Bible Pathways - Nov. 9, 2008
November 9
Highlights In Today's Reading:
Disciples prepare for and await the Holy Spirit as the Church begins (1:8). Jesus ascends to the Father (1:9-10). Did you know that with one accord gives spiritual power (1:14)? The Holy Spirit arrives (2:1-13)! Peter's 1st sermon: Let all the house of Israel know (2:14-41). First miracle of the Church (3:1-11). Peter's 2nd sermon, the covenants will be fulfilled (3:12-26).
The supreme theme of the Book of Acts is Jesus Christ, the only Savior and the coming King. Know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ (2:36). They responded by saying: What shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Spirit). . . . Then they that gladly received his Word were baptized (2:37-38,41). One may be doctrinally wrong about many things and yet still be saved, but one dare not be wrong about his relationship with Jesus Christ, who alone is his hope for God's salvation. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (4:12).
The believers in Acts knew that Jesus of Nazareth was Christ their Messiah. They also recognized that any belief which did not lead to repentance and a new way of life was insincere and worthless. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold . . . but with the precious blood of Christ. . . . Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth (I Peter 1:18-19,22). Imagine groups of the disciples meeting and talking about the weather, or politics, and saying little if anything about Jesus.
It is written of these first Christians: Daily in the Temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ (Acts 5:42). There are vital obligations for every Christian (Luke 9:23), and the one who has no concern for doing what is pleasing in the Lord's sight should not assume that he is prepared to meet the Lord. However, our faith must never rest in our works. All our trust and hope must be in the Beloved. In whom we have redemption through His blood (Ephesians 1:5-7) — in Christ alone, and not by our good works.
Jesus said of His disciples, they have kept Thy Word (John 17:6). This is of more than incidental significance as we may discern from the promise of our Lord when He said: He that hath My Commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him (John 14:21).
Thought for Today:
In Him (Jesus) we live, and move, and have our being (Acts 17:28). This is what Jesus meant to the early Church. Is this what He means to us?
Word Studies:
1:3 after His passion =b> after He had suffered death; 1:12 a Sabbath day's journey =b> a little over one-half mile which was the extent a Jew was to travel from home on the Sabbath; 2:27 leave My soul in hell =b> forsake Me in the grave (Sheol).
Cross References:
For Acts 1:20: See Psalm 69:25; 109:8. Acts 2:17-21: See Joel 2:28-32. Acts 2:25-28: See Psalm 16:8-11. Acts 2:34-35: See Psalm 110:1. Acts 3:22-23: See Deuteronomy 18:15,18-19. Acts 3:25: See Genesis 12:3; 22:18.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for Radio Sri Lanka International Shortwave Broadcasts for the week sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. Don Antholz • Government Official: Sen. Sherrod Brown (OH) • Country: Moldova (4.3 million) southeastern Europe • Major languages: Rumanian and Russian • Limited religious freedom • 66% Russian/Romanian Orthodox; 2.5% Catholic (Greek and Roman); 1.7% Protestant (mainly Baptist); 1.5% Jewish; .2% Muslim; 28.1% Agnostic/Atheist/Other • Prayer Suggestion: All men need to pray to the Lord, who hears prayers (Psa. 65:2).
Memory Verse for the Week: 2 Timothy 4:5
