Life of Peter 6
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Text: Acts 2:21
The second chapter of Acts opens with the followers of Jesus at the Pentecost observance in Jerusalem. Some have said they believe the events of Chapter 2 took place in the upper room. However, the public nature, time, and need for the Temple make me believe the gathering takes place as the Temple (more specifically the southern end of the Temple grounds.
1500 Pentecosts have come and gone since Moses instituted it in Deuteronomy. It was a special observance. Built to keep their focus on the coming Messiah.
On the day of Pentecost, in Old Testament times, the Jews took individual grains of corn, ground them into flour, added oil and leaven, and made two loaves of bread. The loaves were then offered to the Lord along with the sacrifice of seven lambs without blemish, one young bullock, and two rams for a burnt offering—ten sacrifices in all, to symbolize the perfection and completeness of Calvary.
All symbolized what took place fifty days after the resurrection of Christ. Pentecost always fell on the first day of the week, symbolizing, even in Old Testament typology, the end of the Sabbath and the consecration of a new day for a new dispensation.
- John Philips
The Bible describes the amazing scene breaks out.
1. A sound from heaven of rushing wind
2. Little flames of fire appear above the heads of the disciples
3. The believers began to speak in other tongues (languages)
(Note: what has been called the gift of tongues could be accurately called the gift of ears…the disciples were speaking in their own language and it was being heard in the speakers language.7-11)
To make sense of what is happening around them a crowd gathers and begins to offer up ideas.
Maybe God is sending a message
Maybe this is a wonder or miracle
Maybe they’re their just drunk.
This is where our text breaks in. Peter steps up and declares that the idea that they have been drinking is wrong with he only proof and evidence being that it is to early in the day to be drunk.
He explains that what they are witnessing is happening as a fulfillment of Scripture. He is giving the people a reason to trust the Word of God.
Understand that the only thing we have as believers is the word of God. WIthout trust in this book we are nothing. WE are not people that think good thoughts, or act in good ways, we are people of a book that are instructed how to approach God in worship, prayer, and Scritpure. We are people of the book. If you have no relationship with God today I ask you to give Scripture a level of trust. So did Peter in the first century. HE taught those that trusted the Bible to see in it the fulfillment of the promise of God.
The Fulfillment of the Promise. (16-21)
Peter tells the crowd that the prophet Joel foretold all this (see Joel 2:28–32).
1. Joel said the Spirit would be poured out on all people.
2. Joel said they’d see the signs of God (2:19–20).
a.Blood, fire, and smoke on earth (2:19)
b.The darkening of the sun and moon in the heavens (2:20)
3. Joel wrote concerning the salvation of God (2:21):
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
The Focus of the Promise. (2:22-28)
The Messiah was crucified by his foes (2:22–23): Both the Jewish nation and the Roman government are guilty of this crime.
In the simple phrase “ye have taken”
As well as the phrase “by wicked hands”
Here we find the problem of universal guilt.
It is always nice to find someone to blame. When someone wants me to carry the shame of failure or needed correction I deflect, I blame, I accuse, I defend, I explain. We don’t like carrying the burden of failure.
Guilt is something with which all of us deal. We try to hide and defend our sinful actions. We are like the two men standing trial in a San Diego courtroom for armed robbery.
An eyewitness took the stand, and the prosecutor moved carefully: "So, you say you were at the scene when the robbery took place?" "Yes." "And you saw a vehicle leave at a high rate of speed?" "Yes." "And did you observe the occupants?" "Yes, two men." "And," the prosecutor boomed, "are those two men present in court today?" At this point the two defendants sealed their fate. They raised their hands.
- Tom Blair, San Diego Union, quoted in Reader's Digest.
The issue before this crowd is that they failed to see the Christ they had crusicifed was an innocent lamb brought before the slaughter. They claimed they were doing the very work of God. They were the good guys cheering cruicify of this wild teacher that did miracles.
No Peter points out you cannot find deliverance from your guilty sin. YOU were are guilty. We attempt to hide our sins the same way.
We act as if we haven’t sinned and hit the mute button on our conscience.
Such is the way of an adulterous woman;
She eateth, and wipeth her mouth,
And saith, I have done no wickedness.
We act as if our good will overcome our sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
We undersell the payment for our sin.
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
Worse because it is a crime against God and his perfection there is a penalty to be paid called hell.
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Then Peter proving that in this season of restoration all of the parables and teaching have come to make more sense explains the purpose of Christ’s resurrection.
The Father’s work in the Promise (2:24–28).
Why is this important because death wasn’t permanent with Jesus. We defeated the grave that they believed would be Jesus undoing. If they thought that Jesus ministry was going to end at his death they were wrong. As I explained last week the Crucifiction of Jesus was not His end It was merely the terms of our salvation being met.
It is here where Peter will change the tone of his sermon. That is that he moves to the only hope you and I as sinners have. You and I face death in Hell for our sin. Christ offers forgiveness through his. We face an eternal death known as hell Christ offers his resurrection as a proof of hope of eternal life.
What does Peter offer as his foundation - God’s Word. (2:25–28):
Peter treats Psalm 16:8-11 as a prophecy when David predicted this (see Ps. 16:8–11).
Peter’s logical conclusion is this…
Concerning Jesus’ resurrection (2:29–32): David must have had the Messiah’s resurrection in mind, for he himself died and was buried. But it was Christ that saw death couldn’t finish him.
Concerning Jesus’ exaltation (2:33–36): Inasmuch as David never ascended into heaven to sit on his throne, he is referring to Jesus in Psalm 110:1. If David didn’t ascend than the speaking of it was in metaphor or Prophecy.
It is at this conclusion that the people which heard the news understood that
doing nothing was not an option.
Hiding their sin was not an option.
Working to wash their sin wasn’t an option
Minimizing their sin was not an option.
Then Peter our unlikely disciple who he himself so many times went to far, and spoke out of turn, and even sinned against Jesus himself calls all men to be freed from their sins.
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.