Peter’s second sermon

Acts 3:12-26; 2/26/2023; BCBC/IOUC; Rev. Paul Wang

Introduction

When I talk about Peter’s second sermon today, it means that we may ask in our hearts, what did he talk about in his first sermon? I will give Peter’s first sermon on March 12th, and now let’s go back to today’s message. Look at the first point:

Many astonishing things in life

Curiosity is the first motivation for learning in life, right? We always seem to have endless curiosity, right? Ever wonder where these curiosities come from? First, the ancestor’s curiosity. Wasn’t Adam curious when the serpent spoke to the woman in the Garden of Eden? How can a snake talk? God once brought all the living creatures He created to Adam, and he named them. Explain that Adam had divine knowledge of all living creatures (Genesis 2:19), right? It stands to reason that when Adam met a talking snake, he should have rejected it immediately! He should say to the snake clearly: Who are you? You are not on the list created by God, step down! He failed to hold the first pass, and what followed was a rout due to curiosity. Did God really say it? Is this fruit edible? Don’t you die if you eat it? Are the eyes bright? Can you still be like God who knows good and evil? Satan’s manipulation of curiosity caused sin to enter the world through one person, so that everyone in the world sinned.

Second, the astonishment of the elect. Peter, in the name of the Lord Jesus, commanded the man lame from birth at the Beautiful Gate to get up and walk. The Bible records that: “All the people were astonished and came running to them.”Paul said, “Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom. (1 Cor. 1:22)” As God’s chosen people, the Israelites have a history of walking with God. In other words, they should be the ones who know and know God best. However, it is a pity that the Jews in those days wanted miracles, but they rejected the God who gave them! This is also somewhat similar to us, that is, wanting grace, but rejecting the God who gave grace. How did that happen? It is lack of thinking and lack of prayer, so that people say what others say and love to join in the fun. Putin shouted on the football field: Ulla Russia! Tens of thousands of Russians on the field also shouted and got healing from the man who started the war!

Finally, ignorant curiosity. Peter asked: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us ?” as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?” Or you want to ask, who has such ability can teach one or two? We are all acquaintances and the chosen people of God, especially those “they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.” Little do they know that they cannot meet God in the eyes of curiosity hunters, because the foundation of curiosity hunting is not the revelation of God, but the expansion of human ignorance. The biblical principles are so clear, why lay any other foundation? Yes, just say yes, no, just say no, why say more? Satan is lying in wait in the talking part, ready to devour God’s people. Let’s look at the second point:

The answer is Christ alone

The core of Peter’s sermon is the link between the Old Testament and the New Testament. First, it is a revelation from God. In Peter’s message, with grace and bridge. Because God’s chosen people are familiar with “the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob”, right? Now, with what happened not long ago, everyone is stunned. For what Pilate had condemned, and Jesus whom the high priest, King Herod, and all the city cried out, “crucify him”, is the Messiah, the Christ, the Savior, and the Son of God. 彼得要說的並不是要秋後算賬，What Peter wanted to say was not to settle accounts, but to tell the Israelites that it was God’s will for Christ to come into the world and lay down his life for the sheep. It was Christ who chose to go to the cross, and had nothing to do with any personal grievances. Peter said: because “And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’ (Acts 3:25)”

Second, turn from death to life. Christ Jesus came into the world to give us life, and to give it more abundantly. Joseph was sold to Egypt by his brothers, and when they met twenty years later, Joseph said: Although your thoughts are evil, God has a good purpose, so that we can benefit from being satisfied together. It is the same with you. You would rather beg for the release of a murderer than forsake the holy and righteous one. This is out of malice. That is to say, you killed the Lord of life, but God raised Him from the dead. Even the veil in the temple was torn in two, and the sting and power of death were shattered! From now on, death will no longer be our master! This is a reversal of life, a reversal from death to life! Human history has been rewritten, so our lives have hope.

Finally, justification by faith prevails. Peter said: “By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see. (Acts 3:16)” This is the most amazing truth in the world, also known as the law of faith! If we believe in Him, He will allow us to know His name, known by all names, and He is the King of kings! If it is the opposite, if we choose to continue to rebel and not believe in Him, we will never know that He is the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth! Even if our faith is not firm, it is impossible to experience a victorious life. Every time encountering something, one will stumble, be confused, puzzled, or even fail. The reason is that he doesn’t believe in God or he doesn’t believe in Him that much, or he doesn’t truly believe in Him! Let’s look at the third point:

Turn away from sin

Even when we are bad, God still has mercy on us, right? First, ignorance is sin. Peter said: “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. (Acts 3:17)” The ignorance mentioned here is ignorance in the original text. Paul said: “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. (Titus 3:3)” In today’s Internet age, everyone has the opportunity to hear the gospel and know Christ. In the future, when you come to the great white throne to accept God’s judgment, you will no longer be able to say: I don’t know! Not only can you not find an excuse, you can’t boast of ignorance! but As a believer, you need to know God more and more!

Second, repentance is the way out. A person who does not believe in Jesus Christ has no hope! A person who has committed a sin, although his crimes are heinous, like a robber who was crucified with the Lord, repents and regains hope. Why? By what? Peter said: “When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.” (Acts 3:26)” That is to say, what God wants from the world is to turn around, repent, forsake sin, and believe in God! at verse nineteen, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” The days of refreshment are the renewed life, the letting go of the entanglements and burdens of sin, the relief at last.

Finally, keep the covenant and show mercy. When we believe in the Lord, we are partakers of the covenants in the Bible because of Jesus Christ. Similarly, because of Jesus Christ, we entered Abraham’s spiritual family and became the new Israelites. In this way, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is also our God! Peter said: “And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’ (Acts 3:25)” The veil was rent, and Christ walked through the middle, accomplishing the unity of the believers and the elect in the Old and New Testaments.

Conclusion

Well, thank the Lord! Peter’s second sermon is the core message of the early church, which is the unity of the Old and New Testament believers through Jesus Christ. Help us leave the temptations of an astonishing life and enter into the grace of Christ alone.

Let us pray……

 

Acts 3:12-26

12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?

13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go.

14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.

15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.

16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

17 “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.

18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer.

19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

20 and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.

21 Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.

22 For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you.

23 Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.’

24 “Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days.

25 And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’

26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”