Acts Chapter 1, part II

Qualification of an Apostle.  

Must have Seen Jesus.  (There are no apostles today) 

Charismatic churches need to be careful. 

The NT letters are letters from the Apostles.   

Catholism:  The Pope, while acting as Vicar cannot err.  So his letters (encyclicals) hold equal weight to The Bible. 

Catholic Church Councils and Church Tradition hold equal authority as the Bible. 

It’s always the same battle. 

Jesus Christ (The 66 books of the Bible) +  Nothing!  

Sola Scriptura 

Always the same battle:  Jesus Christ + Dead Works. 

[Heb 6:1 ESV] Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

[Heb 9:14 ESV] how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

The Early Church Counsels condemned heresies and shored up doctrine. 

Always leaning back on the Canon of Scripture. 

[Act 1:21 ESV] So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

[Act 1:22 ESV] beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us--one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection."

[Act 1:23 ESV] And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.

[Act 1:24 ESV] And they prayed and said, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen

[Act 1:25 ESV] to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place."

[Act 1:26 ESV] And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

They prayed and cast lots.   

Casting lots was a common way to determine the Will of God, in Israel. 

“Sola Scriptura” (Scripture Alone); “Sola Gratia” (Grace Alone); “Sola Fide” (Faith Alone); “Solus Christus” (Christ Alone); and “Soli Deo Gloria” (To God Alone Be Glory).

How do you and I “add religion ” to our salvation?

The Beginning!  Jesus said to wait. 

[Act 2:1 ESV] When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.

[Act 2:2 ESV] And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

[Act 2:3 ESV] And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.

[Act 2:4 ESV] And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

[Act 2:5 ESV] Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.

[Act 2:6 ESV] And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.

[Act 2:7 ESV] And they were amazed and astonished, saying, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?

Galileans, proclaiming God in other foreign human languages 

[Act 2:8 ESV] And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?

[Act 2:9 ESV] Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,

[Act 2:10 ESV] Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome,

[Act 2:11 ESV] both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians--we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God."

But : Objective Truth can also bring confusion 

[Act 2:12 ESV] And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?"

[Act 2:13 ESV] But others mocking said, "They are filled with new wine."

Why does truth bring confusion?  Because we are evil and like to believe lies.

[Jhn 1:9 ESV] The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

[Jhn 1:10 ESV] He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.

[Jhn 1:11 ESV] He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

[Jhn 1:12 ESV] But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

[Jhn 1:13 ESV] who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Jesus talking to Nicodemus

[Jhn 3:9 ESV] Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?"

[Jhn 3:10 ESV] Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?

Jesus entry as King into Jerusalem

[Jhn 12:15 ESV] "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!"

[Jhn 12:16 ESV] His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. 

At the Crucifixion 

[Luk 23:33 ESV] And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.

[Luk 23:34 ESV] And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments.

[Luk 23:35 ESV] And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!"

The First Sermon of Church

[Act 2:14 ESV] But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.

[Act 2:15 ESV] For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.

[Act 2:16 ESV] But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

[Act 2:17 ESV] "'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;

[Act 2:18 ESV] even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

[Act 2:19 ESV] And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;

[Act 2:20 ESV] the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.

[Act 2:21 ESV] And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'

[Act 2:22 ESV] "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know--

[Act 2:23 ESV] this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.

Consider the setting of this Sermon: 

Everyone there was knew all about the Jesus. Big confusing controversy. 

He was supposed to be a King of Israel,  

He had a large following.  

Many people had seen Jesus minister in their home town.  

Many had been witness to Jesus miracles. 

He was crucified, His body had gone missing, 

His followers seemed to have gone off the radar, until this day. 

[Act 2:24 ESV] God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

[Act 2:25 ESV] For David says concerning him, "'I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;

[Act 2:26 ESV] therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope.

[Act 2:27 ESV] For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption.

[Act 2:28 ESV] You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.'

David died but Jesus is Alive! 

[Act 2:29 ESV] "Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

[Act 2:30 ESV] Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne,

[Act 2:31 ESV] he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.

A Holy Trinity Verse!  

 [Act 2:32 ESV] This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.

[Act 2:33 ESV] Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.

Jesus is at the right hand of God

[Act 2:34 ESV] For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, "'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand,

[Act 2:35 ESV] until I make your enemies your footstool."'

Therefore:

[Act 2:36 ESV] Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."

The reaction from the Jews. 

[Act 2:37 ESV] Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

Repent:  Turn from your evil ways,   

Baptism: Publicly declare that you belong to Jesus Christ and are willing to follow Him. 

 

[Act 2:38 ESV] And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

[Act 2:39 ESV] For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself."

[Act 2:40 ESV] And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation."

[Act 2:41 ESV] So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

The Core Four of the Church: 

[Act 2:42 ESV] And they devoted themselves to 

1; the apostles' teaching and 

2: the fellowship, to 

3: the breaking of bread and 

4: the prayers.

[Act 2:43 ESV] And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

Awe = phobos fear, dread, terror

This is not socialism, this is a church Explosion.   Financially Unstainable. 

[Act 2:44 ESV] And all who believed were together and had all things in common.

[Act 2:45 ESV] And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

[Act 2:46 ESV] And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,

[Act 2:47 ESV] praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.