Words of Life…
… Of first importance…
Act 5:17-24
Lots happening here including a miraculous rescue from prison.
What struck me was “… all the words of this life.“
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Act 5:17 (ESV) But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy
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Act 5:18 (ESV) they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison.
Act 5:19 (ESV) But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said,
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Act 5:20 (ESV) “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”
What are the Words of this Life?
Act 5:30-32 (ESV)
30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree.
31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
Key Points:
- Christ lived and died with purpose
- Opened the door for repentance
- For forgiveness of our Sin
- He was raised by God
- Exalted by God
- Men are witnesses
- God’s Holy Spirit is witness
Jesus Christ came into this world to provide abundant and eternal life to spiritually dead people.
John summarized it this way in his first epistle…
1Jn 1:1-4 (ESV)
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—
2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—
3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
Paul summarized it this way…
1Co 15:3-8 (ESV)
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
5 and that he appeared to Cephas… to the twelve…
6 …more than five hundred brothers
7 …to James, then to all the apostles.
8 …to Paul.
Key points:
- Christ, the Messiah
- Came to earth
- Lived and died purposefully
- To resolve the separation issue between perfect God and imperfect man
- God raised Him from the dead
- And provided witnesses
- Men
- His spirit
- To affirm His involvement and intent.
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Act 5:21 (ESV) And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
These men were living out the obedience God called for…
… at the risk of their lives.
They WILL be beat for this move.
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Act 5:22 (ESV) But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported,
Act 5:23 (ESV) “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.”
Act 5:24 (ESV) Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to.
