It is amazing how many people start a series, and then how few persevere to the end. It is clear that knowing what the Bible actually says is low on the priorities of many. Hebrews has a bit to say about perseverance, but that series will continue shortly! Today, we will dive back into the middle of Peter’s Pentecost sermon. So, those of you who will persevere, let's go!
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. (Acts 2:22-24 ESV)
This is setting up our next Old Testament quote. I want you to notice the type of argument we
have here. Is Peter talking about his
own experience? Is Peter discussing what
Jesus did and does in his life? Is Peter
giving any sort of testimony in the modern sense? No? He
is giving a legal testimony for sure. He
is playing the part of eyewitness. He is
talking about Jesus. See how the rules
we are using come straight out of the text?
Peter is the author of rule 1 in a sense. It’s not about you, it’s not about me, it’s
about Jesus. What is more, Peter is
appealing at the start of this proof to common historical knowledge. The crowd knows about Jesus and what he did
on this earth and that he was killed. Now,
he is going to prophesy concerning the Old Testament scripture explaining how
Jesus fulfilled prophesy.
For David says concerning him, “‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ (Acts 2:25-28 ESV)
The quote is Psalms 16:8-11. We know that David wrote at least half of the
Psalter. This particular Psalm is
attributed to David. When the Jews first
heard this Psalm, they assumed that David was talking about himself. It is Peter, not Paul, not Calvinists nor
Lutherans, but Peter, who contextualizes this passage to be referring to Jesus
Christ. Then, remarkably, Peter explains
his reasoning to us.
“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” (Acts 2:29-36 ESV)
The quote is Psalms 110:1. This is a big time important Psalm, and is
quoted often elsewhere in the New Testament (Hebrews in particular, the Melchizedek
reference.) Back to Peter. Point
one: David is dead and David is still in his tomb. Point two: Since God swore an oath
to David that one of his descendants would attain the throne of heaven. This is called the Davidic Covenant, and we
can find it in 2 Samuel 7. Point three: David foresaw and spoke
about the resurrection of Jesus, that he was not abandoned to Hell, that his
body did not rot. This is heavy news. As remarkable as it is for us to believe in
our day, the Jews who are listening are listening to the actual eyewitnesses to
the resurrection, men who have seen the Risen Lord. And Peter, rather than even talking about his
experience with Jesus, is using scripture to prove that Jesus is exactly who He
said that He was. Point four: Since Jesus
truly is at the right hand of God, He is pouring out the Holy Spirit right now
in your very presence! Now, notice that
Jesus pours out the Holy Spirit as the Father had promised. Remember rule 2. Does this contradict or reinforce what we
have studied thus far? Remember rule 3. Is this consistent with what Jesus said in
John 14-16? The answers should be
obvious to you, a resounding yes to both questions. Point five: Jesus isn’t coming back
until the enemies of Jesus are His footstool.
We can argue this point in a number of ways, and I want to do that in a
moment. Let’s finish the passage. Point six: Let all of Israel know, Jesus, whom you
crucified, is Lord and Christ. Christ is
not a name, but a title. We can assume
that this title is either synonymous with messiah or is contextualized to be
synonymous with messiah. Either way, how
was that for a guilt trip? And, Peter
says, therefore know for certain.
Therefore, based upon
the historical events to which the apostles testify and the Old Testament
prophesies that are thus fulfilled, know
for certain that Jesus is Lord and Christ. That, my friends, is how you do
evangelism.
I want to make a brief aside concerning the accusation of
some protestant liberals that this type of appeal is arrogant. Peter made no appeal to experience or warm
and fuzzy feelings, he just beat them over the head with facts. It is not arrogance to talk about the deeds
of someone else, deeds that have witnesses and proofs. It is very arrogant to assume that the experience
of warm fuzzy feelings we might have actually have any power to impress and
convert anyone else. Surely, this must
seem obvious after watching Peter do evangelism this way. Was Peter successful? Look at verse 41 again. 3000 souls were added that day. Have you ever seen such a one day haul? Really?
People who were truly converted? 3000
Jews?
Now, let’s leave our topic of the Holy Spirit for just a
moment and go back to point five above. Jesus isn’t coming back until the enemies of
Jesus are His footstool. When will this
occur? First of all, we don’t know. Secondly, the eschatology of this section is
pretty thin to infer very much. (You can read the whole of Psalm 110 to see
more of the context of that quote.) What we can say is that when Jesus comes
back, he will already be victorious.
Now, let’s look at this another way.
Jesus was already victorious when he sat down. Jesus was already victorious over death. The enemy reigns over the dead, death being
our ultimate penalty for sin. Jesus has
already defeated death through His sinless life, death, resurrection and
ascension. (Not to be lost in this thought is the transfiguration and the
appearance of Jesus after his resurrection.
These are two glimpses at His resurrected, transformed, transfigured,
glorified body.) But the issue here is end times. We are already in the last days. Jesus might come back at any moment. In fact, when you read the rest of the New
Testament, notice how they expect it could
happen at any minute. As true as it
was in that day, it remains true today.
If we stay on this planet for another ten thousand years, it will still
be exactly the same. Does this line of
thinking change our view from the last post of the timing of the prophesy of
sons and daughters? Not really. Who is to say that this has not
occurred? Who is to say that we might
not see more of this still? Who is to
say that when we hear the Word proclaimed and receive the Sacraments, that we
are not witnesses to these events? That
is why I think it is important to get your eschatological passages sorted
out. What is it that a passage
means? But, more than that, what is it
that a passage cannot possibly mean, because that would contradict all these
other passages? That is how you should
study the Bible. Those three rules
always work.
We are finished with Acts 2 for now. In the next posts, we will dive into 1
Corinthians 12 and 14, once again. We
need to do this because other than Acts 2, these passages are the ones most
abused by the charlatans who would teach you another gospel about another
Jesus. (2 Corinthians 11.)
--Ogre--
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