Jesus the Savior: Accept or Reject? - Acts 2 - April 26, 2009

Sunday School Lesson – Jesus the Savior: Accept or Reject? – April 26, 2009

This is lesson four (4) in our series of study entitled “Gospel Crossroads.”

Our scripture is Acts 2:12-21, 22-24, 32-36, 37-41.

As we discussed in last week’s lesson, the Apostle Peter was about to preach his first sermon. Peter had denied CHRIST three (3) times prior to the crucifixion of CHRIST. Now, following the arrival and outpouring of the HOLY SPIRIT, GOD was using Peter to deliver HIS message to those in Jerusalem.

It is not where we have been but where we are going that is important to GOD. GOD looks upon the heart and the potential of a believer who yields his/her life to HIM. HE calls believers to serve HIM regardless of previous warts and short comings.
Every human has a choice to make – Accept or Reject JESUS. Even after believers accept HIM as their SAVIOR, they have to decide whether or not they will serve HIM. Who will rule their lives – their flesh or the HOLY SPIRIT?

GOD works within the heart of every person urging him/her to accept CHRIST but the final decision is left up to each individual. GOD never overrides a person’s right to choose but GOD makes the choice clear to each individual. GOD uses believers to be witnesses for HIM but GOD works in the hearts of unbelievers and invites them to become HIS children. When an unbeliever rejects CHRIST, he/she is rejecting GOD’S invitation.

Let’s read Acts 2:12-21: (This scripture will give us the lead-in to Peter’s sermon.)

12 And they (Those gathered near the house where the HOLY SPIRIT came upon 120 believers.) were all astounded and perplexed, saying to one another, “What could this be?” 13 But some sneered and said, “They’re full of new wine!” (They thought the believers were drunk.)

Peter’s Sermon

14 But Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them: “Jewish men and all you residents of Jerusalem, let this be known to you and pay attention to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it’s only nine in the morning.[2] Lit it’s the third hour of the day 16 On the contrary, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 17 And it will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out My Spirit on all humanity; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. 18 I will even pour out My Spirit on My male and female slaves in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will display wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below: blood and fire and a cloud of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and remarkable day of the Lord comes; 21 then whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.[3] Jl 2:28–32

This is Peter’s sermon to the devout men, women, children, servants and foreigners (Gentiles) who were in Jerusalem celebrating Pentecost. Peter tells them that the believers they were seeing and hearing were not drunk. It is 9:00 AM in the morning; however, Peter gets their attention by saying in essence, this is what the Prophet Joel had spoken about. He tied the event to prophesy they had likely heard discussed in the synagogues. Peter quotes Joel 2:28-32. This is not to imply that all the prophesy Joel had stated was being manifested in Acts chapter1but it was the beginning of the fulfillment of this prophesy. The prophesy Joel stated is still in the process of being fulfilled and will continue until the second coming of CHRIST.

Let’s read Acts 2:22-24:

22 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: This Jesus the • Nazarene was a man pointed out to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through Him, just as you yourselves know. 23 Though He was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used[4] Other mss read you have taken lawless people[5] Or used the hand of lawless ones to nail Him to a cross and kill Him. 24 God raised Him up, ending the pains of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it.

Peter began his sermon addressing the devout men, women, Gentiles, etc. who were in Jerusalem seeking a time of renewal and recommitment to GOD. Little did they know how special this day was in the plan and purpose of GOD. Those gathered to hear Peter’s sermon had likely been in Jerusalem when JESUS was crucified or they had at least heard the details of HIS crucifixion.

Peter began by calling attention to JESUS. He told those gathered that he was talking about JESUS from Nazareth. JESUS was GOD’S man born in Nazareth, WHO was confirmed as HIS chosen ONE through the miracles, wonders and signs GOD manifested through HIM. The HOLY SPIRIT was leading Peter to tie the miracles, wonders and signs prior to the crucifixion of JESUS and the events surrounding the crucifixion of JESUS to those listening. He emphasized, “just as you know” in verse 22.

Peter further emphasized that even though all the events were according to GOD’S plan, all participants in the crucifixion of CHRIST had a choice. Those who participated either overtly or by silence were complicit in the crucifixion of JESUS. The Jewish religious system did not nail JESUS to the cross but they used the Romans and their legal system to do it, therefore, they were just as guilty as those who actually carried out the crucifixion.

GOD had a major zinger in store for all who thought they could kill GOD’S SON - HE raised HIM from the dead! JESUS’ resurrection was major proof which confirmed that JESUS is WHO HE said HE was. JESUS broke the bondage of sin and death. This message pierced the hearts of all who heard it.

Let’s read Acts 2:32-36:

32 “God has resurrected this Jesus. We are all witnesses of this. 33 Therefore, since He has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, He has poured out what you both see and hear. 34 For it was not David who ascended 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.’[11] Ps 110:1 36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah!”

Peter continued the message, telling those gathered that GOD resurrected JESUS from the dead and they were witnesses to HIS resurrection. Not only has GOD resurrected CHRIST, HE gave HIM the seat of honor and power at HIS right hand. JESUS being asked to sit at the right hand of GOD was also a sign of completion. As long as JESUS was on earth, the HOLY SPIRIT could not come to earth and indwell a believer. But once JESUS was in heaven, in the seat of authority and completion, GOD, the FATHER, placed the HOLY SPIRIT under the authority of JESUS. JESUS had paid the penalty for sin and now the human body of each believer could be indwelled by the HOLY SPIRIT.

Peter told those listening that they had both seen and heard evidence that the HOLY SPIRIT had come upon each believer. They had heard the violent wind and heard their mother language being spoken from the most unlikely people.

Peter then refered to Psalm 110:1 - 1 The Lord declared to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool.”[1] Mt 22:44; Mk 12:36; Lk 20:42–43; Ac 2:34–35; 1 Co 15:25; Heb 1:13 - written by King David. King David had not ascended into heaven but he was referring to CHRIST as LORD and Messiah when he said The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand 35 until I make Your enemies Your footstool.’[11]

Then the crowning blow came when Peter made this connection for his hearers. GOD raised JESUS from the dead as proof HE was the promised Messiah. JESUS ascended into heaven and GOD exalted HIM by seating HIM at HIS right hand. When this happened it was a clear message to Israel that JESUS was both LORD and Messiah.
This connection resonated with those listening and their hearts were immediately convicted of their sin and their culpability in the crucifixion of CHRIST.

Let’s read Acts 2:37-41:

Forgiveness through the Messiah

37 When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: “Brothers, what must we do?” 38 “Repent,” Peter said to them, “and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus the Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off,[12] Remote in time or space as many as the Lord our God will call.” 40 And with many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt[13] Or crooked, or twisted generation!”

A Generous and Growing Church

41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added to them. 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayers.

The message GOD gave Peter to preach, through the power of the HOLY SPIRIT, penetrated to the very core of those listening. They were convicted of their sin and their immediate response was “What must we do?” In other words, we see our sin and we know we are guilty, what can we do to deal with this awful situation we are in? We need to remember that those listening were devout people, seeking to renew their relationship with GOD. Now that they saw that they had rejected GOD’S SON and were guilty of crucifying HIM, what can they do? Are they doomed forever?

Peter said, REPENT! To repent means to turn around and go in the opposite direction. You thought you were headed in the right direction by rejecting CHRIST as the promised Messiah but now you know that you were headed in the wrong direction. Now that you see that HE was the promised Messiah, then acknowledge it. Peter told them to follow their faith in CHRIST as the Messiah by being baptized.

We know that baptism does not save a believer, because he/she is saved at the moment of belief. However, as an act of obedience of their faith as believers in CHRIST, they needed to be baptized. Baptism is an outward expression of the internal change that has taken place in their life.

Peter instructed them with many more words. That day three thousand (3,000) new believers were baptized. Not only were they baptized, they were eager to learn all they could about JESUS from the Apostles. They wanted to fellowship with other believers, eat with them and pray with them. It is natural for those born-again to want to be part of their spiritual family. It is natural to want to grow spiritually once believers have seen the truth.

To me John 3:16 brings all that we have studied this month together. The cross shows the efforts of man and evil to defeat the love of GOD for mankind. The cross also shows the victory and power of GOD’S plan and purpose over human and evil efforts.

Let’s read John 3:9-18: JESUS is speaking to Nicodemus. Let’s keep in mind that Nicodemus helped Joseph of Arimathea bury JESUS after HIS crucifixion. As we read this scripture think of the collision that happened at the cross between the Roman governing system, the Jewish religious system and the love of GOD.

9 “How can these things be?” asked Nicodemus. 10 “Are you a teacher[5] Or the teacher of Israel and don’t know these things?” Jesus replied. 11 “I assure you: We speak what We know and We testify to what We have seen, but you[6] The word you in Gk is pl here and throughout v. 12. do not accept Our testimony.[7] The pl forms (We, Our) refer to Jesus and His authority to speak for the Father. 12 If I have told you about things that happen on earth and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about things of heaven? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven—the • Son of Man.[8] Other mss add who is in heaven 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in Him will[9] Other mss add not perish, but have eternal life. 16 “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His • One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.[10] 1 Jn 4:9–10 17 For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the • One and Only Son of God.

Notice in 1 Peter 1:18-21 GOD’S plan from before the foundations of the world CHRIST was destined to redeem mankind from sin and death by giving HIS life through the shedding of HIS blood.

1 Peter 1:18-21:

18 For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from the fathers, not with perishable things, like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. 20 He was destined[24] Or was chosen, or was known before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the times for you 21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead[25] Rm 4:24; 10:9 and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

The cross brought all the earthly and heavenly powers together and CHRIST came forth in victory because HE defeated sin, death and evil.

UP FROM THE GRAVE HE AROSE!!! VICTORIOUS AND TRIUMPHANT OVER SIN, DEATH AND EVIL!!! ALL WHO BELIEVE RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH THE MIRACLE OF REBIRTH, CONFIRMED BY THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT.

What a heritage all believers have. This is the day the LORD has made, rejoice and be glad in it. Do you know JESUS as your SAVIOR? If not pray right now and ask HIM to forgive you of your sins and to come into your life.

If you prayed to receive CHRIST as your SAVIOR, then thank HIM for saving you and coming into your life. Begin reading and studying the Bible. I suggest that you begin with the Book of John. Ask GOD to reveal truth to you as you study. If you are not already involved in a Bible teaching church then pray and ask GOD to lead you to the church HE wants you to be involved in. GOD is now your FATHER and you have direct access to HIM through CHRIST.