon does still shine.
5. But Joel said that the sun and the moon would quit shining before Christ returns.
6. And until Christ returns, we are still living in the last days.
7. And GOD SAID that in the last days, He would pour out His Spirit on all people.
C. And I also explained last week that the only reason God does not pour out His Spirit on all people today is because they don’t believe it.
1. Matthew 13:58, "And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith."
2. And that is the same reason that God doesn’t pour out His Spirit today is because folks don’t have the faith to believe that God does that anymore.
3. But God does pour out His Spirit on both men and women who believe and want it.
4. Luke 11:13, If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
D. And just as the crowd was drawn to Peter and the preaching of the gospel that day by the out pouring of the HS, people today will be drawn when the see the power of the HS at work in our lives!
1. The miraculous power of the HS will draw people to Christ today just as much as it did on the day of Pentecost!
2. When people see the out pouring of the HS in us, they’ll want to know if we are drunk or what exactly is going on and we, like Peter, will have the opportunity to preach Jesus to them.
3. Don’t you understand that this is the reason that we aren’t seeing thousands of people coming to Christ like they did in the NT?
4. Its because there is no HS power to it!
5. When people see the miraculous power of the HS demonstrated through us, they will be drawn to Christ.
E. Peter was exactly right: Jesus Christ was a man accredited by God to us by HS.
VI. Jesus was accredited by God to us with His heavenly Kingdom.
Acts 2:34-36, "For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, "’The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."’ 36 "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.""
A. Peter now quotes another Psalm of David: Psalm 110.
1. Peter is quoting another prophetic announcement about Christ.
2. David said that Christ would sit down at God’s right hand and would make His enemies His footstool.
3. Christ would establish His heavenly reign.
4. Peter said that this Jesus is now Lord and Christ.
a. Lord means supreme in authority.
b. Christ is the anointed Messiah; the Savior.
5. Colossians 3:1, "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God."
6. Jesus is now seated at God’s right hand and has established His heavenly kingdom.
a. First He was God in heaven. Then He was born of a virgin.
b. He walked this earth and established an earthly ministry.
c. He was crucified for our sins.
d. He rose from the dead and has now returned to His heavenly Kingdom.
e. Pretty impressive credentials!
B. Jesus Christ was a man accredited by God to us by the establishing of His Kingdom in heaven.
VII. Jesus was accredited by God to us with salvation power.
Acts 2:37-41, "When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day."
A. When the crowd there on the day of Pentecost realized what they had done, they were cut to the heart.
1. Pretty rude, wouldn’t you say? J
2. They interrupted His sermon.
3. They cut Peter off before He could even extend the invitation to be saved.
4. He wasn’t done yet, you can see that he had more to say in verse 40.
5. They cut Peter off mid-sermon and cried out, "What shall we do?"
B. Can you blame them?
1. Peter was pretty convincing!
2. First there is the miraculous out pouring of the HS.
3. Then there is the extraordinary ability to speak in other tongues.
4. Then Peter proves that this was part of God’s Biblical plan.
5. Peter then preaches that Jesus Christ really is the Son of God.
6. He lists Jesus’ impressive credentials and then He drives the nail home!
7. Peter says that some of those people gathered there that day actually shouted, "Crucify, Crucify!" just a couple months before.
8. Peter had convincingly proven that this Jesus really was the Son of God and then he told them that they themselves had crucified Him!
9. Its easy to see why they were cut to the heart!
C. And I’m telling you its the same today!
1. When God pours out His Spirit on us, we will see miraculous things happen today as well!
2. When people see the miraculous out pouring of the HS, they will want to come and see what’s going on.
3. When the people come, we will tell them about Jesus!
4. And we will tell them that He went to the cross because of their own sins!
5. And when they hear and see these things, they too will be cut to the heart!
6. They too will want to know what they must do.
7. We will lead them to Christ, they’ll be saved, and we’ll baptize them.
8. We’ll tell them there is no other way to be saved, but to believe in Jesus of Nazareth!
9. Buddha can’t do it!
10. Muhammad can’t do it!
11. Colleges can’t do it!
12. Drugs can’t do!
13. No one or nothing in this world can save, but Jesus and Jesus alone!
14. Jesus Christ is a man who was accredited by God to us with salvation power.
Conclusion:
A. Very impressive credentials!
1. Jesus was accredited by God to us with miracles, wonders, and signs.
2. Jesus was accredited by God to us with resurrection power.
3. Jesus was accredited by God to us with prophetic utterances.
4. Jesus was accredited by God to us with witnesses.
5. Jesus was accredited by God to us with the Holy Spirit.
6. Jesus was accredited by God to us with His heavenly Kingdom.
7. Jesus was accredited by God to us with salvation power.
B. And should I ask: What kind of credentials would you expect from a man who claimed to be the Son of God?
1. These are the exact credentials you would expect if Jesus really were the Son of God, aren’t they?
2. I would say that Peter has just preached the best sermon that has ever been preached!
3. And the result? 3,000 people were saved and baptized!
C. What do you need from God today?
1. Do you need a church?
a. Are you an immersed believer who needs to establish a church home and get serious about your relationship with Jesus?
b. Do you need to place your membership in this church?
2. Do you need Jesus?
a. Do you need to come and cry out to Jesus to save you?
b. Do you need to repent of your sins and be baptized like these 3,000 did on the Day of Pentecost?
3. Do you need the Holy Spirit?
a. Do you need to come and ask God to pour out His Spirit on you?
b. Do you need the power of the HS in your life?
4. Whatever you need from God today, you come as we stand and sing our song of invitation.
