His Commands are not Burdensome
The writer of 1 John declares,
“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”
1 John 5:2 & 3
In order to love people then, we must love God and obey His commands. We cannot have one without the other. God’s commands are not burdensome. They are for our welfare and our good. They give hope to a dying nation.
We Have a Faith That Builds Up
We have a faith that builds us up, not one that tears us down. When speaking of the love of God, Jesus said,
“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. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
John 3:16 & 17
The writer of 1 John continues,
“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
1 John 5:4 & 5
- We have this in common!
It was Given to Those who Believed
There are a number of steps to growth in the Church, which is the Body of Christ. The writer of the Acts of the Apostles informs us, that there was a process of renewal the Jewish believers went through. When the Apostle Peter spoke to those Jews who were in Jerusalem at the time of Pentecost, he told them,
- They must repent of their sins and be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, so that the gift of the Holy Spirit would be given to them and to their children, and to as many as the Lord our God will call.
“Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.’”
Acts 2:38 & 39
This confirmation was from the word of the Lord from the prophet Joel,
“And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.”
Joel 2:28 & 29
“And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the remnant whom the LORD calls.”
Joel 2:32
Faith Requires a Response
These things followed on from the truth the Apostle Peter had already spoken,
“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— Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.”
Acts 2:22 – 24
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.’ Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’ Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 2:36 – 38
- 3,000 souls believed that day and were baptized!
“Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.”
Acts 2:41
- They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine, in fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers. Continuing in the first apostles’ teachings is extremely important, because it builds our faith to receive. Therefore, our teaching should stand in agreement with theirs.
“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
Acts 2:42
Their Works will Speak for Themselves
- Fear came upon them and many signs and wonders were done in their midst.
“Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.”
Acts 2:43
This is a believer’s context again. There is a Godly fear that keeps us from sinning. Signs and wonders take place when our faith level is high. We are not to speak against others in the Body of Christ. We are all one in the Body of Christ.
“And Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.’”
Exodus 20:20
- All who believed were together and had all things in common. They provided for each other as each person had need.
“Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.”
Acts 2:44
- The Jewish believers patterned themselves after Christ. They focused their hearts upon Jesus.
There is Power in the Name of Jesus
When the apostles Peter and John met a lame man asking for alms at the temple gate called Beautiful, they gave him something better, saying,
“Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.”
Acts 3:6 – 8
- Jesus has power to heal!
Because of this act of kindness, the people were filled with wonder and awe, being greatly amazed. Seizing this opportunity to speak to the people, the Apostle Peter began,
“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? 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. But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. 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.”
Acts 3:12 – 16
Where There is Faith it Will be Tested
Speaking of the Lordship of Christ, Peter explained they had done it in ignorance. Then he continued to address their concerns.
“Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 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, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.”
Acts 3:17 – 21
- The disciples continued to grow in number.
- With gladness of heart, they received Him well.
Where There is Truth There will be Opposition
But as he was still speaking, the priests, the captain of the temple and the Sadducees saw him gaining the attention of the people. So they put Peter and John into custody, because they preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. Yet five thousand had already believed! These were Jewish believers!
That very next day, their chief rulers, elders, scribes, Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, who were gathered together at Jerusalem, placed Peter and John in their midst. Then, referring to the healing of the lame man, they asked them,
“By what power or by what name have you done this?”
Acts 4:7
They questioned them with disregard for the mighty work that God was doing. But knowing this was of God and being Jewish believers, they addressed their concerns, saying,
“Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 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. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marvelled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.”
Acts 4:8 – 14
Faith That Stands the Test of Time
Unable to deny the miracle that had occurred, and being afraid of the opposition they faced, they commanded them not to speak at all, or to teach in the name of Jesus.
“But Peter and John answered and said to them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.’ So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.”
Acts 4:19 – 22
“And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.”
Acts 4:19 – 23
The Acts of the Apostles Stands Firm
And the people prayed,
“Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.”
Acts 4:29 – 33
These things did not happen in quick succession, but over a period of time. But they did happen, just as the Lord taught them they would. The apostles didn’t rush it. They gave time for the people to heal. God made room for their faith to grow. All things were done in His timing. Amidst all of our trials and tribulations, the Lord assures us through the Apostle Paul,
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
Romans 8:28 & 29
