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Acts 4&5; Church Economics Part 2

Fighting for immorality in Houston, TX. 

Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, “HERO” 

Means people of gender confusion can use any gender public restrooms/locker room, etc. 

Houston citizens gathered a petition of 50k and it the city rejected if for technicalities.

A group of Christian filed a suit in response. 

So part of the prep for the case city issued subpoenas to 5 local pastors for notes on any of the following topics. 

Any sermons dealing with homosexuality, gender identity or Annise Parker

The goal: Prove that the petition is invalid if Pastors instructed the congregation to sign the petition. 

Right now the lost will use sleight of hand tricks to Force Christians to not obey God. 

Throw in a little smoke screen at first, to confuse.

Soon, they will not pretend. 

The constitution and the legal system will not protect us. 

Acts chapter 4 and 5 talk about the start of the Church.

People with material wealth were liquidating great portions of their assets and giving it to this church plant. 

Unwise people try to use the Bible to promote Socialism.  

However we must Let the Bible interpret the Bible. 

Then we let the Bible dictate to us how to live. 

Because the Bible is God’s Recorded will for us. 

To Love God is to obey Him. 

God’s Word clearly teaches Individual Responsibility = Freedom.

We are going to jump from Acts to Matt 25.  Jesus has three parables that we are going to look at a little closer. 

Socialism / Communism requires breaking two of God’s Ten Commandments. 

Coveting & Stealing. 

Creates poverty and slaves. 

Individual Responsibility = freedom.

Individual Responsibility

[2Th 3:10 ESV] For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.

[2Th 3:11 ESV] For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.

[2Th 3:12 ESV] Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.

What does Jesus say about our Individual Responsibility for Morals, Managing our Assets and Giving?

[Mat 25:1 ESV] "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.

[Mat 25:2 ESV] Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.

[Mat 25:3 ESV] For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,

[Mat 25:4 ESV] but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.

[Mat 25:5 ESV] As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.

[Mat 25:6 ESV] But at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'

[Mat 25:7 ESV] Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.

[Mat 25:8 ESV] And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'

[Mat 25:9 ESV] But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.'

[Mat 25:10 ESV] And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.

[Mat 25:11 ESV] Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.'

[Mat 25:12 ESV] But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.'

[Mat 25:13 ESV] Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

The big idea; Be ready.  Know who Jesus is.  Serve like He is coming today. 

This lesson is built on the infrastructure of how we manage our resources. 

Did the wise share with the foolish? No

The wise instructed the foolish to go provide for themselves. 

Person Gauge; Time to reflect.  Do you think the foolish are victims and the wise are bad for not sharing?

If the wise shared, then all would have missed out. 

Should the wise have sacrificed themselves for the foolish? 

Investing your Assets 

[Mat 25:14 ESV] "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.

[Mat 25:15 ESV] To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

[Mat 25:16 ESV] He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.

[Mat 25:17 ESV] So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.

[Mat 25:18 ESV] But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.

[Mat 25:19 ESV] Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

[Mat 25:20 ESV] And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.'

[Mat 25:21 ESV] His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'

[Mat 25:22 ESV] And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.'

[Mat 25:23 ESV] His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'

[Mat 25:24 ESV] He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,

[Mat 25:25 ESV] so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.'

[Mat 25:26 ESV] But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?

[Mat 25:27 ESV] Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.

The Consequences: 

A: 

[Mat 25:28 ESV] So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.

[Mat 25:29 ESV] For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

Does that sound like socialism? 

B: 

[Mat 25:30 ESV] And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Does God want us to give?   Yes, but as individuals and we will be judged individually. 

[Mat 25:31 ESV] "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.

[Mat 25:32 ESV] Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

[Mat 25:33 ESV] And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.

[Mat 25:34 ESV] Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

[Mat 25:35 ESV] For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,

[Mat 25:36 ESV] I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'

[Mat 25:37 ESV] Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?

[Mat 25:38 ESV] And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?

[Mat 25:39 ESV] And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?'

[Mat 25:40 ESV] And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'

[Mat 25:41 ESV] "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

[Mat 25:42 ESV] For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,

[Mat 25:43 ESV] I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'

[Mat 25:44 ESV] Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?'

[Mat 25:45 ESV] Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'

[Mat 25:46 ESV] And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

As individuals God will look at how we cared for people. 

When you let a government garnish your wages and do with it as they pleased, that is not giving as God intended. 

“I don’t have to help the poor, I support Government programs.

Your Understanding of God’s moral Law, will help you govern how you use the resources God has given you. 

But isn’t being rich bad?  That is what socialism teaches.  Rich people are bad people. 

Next week:  Is being rich bad?  (what is wealthy and how is wealthy?)  

[Mat 19:24 ESV] Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."

[Mar 10:25 ESV] It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."

[Luk 18:25 ESV] For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."

[1Ti 6:9 ESV] But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

[1Ti 6:10 ESV] For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Make sure you are finically managing all God has given you.

1. Sustainable

2. Growing

3. So you can give. 

We will be judged individually not corporately.

We will be judged on how responsible we were, with what God has given us. 

Materially and Theologically.  

The Love of Money.

10 Commandments

You shall have no other gods before me.

You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain,

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Honor your father and your mother,

You shall not murder.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.

Government social programs, “helps the poor”

“provides free. . . . .health care, food, shelter”  

Stealing their individual responsibility and make them slaves.  

However these slaves contribute nothing back as individuals and communities

They pull down on a community, socially, financially & morally. 

The individually responsible are robbed, financially, socially, morally threatened. 

 It’s an enabling model & it is financially unstainable. 

What is “wealth”?

Who is consider wealthy and who is not according to what standard?

Is being Wealthy bad?

So he was to “equalize” wealth. 

How? By taking from the wealthy and giving it to the poor. 

2 of the Ten Commandments are broken. 

Stealing

Coveting

What’s missing?  Individual Responsibility. 

If a government steals from the rich, they will find ways to protect their money. 

[Mar 12:41 ESV] And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums.

[Mar 12:42 ESV] And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny.

[Mar 12:43 ESV] And he called his disciples to him and said to them, "Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box.

[Mar 12:44 ESV] For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."

Acts 4 5 Early Church Economics part 2

More presentations from Jeff Rossignol

Acts 4 5 Early Church Economics part 2

More presentations from Jeff Rossignol

Acts 4 5 Early Church Economics part 2

More presentations from Jeff Rossignol

Acts 4; Early Church Economics

Early Church Economics.

[Act 4:32 ESV] Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.

[Act 4:33 ESV] And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

[Act 4:34 ESV] There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold

[Act 4:35 ESV] and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

 Does it imply they sold ALL their belongings?

2 examples of not selling all they had.  Barnabas, Ananias & Sappharia. 

Good Example: Barnabas

Barnabas as an example:  had a field and sold it. 

They were contributing out of their wealth to help finance a church plant. 

 [Act 4:36 ESV] Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus,

[Act 4:37 ESV] sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

Ananias & Sappharia:

[Act 5:1 ESV] But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,

[Act 5:2 ESV] and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet.

[Act 5:3 ESV] But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?

[Act 5:4 ESV] While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God."

[Act 5:5 ESV] When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.

[Act 5:6 ESV] The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.

[Act 5:7 ESV] After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

[Act 5:8 ESV] And Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much." And she said, "Yes, for so much."

[Act 5:9 ESV] But Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out."

[Act 5:10 ESV] Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

[Act 5:11 ESV] And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

They gave out of their abundance. 

Their own free choice.

No 3rd party forced them or stole from their ability to manage wealth. 

Demographics of early church

Jews from all over, have joined the Christian faith.

Building a non-profit organization. 

If in the early church, everyone was giving everything. The church would go bankrupt. 

Because the church would be creating poverty and a welfare system. 

They would eventually run of money because they would have run of out producers. 

Instead of picking the apples off the tree, they would cut down the tree for firewood also. 

A financial system of socialism would be great evil. 

We know Scripture does not promote socialism. 

a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.

(in Marxist theory) the stage following capitalism in the transition of a society to communism, characterized by the imperfect implementation of collectivist principles.

com•mu•nism

noun

a political theory derived from Karl Marx, advocating class war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs.

Socialism / Communism requires breaking two of God’s Ten Commandments. 

Coveting & Stealing. 

Creates poverty and slaves. 

Individual Responsibility = freedom.

Individual Responsibility

[2Th 3:10 ESV] For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.

[2Th 3:11 ESV] For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.

[2Th 3:12 ESV] Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.

What does Jesus say about our Individual Responsibility for Morals, Managing our Assets and Giving?

[Mat 25:1 ESV] "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.

[Mat 25:2 ESV] Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.

[Mat 25:3 ESV] For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,

[Mat 25:4 ESV] but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.

[Mat 25:5 ESV] As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.

[Mat 25:6 ESV] But at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'

[Mat 25:7 ESV] Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.

[Mat 25:8 ESV] And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'

[Mat 25:9 ESV] But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.'

[Mat 25:10 ESV] And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.

[Mat 25:11 ESV] Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.'

[Mat 25:12 ESV] But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.'

[Mat 25:13 ESV] Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Investing your Assets 

[Mat 25:14 ESV] "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.

[Mat 25:15 ESV] To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

[Mat 25:16 ESV] He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.

[Mat 25:17 ESV] So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.

[Mat 25:18 ESV] But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.

[Mat 25:19 ESV] Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

[Mat 25:20 ESV] And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.'

[Mat 25:21 ESV] His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'

[Mat 25:22 ESV] And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.'

[Mat 25:23 ESV] His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'

[Mat 25:24 ESV] He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,

[Mat 25:25 ESV] so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.'

[Mat 25:26 ESV] But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?

[Mat 25:27 ESV] Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.

[Mat 25:28 ESV] So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.

[Mat 25:29 ESV] For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

Does that sound like socialism? 

[Mat 25:30 ESV] And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Does God want us to give?   Yes, but as individuals and we will be judged individually. 

[Mat 25:31 ESV] "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.

[Mat 25:32 ESV] Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

[Mat 25:33 ESV] And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.

[Mat 25:34 ESV] Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

[Mat 25:35 ESV] For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,

[Mat 25:36 ESV] I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'

[Mat 25:37 ESV] Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?

[Mat 25:38 ESV] And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?

[Mat 25:39 ESV] And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?'

[Mat 25:40 ESV] And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'

[Mat 25:41 ESV] "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

[Mat 25:42 ESV] For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,

[Mat 25:43 ESV] I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'

[Mat 25:44 ESV] Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?'

[Mat 25:45 ESV] Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'

[Mat 25:46 ESV] And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

The goats let a government garnish their wages and do with it as they pleased. 

So they did have to do anything. 

Make sure you are finically managing all God has given you.

1. Sustainable

2. Growing

3. So you can give. 

The Love of Money.

We will be judged individually not corporately.

We will be judged on how responsible we were, with what God has given us. 

Materially and Theologically.  

10 Commandments

You shall have no other gods before me.

You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain,

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Honor your father and your mother,

You shall not murder.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.

Government social programs, “helps the poor”

“provides free. . . . .health care, food, shelter”  

Stealing their individual responsibility and make them slaves.  

However these slaves contribute nothing back as individuals and communities

They pull down on a community, socially, financially & morally. 

The individually responsible are robbed, financially, socially, morally threatened. 

 It’s an enabling model & it is financially unstainable. 

What is “wealth”?

Who is consider wealthy and who is not according to what standard?

Is being Wealthy bad?

So he was to “equalize” wealth. 

How? By taking from the wealthy and giving it to the poor. 

2 of the Ten Commandments are broken. 

Stealing

Coveting

What’s missing?  Individual Responsibility. 

If a government steals from the rich, they will find ways to protect their money. 

Acts 4 5 Early Church Economics

More presentations from Jeff Rossignol

Acts 4 5 Early Church Economics

More presentations from Jeff Rossignol

Acts 4 5 Early Church Economics

More presentations from Jeff Rossignol

New Year, New Creation

New Year; New Creation

Talk at the table. Kids want to watching the ball drop in Time Square. 

I started sharing my New Year’s Memories.  

Seasons of Life; College, or After high school.

College is a time to get away. To consider, rethink and change. 

Marriage, Children, Empty Nesters.

In the mist of big life seasons, God gives us annual seasons of change.

New Year’s Eve is a season of change.

Birthdays, Spring time, Summer Vacation

Seasons of change. 

Seasons allow us time to reflect, consider and make course adjustments. 

Very evident in high school.   

A few kids come back from summer break. 

New hair dew, new style of clothes and they are hanging with a new group.

They “Felt” free to change, once they had a chance to get away

The most significant and important season of life is the crisis point when you decide what you will do with Jesus Christ.   

Will He be the religion of your parents or will He be the LORD and Savior of your very essence/being?

[Jhn 3:1 ESV] Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

[Jhn 3:2 ESV] This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him."

[Jhn 3:3 ESV] Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."

[Jhn 3:4 ESV] Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"

[Jhn 3:5 ESV] Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

[Jhn 3:6 ESV] That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

[Jhn 3:7 ESV] Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'

Prerogative of the Holy Spirit

[Jhn 3:8 ESV] The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

[Jhn 3:9 ESV] Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?"

[Jhn 3:10 ESV] Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?

[Jhn 3:11 ESV] Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony.

[Jhn 3:12 ESV] If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

Jesus talks about Himself

[Jhn 3:13 ESV] No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.

[Jhn 3:14 ESV] And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

[Jhn 3:15 ESV] that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

[Jhn 3:16 ESV] "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

[Jhn 3:17 ESV] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

[Jhn 3:18 ESV] Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

[Jhn 3:19 ESV] And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

[Jhn 3:20 ESV] For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

[Jhn 3:21 ESV] But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God."

Concerning our resurrection 

[2Co 5:10 ESV] For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

[2Co 5:11 ESV] Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.

A Christian Judgment 

Referring to himself and the Apostles.

[2Co 5:12 ESV] We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart.

[2Co 5:13 ESV] For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.

[2Co 5:14 ESV] For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: 

that ONE has died for all, therefore all have died; (died to sinful self)

[2Co 5:15 ESV] and He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

[2Co 5:16 ESV] From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.

New Creation:

[2Co 5:17 ESV] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

[2Co 5:18 ESV] All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

[2Co 5:19 ESV] that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

[2Co 5:20 ESV] Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

[2Co 5:21 ESV] For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Concerning Circumcision:  “Works of the flesh”, Empty Religion or The Law.

[Gal 6:14 ESV] But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

[Gal 6:15 ESV] For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

Happily Ever After!

[Rev 21:2 ESV] And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

[Rev 21:3 ESV] And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

No More Bad

[Rev 21:4 ESV] He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

[Rev 21:5 ESV] And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

[Rev 21:6 ESV] And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.

Conquerors receive a reward. 

[Rev 21:7 ESV] The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

[Rev 21:8 ESV] But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."

How do we respond?

Worship!

[Psa 98:1 ESV] A Psalm. Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.

[Psa 98:2 ESV] The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.

[Psa 98:3 ESV] He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

[Psa 98:4 ESV] Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

[Psa 98:5 ESV] Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody!

[Psa 98:6 ESV] With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!

[Psa 98:7 ESV] Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it!

[Psa 98:8 ESV] Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together

[Psa 98:9 ESV] before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.

New Year, New Creation

More presentations from Jeff Rossignol

New Year, New Creation

More presentations from Jeff Rossignol

New Year, New Creation

More presentations from Jeff Rossignol

Holy Christmas

[Gen 1:1 ESV] In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

A necessary precondition. 

GOD

Our existence depends entirely on God. 

 [Act 17:28 ESV] for "'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, "'For we are indeed his offspring.'

Westminster Catechism 

Q. 4. What is God?

A. God is a spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth.

God is SPIRIT

[Deu 4:15 ESV] "Therefore watch yourselves very carefully. Since you saw no form on the day that the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire,

[Deu 4:16 ESV] beware lest you act corruptly by making a carved image for yourselves, in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female,

[Deu 4:17 ESV] the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air,

[Deu 4:18 ESV] the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the earth.

[Deu 4:19 ESV] And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the LORD your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.

[Jhn 4:24 ESV] God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

God is Infinite

[1Ki 8:27 ESV] "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!

[Psa 139:7 ESV] Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?

[Psa 139:8 ESV] If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

[Psa 147:5 ESV] Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.

[Jer 23:24 ESV] Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD.

Omni Present

[Pro 15:3 ESV] The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.

[Rom 11:33 ESV] Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

[Rom 11:34 ESV] "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?"

[Rom 11:35 ESV] "Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?"

[Rom 11:36 ESV] For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

God is Eternal

[Rev 1:4 ESV] John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,

Eternal

[Rev 1:8 ESV] "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

Infinite  also : transcendent 

[2Ch 2:5 ESV] The house that I am to build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods.

[2Ch 2:6 ESV] But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him? Who am I to build a house for him, except as a place to make offerings before him?

transcendent 

adjective

1.

going beyond ordinary limits; surpassing; exceeding.

2.

superior or supreme.

3.

Theology. (of the Deity) transcending the universe, time, etc.

Compare immanent (def 3).

God does not need the universe to exist. 

God does not need the material, naturalistic to demonstrate His existence to us. 

[1Ki 8:27 ESV] "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!

God is Just

[Rev 15:3 ESV] And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!

[2Pe 3:13 ESV] But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

How do you know the God of the Bible is the right God and the Bible is true?

The Bible is the only source material that describes this God. 

So What?    

This is the one God that all humans love to hate. 

If this was an untrustworthy man made book.

Humans would have written in a much smaller god. 

Just like every other god of every other religious book in human history. 

Humans want an idol (small god), that allows them to be evil. 

A small god who likes it when humans sin.  

A small god who approves of sin.

A small god who promotes sin. 

A god so small that we as humans have power over him. 

As humans we can be “free” to be evil. 

Would humans write a religious book that condemns themselves?

Humans would write a book that says we can all go to Heaven if we live good enough.

[Psa 14:1 ESV] To the choirmaster. Of David. The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good.

[Psa 14:2 ESV] The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.

[Psa 14:3 ESV] They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.

However, 

If the God of the Bible is the true God, than one evidence would be a human race rejecting the God described in the Bible, and trying to be their own god. 

And that is most overwhelming, exactly what we see. 

It is also what we ourselves struggle with the most. 

The Word of God is so powerful it reads you back. 

[Heb 4:12 ESV] For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

[Heb 4:13 ESV] And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

So why do so many people not like the Bible?

Why do Christians struggle reading it?

Why are there so many disagreements about what the Bible says?

Why we Struggle with the Word of God, WE struggle with God. 

[Gen 3:7 ESV] Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

[Gen 3:8 ESV] And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

Well, that’s not very Christmas like.

Patience’s, there is more. 

Jesus

[Heb 1:1 ESV] Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,

[Heb 1:2 ESV] but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

[Heb 1:3 ESV] He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Jesus All God’s qualities in Christ

[Col 1:15 ESV] He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

[Col 1:16 ESV] For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him.

[Col 1:17 ESV] And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

[Col 1:18 ESV] And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

[Col 1:19 ESV] For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,

[Col 1:20 ESV] and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

An Eternal Kingdom through Jesus Christ

[Rev 1:5 ESV] and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood

[Rev 1:6 ESV] and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

[Rev 1:7 ESV] Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

The Plan

[2Ti 1:8 ESV] Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me (Paul) his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,

[2Ti 1:9 ESV] who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

[2Ti 1:10 ESV] and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

[2Ti 1:11 ESV] for which I (Paul) was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher,

[2Ti 1:12 ESV] which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.

Mary’s visitation. 

[Luk 1:26 ESV] In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

[Luk 1:27 ESV] to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary.

[Luk 1:28 ESV] And he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!"

[Luk 1:29 ESV] But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.

[Luk 1:30 ESV] And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

[Luk 1:31 ESV] And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.

[Luk 1:32 ESV] He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,

[Luk 1:33 ESV] and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

Incarnation

[Luk 2:4 ESV] And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,

[Luk 2:5 ESV] to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

[Luk 2:6 ESV] And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.

[Luk 2:7 ESV] And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

See the slide show here

Acts 4; Speak the Name Jesus

See the slides here.

Reaction to a miraculous Sign & Sermon

[Act 4:1 ESV] And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,

[Act 4:2 ESV] greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

[Act 4:3 ESV] And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.

[Act 4:4 ESV] But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

On Trial by Religion

[Act 4:5 ESV] On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem,

[Act 4:6 ESV] with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.

By what name?

[Act 4:7 ESV] And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?"

[Act 4:8 ESV] Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders,

[Act 4:9 ESV] if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed,

By Jesus Christ

[Act 4:10 ESV] let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead--by him this man is standing before you well.

[Act 4:11 ESV] This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.

Where did Peter get that statement?

These priest heard that statement before. 

Flashback!

[Mat 21:33 ESV] "Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country.

[Mat 21:34 ESV] When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit.

[Mat 21:35 ESV] And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another.

[Mat 21:36 ESV] Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them.

[Mat 21:37 ESV] Finally he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.'

[Mat 21:38 ESV] But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.'

[Mat 21:39 ESV] And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

[Mat 21:40 ESV] When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?"

[Mat 21:41 ESV] They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons."

[Mat 21:42 ESV] Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: "'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?

[Mat 21:43 ESV] Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits.

[Mat 21:44 ESV] And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him."

[Mat 21:45 ESV] When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them.

[Mat 21:46 ESV] And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.

Jesus was quoting Psalms 118

[Psa 118:22 ESV] The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

[Psa 118:23 ESV] This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

One Way for man to be Saved. 

[Act 4:12 ESV] And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

[Act 4:13 ESV] Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

Uneducated, Common men, “they had been with Jesus”. 

[Mar 14:49 ESV] Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled."

[Mar 14:50 ESV] And they all left him and fled.

[Mar 14:51 ESV] And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him,

[Mar 14:52 ESV] but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.

[Mar 14:53 ESV] And they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together.

[Mar 14:54 ESV] And Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire.

Peter, John & the healed man. 

[Act 4:14 ESV] But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.

[Act 4:15 ESV] But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another,

[Act 4:16 ESV] saying, "What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

[Act 4:17 ESV] But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name."

[Act 4:18 ESV] So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

Seen & Heard

[Act 4:19 ESV] But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge,

[Act 4:20 ESV] for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."

Stumped for the moment.

[Act 4:21 ESV] And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened.

[Act 4:22 ESV] For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

As long as the masses were in favor, so where the leaders.   

But when the masses turn against the Christians, the leaders find their “courage”.  

Things change in Acts 6 the stoning of Stephen, 

This is what Fellowship looks like. 

[Act 4:23 ESV] When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

[Act 4:24 ESV] And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,

[Act 4:25 ESV] who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, "'Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain?

[Act 4:26 ESV] The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed'--

[Act 4:27 ESV] for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,

[Act 4:28 ESV] to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.

What a Prayer!

[Act 4:29 ESV] And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,

[Act 4:30 ESV] while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

[Act 4:31 ESV] And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Your Name’s Sake!

[Psa 25:11 ESV] For your name's sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great.

[Psa 31:3 ESV] For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me;

[Psa 79:9 ESV] Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name's sake!

[Psa 109:21 ESV] But you, O GOD my Lord, deal on my behalf for your name's sake; because your steadfast love is good, deliver me!

[Psa 143:11 ESV] For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!

The Prophet Jeremiah 

[Jer 14:7 ESV] "Though our iniquities testify against us, act, O LORD, for your name's sake; for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against you.

[Jer 14:21 ESV] Do not spurn us, for your name's sake; do not dishonor your glorious throne; remember and do not break your covenant with us.

Communion:

[1Co 11:23 ESV] For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,

[1Co 11:24 ESV] and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me."

[1Co 11:25 ESV] In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."

Starting Next Week. 

[Act 4:32 ESV] Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.

[Act 4:33 ESV] And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

[Act 4:34 ESV] There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold

[Act 4:35 ESV] and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

[Act 4:36 ESV] Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus,

[Act 4:37 ESV] sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

Acts Chapter 3; Sign and Sermon

Sign – Sermon

What do you mean sign?   

A sign is something miraculous done by God to confirm the Message of God. 

[Mar 16:20 ESV] And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.]]

[Heb 2:2 ESV] For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution,

[Heb 2:3 ESV] how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard,

[Heb 2:4 ESV] while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

The Sign: 

[Act 3:1 ESV] Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.

[Act 3:2 ESV] And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.

[Act 3:3 ESV] Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.

[Act 3:4 ESV] And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us."

[Act 3:5 ESV] And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.

[Act 3:6 ESV] But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!"

[Act 3:7 ESV] And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.

[Act 3:8 ESV] And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

[Act 3:9 ESV] And all the people saw him walking and praising God,

[Act 3:10 ESV] and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

[Act 3:11 ESV] While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's.

The Audience of this sermon:

Jews who knew all about Jesus and his Execution. 

Many of them may have been the ones shouting Crucify Him. 

They knew about the missing body from the tomb. 

They knew Jesus’ disciples were misfit, uneducated, foul mouth, blue collar workers, who ran when Jesus was executed. 

And now here are two of them, where did they come from?  

And they apparently just did a miracle. 

Oh, and one of them is about to speak. 

Sermon:

[Act 3:12 ESV] And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?

[Act 3:13 ESV] The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.

Holy One:   

[Act 3:14 ESV] But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,

[Psa 16:10 ESV] For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.

Author of Life.  Prince of Life.  

[Act 3:15 ESV] and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.

[Jhn 1:1 ESV] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

[Jhn 1:2 ESV] He was in the beginning with God.

[Jhn 1:3 ESV] All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

[Jhn 1:4 ESV] In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

[Jhn 1:5 ESV] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

[Act 3:16 ESV] And his name--by faith in his name--has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

Who Gets the Glory?  Is it a general term God? No, we must say the name!  Jesus!

[Act 3:17 ESV] "And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.

[Act 3:18 ESV] But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.

[Act 3:19 ESV] Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,

Note:   Sins may be blotted out!

[Heb 8:12 ESV] For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more."

[Heb 10:17 ESV] then he adds, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more."

Peter is quoting Jeremiah

[Jer 31:34 ESV] And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."

Remember every other religion, and people in general say.  

I’m not perfect.

I’ve done my best.

God will have to judge me according to my works. 

Problem:

They want God to remember their sins. 

You want to be judged by the Perfect Eternal God on a comparison of your own evil vs good. 

The scale of right and wrong. 

There is a logical problem here. 

The standard isn’t some sort of scale with a vague neutral center. 

The Standard is perfection.

So you fail at one point, you have failed utterly. 

God will see and remember your sins and being a perfect Judge will punish you according to your inability to be perfect. 

We do not want God to Judge us according to our imperfection.

When God remembers, God Judges Perfectly. That’s bad news for us. 

[Jer 14:10 ESV] Thus says the LORD concerning this people: "They have loved to wander thus; they have not restrained their feet; therefore the LORD does not accept them; now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins."

[Hos 8:13 ESV] As for my sacrificial offerings, they sacrifice meat and eat it, but the LORD does not accept them. Now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins; they shall return to Egypt.

[Hos 9:9 ESV] They have deeply corrupted themselves as in the days of Gibeah: he will remember their iniquity; he will punish their sins.

The Great Commission w/ warning. 

[Mar 16:15 ESV] And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

[Mar 16:16 ESV] Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Back to the Peter’s Sermon! 

[Act 3:19 ESV] Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,

[Act 3:20 ESV] that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,

[Act 3:21 ESV] whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

Holy Prophet Line Up! 

[Act 3:22 ESV] Moses said, 'The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.

[Act 3:23 ESV] And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.'

[Act 3:24 ESV] And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days.

[Act 3:25 ESV] You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.'

[Act 3:26 ESV] God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness."

How did people respond to this sermon?

Beginning with a Miracle,

Jesus demonstrated from their own Bible. 

People who were there when Jesus was murdered. 

[Act 4:1 ESV] And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,

[Act 4:2 ESV] greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

[Act 4:3 ESV] And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.

[Act 4:4 ESV] But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

How do you respond? 

Repulsion Or Receiving. 

Indifference Or Difference. 

Does Jesus compel you?

See the slides here

Acts Chapter 1, part II

Qualification of an Apostle.  

Must have Seen Jesus.  (There are no apostles today) 

Charismatic churches need to be careful. 

The NT letters are letters from the Apostles.   

Catholism:  The Pope, while acting as Vicar cannot err.  So his letters (encyclicals) hold equal weight to The Bible. 

Catholic Church Councils and Church Tradition hold equal authority as the Bible. 

It’s always the same battle. 

Jesus Christ (The 66 books of the Bible) +  Nothing!  

Sola Scriptura 

Always the same battle:  Jesus Christ + Dead Works. 

[Heb 6:1 ESV] Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

[Heb 9:14 ESV] how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

The Early Church Counsels condemned heresies and shored up doctrine. 

Always leaning back on the Canon of Scripture. 

[Act 1:21 ESV] So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

[Act 1:22 ESV] beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us--one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection."

[Act 1:23 ESV] And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.

[Act 1:24 ESV] And they prayed and said, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen

[Act 1:25 ESV] to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place."

[Act 1:26 ESV] And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

They prayed and cast lots.   

Casting lots was a common way to determine the Will of God, in Israel. 

“Sola Scriptura” (Scripture Alone); “Sola Gratia” (Grace Alone); “Sola Fide” (Faith Alone); “Solus Christus” (Christ Alone); and “Soli Deo Gloria” (To God Alone Be Glory).

How do you and I “add religion ” to our salvation?

The Beginning!  Jesus said to wait. 

[Act 2:1 ESV] When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.

[Act 2:2 ESV] And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

[Act 2:3 ESV] And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.

[Act 2:4 ESV] And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

[Act 2:5 ESV] Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.

[Act 2:6 ESV] And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.

[Act 2:7 ESV] And they were amazed and astonished, saying, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?

Galileans, proclaiming God in other foreign human languages 

[Act 2:8 ESV] And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?

[Act 2:9 ESV] Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,

[Act 2:10 ESV] Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome,

[Act 2:11 ESV] both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians--we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God."

But : Objective Truth can also bring confusion 

[Act 2:12 ESV] And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?"

[Act 2:13 ESV] But others mocking said, "They are filled with new wine."

Why does truth bring confusion?  Because we are evil and like to believe lies.

[Jhn 1:9 ESV] The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

[Jhn 1:10 ESV] He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.

[Jhn 1:11 ESV] He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

[Jhn 1:12 ESV] But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

[Jhn 1:13 ESV] who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Jesus talking to Nicodemus

[Jhn 3:9 ESV] Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?"

[Jhn 3:10 ESV] Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?

Jesus entry as King into Jerusalem

[Jhn 12:15 ESV] "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!"

[Jhn 12:16 ESV] His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. 

At the Crucifixion 

[Luk 23:33 ESV] And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.

[Luk 23:34 ESV] And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments.

[Luk 23:35 ESV] And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!"

The First Sermon of Church

[Act 2:14 ESV] But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.

[Act 2:15 ESV] For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.

[Act 2:16 ESV] But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

[Act 2:17 ESV] "'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;

[Act 2:18 ESV] even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

[Act 2:19 ESV] And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;

[Act 2:20 ESV] the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.

[Act 2:21 ESV] And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'

[Act 2:22 ESV] "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know--

[Act 2:23 ESV] this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.

Consider the setting of this Sermon: 

Everyone there was knew all about the Jesus. Big confusing controversy. 

He was supposed to be a King of Israel,  

He had a large following.  

Many people had seen Jesus minister in their home town.  

Many had been witness to Jesus miracles. 

He was crucified, His body had gone missing, 

His followers seemed to have gone off the radar, until this day. 

[Act 2:24 ESV] God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

[Act 2:25 ESV] For David says concerning him, "'I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;

[Act 2:26 ESV] therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope.

[Act 2:27 ESV] For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption.

[Act 2:28 ESV] You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.'

David died but Jesus is Alive! 

[Act 2:29 ESV] "Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

[Act 2:30 ESV] Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne,

[Act 2:31 ESV] he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.

A Holy Trinity Verse!  

 [Act 2:32 ESV] This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.

[Act 2:33 ESV] Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.

Jesus is at the right hand of God

[Act 2:34 ESV] For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, "'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand,

[Act 2:35 ESV] until I make your enemies your footstool."'

Therefore:

[Act 2:36 ESV] Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."

The reaction from the Jews. 

[Act 2:37 ESV] Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

Repent:  Turn from your evil ways,   

Baptism: Publicly declare that you belong to Jesus Christ and are willing to follow Him. 

 

[Act 2:38 ESV] And Peter said to them, "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.

[Act 2:39 ESV] For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself."

[Act 2:40 ESV] And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation."

[Act 2:41 ESV] So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

The Core Four of the Church: 

[Act 2:42 ESV] And they devoted themselves to 

1; the apostles' teaching and 

2: the fellowship, to 

3: the breaking of bread and 

4: the prayers.

[Act 2:43 ESV] And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

Awe = phobos fear, dread, terror

This is not socialism, this is a church Explosion.   Financially Unstainable. 

[Act 2:44 ESV] And all who believed were together and had all things in common.

[Act 2:45 ESV] And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

[Act 2:46 ESV] And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,

[Act 2:47 ESV] praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Acts Chapter !

Acts 1.

Who: Luke

To Whom:  To Whom?  Theophilus = "friend of God"

When 

Most likely Before 70 AD.  

Nothing is mentioned of the burning of Rome and the persecution of the Christians there (a.d. 64), 

the martyrdom of Peter and Paul (possibly 67) 

and the destruction of Jerusalem (70).

First Book:  Luke. 

[Act 1:1 ESV] In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach,

Luke 24 Flashback! How it ends

[Luk 24:44 ESV] Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."

[Luk 24:45 ESV] Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,

[Luk 24:46 ESV] and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,

[Luk 24:47 ESV] and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

[Luk 24:48 ESV] You are witnesses of these things.

[Luk 24:49 ESV] And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."

[Luk 24:50 ESV] Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them.

[Luk 24:51 ESV] While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.

[Luk 24:52 ESV] And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,

[Luk 24:53 ESV] and were continually in the temple blessing God.

Back in Acts Luke gives us more details. 

[Act 1:2 ESV] until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.

[Act 1:3 ESV] He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

[Act 1:4 ESV] And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me;

[Act 1:5 ESV] for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

Restore the Kingdom of Israel? 

[Act 1:6 ESV] So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"

[Act 1:7 ESV] He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.

[Act 1:8 ESV] But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Israel was looking for their leader to establish the Kingdom of Israel.  But the purpose of Israel is more than one little nation. 

The Capital of the Earth is Jerusalem 

The City of Righteousness

[Isa 1:26 ESV] And I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city."

[Jer 23:5 ESV] "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.

[Jer 23:6 ESV] In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: 'The LORD is our righteousness.'

Jesus is Our Leader

OT;  [Gen 49:10 ESV] The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.

NT; [Phl 2:10 ESV] so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

[Phl 2:11 ESV] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

King, Priest, LORD

[Isa 9:6 ESV] For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

[Isa 9:7 ESV] Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Jesus Ascends into the skies. 

[Act 1:9 ESV] And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

[Act 1:10 ESV] And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,

[Act 1:11 ESV] and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."

The Return of Jesus as King; Glory doesn’t necessarily mean Joy. 

[Dan 7:13 ESV] "I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.

[Dan 7:14 ESV] And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

All the tribes of the earth will morn?

[Mat 24:30 ESV] Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Jesus is heading for Jerusalem 

[Mat 25:31 ESV] "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.

Everyone in the world will see His return.  

[Mar 13:26 ESV] And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.

[Luk 21:27 ESV] And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

A spiritual/physical translation of some people. 

[1Th 4:16 ESV] For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

[1Th 4:17 ESV] Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

[1Th 4:18 ESV] Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Two major reactions to the Return of Jesus.  Relief for a few, Anguish for man. 

[2Th 1:7 ESV] and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels

[2Th 1:8 ESV] in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

[2Th 1:9 ESV] They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

[2Th 1:10 ESV] when He comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.

Nations will wail, when they see Jesus. 

[Rev 1:7 ESV] Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

[Act 1:12 ESV] Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away.

[Act 1:13 ESV] And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James.

[Act 1:14 ESV] All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

Peter takes lead.   A Changed Man.   

Peter denied Jesus 3xs. Mark 14.  John 21, Jesus redeems Peters denials. 3xs. 

[Act 1:15 ESV] In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said,

[Act 1:16 ESV] "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.

[Act 1:17 ESV] For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry."

[Act 1:18 ESV] (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.

[Act 1:19 ESV] And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

So which is it?  Did Judas hang himself or did he fall? Is this an error?  

[Mat 27:3 ESV] Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders,

[Mat 27:4 ESV] saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." They said, "What is that to us? See to it yourself."

[Mat 27:5 ESV] And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself.

The answer is BOTH.   He hung himself over a cliff, the rope eventually gave way and the body dropped. 

[Act 1:20 ESV] "For it is written in the Book of Psalms, "'May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it'; and "'Let another take his office.'

Prophecies of Judas. 

Desolate Camp

[Psa 69:25 ESV] May their camp be a desolation; let no one dwell in their tents.

[Psa 69:26 ESV] For they persecute him whom you have struck down, and they recount the pain of those you have wounded.

Loss of Vocation

[Psa 109:6 ESV] Appoint a wicked man against him; let an accuser stand at his right hand.

[Psa 109:7 ESV] When he is tried, let him come forth guilty; let his prayer be counted as sin!

[Psa 109:8 ESV] May his days be few; may another take his office!

Qualification of an Apostle.  

Must have Seen Jesus.  (There are no apostles today) 

oops Mormons. 

Charismatic churches need to be careful. 

The NT letters are letters from the Apostles.   

Catholism:  The Pope, while acting as Vicar cannot err.  So his letters hold equal weight to The Bible. 

Catholic Church Councils and Church Tradition hold equal weight as the Bible. 

It’s always the same battle. 

Jesus Christ (The 66 books of the Bible) +  Nothing!  

Sola Scriptura 

[Act 1:21 ESV] So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

[Act 1:22 ESV] beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us--one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection."

[Act 1:23 ESV] And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.

[Act 1:24 ESV] And they prayed and said, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen

[Act 1:25 ESV] to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place."

[Act 1:26 ESV] And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

They prayed and cast lots.   

Casting lots was a common way to determine the Will of God, in Israel. 

The wisest thing you could ever do is Ask Jesus Christ to save you from the Wrath of God that is coming. 

Jesus is the ruler of the Universe whether you like it or believe it. 

Jesus is either, your Lord and Savior

Or He is your Lord and Judge. 

Will you yield or perish?

Get the slide show here.

Intro To Acts

Acts:  Intro

Who wrote It?

Luke, 

Luke was not an Apostle. 

Most likely a Greek/gentile.

His writing is certified by the Apostles.  (That is why it’s cannon)

He is mentioned by Paul, Colossians and 2 Timothy. Philemon  

Written about in Acts and as third and first person in Acts. 

Occupation: physician, Well educated. Used his education to become a historian.  Luke and Acts. 

Paul mentions Luke in three of his letters.

[Col 4:14 KJV] Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.

[2Ti 4:11 ESV] Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.

[Phm 1:23 ESV] Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you,

[Phm 1:24 ESV] and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

When, Most likely Before 70 AD.  Nothing is mentioned of the burning of Rome and the persecution of the Christians there (a.d. 64), the martyrdom of Peter and Paul (possibly 67) and the destruction of Jerusalem (70).

To Whom?  Theophilus = "friend of God"

Why?

[Luk 1:1 ESV] Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us,

[Luk 1:2 ESV] just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us,

[Luk 1:3 ESV] it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,

[Luk 1:4 ESV] that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

It appears Luke teamed up on the adventure when Paul was in Troas.  Notice how the “Third person changes to the first person. 

[Act 16:8 ESV] So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas.

[Act 16:9 ESV] And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."

[Act 16:10 ESV] And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

[Act 16:11 ESV] So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis,

The Purpose of the Book of Acts: 

1 To present a history of what happened after Jesus’ ministry. 

2. To give a defense. One finds embedded in Acts a record of Christian defenses made to both Jews (e.g., 4:8–12) and Gentiles (e.g., 25:8–11),

3. To provide a guide.  ** lots of confusion when discerning if something should be a precedent. Or Timeless Truth to be practiced or observed 

4. To depict the triumph of Christianity in the face of bitter persecution and church confusion. 

In this account we will find 

Jesus’ Ascension: 

[Act 1:8 ESV] But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

[Act 1:9 ESV] And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

[Act 1:10 ESV] And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,

[Act 1:11 ESV] and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."

Miracles, 

[Act 3:1 ESV] Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.

[Act 3:2 ESV] And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.

[Act 3:3 ESV] Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.

[Act 3:4 ESV] And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us."

[Act 3:5 ESV] And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.

[Act 3:6 ESV] But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!"

[Act 3:7 ESV] And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.

[Act 3:8 ESV] And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

[Act 3:9 ESV] And all the people saw him walking and praising God,

A Growing Jewish Church

[Act 2:41 ESV] So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

[Act 2:42 ESV] And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

The beginning of the Gentile Church.

[Act 10:15 ESV] And the voice came to him again a second time, "What God has made clean, do not call common."

[Act 10:17 ESV] Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood at the gate

 [Act 10:28 ESV] And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.

[Act 10:44 ESV] While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.

[Act 10:45 ESV] And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles.

[Act 10:46 ESV] For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared,

[Act 10:47 ESV] "Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"

[Act 10:48 ESV] And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

Persecution

Jewish Persecution: [Act 7:56 ESV] And he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."

[Act 7:57 ESV] But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him.

[Act 7:58 ESV] Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.

[Act 7:59 ESV] And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

[Act 7:60 ESV] And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Gentile Persecution: 

[Act 12:1 ESV] About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church.

[Act 12:2 ESV] He killed James the brother of John with the sword,

[Act 12:3 ESV] and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread.

Confusion

Confusion getting organized

[Act 6:1 ESV] Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.

[Act 6:2 ESV] And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.

[Act 6:3 ESV] Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.

Confusion of what to do with the Gentile believers?

[Act 15:1 ESV] But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved."

[Act 15:2 ESV] And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.

[Act 15:3 ESV] So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.

[Act 15:4 ESV] When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them.

[Act 15:5 ESV] But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses."

[Act 15:6 ESV] The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.

[Act 15:7 ESV] And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.

[Act 15:8 ESV] And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us,

[Act 15:9 ESV] and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.

[Act 15:10 ESV] Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?

[Act 15:11 ESV] But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will."

[Act 15:19 ESV] Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God,

[Act 15:20 ESV] but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. 

Living for Jesus is a Narrow road, but it is not a smooth road. 

Image if 100,000 Adam and Eve’s in the garden right after the fall and God came walking in the Garden. 

Mass hysteria!  

Have Hope.  

As mentioned last week. The Truth brings confusion. Fear, anger, division.  

[Gal 5:18 ESV] But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

[Gal 5:19 ESV] Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,

[Gal 5:20 ESV] idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,

[Gal 5:21 ESV] envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

It’s like when parents walk in on two lusty teenagers.   

When God walks in our works of the flesh, we panic. 

However for all who Yield to The Truth

[Gal 5:22 ESV] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

[Gal 5:23 ESV] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

[Gal 5:24 ESV] And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

See the Slideshow here!

They Did It, We can Do It. . . IN Christ!

Hebrews Chapter 12; They Did It, We can Do It. . . IN Christ!

Consider all the people from chapter 11 who had Faith. 

God told them something, They obeyed. 

[Heb 12:1 ESV] Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

What sort of things do you think are more important than the 5 disciplines?

There are things Jesus did, that we can follow as He demonstrated.  

[Heb 12:2 ESV] looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Consider Him. 

[Heb 12:3 ESV] Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Who was against Jesus?  Every human being.  The “righteous” people, The loser sinners, the popular sinners, the wealthy sinners, the poor sinners.   

Now Consider Your struggle against sin.  

[Heb 12:4 ESV] In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

Christians are disciplined by God.  Part of the Sanctification Process. 

This is first speaking of - You chose wrong, “SPANK”!  

However, we can be Trained By Turmoil.  (No Good Deed Goes Unpunished)

[Heb 12:5 ESV] And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.

[Heb 12:6 ESV] For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives."

[Heb 12:7 ESV] It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

No discipline? Then You Are Not A Christian. 

[Heb 12:8 ESV] If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

[Heb 12:9 ESV] Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?

But He disciplines = Position Us. 

[Heb 12:10 ESV] For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.

[Heb 12:11 ESV] For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Reset Your Expectations.  

How do you know when you have arrived at maturity?   When it’s no longer a big deal.

A ministry in the local church.   

Inexperienced View:   I did an event, worked hard, gave gave gave.  

False Expectation:   Appreciation, Thanks, Praise. “Wow, aren’t they great!”

True Expectation:  No one may express appreciation.  As a matter of fact, people may criticize my efforts. 

Also: direct rebellion will lead to the spanky kind of discipline. 

Wrong way!  “whack”

To Slow!  “whack”

Too Fast, your gonna fall.   “Bump”  

Get Strong!  What Is Your Spiritual Workout Routine.  Ministry, Discipleship.

[Heb 12:12 ESV] Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,

[Heb 12:13 ESV] and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.

[Heb 12:14 ESV] Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

A chain reaction of sin. 

[Heb 12:15 ESV] See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; (stained with sinned)

[Heb 12:16 ESV] that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.

If folks do not experience the Grace of God from Christians, bitter people; say and do bad things, which to more bad things. 

Esau making a chain of wrong choices reached a point of no return.  

[Heb 12:17 ESV] For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

Old Testament Mountain of Fire and Smoke 

[Heb 12:18 ESV] For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest

[Heb 12:19 ESV] and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them.

[Heb 12:20 ESV] For they could not endure the order that was given, "If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned."

[Heb 12:21 ESV] Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I tremble with fear."

We approach Jesus who Reigns in Heaven as King and is waiting to receive us. 

[Heb 12:22 ESV] But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,

[Heb 12:23 ESV] and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

[Heb 12:24 ESV] and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

To Reject Jesus is far worse than anything the damned experienced in the Old Testament. 

[Heb 12:25 ESV] See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.

In the past, God shook the Earth, In the future He will shake the Universe. 

[Heb 12:26 ESV] At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens."

[Heb 12:27 ESV] This phrase, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of things that are shaken--that is, things that have been made--in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.

[Heb 12:28 ESV] Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,

[Heb 12:29 ESV] for our God is a consuming fire.

See Power point Here