Month: January 2023

Acts 4:11 This is the ‘STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED BY YOU BUILDERS, WHICH HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE.’

The testimony of Peter and John continued before the leaders.  They took the leaders back to the scriptures, which the leaders knew.  Psalms 118:22-23 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. (23) This was the LORD’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.  In no uncertain terms, the disciples made it clear to the leaders that they were fulfilling the scriptures by rejecting Jesus. 

Later, as John wrote his gospel, he was recounting this incident of how His own people rejected Jesus.  Jesus came to His own but His own did not receive Him.  John 1:10-11 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. (11) He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

Just as John did, so did Peter, as he recounts this incident in his epistle.  The Jews were appointed to receive God’s blessing by receiving His Son but they were being disobedient to God’s word. I Peter 2:6-8 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHIEF CORNERSTONE, ELECT, PRECIOUS, AND HE WHO BELIEVES ON HIM WILL BY NO MEANS BE PUT TO SHAME.” (7) Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE,” (8) and “A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

This was the prophecy of Isaiah.  He was despised and rejected by men. Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

He was the stone on whom everyone should trust and build their lives, but people have rejected Him. Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily.

As Peter and John brought this matter to the leaders, of Jesus is the stone rejected by the builders, the leaders would have been reminded of the conversation that they had had with Jesus. Matthew 21:42-45 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE. THIS WAS THE LORD’S DOING, AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES’ ? (43) “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. (44) And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” (45) Now when the chief priests and  Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them.

Even at this stage, these leaders could have repented and surrendered their lives to God, but that was not to be. They continued in their obstinate ways of rejecting God. 

The leaders needed to know that what they were doing was a deliberate act of not submitting to God. Ezekiel 2:6-7 “And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house. (7) You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious.

This task of presenting to the people, categorically, that they are rejecting God, is for us to do as His church. Ezekiel 3:18-19 When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. (19) Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.

With Jesus as the chief cornerstone, God has intended for His church to be built together into a holy temple of God, a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.  Ephesians 2:20-22 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, (21) in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, (22) in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

We come to Him and there we find our abode in Jesus.  I Peter 2:4-5 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, (5) you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/19086pDVFwOY1gWIf9ZTtM3La9Wwf8xIv/view?usp=share_link

Acts 4:9-10 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, (10) let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.

Peter and John were declaring to these leaders that their life was a testimony to the resurrection of Jesus. Acts 10:40-43 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, (41) not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. (42) And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. (43) To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”

Peter and John had the personal experience of the resurrected Jesus.  This was their witness.  As His disciples, we must be carrying about in our body the resurrected Jesus.  This is our witness.  II Corinthians 4:10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

For we have died with Christ and our life is in Christ.  Colossians 3:3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

To Peter and John, their life did not matter anymore.  They had died with Christ and it was the resurrected Jesus who was now living through them. 

The disciples were witnesses of the Holy Spirit operating in them. The Father raised Jesus from the dead through His Holy Spirit.  Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

As the disciples were being questioned, they were acutely conscious that they were witnesses to the resurrected Jesus living and working powerfully through them, through His Holy Spirit. 

As the disciples were witnesses to the risen Jesus, they were witnessing that Jesus has been ordained by God to be the judge of the living and the dead.  When we witness the resurrected Jesus living through us, we are also telling people that Jesus is the judge of the living and the dead. Acts 17:30-31 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, (31) because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

This message of God judging the world through Jesus because He was raised from the dead, needed to be made known to the leaders.  The disciples saw themselves as witnesses for this purpose. 

The leaders also needed to know that Jesus was the seed of David according to the flesh but He was the Son of God.  This was made known by His resurrection from the dead.  Romans 1:3-4 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, (4) and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

This Jesus was the one to whom the law, the psalms and the prophets witnessed.  This the leaders needed to know.  They could not put Jesus aside. 

Peter and John were fully accomplishing their task of being His witnesses.  We too need to see ourselves as being His witnesses as the Lord takes us before various groups, who question us.  They emphasised before the leaders that the lame man was made whole. 

This must be our position of strength from which we must witness to the world.  The Lord gives wholeness to those who come to Him.  There is no need for us to be apologetic or reticent about our stand for Jesus.  Let us be bold and declare out in the open that Jesus gives wholeness.  Why should we be afraid or ashamed of declaring Jesus, who does what is good for man and creation? 

Colossians 1:21-22 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled (22) in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—

Let us realise that the devil is defeated by Jesus on the cross and so we need not be afraid of him or his threats to us.  Jesus makes a person whole.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18sDidqjn1D51HHpnewxKAROQPyhy17Vb/view?usp=share_link

Acts 4:9-10 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, (10) let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.

Peter and John had now reached their pivotal point in their response.  This was the resurrection of Jesus because of whom this lame made was made whole.

Acts 2:24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.

The wages of sin is death.  This man was physically alive but he was dead in several ways.  One aspect of his death was his lameness. 

When God created His entire creation, including man, He looked at everything and saw that it was very good. Genesis 1:31 *Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.* So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

This goodness of God was the Shalom life that God gave man and creation.  The Lord commanded man not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  Genesis 2:16-17 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; (17) but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

The comprehensive death of man and creation took place when we rebelled and rejected God.  Shalom was taken away from us.  One aspect of this death is various diseases and illnesses.

When we will be restored to the fullness of our fellowship with God, there will be no more death. Revelation 21:3-4 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. (4) And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

This lame man was made whole by Jesus Christ, whom God raised from the dead.  This wellness that had happened to the lame man was a testimony and foretaste of the wellness/Shalom that will once again be restored in His presence.

The second matter was the forgiveness of sins. 

Acts 13:29-41 Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. (30) *But God raised Him from the dead.* (31) He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. (32) And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. (33) God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU.’ (34) *And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption*, He has spoken thus: ‘I WILL GIVE YOU THE SURE MERCIES OF DAVID.’ (35) Therefore He also says in another Psalm: *’YOU WILL NOT ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO SEE CORRUPTION.’*(36) “For David, after he had  served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; (37) *but He whom God raised up saw no corruption. (38) Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; (39) and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.* (40) Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you: (41) ‘BEHOLD, YOU DESPISERS, MARVEL AND PERISH! FOR I WORK A WORK IN YOUR DAYS, A WORK WHICH YOU WILL BY NO MEANS BELIEVE, THOUGH ONE WERE TO DECLARE IT TO YOU.’ “

The sin in our flesh causes corruption. David died and saw corruption. Though Jesus died and was buried, His body did not see corruption but He was raised from the dead by the Father.  Sin and death were conquered.  Since Jesus was raised from the dead, He is able to give forgiveness of sin. 

This lame man was healed in his body but also in his whole person, he was now forgiven of his sin, because Jesus, who was raised from the dead had intervened in his life. 

This testimony of the healing of the lame man was crucial because the leaders needed to know that through Jesus Christ when a person believes in Him, he is justified before God, which the keeping of the law of Moses could not provide.  

Testifying before those who persecute us is the precious opportunity to present Christ as the Redeemer and Saviour of man and creation.  Let us not waste these opportunities by being self-focused.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18hy6k2wHp43JjoLIFmYXGB-3SA9fNu4V/view?usp=share_link

Acts 4:9-10 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, (10) let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole._

Peter and John confronted the leaders. … Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, …

They had done the same in Acts chapter two.  There it was an audience of Jews from different nations.  Acts 2:22-23 “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; 

They reiterated that the entire house of Israel was responsible to have crucified Jesus, whom God has made Lord and Christ.  Acts 2:36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

In Acts chapter three, they categorically held this crowd of Jews, responsible for the killing of the Prince of life. Acts 3:13-15 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.

In Acts chapter five, the apostles were once again before the leaders and they laid it on them that they were the ones who had murdered Jesus, whom God of the fathers had raised from the dead. Acts 5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree.

As the disciples prayed, they considered all of humanity responsible to be against Jesus Christ. Acts 4:26-28 THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND, AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.’ (27) “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together (28) to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.

It is the world that is guilty of rejecting God and this must be laid at their feet.  It is about convicting the world of sin. This is the work of His Holy Spirit.

John 3:16-20 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (17) For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (18) “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (19) And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (20) For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

God has provided the solution for man to be saved from the everlasting fire.  The light has come into the world, which is Jesus, but man loves to remain in darkness because his ways are against God.  This is the message that we must take into the enemy camp.

We must place the mirror before the world, of their evil.  Romans 1:28-32 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; (29) being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, (30) backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, (31) undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; (32) who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

It is when we take the fight into the enemy camp that the devil will flee.  Right now, our response to the persecution has been apologetic and rueful. We are trying to assert our rights to have the freedom to present Christ but we have not come to the place of holding our audience accountable for rejecting God.    

We must show our audience that there will be indignation and wrath on every soul that does evil.  Romans 2:8-11 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, (9) tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; (10) but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (11) For there is no partiality with God.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18Ujc-XviLND5CLfaYOKvD7h5RkK2xDXS/view?usp=share_link

Acts 4:9-10 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, (10) let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.

We can imagine how, Peter and John would have stood tall, with their head held high, to make this declaration to the leaders.  “…let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth…”

This shows the quality of their response.  They were not intimidated by the stature of the leaders before whom they were speaking. This is the work of His Holy Spirit. They were fully conscious of what was at stake for them but their response is strong.

We recollect the response of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed Nego to emperor Nebuchadnezzar.  What was at stake for these three young men was to either climb their career ladder or be thrown into the blazing fiery furnace.  These were the options before them.  They did not dither or waver.  They made their stand clear to the emperor.  Daniel 3:18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

This is the boldness that is needed for the church these days.  We must take a stand for Jesus and make it known to whoever our audience may be, as to whom we belong.  Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion.

It is the Holy Spirit who gives us boldness in such situations. Once we have accepted that we are prepared to lay down our lives for Jesus, we will not fear.  We fear God, so we seek to please Him and Him alone.  Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

In the ultimate analysis, whoever seeks to save his life will lose it.  It is in losing our lives for Christ and His Gospel that we save our lives. What use is it if we have gained the world but have lost our souls?  Mark 8:35-36 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. (36) For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

If we do not make known to the world our commitment to Christ, we are denying Christ.  If we have denied Christ before men then we are not one of those, for whom Jesus will intercede before the Father.  Matthew 10:32-33 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. (33) But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

What are we to make known to the world?

We are to make known Christ.  Acts 2:36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” This was the boldness of the apostles that they categorically made known Christ to the world. 

The apostles saw their identity in the resurrected Jesus.  Therefore, they made this statement that this wellness to a helpless man was by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. 

II Corinthians 5:14-17 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; (15) and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. (16) Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. (17) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

The disciples could understand very clearly that since Jesus had died for them, they had no basis to live but to be identified with His death.  When we identify with Christ in His death, we identify with Him also in His resurrection.

Our identity is now in the resurrected Christ. We do not know Christ according to the flesh any longer but we know Him according to the Spirit of God, who raised Him from the dead and who lives in us.  The resurrected Christ is therefore our identity and it is Him that we make known to the world.

If we have not died and risen again with Jesus, then we will struggle to make known to the world, that the good works that we do, we do in the name of Jesus Christ. He is our all in all.  We do not exist outside of Christ.  

May His church arise to make known to the world the name of Jesus Christ.