“Faithfully Confessing”
1/21/18 PM
Scripture ReadingActs 4:29-30
Introduction: Jesus is clear. He is the Way, the Truth, the Life.
John 14:6
That is our belief. That is our faith. That is our hope.
That is our confession.
A. Scripture acknowledges that our confession may be costly.
John 17:14-18; Matt. 10:16-20
1 Peter 3:13-18; 4:12-16
B. The first Christians quickly had to decide whether or not to confess Jesus.
Acts 3-4
It all began with a cripple, begging for money at the temple gate. Peter and John had no money to give, but they gave him something money could not buy—the ability to walk for the first time in his life. (Acts 3:1-10)
Peter took advantage of the moment, and told the astonished crowd that it was by faith in Jesus that the man was healed. He called on them to repent and turn to God, so that their sins would be wiped out. (Acts 3:11-26)
All of this disturbed the Jewish leaders, so they put Peter and John in jail. Nonetheless, the church continued to grow (4:4). The next day they demanded to know the authority behind their actions. Peter, “filled with the Holy Spirit,” told them plainly that it was “by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,” adding, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:1-12)
The religious leaders noted their courage, and “that these men had been with Jesus” (v. 13). They commanded them not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus again (4:14-18). But Peter and John promised only to obey God, saying, “As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19-22)
Upon their release, they report to the church everything that has happened, and the church prays for courage and boldness. (Acts 4:23-31)
Their prayer: acknowledged God’s sovereignty (4:24b);
acknowledged God’s wonderful acts (4:24c-26);
acknowledged the seriousness of the threat (4:27-29a);
asked for God’s help—not to be protected from harm, but to confess (4:29-30)
“Now Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your Word with great boldness.”
The place where they prayed was shaken, which made them the more unshaken. (Acts 4:31)
Conclusion: The Lord will reward our faithful confession with eternal life.
Matt. 10:32-33
1 Peter 4:19—“So then, those who suffer according to God’s willshould commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”
Rom. 6:20-23; Rev. 2:8-11