The Gospel at Pentecost
.... In 1 Corinthians 15:1-5, Paul defines the gospel message. It includes four elements, which were always present when the gospel was preached in every example from the Book of Acts. Those elements were as follows: .
1. An understanding of who Jesus is (see Romans 10:9)
2. Jesus died for our sins, according to the Scriptures.
3. Jesus was raised again on the third day, according to the Scriptures.
4. Jesus was seen, after His resurrection, by many witnesses.
.... In the passage below, the gospel was preached for the first time after the coming of the Holy Spirit, as Peter spoke out on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:22-36). Please read his message and see if you can locate those four points within it. The answers and some further commentary will appear in the ‘comments’ section:
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22 "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know-- 23. Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24. whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. 25. For David says concerning Him: 'I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. 26. Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; moreover my flesh also will rest in hope. 27. For You will not leave my soul in Hades, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. 28. You have made known to me the ways of life; you will make me full of joy in Your presence.' 29. Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31. he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32. This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. 34. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, 35. Till I make Your enemies Your footstool."' 36. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
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Daily Bible Reading: Matthew 9
posted by loren at 3:00 AM
4 Comments:
Peter has preached the gospel on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:22-36) The four points of the gospel were discussed as follows:
1. Who is Jesus:
a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs (22); Your Holy One (27); the Christ (30,36); exalted to the right hand of God (33); Lord (34)
2. Jesus was crucified for our sins according to the Scriptures:
"Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death (23); this Jesus, whom you crucified (36).
3. Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures:
"whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. (24); "he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption (31)
4. Jesus was seen, after His resurrection, by many witnesses:
This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses (32)
Commentary: Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead as the prophets foretold. Peter quotes the Scripture that foretold Jesus’ resurrection, but in this example, he does not quote the Scriptures that foretold His death. It was enough to let his audience know that this occurred according to the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God (v 23).
Furthermore, please note that Jesus is referred to by titles and by descriptions that tell of His significance. The point is to portray Jesus in a way that makes Him superior and distinct from any other person, and in a way that will help the listener relate to Him with this understanding.
By
loren, at 4/20/2005 3:11 AM
Below is another example, if you would like to try again. It is from Acts 3:12-19 (A lame man healed at the temple):
12. So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?
13. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.
14. But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
15. and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.
16. And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
17. Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
18. But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.
19. Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”
By
loren, at 4/20/2005 3:12 AM
Answers to the gospel example above, when the Lame man was healed at the temple (Acts 3:12-19)
1. Who is Jesus:
His Servant Jesus (13); the Holy One and the Just (14); the Prince of life (15); the Christ (18) - see also vs 16
2. Jesus was crucified for our sins according to the Scriptures:
. . . whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate (13); and killed the Prince of life (15); those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled (18)
3. Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures:
the God of our fathers glorified His Servant Jesus (13) . . . whom God raised from the dead (15)
4. Jesus was seen, after His resurrection, by many witnesses:
. . . whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses (15)
Commentary: the entire gospel is preached in a single verse (15) Our preaching doesn’t need to be fancy or elaborate.
By
loren, at 4/20/2005 3:14 AM
Wow, I really like the fact the Gospel was evident within one verse,Acts 3:15!
I have a comment about your comment:
"The point is to portray Jesus in a way that makes Him superior and distinct from any other person, and in a way that will help the listener relate to Him with this understanding."
I think what you said is vital. And I think its also important to portrait Jesus as One who is touchable. In other words, He is Lord and Christ, Saviour and King, but also High Priest touched with the feelings of our infirmaties. Without this, Jesus can perhaps seem too distant.
By
Anonymous, at 7/26/2006 11:56 AM
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