The Ascended Prophet
Acts 3:17-26

Introduction:

1.         True Christianity is a message of joy and confident expectation. It tells us of the living God who acts in human history to rescue his people by turning them back to him. It tells us that God has spoken, that God has provided for our most important needs (to be right with him and to have eternal life), and that God has a joyful future to share with his people.

2.         In light of this, it is surprising that Christians have paid so little attention to what the Lord the Spirit has revealed to us in Acts 3. Dr. Luke writes that his Gospel is the record of what Jesus began to do and to teach before his ascension. And in the book of Acts, Luke testifies to what the risen and ascended Jesus continued to do and to teach by the outpoured Holy Spirit through his church. This chapter contains the second recorded sermon of the early church. May we catch the enthusiasm of the preacher. What did the apostle Peter think was crucial to tell people in this early sermon?

3.         Briefly state the context of Peter’s sermon. Point out the importance of 3:13. Connect this with faith in Jesus in 3:16.

4.         The question then arises, “If Jesus is so great and glorious, why didn’t those people who heard him believe in him?” Peter explains God’s plan to work in and through his ascended Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Exposition:

I.          God foretold through all the prophets what Christ would do.

            A.         The sufferings of Christ were foretold.

                        1.         God announced his plan to save his people through his suffering Servant and then carried out his plan.

                        2.         Since God had clearly revealed his plan, the failure to listen to Jesus rests on human ignorance.

Point: Teaching is crucial! Knowledge alone cannot save, but ignorance is worse! People who take Christianity seriously worship God with their minds.

            B.         The prophetic ministry of Christ was foretold. This point has been generally ignored — to the weakness of the church!

                        1.         Moses was a prophet. He served as mediator (Gal 3:19) or servant (Heb 3:1-6) of the old covenant given at Sinai. God used Moses to tell his will to his people. Moses faithfully performed God’s will. But both he and his covenant pointed to something better — and Moses knew and taught this (Dt 18:15,18-19).

                                    a.         A problem in the theology of many has been the failure to realize the temporary and typical nature of Moses and his covenant. As people of a new and better covenant, we do not seek to continue to live before God in the old covenant way. Nor do we look for a reinstitution of that old way (Col 2:14). All this speaks of the discontinuity between the old and the new covenants.

                                    b.         However, at the same time, there are also elements of continuity between the old and the new covenants. The same God made the covenants to redeem one people that were chosen by grace. The same God raises up a prophet like Moses to be the mediator. All that was given in the law or old covenant was to lead to Christ (Gal 3:24).

                        2.         Jesus Christ is God’s prophet. He serves as mediator of a new covenant (Heb 9:15) and is the faithful Son over God’s house (Heb 3:1; 3,6).

                                    a.         Christ has apostolic or prophetic authority over God’s people. We must listen to him about the way of worship and how to please the living God (Mt 17:4-8; Jn 4:21-24).

Point: As we share the good news, we must not neglect to assert Christ’s authority over the way God is to be worshipped. The Lord is very zealous about this point (Jn 14:6)!

                                    b.         If you fail to submit to Christ’s final authority as the one sent by the Father, you will suffer eternal loss (Mt 7:24-29; Jn 5:24; 12:47-50).

II.          God has fulfilled in Christ what he foretold about him.

            A.         Christ’s earthly ministry was carried our with the goal to bring about a fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham.

                        1.         This promise spoke of the blessing of being right with God. All peoples on earth would be blessed through Christ — the preeminent Seed of Abraham.

                        2.         Christ’s earthly ministry was to the lost sheep of Israel (Mt 15:14). This follows God’s plan of first to the Jews, and then to the Gentiles (Rm 1:16).

                        3.         So Christ taught as God’s prophet and asserted that he was “Lord and Teacher” (Jn 13:13-14).

            B.         Christ’s present heavenly ministry is as Ascended Prophet. God glorified his Son and the Spirit took truth from Christ and made it known to the apostles and prophets (Jn 16:15-15). The Spirit takes the truth that is in Jesus and uses that to convert our souls (Eph 4:21). He remains in heaven but his truth speaks through the holy writings.

                        1.         Now we must acknowledge that he is God’s wisdom (1 Cor 1:30) in contrast with hollow and deceptive philosophy (Col 2:3; 8-9).

                        2.         Now we must fix our thoughts on Jesus (Heb 3:1) and live according to his teaching. [God willing, we will say more on this point another time.]

III.         God’s exaltation of his prophet points to a glorious future.

            A.         God has set a time for a future restoration.

                        1.         Oh that we had time to speak in detail of these things! Perhaps a few hints will be sufficient (Is 25:6-9; 26:19-21; 27:6; Zeph 3:14-17).

                        2.         Until God’s time comes, Jesus must remain in heaven. Christ did not return in AD 70 or any other time, as some have wrongly taught. This is clear for many reasons, but I’ll mention two.

                                    a.         Israel has not yet been reunited with the people of God. When the Redeemer comes he will remove godlessness from Jacob (Rm 11:11-32).

                                    b.         When Christ comes, we will be brought into glorious freedom in both body and soul (Rm 8:18-25). Now we are sons and heirs, but we still patiently wait in hope for glory.

            B.         God’s exaltation of Jesus as Ascended Prophet produces a practical demand. Change your minds and turn your ways.

                        1.         Your change of mind will bring freedom from sin. “My sins are blotted out, I know!”

                        2.         Your change of mind will lead to Christ’s coming and the times of refreshing (cf. 2 Pt 3:11).