Shortly after the day of
Pentecost had passed with its great blessings of souls
saved and multitudes added to the church, Peter is found
preaching in the part of the Temple called Solomon's
Porch. Among the other things about Christ, which he
proclaims, is a reference to a prophecy spoken by Moses
in the 18th Chapter of Deuteronomy.
We read now from
Acts 3:22 "For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A
prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of
your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all
things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall
come to pass that every soul that will not hear that
prophet shall be destroyed from among the people."
That Peter is right in applying these words of
Moses to Christ, is shown by the declaration of the
Father at the Mount of transfiguration. It is recorded
in Matthew 17 as well as in Mark and Luke's
Gospel, how Peter, with the impulsiveness that seems so
characteristic of him, proposed to build three
tabernacles or memorial shrines so that Moses of the
Law, and Elias of the prophets could share equal honors
with the Lord.
God the Father immediately set him straight.
Mat. 17:5 And while he yet spake, behold a bright
cloud overshadowed them and behold a voice out of the
cloud, which said, this is my beloved son in whom I am
well pleased, hear ye him!"
Now, Peter, as he preaches in the temple porch
is passing on the wonderful lesson God the Father had
taught him on the mount of transfiguration: Listen to
Christ!
Voices clamor on all sides, Listen to me! Hear
my story! Try my philosophy! Listen to my theory! Let me
tell you my dreams! Hear my ideas! In the midst of
confusion it is truly wonderful to be able to tune our
hearts in to our Lord and hear still the calm voice of
authority that can point out to man a sure way. When He
spoke to raise the dead, cast out the demons, heal the
sick or to still the sea it was not the timbre or
inflections of his voice or the manner of his bearing
that caused his commands to be instantly obeyed! But
rather because he spoke with the
authority of the creator.
Hear Him! His words still have power today if
men will only listen with their hearts as Jesus speaks!
No man ever spake like this man! To those who feel the
weight of sin he has the words that can bring wonderful
deliverance, for He said in John 3:17, "For
God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the
world, but that the world through him might be saved"
Away must go the notion that God is waiting to
gleefully cast the unrepentant into everlasting
damnation, as we hear the words of Christ. But rather,
we learn of a love so great that it could only be
divine, a love so broad in its scope it encompasses
every creature. We discover a compassion so far reaching
in its effect, that it probes into the lowest depths of
sin and despair, so great in its promise, that it leads
man to the very throne of God. We find revealed a mercy
so enduring that it promises eternity to ephemeral man!
Where, in all the present day babble of man
about love, can there be found words to equal the
simple, yet majestic statement of John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life."
Yet, though He speaks of so great a love, He is
painfully honest. In fact it is precisely because of His
love for lost man that He will not soft pedal the truth.
It was His great love for lost man that caused Him to
say in
Luke 13:3 & 5, "I tell you Nay, but except
ye repent ye shall all likewise perish!
(His repeating it is to stress the significance) Yes, I
know that humbling ones self in repentance goes against
the grain of human nature but there is no other way that
the hard ground of the sinful heart can bear fruit when
the seed of the Word is planted, except that it be
broken up by repentance!
Now Jesus said, "Ye must be born
again!" It is not enough that man should be
convinced of certain teachings, or perform certain
works, but he must be born of the Spirit of God!
Recently when I told a man of the necessity of the new
birth, his answer was, "That's what YOU say." No my
friend, it is not what I say, but rather what Christ
himself said in the third chapter of John, and His
heavenly Father has said HEAR YE HIM!
It matters not that men may ridicule the new birth or
that religious leaders gather followers by the score as
they proclaim that it isn't necessary. The fact can
never be altered, Jesus said, "Ye MUST be
born again!'
To those who have been born again, these words
of Christ serve two great needs. They give us a guide
for our present life while at the same time fixing our
attention on the great promises of eternity. Concerning
our responsibility to God, listen to the Lord.
Mat 16:24 If any man will come after me, let him
deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow
me."
Man is fond of saying that we should all serve
according to the dictates of our own conscience, but
nowhere in the words of Christ, nor in all the Word of
God is such an idea even hinted at! The Constitution of
our nation guarantees every individual the right to do
that and we thank God for this freedom. True worship
cannot be legislated by government nor enforced by law.
However, our Lord is very specific: We should place our
light upon a candlestick, Mat. 5:15 Neither
do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on
a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in
the house. That candlestick is symbolic of
his Churches, (Rev. 1:20 The mystery of the
seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the
seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the
angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks
which thou sawest are the seven churches.)
and that the same church that he personally established
during his personal ministry will be here until he
returns again, Mat. 16:18
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon
this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell
shall not prevail against it.
As we heed the words of Christ, we learn our
responsibilities to governments as well as to our fellow
man. Christ was not a dreamy eyed mystic nor an unwashed
revolutionary. Never did he encourage his disciples to
rebel against lawful authority. Rather, when they
tempted him with a question concerning the paying of
taxes to the hated Roman Caesars, his answer laid the
foundation for his people to build upon in
every age. "Mat 22:21 Render unto Caesar those
things which are Caesars and unto God the things that
are God's. We might sum up these thoughts about his
teachings in verse.
What kind of man was Jesus?
What kind of man was Jesus?
Was he a rebel like some say?
Did he try to change the social structure
and economics of his day?
Did he rebel against the government
and refuse to obey the rules?
Did he teach His disciples
that morals were for fools?
Was he an outcast from society?
How many sit-ins did he lead?
Did he draw attention by his clothes?
How many laws did he fail to heed?
Though he often spoke of peace and love,
did he ever compromise
in his own life or teaching,
or even hint it might be wise?
No! He was NOT a rebel!
No matter what men say,
The things he taught and did were 'square'
and still are so today!
He honored marriage with his presence
he taught soldiers to be true,
He taught men to honor magistrates
and children, parents too!
He never incited riot
nor railed against a king,
nor tried to pass off drugs and dope
as a holy thing!
No! He was not a rebel,
but he died to save from Hell
the men who nailed him to the cross
and those who still rebel!
Rebels! That's what men are,
as they fight against the Lord,
choosing sin and sinful paths
and refusing to hear his Word!
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Will you not obey the Father and hear the words of the
Son? Repent of your sins and receive him as your
saviour. The new birth can be your experience too! Then
you can look forward to those heavenly promises such as
the ones found in John 6:39 "And I will raise
him up at the last day" and in
John 14, "I will come again and receive you
unto myself." These and many more are yours
if you will only follow the admonition of the Father and
Hear the Words of the Son |
