God Given Faith In His Name

MARCH 13, 2022 STUDY NOTES ACTS 3:14-18 BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES GOD GIVEN FAITH IN HIS NAME INTRODUCTION The lame man that was healed had entered the Temple with Peter and John He immediately drew attention, everyone in the Temple knew who he was He was the lame man who was daily placed at the gate of the Temple to beg for money Now he was walking, leaping, and praising God, and a crowd gathered around him Peter did not see a crowd, he saw a congregation, he saw an opportunity to preach The fact that they were Jews did not disturb Peter, he was not afraid to tell them the truth He begins his sermon with “you men of Israel,” pointing out who they were, God’s chosen nation They should have known what was happening that day, God was glorifying His Son Jesus Peter explained to them what was happening that day by preaching a sermon to them It was not a modern day “Sunday Sermonette” to satisfy “Selfish Saints” and make them feel good Listen to his introduction, Act 3:13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. Then Peter begins to explain what he told them in his introduction Act 3:14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; Peter once again pinpoints the guilt of the Jewish nation, “But you,” you did it, you “denied” Jesus Which he had stated in the previous verse, you denied, disowned, and rejected Jesus, your Messiah The Jews refused to accept the truth of Jesus, Peter presented the truth of Jesus to them Jesus is “the Holy One,” a truth that even the demons recognize, Luk 4:34 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God. (Satan knows who Jesus is, but he doesn’t want you to know who Jesus is) The chosen nation of God refused to see what the demons could see, Jesus was “the Holy One of God” The Jews knew of the vision of Isaiah, Isa 6:3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. (Heaven proclaimed “The Holy One” “The Holy One” means that Jesus is different from all others, distinct, set apart from all others He is God’s only begotten Son, Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Jesus is the unique Son, one of a kind, the One and only “Holy One” He is set apart by God as God, Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God. “The Word,” or we can say, “The Holy One” became flesh, Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. The name of “The Holy One” who became flesh is “Jesus” and Jesus is “the Just” “The Just” is another title applied to Jesus, presenting Him as the “righteous” One Righteous meaning without any deficiency, without any failure, Peter was identifying Jesus as innocent Telling the Jews that they did not see the true person of Jesus, they accused Him of being a criminal It was not difficult to see that Jesus was “the Holy One and the Just,” we have some examples Pilate’s wife knew it, Mat 27:19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream Page 1 of 5 because of him. She was saying that Jesus was a righteous man, a man of honor, and not a criminal to be condemned Pilate knew it, Mat 27:24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. The Centurion soldier knew it, Luk 23:47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. If Jesus was not “The Just” He could not have died for us, 1Pe 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: The one who was “just” in character died for those who were unjust in character The righteous took upon himself the sins of an unrighteous world The righteous One died for all-of the unrighteous ones, the Holy One died for all-of the unholy ones Peter tells us why, “that He might bring us to God,” Jesus is the only One who can do that There is one other verse that applies here, one of my favorite verses in all-of the Bible, 1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Peter said, you Jews did not see the truth of Jesus, so, you denied, disowned, and rejected Jesus Instead of accepting Jesus as your Messiah, you “desired a murderer to be granted unto you” Your choice was that a gift of grace be bestowed upon a murderer and Jesus “The Just” be crucified Stated in all 4 Gospel accounts (Matthew 27:15-23; Mark 15:6-15; Luke 23:13-25; John 18: 33-40) Peter is a master teacher when it comes to the use of contrast, it is one of his most meaningful methods In the next verse we find the contrast of life and death, what a paradox Peter presented to the Jews Their desire was for a murderer to be given life and the “Prince of Life” be put to death Act 3:15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. The “Prince of Life” presents Jesus as the author, originator, and creator of life, Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (All life exists because of Jesus) Jesus is the originator of God’s creation, Rev 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; Jesus is the sustainer of life, Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. Jesus is the Word of Life, 1Jn 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; Jesus is the “Bread of Life,” Joh 6:48 I am that bread of life. Jesus is the “Water of Life,” Joh 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. Jesus is the “Resurrection and the Life,” Joh 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: Exactly what Peter told the Jews, “whom God hath raised from the dead” The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is a fundamental truth in the book of Acts, Act 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. According to Acts Jesus is alive (Acts 2:24,32; 3:15,26; 4:10; 5:30; 10:40-41; 13:30,33-34,37; 17:3,31) Jesus confirmed that the price of redemption had been paid when he said, “It is finished,” Joh 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (It was not Jesus that was finished) Jesus had fulfilled the purpose of His earthly mission, Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more Page 2 of 5 abundantly. Jesus must be alive Himself in-order to bestow life “more abundantly” Jesus is alive because “God has raised Him from the dead,” and Peter said, “we are witnesses” Peter and John had witnessed the resurrected Jesus and they were now continual witnesses for Jesus Their witness was Jesus is alive and they were not the only witnesses that day of the presence of Jesus The lame man that was healed in the name of Jesus was a witness to the fact that Jesus is alive Peter now gives a witness to the fact that Jesus is alive, and the crowd had seen the evidence Act 3:16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. Peter states “His name” twice and “faith” twice for the purpose of emphasis “His name” represents the total person of Jesus, a name is the revelation of a person “His name” identifies with all that Jesus has done, all that He can do and all that He will do “Faith in His name” is to believe in the total Person and Work of Jesus Theologians debate the question of faith in this passage, who exercised faith in the name of Jesus? Was it Peter and John? Was it the lame man? Was it all three of them? I believe it was all three of them because it was God who bestowed the faith upon each one “His name through faith” is a gift of God, the result of God’s grace, Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: What does “that not of yourselves” identify with, the grace or the faith? Which is “the gift of God,” the grace or the faith? The truth of our total salvation is “for by grace,” it is all by the unmerited favor of God Without God there would be no grace and there would be no faith We are now a “Child of God” by grace, we live in grace, and we are kept by grace “Faith” is the channel through which the work of grace flows “Faith” opens the door of the heart and allows the grace of God to come in “Faith” is the commitment and the agreement with God, Faith says, “I agree” But how do we receive “faith,” Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (The Word of God is the source of saving faith, revealing Jesus to you, Acts 10:13) Faith comes to us when God’s Word convicts us, convinces us, and persuades us to call upon Jesus We exercise faith because we believe what God has said, we trust His Word Our faith is when we come to agree with what we have heard from God through His Word So, grace and faith are both “the gift of God,” the truth that Paul presents in Ephesians 1 God planned His “Gift,” Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: God provided His “Gift,” Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, God presents to us His “Gift,” Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: God places His “Gift” within us, Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, God’s gift of salvation is unearned and undeserved, God owes us nothing but gave us everything Grace gave us everything for nothing, nothing that we had done earned the gift of salvation, Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. (To God be the Glory) The lame man was not healed in the name of Peter or John, they were not the “Great Physician” Faith was not placed in the name of Peter or John, but in the name of Jesus “Faith in His Name” is the belief that Jesus is who God and God’s Word says that He is Page 3 of 5 “Faith in His Name” is believing everything that the Bible says He can and will do “Faith in His Name” is the faith unto salvation, which is only through Jesus, 1Pe 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. “Who by Him” refers to Jesus, it literally reads, “through Him,” belief in God comes through Jesus To believe in Jesus is to believe in God, only through Jesus do we have access to God Access to God is possible because Jesus is alive, God raised Him from the dead Because Jesus is alive our “faith” is in God, Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. Because Jesus is alive our “hope” is in God, hope is faith waiting to see what God is going to do next, Rom 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Peter said, “through faith in his name hath made this man strong,” his strength was based on faith The faith of Peter, John, and the lame man was God-given faith The faith, the strength, the healing, the miracle, were all because of Jesus who is alive “And his name through faith in His name hath made this man strong,” he was immediately healed “Whom you see and know,” which has already been stated, Act 3:10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. They knew because of what they saw that a miracle had been performed, but who performed the miracle? Peter explains it, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. Because of the faith that came from and through Jesus the lame man is now “perfectly sound” The evidence that he was physically sound was when he entered the Temple, Act 3:8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. The evidence that he was spiritually sound is that he was “Praising God,” Act 3:9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God: What an opportunity for Peter to present to the Jews that Jesus is alive, and He performed the miracle Act 3:17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. Here “brethren” is not referring to those who are united together in-Christ through salvation They were Jews, of the same nation, they were of the chosen nation of Israel, they were “brethren” The nation that had made a big mistake, they had failed to receive their God-given Messiah, Jesus Peter is not providing them with an excuse for what they did, they stood guilty before God Peter is saying, the truth is, you should have known, the fact is, you didn’t know, which Jesus stated, Luk 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. Peter said, “your rulers” were ignorant also, Paul has a word concerning the rulers, 1Co 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Peter was not saying, you are innocent because of your ignorance, there was no reason for their ignorance Peter is telling the Jews that they are guilty because of their ignorance, and he explains why---Act 3:18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. The OT prophets had plainly proclaimed God’s predetermined plan concerning the Messiah God had clearly confirmed that Jesus was the Messiah through His earthly ministry, Jesus is the Christ The prophets often spoke of the suffering of Christ, Jesus often soke of His suffering Following His resurrection Jesus confirmed the words of the prophets, Luk 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Luk 24:26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? Luk 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the Page 4 of 5 prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. The Jews stood guilty before God, as sinners we all stand guilty before God, what must we do? Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; Jesus, the “Great Physician” who can heal physically, will also give you “Eternal Life” Can it really happen? Just ask the blind man, he saw it all, listen to the song! The greatest miracle of all is the forgiveness of sins and the giving of an eternal life? Are you a walking miracle? If so, are you running to tell others what Jesus did for you? Page 5 of 5