Textual Sermon: Acts 3:11-26: God's Servant and How Sinners Respond

Scripture Reading: Acts 4:5-12

God's Servant and How Sinners Respond

Acts 3:11-26

Intro.
1. Apostolic miracles performed by the power of God to confirm the truth of the gospel they preached:

a. The miracle: Lame man healed, Acts 3:11 (1-11).

b. Effect: Wonder & great amazement; gathered, Acts 3:9-12.

c. Sermon (3:13-15), explained the power of miracle (3:16) & appealed to sinners to be saved from their sins (3:17-26).

2. His Servant Jesus: God’s Servant & sinners’ response.

I. JESUS: GOD’S SERVANT, Acts 3:13.

A. God Raised Him and Sent Him to Bless You, 3:26.

1. “…turning away every one of you from your sins.”

2. Christ Jesus serves God & man:

a. Bring forth justice to the nations, Isa. 42:1-4 (Matt. 12:18-21).

b. Justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities, Isa. 53:11.

c. Exalted highly, Isa. 52:13 (Acts 3:13; 2:33); Dan. 7:13-14.

d. Phil. 2:8-11: Jesus is able to bless us as a servant because…

1) He was obedient, 2:8 (Jno. 6:38; 17:4).

2) He suffered, 2:8 (Isa. 53:11, 4-6).

3) He was successful, 2:9-11 (Isa. 42:3-4).

B. We Must Serve God & Man, Rom. 6:16, 20-23 (Jno. 13:12-17).

II. JESUS: DELIVERED UP & DENIED, 3:13-14 (2:23; Matt. 20:18-19).

A. Men Often Reject Christ for Sin & Error, 3:14; cf. Jno. 15:20-25.

1. Rejection of Christ was Israel’s crowning act of rebellion.

2. When He is rejected today it shows hatred for Him & the Father.

3. Yet, most continue to love the world, 1 Jno. 2:15.

B. Christians Deny Jesus & Deliver Him to be Crucified whenever…

1. We carelessly eat the Lord’s supper, 1 Cor. 11:27.

2. We choose to stagnant & fall away instead of grow, Heb. 6:4-6.

3. We willfully sin instead of serve righteousness, Heb. 10:26-31.

-“Shall I Crucify My Savior?”

III. JESUS: THE PRINCE OF LIFE, 3:15.

A. Jesus is the Author of Eternal Life (Originator, beginning, founder, leader) – cf. Acts 3:16.

1. Life from spiritual death, Acts 4:12; 5:31.

2. Captain (leader, pioneer, prince) of our salvation, Heb. 2:10.

3. Eternal life given by Him to man (by the power of God), Jno. 14:6; 17:2-3.

B. We Obtain Eternal Life by Keeping His Word, Jno. 8:51; 11:25-26.

1. Live & believe on Him = Keeping His word.

2. Obey Him to be saved, Heb. 5:8-9.

IV. TURNING FROM SIN’S IGNORANCE TO GOD’S SALVATION, 3:17-26.

A. Being Ignorant of Our Sins & of Christ’s Power to Save Us does not Free Us from Being Accountable for Our Sins, Acts 3:17-19.

1. Ignorance of God’s plan didn’t keep God from fulfilling it, 3:17-18 (cf. 3:21-26, Prophets fulfilled).

2. Ignorance of our sin does not mean we do not need to repent of it to be saved, 3:19 (26:18).

3. We cannot plead, “I didn’t know” and be saved!

4. We don’t have to be lost in ignorance (without knowledge) & be foolish, Eph. 5:17.

5. Must repent & be converted, 3:19 (2:38; 22:16).

B. The Results of this Gospel Sermon, Acts 4:1-4.

1. Enemies greatly disturbed (troubled, offended) by truth, 4:1-2.

2. Gospel preachers were arrested, 4:3.

3. Many hearers believed, 4:4 (2:40-41, hearing, believed & were baptized – saved, Acts 18:8).

4. The church grew, 4:4 (2:47).

5. Which effect will truth have upon you? (cf. Acts 3:22-23)

Conclusion

1. God’s Servant, Jesus, has secured eternal blessings for sinners, even though most continue to deny Him & ask for sin instead.

2. Jesus calls us to be saved through obedient faith in His power to save (gospel), 3:12; 4:7-12.