FIRST THINGS FIRST – TEACHING THE FIRST SERMONS TO THE FIRST CHURCHES
Acts 3:11-26 – The Second Sermon
This is the second sermon that was taught as the church was being formed… The first sermon there were 3000 people saved and launched the church into existence.
Review of what Previous Passages
Here is the sermon that follows
Let’s break Peter’s message into two main parts:
Acts 3:11-12 11 Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed.
1. Peter, John and the once lame beggar pass through the temple courts to the eastern porch. (Show Pictures – “Solomons-porch”)
2. The outer part of the temple had porches on all four sides. It was called Solomon’s because people thought that it contained remains of Solomon’s temple.
The Explanation of the Miracle
Acts 3:12 (NKJV)
12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?
The first denial Peter denies that this act was the work of Man
Acts 3:12b as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? …
The second denial also in verse 12 Peter denies the worthiness of the healer and the healed man.
Vs12 why look so intently at us
If God uses a person to heal, it’s not the healer who should receive the Glory.
God alone gets the glory.
The former lame man was not healed because of his worthiness either.
This miracle came because the all-powerful Savior decided to intervene and perform a wonder!
Those are our Two Denials
Six Affirmations
First The Healer-Jesus healed this man
13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.
Peter points them to the Old Testament to let them know this is not a new God or a new religion.
14 But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.
Luke’s language is ironic… they accepted a murderer, they killed the author of life.
The Second affirmation is The Gift - Peter was given faith to heal
16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
First, notice that the faith to heal (Peter’s faith, not the man’s; there is no reason in the text to think he was believing when Peter spoke) is “through Jesus” that is Jesus gave it. It came through the working of Jesus. This, it seems to me is the key to what happened in verse 4 when Peter gazed at the lame man. Luke tells us in verse 2 that this man was laid daily at the gate. So, Peter had passed this man many times before without healing him. But today, when he looked at him, something happened. What? The faith to heal him came THROUGH JESUS. The living Jesus did something in Peter, and Peter knew it was the day. When he said, “What I have I give to you,” he probably meant, “Today I have been given something special for you. Jesus has just given me the faith to speak healing to you and I now share this gift with you. Rise” That’s what the last part of verse 16 says, “The faith, which is through Jesus [Not in Jesus!] has given this man perfect health.” Jesus gave the faith to heal, and Peter acted on it. - John Piper
The third affirmation is The Giver - Christ should be praised as the source of life
v15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.
Peter refers to the Lord as the prince or author or “source” of life.
This covers both physical and spiritual life.
The fourth affirmation is The Kingdom- a sign of the messianic kingdom to come.
Acts 3:21 (NKJV)21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.
In the new heaven and new earth there will be no lame legs!
Isaiah 35:6 (NKJV) 6 Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert.
The Fifth affirmation - The Name - his name alone is exalted.
Acts 3:16 (NKJV) 16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
a. The name of Jesus means everything that is true about him.
b. The name of Jesus refers to his character, His work, His Person
Finally – The Gospel - this miracle serves the gospel message.
Part 2 The Evangelistic Appeal
Peter… Not one to pass up an opportunity to preach the gospel, uses this miracle to point everyone to the Messiah.
The First Gospel Truth - Jesus is the servant of the Lord
13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus…
26 To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.”
The Second Gospel Truth - Jesus was glorified by God
Acts 3:13 (NKJV) 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.
Many think Jesus is like other religious teachers.
While other religions teach that people work for righteousness, the gospel message is so unique to Christianity in that people work from Christ-given righteousness.
Only in Christianity, because of the work of Christ, does a verdict come before a performance. – Tony Merida
As a believer in Jesus, you are declared righteous.
Gospel Truth # 3 - Jesus is the source of life
Acts 3:15 (NKJV) 15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.
Like that computer, people must be united with the source of life in order to live.
Gospel Truth #4 - Jesus rose from the dead
v15 … whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.
26 To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you…
Peters point is clear We aren’t saved by the quality of our faith but by the object of our faith!
Gospel Truth #5 - Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy and promises
17 “Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
18 But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
Peter says…What you have known and learned your entire life and what your ancestors have waited on…. has happened.
Before I get to the final Gospel Truth that we can glean from our verses today…
Let's set the stage and review what peter has told his audience…
Vs 13 – You handed over Jesus
Vs 13 – You’re worse than Pilate
Vs 14 – You traded the Holy and Righteous One for a murderer
Vs 15 – You killed the one who gave you life
Vs 17 – You’re ignorant
Vs 18-25 – You don’t understand the Bible
Vs 26 – You denied your privilege
Vs 26 – You’re wicked
The 6th Gospel truth - Repent!
In light of these serious charges, we must ask whether there is any hope for such wicked people.
Acts 3:19–21 (NKJV) 19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out…
