The Beginning of the Last Days: Acts 2 (5)

Pray Psalm 93.1, 2.
The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty;
The LORD is clothed,
He has girded Himself with strength.
Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved.
Your throne is established from of old;
You are from everlasting.

Sing Psalm 93.1, 2.
(Trinity: Come, Thou Almighty King)
The Lord in majesty reigns, girded and clothed in strength!
Earth stands secure: Nor shall it e’er be moved;
God on His throne above set it in place with love –
His reign is sure!

Read Acts 2.1-36; meditate on verses 29-36.

Preparation
1. How did Peter use the Old Testament in these verses?

2. What must we believe about Jesus?

Meditation
Peter’s sermon, while provoked by events, was based on Scripture: Joel, Micah, the Psalms, and a reference to 2 Samuel. The story of Jesus, concealed in the Old Testament is revealed in the New by the power of the Holy Spirit. Scripture alone has explosive power to implant the Good News in the soul of a lost one, but only when we who believe make proper use of it. The enemies of God at Jericho fell by a word – the shout of God’s people; and now many of the enemies of God are becoming His friends, by a Word – the proclamation of the Good News.

And the Good News is that Jesus is not simply Savior (Christ); He is Lord (v. 36). We must not proclaim Him except as both; and we may not receive Him in any other way than as Savior from our sins and Lord of our lives and of all things.

This Good News is only good against the backdrop of the bad news: God holds all men accountable for the death of His Son. Either we accept His death and its benefits, or we reject it and find ourselves trampled underfoot. Those who will not receive the Good News are enemies of God (v. 35). We were at one time such enemies (Rom. 5.10), but the proclamation of the Good News has made us children of God (1 Jn. 3.1).

The Gospel is the Good News about Jesus and His Kingdom. It has its roots in the Old Testament and was fulfilled in Jesus’ life, words, and work; it was loosed into the world by the apostles, and now is being proclaimed for all to hear by the faithful followers of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Look at Peter! What a change the Holy Spirit has made in his life!
Only a little more than a month before this occasion, Peter had vehemently denied even knowing Jesus. Luke, the author of Acts, wrote in his gospel account of Peter’s responses: “Woman, I do not know Him.” “Man, I am not [one of them]!” and “Man, I do not know what you are saying [that he was with Him]!”
(Lk. 22.57, 58, 60)

Peter is a victorious example to us of how to repent and be forgiven.
He was not going to let his previous sin cripple his future ministry and calling.
He was moving on with his life, courageously, and unfettered by his past.

Listen to him speak. “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2.36). Whom. You. Crucified.

While the disciples were waiting, they were remembering, repenting, and getting ready to go forth.
And wow! Go forth they did. And with the proper message. It was not the message we hear today of “love, love, love” and “grace, grace, grace” and “you can live however you want because well…. “love and grace”.

The Gospel, of course, is good news of love and grace, most assuredly, but it is also the good news of turning away from our old lives and going forth to serve Jesus as Lord and Christ. No equivocating about Whom we are serving. Or what we have done to need our Savior, Lord, and Christ. We crucified Him just as surely as all those listeners on the Day of Pentecost.

But just like Peter, we can move forward, unfettered by our guilt and sin, because we, too, are forgiven. We are loved by the “God-Who-Forgives” (Ps. 99.8) and He “forgives all our iniquities” (Ps. 103. 3).

Luke wrote about the woman who washed the Lord Jesus’ feet with her grateful tears. He wrote that Jesus said of her, “Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little” (Lk. 7.47).

We are forgiven, when we repent, just like Peter and this woman.
And we have been forgiven much, so we will love much.
Will we go forth to live grateful, powerful, obedient lives?
Will we boldly serve our Lord and Christ?

We are all witnesses. (Acts 2.32)

For reflection
1. What does it mean to say that Jesus is both Lord and Christ?

2. How do enemies of God become children of God? What is our role in this transformation?

3. How did the Good News of Jesus come to you?

… the apostles declared themselves to be witnesses of the very ascension spoken of in this psalm, the ascension of Jesus. Based on these points, Peter’s conclusion is clear: Jesus, the One who had been crucified, is both Lord and Christ. Earl Radmacher (1031-2014), NKJV Study Bible Notes for Acts 2.25-36

Pray Psalm 93.3-5.
What challenges are you facing today? Thank Jesus for your salvation and give your challenges to Him, claiming sweet promises from His Word to sustain and guide you.

Sing Psalm 93.3-5.
(Trinity: Come, Thou Almighty King)
What, though the floods arise, raising their voice to the skies?
Strong though they be, God on His mighty throne,
drowns out their fearsome drone, hasting to save His own,
eternally.

Almighty God on high, Your Word can never lie!
Your truth is sure – holy and just are they
who tread Your holy way; Yours shall they ever stay,
Lord, evermore.

T. M. and Susie Moore

You can listen to a summary of last week’s Scriptorium study by going to our website, www.ailbe.org, and clicking theScriptorium tab for last Sunday. For more about what Jesus is doing at the right hand of God, order a free copy of our book, What in Heaven Is Jesus Doing on Earth? (click here).

You can download any or all of the studies in this series on Acts by clicking here.

As you work through Scriptorium each day, give thanks to God that He provides the means for us to be able to present this daily study. Pray that we might reach many new readers for Scriptorium, and consider how you might help in this effort by telling your friends about it, sharing a daily study with them, or beginning a study group of your own using our Scriptorium studies.

If you find Scriptorium helpful in your walk with the Lord, please seek the Lord, asking Him whether you should contribute to the support of this daily ministry with your financial gifts. As the Lord leads, you can use the Contribute button at the website to give with a credit card or through PayPal or Anedot, or you can send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 360 Zephyr Road, Williston, VT 05495.

Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available by clicking here.