ONE MESSAGE
Acts 8: 5
In our day, churches spend much time speaking about growing the church, church discipline, church fund raisers, the believer's responsibilities and duties, the history of the reformation, the history of historians, and just about anything else that will tickle the ears of the people. Have you ever really taken note of the one message preached in the early church? As you read the following verses consider who God would have preached and honestly compare it with what we are hearing in this generation.
· Acts 2: 11:…we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.Acts 2:36: Peter preached: that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
· In Acts 3: 20…Peter told the unbelieving Jews to repent and believe, and that their strength to do so, would come from Jesus Christ…which before was preached unto you.
· Acts 4: 2: The religious men were grieved at their preaching for one reason, they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead….18: They called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19: But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20: For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
· Acts 4: 29: And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 33: And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
· Acts 5: 20: The Angel of the Lord opened the prison and commanded them to preach one message, saying, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
· Acts 5: 28: Those respected and beloved religious leaders who were set on preaching the gospel of man's hands threatened them again, and again they were mad for one reason: Saying, Did not we straightly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us…29: Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 30: The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31: Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32: And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him
· Acts 5: 42: After they were beaten and commanded not to preach Christ, scripture says, And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
· Acts 8: 5: Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
Those who are in "subjection to the gospel of Christ" are in subjection to Christ Jesus the Power and Wisdom of God. The carnal man can not and will not subject himself to the Lord's word because to do so is to declare man is powerless and Christ is sovereign not only in providence but in salvation. Christ really does make rebellious sinners obedient; Christ really does makes disciples of those who were once God-haters; Christ really was the giver of each true apostle and he really is the giver of every true pastor today, and he really does work effectually in his church but he really does it only through the gospel that declares All power and ability to do so is his alone. It pleased God to save through the word of his Son alone because it pleased God the Father that ALL FULLNESS DWELL IN HIS SON ALONE!