ACTS
TWO: THE DAY THE CHURCH BEGAN
Acts 2:22-31
Acts chapter two is one of the “drive a
peg” chapters in the Bible. This is so because in this key section of Scripture
we find the beginning of the church. Our contemporary world has so minimized
the importance of the church that we need to remember just how important that
called out assembly is to God. Let us look at the significance of the church’s
birthday.
THE PROPHETS (Joel
2:28-32; Isa. 32:13-20; 2:1-4; Dan 2:36-45).
1. The
outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:6-8; Mk. 1:8).
2. The
restoration of the kingdom (Acts 1:6-8; 2:29-31; cf. II Sam. 7:12-19; Amos
9:11-12; Acts 15:14-19).
3. Salvation
and peace for all (Acts 2:29; Isa. 11:1-10; cf. Rom. 15:12).
THE PROMISE (Acts
2:39; 2:33; Gen. 12:1-3; 22:18; Gal. 3:14, 16, 18-19, 29).
1. “All
the nations of the earth shall be blessed,” “All the nations of the
earth shall
bless themselves” (Gen. 12:3; 18:18; 28:14, passive form; 22:18;
26:4, reflexive form).
a. God
would bless all the nations, i.e. He would do something for all peoples (Acts
2:17, 33).
b. All
nations must, however, receive the
blessings, i.e. they must do something for themselves (Acts 2:37-39).
2. The
Promise centered in the Christ and was received by all who were “in” Him (Gal.
3:16, 26-29; Acts 2:38-39).
3. The
Promise is a gift that must be received within the context of the church (Acts
2:38-41, 47; cf. Eph. 3:10-11).
THE PASSAGE (Acts
2:1-47).
1. At
the time of the first Pentecost after the Resurrection the Holy Spirit fell
upon the Apostles (1:26-2:4) and they then preached to a large crowd in the
various languages of the people (2:5-13).
2. To
explain what was happening, Peter quoted Joel (2:14-21).
3. Peter
then preached the first “Gospel Sermon” (2:22-36).
a. Combining
Old Testament Scripture with the people’s knowledge of recent events, Peter
established that Jesus was the Christ.
b. Jesus
was both the Messiah and the long awaited King from David’s line.
c. Salvation
was through Jesus’ death, and resurrection.
4. Many
were deeply moved by the sermon and asked what they needed to do (2:37).
5. Those
who believed the message were told to repent and be baptized (2:38-39).
6. Three
thousand were baptized and added to the church (2:40-41).
7. They
immediately began faithfully living the Christian life (2:42-47).
8. The
church grew (Acts 2:47).
THE PERTENENT
PRECEDENTS
1. Jesus
is the Christ, the Son of God (Matt. 16:13-17; Acts 2:36).
2. All
men and women everywhere must come to God through the Christ (Jn. 14:6; Acts
2:38).
3. The
preaching of the Gospel is essential for salvation (I Cor. 1:21; Acts 2:22).
4. Obedience
of faith is necessary (Jas. 2:14-26; Acts 2:36-38).
5. Obedience
of faith involves: repentance (Lk. 24:47; Acts 2:38), confession (I Tim.
6:12-13; Rom. 10:10; Acts 2:37), and baptism as the biblical way of calling on
the name of the Lord (Acts 2:21, 38; Rom. 10:13; Acts 22:16; I Pet. 3:21; Acts
2:38, 41).
6. The
saved are all added to the church (Col. 1:13; Matt. 16:18-19; Acts 2:47).
7. The
church is the group that includes all the saved (Eph. 5:25-27, 32; Rev. 19:7-9;
Acts 2:41, 47).
8. Faithful
living is required of Christians (I Jn. 1:7; Acts 2:42).
Edwin
9/17/00
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