Early Christians found severe opposition to the message of the Gospel. Many underwent persecution and death. Yet, through it all these early Christians continued to evangelize, proclaiming the same gospel: salvation in the name of Jesus Christ. As the early Christians were faithful with the message, God was faithful to add to the church new converts as the message leaves Jerusalem and finds adherents in Samaria. To listen to this message, please click on the following link: Acts 8:1-25.
The exclusivity of the Gospel and the doctrine of justification by faith alone are not readily accepted by American unchurched people. Yet, to those who are reconciled to God through Jesus Christ they are precious doctrines which should make us humble worshippers of God. Humblebecause we recognize our works are worthless to recommend us to God’s favor – we are saved by grace alone and faith alone. Humble also because we recognize we are still unworthy sinners, therefore we do not look down on unconverted sinners as if we are superior, but as those who understand sin and have our hope not in our works or morality, but hope in Christ alone. Yet we are also worshippers. Worshippers because we recognize that God has provided for us in Christ what we so desperately needed: satisfaction of the wrath of God which we should suffer due to our sins, but we do not suffer because Christ bore our punishment and clothes us in His righteousness – leaving us justified before a holy God. To listen to this sermon, please click on the following link: Galatians 2:16,21.
As Stephen stood before his accusers he spoke boldly about God’s truth. His accusers had built their lives upon being considered as the ones who know God’s truth. Yet, the two messages were clearly at odds. Stephen argued that though the religious leaders were in the land God had promised Abraham and were worshipping in the synagogue where God was to be worshipped, they did not worship God in truth. The religious leaders rejected the words of God’s prophets and rejected God’s Righteous One, therefore they would be rejected by God. In contrast, Stephen could speak boldly of God’s truth because he trusted in the Righteous One through whom he had been reconciled to God. Stephen was bold to proclaim truth in the face of death because of his faith in the Messiah, Jesus Christ. To listen to this sermon, please click on the following link: Acts 7:1-53.
Christians are to seek to maintain unity within the body of Christ. Acts 6 presents a challenge to unity within the early church. The apostles (acting as the church’s first elders) lead the church to appoint certain members to serve the church, thereby promote unity within the body. In exercising leadership, the apostles were free to continue with their God-appointed duties: prayer and the ministry of the Word. These tasks must not be neglected by the elders of the church, for in this way they serve the church. To listen to this sermon, please click the following link: Acts 6:1-7.
God has made man as a dependent creature. We depend on Him for the rain, the sun, even our breath. This is also true in spiritual matters. We depend upon God for our justification, conversion and affection toward Him in worship. In Acts 5, the early Christians are reminded of their dependence upon God for bold witnessing as they faced opposition from religious leaders. Yet, in all this the believers did not fail to proclaim the gospel of reconciliation with God through forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus, the Christ of God. May we be faithful to proclaim this glorious message to a lost and dying world! To listen to this message, please click on the following link: Acts 5:1-32.