Preaching Christ in the Book of
Acts
God
Himself wants everyone to come to Him and be saved!
Paul
wrote: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all
things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus
Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God
was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses
to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” 2 Cor 5:17-19
“And such
were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were
justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Cor 6:11
“God has made
Christians holy by the work of His Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:11; 2 Thes 2:13), and
they are therefore called to live as His own holy people (1 Cor 1:2). God
has given them everything they need to live a holy life in this world (2 Pet 1:3-4). As
a result, their way of life is to be distinctly different from that of the
unholy world around them. Every part of their life is to reflect the
transforming work of the Holy Spirit (Rom 12:2).”—NLT
Study Bible
1. Peter
proclaimed God’s Salvation.
“But Peter, standing up with the eleven,
raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem
“And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of
the Lord Shall be saved.”
Acts 2:21
“Acts 2:14-36 This is
the first of about thirty speeches in Acts and one of the most important,
standing as it does at the very inception of the church. It is a typical
example of the preaching of the apostles, who proclaimed (1) that the OT
promises had been fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus
Christ, who is the promised Messiah; (2) that the apostles themselves were
eyewitnesses of Jesus' entire public ministry and were his chosen
representatives; (3) that people are called to repent of their sins and have
faith in God through Christ; and (4) that salvation and the presence of the
Holy Spirit are promised to those who respond affirmatively to this message of
Good News. This basic message is echoed in the sermons of chs 3, 4, 5, 8, 10,
and 13. The same themes characterized Paul's preaching (see 1 Cor 15:3-9).
This message was repeatedly preached to both Jews and Gentiles throughout the Mediterranean
world; all people are summoned to repent of their sins and turn to God through
faith in Jesus Christ.” —NLT Study Bible
2. The Last Days began at Pentecost.
Joel said: “And it shall come to pass in
the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see
visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those
days; And they shall prophesy.” Acts 2:17-18
"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus
of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which
God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know-- Him,
being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have
taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised
up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He
should be held by it.” Acts 2:22-24
While cruel
men had crucified Jesus, this action had not defeated God's prearranged plan for
salvation. In fact, God raised Him back to life, which David had foretold. These are facts – things that really
happened. Christians “show forth the
Lord’s death till He Comes.”
“This Jesus God has
raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the
right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy
Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.” Acts 2:32-33
“The
God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a
tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and
Savior, to give repentance to Israel
“Then
Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the
name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift
of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to
all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." Acts 2:38-39
“So continuing daily with one accord in the
temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with
gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all
the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:46-47
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