Welcome Home everyone
Good Morning! It’s great to back in Acts Chapter 2 with all of you.
One of the key ideas of today’s message comes from this Greek Word “Kerygma”/Proclamation or Preaching of the gospel/salvation of Jesus Christ. Today we are focusing on Peter’s kerygmatic declarations about Jesus Christ.
My big Idea for today is that Christ alone is everything we need. My prayer for us today is that by hearing this message our lives would begin to declare a Kerygmatic message of saving grace to this world around us. If you have your Bibles today you can join me in Acts chapter 2, verse 33.
Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,
Acts 2:33-36
“‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” 36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
In order to help me share with you today, I have for you 2 areas of hope and great joy.
Jesus Christ is Exalted
Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,
Acts 2:33-35
“‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”
First off, Peter connects the exaltation of Christ with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Scripturally, there is such a close connection between the resurrection of Jesus and His exaltation to the right hand of the Father yet, somehow, we almost by OCD have to stop at the ascension before we recognize His exaltation. Luke’s intention here is really to note the end or completion of the resurrection appearances, that is until Paul’s interaction with the risen Lord in Acts Chapter 9. When in reality the Christ’s resurrection and exaltation were almost simultaneous and the ascension of Christ is merely the marker of His going away and the manner in which He left. Mostly I think to give the framework of how would return; in the clouds and glory and of course the location, the mount of olives. More than anything else this exaltation marked the anointing of the Prophet, the calling of the new High Priest, and the coronation of our King Jesus!
Let’s focus for a minute on this idea of Christ’s priesthood for example.
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:14-16
As a High Priest, Jesus does not need to make sacrifice for His own sin because this none. We have full access to the throne of our King. Because of His righteousness we are made righteous. And through His earthly life we have a Priest that can relate to our struggles. This idea of the offices of Prophet, Priest, and King being fulfilled in one person is rare but fully established by God. We primarily see it through Melchizedek (Genesis 14) and also though David’s reign (2 Samuel) and then it is fulfilled in Christ Jesus, but completed through the arrival of the New Jerusalem. As a result of His teachings and proclaiming the coming of the kingdom of God and about His death, Burial, and resurrection. He became the ultimate Prophet of God. As a result of His death, the price for our sin was paid and he became the savior of the world. Thus, acting as High Priest preparing the sacrifice for sin. As a result of Christ’s resurrection proved he was God and The King of Kings. As a result of His exaltation he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit which Christ poured out for us.
Here is what we take home from all of this: Jesus Christ is our all in all.
He’s our Prophet. Speaking for God to His People. He’s our High Priest. Speaking to God for the people. He’s our King. Ruling and reigning in Righteousness. He is our righteousness. He is our healing. He is our Judge. And he is our Salvation. No matter what the issues/challenges of life may be, Jesus has the answers we seek. Jesus Christ is so much more.
Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
John 21:25
The Next Area of hope is…
Jesus the Messiah is Lord over all
34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,
Acts 2:34-36
“‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”
“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
This peculiar statement here: “The Lord Said to my Lord”. This is better understood as David saying that “Yahweh said to his Adonai.” Peter sees this as God the Father speaking to Jesus, who is David’s Lord. Therefore/because God has put everything under Jesus. Because all authority in Heaven and on Earth has been given to Christ Jesus by God the Father…
“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
Acts 2:36
This is the pinnacle of Peters “Kerygma” or proclamation of Jesus Christ. The disciples of Jesus now truly know who and what Jesus is. “Kyrios” or Lord is the Greek word used here for both God and the exalted Christ. In the original text Luke uses this word Kyrios as interchangeable in this context. And it is also the same word used for God in the Septuagint/ Greek translation or the Old Testament. Christ has taken on the divine functions of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and as the object of their worship. It’s important to see the in the continuation of Acts the word Lord (Kyrios) is used of Christ and is continually used for God.
36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
Acts 2:36, 39
39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
Here is the distinction, typically when we talk about God, we will use the designations God, Jesus, or Holy Spirit; depending on the characteristic of God the is most like that which is being displayed. Let me give an example.
When talking about salvation, we will usually say something like Jesus saves. Because we usually connect salvation with the cross and the suffering of Jesus. Or if we talk about the charismatic gifts, we will usually refer to the Holy Spirit. Either way is ok Because when we speak of God, we know that God, in His fullness, is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
I’ll close with this. The implications of Jesus Christ exalted and made Lord and Messiah are incredibly significant. Let’s look at just a few Righteousness/Justification/Final Judgement/Our Personal Resurrection/Glorification/Eternity with God. We need to understand that this exaltation is not about a man who becomes a god. Rather, God who revealed himself to the world as the lowest form of humanity (as a servant/slave) and then was shown to be that He was God after all. In this way we maintain the understanding the he is in the literal sense eternal, having no beginning and no end.
Will you join me as we seek an authentic relationship united in Christ and each other? Rejecting division, embracing God’s reality in Jesus, and encouraging one another. It’s just between you and God. Here’s the thing, if we love God and abide in Christ, we will find ourselves more and more loving each other. You will we more and you will love better. We will experience God in spirit and in truth and we will share that amongst each other. Share all the ways God has shown you mercy and grace. Will you allow the Holy Spirit to stir faith in someone through your testimony? Would you join me as the Holy Spirit moves on us to be unified in the spirit of Christ? These are the kingdom values. This is truly the work of God. The intentional actions of the body of Christ. Remember the devil seeks only to kill steal and destroy. Steal your freedom, kill your joy, and destroy your destiny for hope and love. But God has a plan! He’s stealing from your neighbor, your family, and your loved ones today.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
Jesus, He’s the Son of the living God, and we can receive from Him today His Righteousness, His purpose and His calling. Will you call on him today? Your salvation/forgiveness is just one prayer away. Will you trust in his ability to do what He said He would do? Will you believe today? Many of you need a fresh touch from God today. Is there some form of unbelief or a fracture of trust as it relates to God in your life today? God wants to redeem and restore those areas of your life? He wants to restore Joy and hope for you today. You’re hearing this now and the Holy Spirit has brought someone or something to mind. He wants to speak life into this today. He wants to bring healing in this area today. There are areas of deep regret when it comes to your relationship with God and you have rejected Christ as your savior …It’s not too late.
It’s not too late to humble yourself before him today, hold out your arms and open your hands to receive from him today. Will you say yes to Jesus, today? Will you bow your heads with me? Some of you already know the Lord, but maybe he’s put something on your heart that you need to deal with, you need to ask his forgiveness today. If that’s you will you just acknowledge that to him today. This is just you and God here. Now someone here may not have that relationship with Jesus and today you’ve felt him tugging at your heart, you’ve been hurt, and you’re guarded, I know. Jesus is here and wants set things right in your life. If you’ll say Pastor, I want Jesus to be my Lord and savior. Remember, it’s just you and God here. Will you pray with me today, We’ll pray here as a family and you can repeat after me?
Jesus, I know that I’m a sinner. I ask you today for your forgiveness. I believe that you died for my sins and on that 3rd day, you rose from the dead. I ask you to come into my heart today. I trust and follow you as my Lord and savior. Guide me and help me to do your will. In Jesus’ name Amen.
“‘“The Lord bless you
Numbers 6:24-26
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”’