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10. Peter’s Sermon in the Temple (Acts 3:11-26)
ACTS 3:17-26
17 Now, brothers, I know that you did this in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But the things which God announced by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that he may send Christ Jesus, who was ordained for you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God spoke long ago by the mouth of his holy prophets. 22 For Moses indeed said to the fathers, ‘The Lord God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me. You shall listen to him in all things whatever he says to you. 23 It will be, that every soul that will not listen to that prophet will be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ 24 Yes, and all the prophets from Samuel and those who followed after, as many as have spoken, they also told of these days. 25 You are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘In your seed will all the families of the earth be blessed.’ 26 God, having raised up his servant, Jesus, sent him to you first, to bless you, in turning away everyone of you from your wickedness.”
Peter did not stand as a judge before the disturbed Jews, but called them “brethren”, even knowing that they were not born again. Jesus, however, forgave them all their sins on the cross, pouring out the Holy Spirit on them, who was ready to indwell them. The promise was not only to them, but for all those who believed. Peter had already ascertained that the salvation awaiting them would pierce them through, manifesting the purposes of His grace in them.
The leader of the disciples revealed the power of Jesus’ vicarious death on the cross when He prayed: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” This was profound clarification to the significance of the offence of the Jews and their leaders. This word of indulgence from Peter’s mouth was dependent upon his own experience, for the risen Lord had justified him freely, in spite of his previous denial and blasphemy. He had been forgiven by grace, in spite of his hidden sin, and not because of his good deeds or clean behavior. Peter had been encouraged by his own personal experience. He revealed the grace of Jesus Christ openly and absolutely. He had already made clear to his hearers their sin, pricking them to the heart with all frankness and sincerity. After the judgment and conviction of the Holy Spirit comes a refreshing, blessed comfort to the penitent believer.
Peter listened to Jesus’ words after His resurrection with excessive interest. He realized there was no way for the world to be saved but by Christ’s sufferings. The Lamb of God had to die, as all the good prophets had foretold. This was the primary will of God, which He had previously made known. He had determined to put all the sins and the shame of the whole world on His innocent Son. He and He alone was able and worthy to die in the flame of God’s anger in our stead. The Heavenly Father may have preferred to die Himself for the evil world, rather than offering up His only Son. Nevertheless, in His great and magnificent being, He is the bearer of the universe. He had no alternative but to let His Son die instead of us. Without Jesus´ death of atonement there would be no forgiveness.
Christ’s visible anointing with the Holy Spirit apparently appeared as a result of His substitutionary suffering for us. He who meditates on the cross looks directly into the heart of God, who loved mortal sinners so much that He gave his obedient Son that fruitless transgressors could be sanctified, and continue on in Him to bear much fruit.
Peter confirmed from the Old Testament that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ of God, who had died in harmony with His Father´s plan, and not accidentally, at the hand of murderers. He then began his wider attack, challenging his hearers to be converted. The word “repentance” does not only signify an emotion of sorrow, or tears of shame, but the entire changing of the whole course of life. It signifies the leaving behind of false goals and the turning to Christ, who is the divine, true goal. This turning includes the confessing of sins, acknowledgment of our deserving God’s anger, faith in free grace, and continuance in the forgiveness richly given to us. Complete commitment to God and a broken heart is met by an unlimited, absolute grace. Christ alone finished our salvation on the cross, so that the one who believes is justified.
Times of relief and peace with God and the manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit begin when the righteousness of God indwells hearts. Faith in Christ and sincere repentance do not simply confirm to the world that Jesus dwells in His followers, neither do they merely list the theological results of His death. Instead, this faith results in receiving divine power through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Have you, dear brother, entered into communion with God? Have you repented and changed your life’s designs. Embrace Christ as the personal Savior of your life so that you may continue in the New Covenant and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Be aware, dear believer, that the chief goal of the New Covenant is not the forgiveness of sins, the receiving of everlasting life, or the miracle of the Holy Spirit´s gifts, but the coming of Christ Himself. All of creation is waiting for Him and longing for the ending of the partition between the Creator and His creation, when the powers of His life will overcome and renew the general destruction in the universe. This is the renewal we are longing for. The renewal in believers today is the guarantee of the complete glory to be made evident at the coming of Christ. In due time, He will restore all things to the perfect state of the creation before man´s fall into sin.
The disciples understood their Lord’s ascension in the context of a preparation for His coming. They knew that His remaining unseen with the Father for a time was necessary for a spiritual revolution on earth. His ascension was also to pave the way for the renovation of the whole creation, the restoration of all things. The ascension of Christ was also the condition upon which the indwelling of the Holy Spirit depended, who came to begin renewal among us.
All the true prophets refer to Christ’s coming as marking the end of world history. The end of our existence is not judgment, but the joy of renewal and gladness over the restoration of all things to their original state. The center of creation is no less than the promised prophet of whom Moses spoke. He is the Guarantor of the New Covenant, which far surpasses the Old Covenant of Moses. He who refuses this New Covenant with God will no longer have hope, for the one who is stony-hearted refuses grace itself. God will consume all people who refuse Christ. World history is nothing but the visible result of an acceptance or refusal of Christ.
After this profound, extensive proclamation, Peter encouraged the Jews to embrace Jesus. He made it clear to them that they were the children of the prophets and members of the covenant that God had made with their fathers. God knew the people were not and could not make covenant with Him as participants on the same level. Nevertheless, the everlasting, holy Creator bound Himself to His sinful, temporal, transgressing creatures. This is the essence of His great grace.
This history of God with demagogic men began with His choosing Abraham. The Holy One told this traveler that one of his sons, according to the flesh, would become the bearer of God’s blessing to all families of the earth. God carried out His plan in spite of all satanic opposition and human failure. He realized the coming of the day when the Holy Spirit would explode the border of the Old Covenant, calling all peoples into communion with God. Nevertheless, Peter first offered grace to the Jews, and he who believed was saved.
God blessed His enemies, giving those who nailed His Son to the cross a chance to repent. Christ rose from the dead in complete harmony with the will of His Father. He exalted Him to glory, that the Son might bestow every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm on His followers. The Lord blessed the hearts of prepared hearers, leading them to turn and repent. Man does not repent in and of himself, for it is the Holy Spirit who helps him to believe in Christ. If man does not repent of his wickedness and leave off with his malice, he will never be able to enter into communion with Christ. God expects us to turn to Him readily and willfully. He begins to work in us the coming restoration of all things. Have you left off with your sins, dear believer? Are you holding fast to Christ?
PRAYER: O Lord in heaven, You are preparing for Your coming and the restoration of all things. Help us to keep away from evil, and continue in Your grace, that You may become the only goal and purpose of our life. Save many of those You are preparing around us, just as You saved us by Your grace.
QUESTION:
- What is the aim of mankind´s history?