April 14, 2019

The death, resurrection and exaltation of Jesus

Preacher:
Series:
Passage: Acts 5:30-33
Service Type:

Bible Text: Acts 5:30-33 | Preacher: Andrew Love | Series: Acts | Introduction

Opening remarks
To go beyond Palm Sunday – to the death, resurrection and exaltation of Jesus

This is the heart of Christianity – explanation

Acts 5:30-33
Overview:

The Meaning of the death, resurrection and exaltation of Jesus
The purpose of the death, resurrection and exaltation of Jesus

The Meaning

Notice to whom Jesus is speaking – the Pharisees and the Sadducees

Peter is intimidated but the first thing he says is that we ought to obey God and not men

Peter identifies with them

Not a new religion but the fulfillment of their religion

We must be clear today that Christianity is a continuation of the Jewish religion
The God of the New Testament is the God of the Old Testament

Example

“The God of our fathers”

Peter speaks of Jesus being raised up

This was a position they diametrically opposed

The Sadducees didn’t even believe in the resurrection
None of them believed that God had raised Jesus from the dead

He knows it is a central truth that must be proclaimed

Peter (and 500 others) were eye witnesses of the resurrection – examples
Peter and the other apostles were prepared to die for this (and martyred)
This truth was undeniable but the leaders didn’t want to know

The leaders continued in their unbelief

They continued in the religious traditions despite losing power

Not an abstract doctrine

A person – the Man God
A person – not just believe but follow Him
The Church is not about rules of morality but about Jesus Christ (though we live moral lives in Him)

Are you ignoring Jesus?

Peter says the leaders had murdered Jesus

In one sense we are all responsible because of our sins
Peter charges them with responsibility
Hanging on a tree – Deut 21:23 a curse from God

Treated the holy One of God as though He was cursed
He is also saying that He was cursed hanging on the tree – by God because He took the sins of many

Do you see this is a blessing?
Do you see the immense love of God?
Do you believe this?

Our sin took Him to the cross and crucified Him

Ask for forgiveness

Peter says He was exalted

He went to the right hand of the Father

He was crowned with glory and honour
All of the shame, ridicule and dishonour was over – He sat as Prince honoured amongst the angels

He was made a little lower than the angels

God accepted His sacrifice and raised Him from the dead
He sits in the heavenly places – explanation

He is Prince

He is the Prince of peace
He is the Prince of life also
Prince – can be translated as author and captain

He is the principle, the first, the glorious one
Have you submitted to Him?
He has come to save you and wants Lordship over your life

He is Saviour

He is God and Saviour – this should give us hope
He came to save sinners

We are all sinners

Has He rescued you?
Call out to Jesus to be saved

Christianity depends on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ

The Purpose

To give repentance to Israel

Jesus had come first for the Jew, then to the Gentiles

Acts 11:18

Repentance is a profound change of mind with respect to Jesus Christ

To understand that Jesus is like no other
God’s very own Son
Lord

A change of mind with respect to yourself

To recognise we are a desperate sinner
A turn from sin

A very difficult concept for Peter’s listeners to understand

They tithed, prayed and went often to the church – they were very religious
They thought they were accepted because of their tradition
Example of Gonzalez and Richard Bennett
God had already started to work in the religious leaders – Joseph of Arimethea, Nicodemus, Gamaliel

This is a gift of God

The gift of repentance
The gift of faith – cf Acts 6:7

The purpose is to give repentance and the forgiveness of sins

It is a gift of God
But we have a personal obligation to repent
“God commands all men everywhere to repent”
Have faith now – God will give you the gift of faith

Closing Remarks