There are a number of occurences in the Bible that could be named as critical events. One might even could argue that there are several instances that are absolutely the key most important happenings of all time; e.g., the birth of Christ and the death of Christ But I would suggest to you that the number one pivotal point of all time is recorded in Acts chapter 2. Here is the reasoning.
Up until Acts 2, all of God's people are still under the Jewish Law that was given to Moses. At the time of Jesus' birth the people were under Jewish Law. During Jesus' life, He and His family kept the Jewish Law. Just before His death, Jesus was taking the Passover feast with the 12 apostles as a good Jew would do. So, all during Jesus' life Christianity has not started. Jesus talked about it, taught them about the Kingdom to come, did lots of preaching, but He did not start His church. All through the 1st four books of the New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, there is a readying but no church.
The church starts in the book of Acts. In Acts 1, Jesus ascends into heaven where He will reign over His Kingdom at the right hand of God. In Acts 2, we find the Holy Spirit ascends upon the Apostles who are waiting in Jerusalem for this to happen because Jesus told them to. And right here in this chapter, in this series of events, the whole history of man changes. Peter and the rest of the apostles stood and Peter tells the people that this is it! This is the "last days" that the prophet Joel had foretold. This is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that Jesus had foretold. He told them that they had just killed the Son of God, Jesus. The people listening were "pricked in there hearts, 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 2:37-38). In verse 47, it says, "And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." Note that there now is a "church" and the first church occurs here in Jerusalem as recorded in Acts 2.
If you haven't done so lately, read the first several chapters of the book of Acts. This is the beginnings of the Christian era--very important. Thanks for reading. Feel the love.
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Theology Versus Personal Actions --
ReplyDeleteAs Mike talked about in today's lesson, Luke provides the theology of our Christian faith in the 1st two chapters of Acts. But, I think its very important to also read Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 for a total perspective.
After Luke tells everyone about the Christian thelogy, the very first action described in Chapter 3 was doing something for someone else (in this case healing a crippled man).
In Chapter 4, the powerfulness of this action (versus just preaching the thelogy) to Onlookers is described(which I interpret as to non-belivers).
Also, read the action in Chapter 2, verse 45 of the actions of the Believers in the 1st Church.
An article in today's newspaper caught my attention on a recent Pew Study on World Religions. The Study says the fastest growing religion in the World is Isalm. Islam believers now number 1.6 billion people, only second to Christianity at 2.2 billion.
For over two years I lived and worked in Turkey (Izmir which is the modern site of Ephesus). From my time in Turkey, I can understand why the Isalmic faith is growing so fast -- as it is a faith which so strongly emphasizes helping others in need or that feel disenfranchised, such as providing health care, education, jobs, etc.
Spreading the "Good News" of Jesus Christ has to mean more than just the theology of salvation -- shouldn't it also be asking ourselves EVERY DAY how our faith has helped others?
Steve
Absolutely. This point is right on the mark and hits me hard because sometimes I miss opportunities....and I hate that. We are having a special series of studies about this subject in the church and it is very affecting. More on this matter in next Sundays blog, Lord willing.
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