Who are the people of God today? Who can say, “The Lord is our God and we are his people”? Scripture declares that, after the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden, God graciously chose a people for himself out of all the nations of the world to be his treasured possession, obeying his […]
In Acts, the power to heal was given by the risen Lord Jesus to his apostles to lay the foundation of the church (Acts 2:43; Eph. 2:20). These miracles were redemptive signs that accompanied the preaching of the gospel and validated their message. And like all signs, they pointed to something else; they pointed to […]
The greater the authority rebelled against, the greater the punishment. To strike your brother is one thing, but to strike a police officer is another. But consider the consequences of rebelling against the Creator of heaven and earth, the infinitely holy and terribly just God. Every sin we commit is a direct assault on his […]
Having just mentioned the prayers, the signs of the apostles, and the church’s gatherings in the temple (Acts 2:42-47), Luke then focuses on a specific event concerning one sign, two apostles, a time of prayer at the temple, and a lame beggar. But why tell this story? First, this sets the stage for the next […]
One of the most convincing proofs that the risen Lord Jesus had poured out the promised Holy Spirit can be seen in the events following Peter’s sermon on Pentecost. Luke not only records that those who received Peter’s words were baptized were added to the church (v.41), but he also gives a comprehensive portrait of […]
Peter began his sermon on Pentecost by quoting the prophet Joel, explaining that God had finally poured out his promised Holy Spirit on all flesh. In these last days, whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But having mentioned “the name of the Lord,” he draws the attention of the Jews […]
One of the most fundamental truths of life is that no one escapes death. Scripture tells us that death came into the world because of sin, and death spread to all men because all have sinned (Rom. 5:12). But Jesus of Nazareth made an astounding claim: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes […]
In the tapestry that is the history of redemption, the threads of God’s awesome holiness and covenant love are woven together. This brings about a tension as we read through the Old Testament: How can God’s holiness and love coexist? How can a holy God dwell among a sinful people? The answer to these important […]
Over the course of redemptive history, there have been several pivotal moments that revealed who our God is and what his saving purposes are for the world. For instance, the giving of the Law at Sinai, the building of the temple, and the ascension of the risen Lord Jesus. However, before the final moment in […]
