Knowing For Certain: Jesus Is Lord And Christ
“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.” - Acts 2:32-33
We all have things we know for certain. You might be completely convinced that a specific local restaurant serves the best barbecue in the state. You might believe with all your heart that your favorite sports team is destined to win the championship this year. We love to gather facts and stats to support our favorite things. But the book of Acts calls us to press into something much deeper than our appetites or our hobbies. It calls us to be cut to the heart with the ultimate truth.
Just moments after the Holy Spirit arrived with wind and fire at Pentecost, Peter stood up to speak. The crowd was confused, and some even mocked the believers. In the middle of this fray, Peter delivered a bold, unapologetic message. His entire sermon pointed to one undeniable reality: Jesus is both Lord and Christ.
Facing Objections with Confidence
When the Holy Spirit moves, some people will always remain skeptical. In Acts 2, the onlookers assumed the believers were simply drunk. Today, people still carry deep objections to the Christian faith. They have intellectual questions about the existence of evil, the validity of the Bible, and the intersection of science and faith. They also carry personal hurts from past church experiences or hypocrisy they have witnessed.
When people raise these objections, we do not need to feel threatened. Peter did not panic when the crowd mocked him. He addressed their claims head on. We can do the same. We can listen to the concerns of our neighbors, acknowledge their doubts, and walk patiently with them to show a better way.
Anchoring In the Truth of Scripture
To answer the crowd, Peter immediately turned to the Scriptures. He quoted the prophets and the psalms to show that Jesus was the exact Savior they had been waiting for. Peter viewed the events of his day through the lens of God's Word.
Human logic, philosophy, and historical arguments are helpful, but they cannot replace the authority of the Bible. God's Word is alive and active. It pierces the heart and reveals the truth. This means we must anchor our own lives in Scripture. We need to take it in daily, letting it enlighten our minds and strengthen our souls. When we are immersed in the Bible, we are prepared to share the treasure of Christ with others.
Attesting To the Work of Jesus
Jesus is the unifying center of the entire Bible. His life, death, and resurrection form the core of our message. Jesus was not a helpless victim of the Roman government. His death was part of God's sovereign plan to pay for our sins. God then raised Him from the dead to prove that He defeated death completely. This is the crux of our proclamation. Jesus changed everything, and His life continues to change everything today.
Applying The Gospel to Daily Life
These truths are not dusty historical facts. They are powerful realities that change how we live right now. The resurrection of Jesus brings us new life today and eternal life forever.
People around you have likely heard of Jesus. What they desperately need to see is an encounter with Christ. They need to witness a life that has been visibly changed by the Holy Spirit. Show others how your life is different because of Jesus. Let them see the difference that grace makes in your marriage, the difference that integrity makes in your workplace, and the joy that fills your relationships.
Arguing For the Truth in Love
We are called to make a clear case for the truth. This does not mean getting into shouting matches or trying to win arguments. It means presenting the evidence of what God has done and bringing people to a decision point. We point them away from their sin and toward Christ.
This takes time and relationship. Most importantly, it takes the Holy Spirit to produce fruit. You might feel unqualified to share your faith. You might remember past mistakes and wonder if God can use you. Remember that just fifty days before this sermon, Peter denied even knowing Jesus. Yet, filled with the Holy Spirit, God used him to start a movement. You do not need perfect eloquence. You just need to be a faithful witness and trust God to call people to Himself.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the undeniable truth that Jesus is both Lord and Christ. Please cut us to the heart with Your Word. Give us the courage to speak boldly and unapologetically about Your Son. Help us to anchor our lives in Your Scripture so we can confidently answer the objections of those around us. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, that our transformed lives might point our neighbors to Your amazing grace. We ask that You use our simple, faithful witness to draw many people into Your family. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
We all have things we know for certain. You might be completely convinced that a specific local restaurant serves the best barbecue in the state. You might believe with all your heart that your favorite sports team is destined to win the championship this year. We love to gather facts and stats to support our favorite things. But the book of Acts calls us to press into something much deeper than our appetites or our hobbies. It calls us to be cut to the heart with the ultimate truth.
Just moments after the Holy Spirit arrived with wind and fire at Pentecost, Peter stood up to speak. The crowd was confused, and some even mocked the believers. In the middle of this fray, Peter delivered a bold, unapologetic message. His entire sermon pointed to one undeniable reality: Jesus is both Lord and Christ.
Facing Objections with Confidence
When the Holy Spirit moves, some people will always remain skeptical. In Acts 2, the onlookers assumed the believers were simply drunk. Today, people still carry deep objections to the Christian faith. They have intellectual questions about the existence of evil, the validity of the Bible, and the intersection of science and faith. They also carry personal hurts from past church experiences or hypocrisy they have witnessed.
When people raise these objections, we do not need to feel threatened. Peter did not panic when the crowd mocked him. He addressed their claims head on. We can do the same. We can listen to the concerns of our neighbors, acknowledge their doubts, and walk patiently with them to show a better way.
Anchoring In the Truth of Scripture
To answer the crowd, Peter immediately turned to the Scriptures. He quoted the prophets and the psalms to show that Jesus was the exact Savior they had been waiting for. Peter viewed the events of his day through the lens of God's Word.
Human logic, philosophy, and historical arguments are helpful, but they cannot replace the authority of the Bible. God's Word is alive and active. It pierces the heart and reveals the truth. This means we must anchor our own lives in Scripture. We need to take it in daily, letting it enlighten our minds and strengthen our souls. When we are immersed in the Bible, we are prepared to share the treasure of Christ with others.
Attesting To the Work of Jesus
Jesus is the unifying center of the entire Bible. His life, death, and resurrection form the core of our message. Jesus was not a helpless victim of the Roman government. His death was part of God's sovereign plan to pay for our sins. God then raised Him from the dead to prove that He defeated death completely. This is the crux of our proclamation. Jesus changed everything, and His life continues to change everything today.
Applying The Gospel to Daily Life
These truths are not dusty historical facts. They are powerful realities that change how we live right now. The resurrection of Jesus brings us new life today and eternal life forever.
People around you have likely heard of Jesus. What they desperately need to see is an encounter with Christ. They need to witness a life that has been visibly changed by the Holy Spirit. Show others how your life is different because of Jesus. Let them see the difference that grace makes in your marriage, the difference that integrity makes in your workplace, and the joy that fills your relationships.
Arguing For the Truth in Love
We are called to make a clear case for the truth. This does not mean getting into shouting matches or trying to win arguments. It means presenting the evidence of what God has done and bringing people to a decision point. We point them away from their sin and toward Christ.
This takes time and relationship. Most importantly, it takes the Holy Spirit to produce fruit. You might feel unqualified to share your faith. You might remember past mistakes and wonder if God can use you. Remember that just fifty days before this sermon, Peter denied even knowing Jesus. Yet, filled with the Holy Spirit, God used him to start a movement. You do not need perfect eloquence. You just need to be a faithful witness and trust God to call people to Himself.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the undeniable truth that Jesus is both Lord and Christ. Please cut us to the heart with Your Word. Give us the courage to speak boldly and unapologetically about Your Son. Help us to anchor our lives in Your Scripture so we can confidently answer the objections of those around us. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, that our transformed lives might point our neighbors to Your amazing grace. We ask that You use our simple, faithful witness to draw many people into Your family. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
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