Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost – Part 2 [Jesus of Nazareth] Acts: The Unfinished Story of the Church Series [5] Acts 2:22-36

AN OVERVIEW OF PETER’S SERMON AT PENTECOST Introduction: This is exactly what Joel predicted. (2:14-21)  The extraordinary phenomena were due to God’s outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the last days as prophesied.  The last days are the Messianic Age for salvation. Main Body: Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah. (2:22-36)  God attested Jesus as the Messiah.  You crucified and killed this Jesus. Response/Conclusion: What shall we do? (2:37-41)  Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.  Then, you shall receive the forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit.

HOW WAS JESUS OF NAZARETH ATTESTED BY GOD AS THE MESSIAH? 1)Through his LIFE AND MINISTRY. 22 “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— (v.22)  Peter builds his case on Jesus with the historical facts and events that really occurred—our faith is based on the historicity of Jesus.  Jesus was known as the one who did supernatural things— e.g., healing the lame and the blind, casting out demons, raising the dead, feeding the 5,000 people, etc.  These miracles, wonders and signs were the first proof— God’s validation of Jesus as the Messiah (cf. Isaiah 29; 35).

4 Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.” 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. Isaiah 35:4-6

HOW WAS JESUS OF NAZARETH ATTESTED BY GOD AS THE MESSIAH? 2)Through his DEATH. 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. (v.23)  The Jews rejected Jesus, their Messiah—it’s been only 50 days since the crucifixion; they killed him by the God’s lawless Romans.  BUT this was actually in the sovereign plan of God’s salvation—it was absolutely necessary to atone for the sins.  God’s validation of Jesus involved the suffering and death of the Messiah to redeem the sinners from the penalty of sin— death (Rom. 5:8; 6:23).

HOW WAS JESUS OF NAZARETH ATTESTED BY GOD AS THE MESSIAH? 3)Through his RESURRECTION. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25 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; 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ 29 “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. 30 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, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. (vs.24-32)

HOW WAS JESUS OF NAZARETH ATTESTED BY GOD AS THE MESSIAH? 3)Through his RESURRECTION. 24 God raised him up… 25 For David says concerning him… “‘ 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption... the patriarch David… died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 31 he foresaw and spoke about the Resurrection of the Christ… 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. (vs.24-32)  The third proof of Jesus as attested by God as the Messiah was the fact that God raised him up from the dead.  Peter quotes David (Psalm 16:8-11) as the OT’s prophecy— i.e., David was talking not about himself but Christ.  Furthermore, all 120 followers of Jesus at Pentecost were the eye-witnesses of this Jesus whom God raised up.

HOW WAS JESUS OF NAZARETH ATTESTED BY GOD AS THE MESSIAH? 4)Through his EXALTATION AS LORD AND CHRIST. 33 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. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ 36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” (vs )  The result of Jesus’ resurrection was his exaltation by ascension—being seated at the place of power & authority.  This exaltation also involved Jesus’ outpouring of the Holy Spirit to empower his followers until his return (Ps. 110:1).  God exalted Jesus to be fully acknowledged as LORD and CHRIST whose supremacy is over all creations (cf. Col.1:15-20).

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11

The Supremacy and Centrality of Christ Whatever place present-day religion may give to Christ, God gives Him top place in earth and in heaven... Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, declared: "God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36)... All this being true, it is clear that He must stand at the center of all true doctrine, all acceptable practice and all genuine Christian experience. Anything that makes Him less than God has declared Him to be is delusion pure and simple and must be rejected, no matter how delightful or how satisfying it may for the time seem to be. Christless Christianity sounds contradictory but it exists as a real phenomenon in our day. Much that is being done in Christ's name is false to Christ in that it is conceived by the flesh, incorporates fleshly methods, and seeks fleshly ends... If on the other hand the new experience tends to make Christ indispensable, if it takes our interest off our feeling and places it in Christ, we are on the right track. Whatever makes Christ dear to us is pretty sure to be from God. - A. W. Tozer

THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE 1.How do I keep my faith deeply rooted in the authentic Jesus attested by God in historical facts and events—rather than counterfeit Jesus? 1.How can I acknowledge Jesus as both Lord and Christ (Savior) faithfully in my everyday life? 2.In what ways can I enlarge my vision of Christ’s supremacy and centrality in my life? In our church?