Monday Devo
Scripture:
Acts 2:22-24
22 “People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. 23 But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. 24 But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.
22 “People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. 23 But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. 24 But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.
Commentary:
2:23 Peter combines a clear affirmation of God’s sovereignty over world events and human responsibility for evil deeds. Although Jesus was delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, showing that God had both foreknown and foreordained that Jesus would be crucified, that still did not absolve of responsibility those who contributed to his death, for Peter goes on to say, “you crucified and killed” him. Though one may not understand fully how God’s sovereign ordination of events can be compatible with human responsibility for evil, both are clearly affirmed here and in many other passages of Scripture (cf. notes on 3:13–16; 3:17; 4:27; 4:28). by the hands of lawless men. Peter also places responsibility on the Gentile officials and soldiers who actually crucified Jesus.
Questions:
- In Acts 2, we not only see the arrival of the promised Holy Spirit, we also see the very first gospel sermon ever preached. Peter, filled with boldness from the Spirit of God, steps out to address the masses and presents the good news of the gospel, resulting in 3,000 salvations. The first thing Peter laid out was that the gospel is PROVEN. In verse 22 he makes the case that God publicly endorsed Jesus through the signs and miracles he performed. In verses 24 and 32 he talks about the resurrection and how there were many witnesses of it. He also mentioned prophecies of old that predicted all of it. We should be confident that we follow Jesus because we are certain that he is alive. How confident are you in your ability to explain why you believe that Jesus rose from the dead?
- This might have been the first New Testament presentation of the gospel, but the Old Testament is full of them. Over and over the theme of the gospel appears, in Genesis, Passover, the exodus, the dietary restrictions and sacrificial system described in Leviticus... all of it pointed to Jesus. The gospel of Jesus makes the whole Bible make sense! Also, take a second to read today's City 7. The resurrection isn't just proven by Scripture, it's proven by history. How much more confidence in your decision to follow Jesus does it give you to know that it is solidified in history and in prophecy as a provable fact?
Prayer Topics:
- That you would remember your faith stands on solid ground.
- That you would do what it takes to know why you believe what you believe.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
2. Are there sources outside the Bible that confirm the Biblical account of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead? Many Roman and Jewish historians have confirmed that the apostles died as martyrs for preaching that they saw Jesus risen from the grave. No one dies for something they know to be a lie.
(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
1 Comment
I thank God everyday that he has control of my life. Thank you for a truly worshipful experience visiting in your service. Look forward to coming back.