What Shall We Do?

 Meditations on The Acts of the Apostles

January 14, 2021

What Shall We Do?

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

Acts 2:41

Read: Acts 2:37-41

In Acts, Luke has continued the message he began in the Gospel of Luke where there is a gathering momentum of Jesus calling Israel to repentance. The closer Jesus got to his Passover destiny in Jerusalem, the more he confronts the sins of Israel. The nation was forgetting the poor and oppressed and had turned to violence instead of peace. Called to be a light to the world, Israel has become just like her neighbor states. Israel ignored Jesus’ call for repentance, and thus Jesus took upon himself the sin of Israel as he went to the cross.

Peter recalled all of this on Pentecost and announced that while it was too late for the nation, it is was not too late for the individuals. They could call on the name of Jesus and be saved from sin and death. Three thousand heeded the call on that Pentecost morning and formed the New Community of Believers.

In these pandemic days, when church attendance is through live streaming and Holy Communion is drive-through, we are in danger of COVID-19 ushering in cheap grace as a way of life. Dietrich Bonhoeffer noted that cheap grace includes Communion without confession, which is exactly what many churches are offering today.

My Takeaway: Bonhoeffer also noted, “Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock.” These words inspire me continuously pray, “O Lord, I acknowledge You to be by Creator and my God. I render You the homage of my being and my life. I am not my own, I am Yours. By creation and redemption, I am Yours.”

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

The Foundation of Christian Theology

 Meditations on The Acts of the Apostles

 January 13, 2021

The Foundation of Christian Theology

“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

Acts 2:36

 Read: Acts 2:22-36

The very core, the foundation of Christian theology, is the cross of Jesus. Peter makes that point very clear in his Pentecost sermon. Peter is revealing to his listeners that the death of Jesus was not a random act of violence. Peter shows that Jesus the Messiah confronted evil at the place where the greatest of human systems would reveal their corruption. The Romans prided themselves on their system of justice. The Jews prided themselves on their Temple and priestly system. The crucifixion of Jesus revealed the Roman system was rotten at its core and that the Temple system was hollow at its heart.

Peter then shows that in the resurrection of Jesus, evil was defeated. No longer does evil have the ultimate power of death. God, not evil, gets the last word. We have seen that Acts reveals God’s plan of redemption as a continuing story. God’s plan of salvation did not begin at the birth of Jesus. Peter reaches back to the Old Testament prophet Joel as well the Psalms of David, 16, 110 and 132, to show God has been working all along to redeem His people.

My Takeaway: This affirmation of God’s continuous action to redeem His people, inspires me to seek a greater awareness of what God is doing in my life today. I pray asking God, by His grace, to help me be aware that He is working in me, giving me the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. (Philippians 2:13)

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Glorious Day of The LORD

 Meditations on The Acts of the Apostles

January 12, 2021

Glorious Day of The LORD

And everyone who calls

    on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Acts 2:21

Read: Acts 2:14-21

The prophets use the word LORD to avoid saying the covenant name of God, YHWH. As Peter quotes the prophet Joel, he seamlessly substitutes Lord, a name for Jesus, when referring to the glorious day of the Lord. I am reminded of the affirmation in the Nicene Creed,

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one Being with the Father.

A few weeks ago, we were in the Season of Advent, a time of looking forward and preparing for the coming again of Jesus in final victory. In first century Israel, the people believed the last days foretold by the prophets, like Daniel and Joel, were close at hand. Peter begins his sermon my asserting they were in fact living in the last days as God was beginning something new.

Joel’s words are stunning. God will pour out His Spirit on all people: sons and daughters, young men, old men, men and women will receive God’s Spirit. No one is left out! Prophesy, as the word is used here, does not mean telling what will happen in the future, rather it is as Luke put it in verse 11, “we hear them declaring the wonders of God.” In Acts 21:8-9, Luke includes evidence of Joel and Peter’s proclamation, “. . . we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.”

My Takeaway: Every Christian has received God’s Spirit and has been commissioned to declare the wonders of God.

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

What Does This Mean?

 Meditations on The Acts of the Apostles

January 11, 2021

What Does This Mean?

” . . . we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

Acts 2:11b-12

Read: Acts 2:5-13 

In Genesis 11, we learn the whole world spoke one language, and the people purposed to build a tower to heaven. God thwarted their plans by confusing their language so they couldn’t understand each other or work together. On the Day of Pentecost, the Lord reversed that curse so that the mass of people gathered that day each heard the Apostle’s speaking in their own language. What does this mean?

It was the beginning of the fulfillment of the promise God made to Abraham in Genesis 12:3, “. . . and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Of course, not everyone on the Day of Pentecost, or today, received the promise: “Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” (Acts 2:13)

When I read today’s passage, I remember when I was preaching in a house church in Ciego de Avila, Cuba. The room in the house was overflowing with people onto the front porch and into the street. People were standing three deep looking in the windows. Their worship was joyful and included dancing. A man and a woman, neighbors from down the street and out for an evening walk, stopped in front of the house and gazed with wonder at the sights. They stayed as I began preaching through an interpreter. When I gave the invitation, they were the first to respond and made their way through the crowd to the front room and there received Jesus as their Savior.

My Takeaway: I long to be a part of a church where Luke’s statement at the end of chapter two is a present-day reality: “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47b).

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

All of Them

 Meditations on The Acts of the Apostles

January 8, 2021

All of Them

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Acts 2:4

Read: Acts 2:1-4   

Passover marked the day that God delivered his people out of bondage in Egypt. Fifty days after Passover, the people came to Mount Sinai where Moses received the Ten Commandments. God gave his redeemed people the way of life by which they could now carry out his purposes.

On Easter Sunday, the resurrection of Jesus provided for our redemption from sin and death. Fifty days later, God gave the people the Holy Spirit, the way of life by which they can carry out his purposes.        

Can you see Acts is written so that we can see that the plan of God to redeem the world is a continuing story? Here, in the year of our Lord 2021, we, the people of God, are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live out our part of the story.

Luke tells us the wind came from heaven. For the biblical writers, heaven was God’s abode. Earth was the abode of the people of God. God’s plan is for His New Creation to completely redeem heaven and earth as one. This will be completed when Jesus comes again in final victory. Jesus ascended to heaven, then heaven sent the Holy Spirit to those gathered in the name of Jesus.

My Takeaway: The manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer is unique to God’s plan and purpose for the individual. There is one common trait. The Holy Spirit empowers the believer to bring glory to God. By the way, all of them, means all of us too: “how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13)

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

A Witness

 Meditations on The Acts of the Apostles

January 7, 2021

A Witness

For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.

Acts 1:22b

Read: Acts 1:15-26

A group numbering about a hundred and twenty had gathered in the upper room. Through their prayer and worship, they were led to select a replacement for the 12th Apostle. To qualify, one had to have been with Jesus from his baptism to his resurrection. Two names were put forth, and Matthias was selected. As I read today’s passage, two things stand out, and both are associated with the word witness.

We read in verse eight that Jesus called the apostles to be his witnesses, and here Peter affirms that a 12^th witness is needed. Twelve apostles is associated with the twelve tribes of Israel, and it seems Peter is still focused internally on restoring the nation of Israel. The last few words of Jesus’ commission have not yet registered with him: “and to the ends of the earth.”

The second reference to witness is in the absolute core of our Christian faith: “For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” I am again thinking of the words in the Apostles’ Creed, “was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again.”

Jesus told his followers to stay in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirt came to them. As they prayed and worshipped together, their main thought was how they could be witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection.

My Takeaway: The apostles walked with the resurrected Jesus. They ate with him. They talked with him. They listened to him. For forty days, they were in the presence of the resurrected Jesus. More and more in our culture, the literal resurrection of Jesus is decentralized from the Christian faith, remembered only as a curious relic from antiquity. As for me, to paraphrase the Apostle Paul, I resolve to know nothing except Jesus Christ and him resurrected from the dead. (1 Corinthians 2:2)

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven

 Meditations on The Acts of the Apostles

January 6, 2021

Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven

Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Acts 1:11

Read: Acts 1: 9-14

The historic confession of faith, the Apostles’ Creed, affirms Jesus’ ascension to heaven and his promised return. Both of these articles of the Christian faith are included in today’s reading.

“On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will come again to judge the living and the dead.”

The ascension took place on the Mount of Olives, which is above the Garden of Gethsemane, and approximately one-half mile, a Sabbath day’s walk, from the walled city of Jerusalem. When the Apostles returned to their ‘upper room’ “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers” (verse 14).

It seems the Apostles got accustomed to being with Jesus after his resurrection. They talked with him, asked him questions and listened as he spoke to them about the Kingdom of God. I don’t think that prepared them for Jesus to be taken up before their very eyes. Or for two angels to explain to them what they were seeing. They responded in the only appropriate way: prayer and worship.

My Takeaway: My faith includes large portions of mystery and the mystical. “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29).

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.