Well, I wonder if you can say that this morning.
My boast is Jesus Christ.
I trust you can.
Well, what does it take to be able to make that confession?
A Christ of your own making, but the Christ, the true Christ that's in the Scripture.
We've been learning about Him a little bit, and we'll see Him again this morning.
The true glimpse of the true Savior, it takes recognition of who He is.
But then it also takes an honest look in your own heart, an examination.
How does this true Christ address me?
How does this true Christ address the issues of my life?
How does the truth about Jesus confront the situation that I'm in?
And it calls us out of the ignorance that we have had,
and calls us to something that is clear, something that is defined.
And by God's grace, it will call us to worship.
It will call us to faith in Him.
But God has to do a work in our hearts to draw out the truth for us,
and to expose the ignorance of our hearts to lead us to that revelation,
so that we can, in fact, say, my boast is Jesus Christ.
Well, on March of 1974, a Japanese soldier named Hiro Onoda
walked out of the jungle on Lubang Island in the Philippines.
World War II had ended in 1945.
This was almost 29 years later, he finally walks out of the jungle.
For Onoda, the war had not ever ended.
He had been sent to the island late in the time of the World War II.
He was told, given instructions from his intelligence officer,
not to surrender under any condition.
So when the war ended and leaflets were dropped,
messages about the war being over,
members were sent and search parties would come,
and families were sent to search for their loved ones.
But Onoda did not believe the pamphlets that were dropped.
He thought the messages were enemy tricks.
He thought that they were the deception.
He thought they were meant to convey a surrender that he should not follow.
So he stayed in the jungle.
He kept hiding.
He kept fighting.
He kept living as though the war was still raging.
And for 29 years after the war was over,
he lived in that pseudo-reality,
a reality that he had made for himself.
Japanese traveler ran into him and discovered that he was living under these conditions.
And he called him to understand the truth of the war being over.
But Onoda would not surrender.
He said he would remain true to the orders he was given.
Finally, after 29 years,
the Japanese government would send his former commanding officer,
who was now a fisherman,
to meet with Onoda face-to-face and to dismiss those orders.
Only then Onoda laid down his weapons.
Only then Onoda would come out of hiding.
And only then would Onoda understand the reality of the situation that was in front of him.
The story is true of ignorance.
The ignorance that rested on Onoda's heart
is the same kind of ignorance that all of us are called to confront.
You see, Onoda didn't accept the announcement.
And because of living in ignorance,
he continued to believe and exist as though the war continued.
This morning in our passage, as we look at Acts chapter 3,
and I would encourage you to turn there in your Bibles, if you would,
Acts chapter 3.
If you're using the Pew Bible, it's on page 911.
The truth is that the audience that Peter was speaking to
were also blinded by ignorance.
They were unable to recognize Jesus Christ,
God in the flesh, who was right in front of them.
Jesus had ministered before them for three years in public,
and they would not receive his message.
We find at the beginning parts of Acts chapter 3,
Peter and John who are making their way to the temple.
This is the hour of prayer.
This is the ninth hour, which would have been three o'clock in the afternoon.
They're going there as was their custom.
And you remember, they encountered this lame man.
This man who had been lame from birth,
we find for 40 years.
He had been lame.
And in order to make ends meet,
he would ask those religious individuals who were coming to the temple for financial assistance.
He would beg for help.
On this day, he would pass Peter and John.
He would ask for financial help.
And Peter would say,
I don't have silver and gold,
but what I have,
I give to you in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Rise up and walk.
He takes the man by the hand.
You remember, he raises him up.
The man walks and leaps,
and he's praising God
as they walk together into the temple.
Those in the temple are amazed.
We saw that a couple of weeks ago.
We saw the amazement of the crowd.
They recognized this man,
and they know that something significant had taken place.
We find that this man had been healed.
And in verse 9 and 10,
we find the people saw him walking and praising God.
They recognized him as the one who sat at the beautiful gate of the temple,
asking for alms,
and they were filled with wonder and amazement
at what was happening to him.
They recognized that a miracle had taken place.
And they were filled with wonder and amazement.
And a couple of weeks ago,
when we talked about this,
we recognized the significance of wonder,
this marveling at what was taking place.
But Peter wants to make sure
that the hearts of those who are in front of him
move from wonder to worship.
And that's where all of us need to be.
We need to move from just being amazed
at the spectacular works of God.
It needs to move us in,
into devotion,
into understanding of who God is,
and ultimately into faith.
Faith in Christ.
Faith in the message of this gospel.
And Peter will take this opportunity now,
as those people have rushed together,
to move their hearts from wonder into worship.
That's his goal.
In this second part of this sermon,
that begins in verse 17.
He wants them to recognize that,
that wondering is good,
but it's never meant to stay there.
He says there in verse 12,
why do you wonder at this?
And throughout this discourse,
Peter will direct the attention away from himself,
and he'll direct attention of wonder to Jesus Christ.
He wants them to understand the object of wonder,
and the object of worship.
Don't stare at us as if we did anything.
Look to Christ.
He's the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham.
He's the one you crucified.
He's the holy one.
He's the righteous one.
He's the one you murdered.
He's the author of life,
who you denied.
Look to Christ.
And we find in verse 16 of chapter 3,
it says this,
And in his name,
or excuse me,
and his name,
by faith in his name,
he has made him strong.
And the faith that is through Jesus
has given this man the perfect health
in the presence of you all.
It's meant to lead you to faith.
It's meant to lead you to worship.
And at this point of the message,
Peter's sermon becomes very hard-hitting.
It does indict.
It does accuse.
It does condemn.
Peter wants his audience
to recognize the bad news
before he can welcome them
to enjoy the good news.
The good news of the promises of God.
And he does this in the sharpest way possible.
We find that in verse 13.
He wants his audience to recognize
the seriousness of their crime.
The God of your father Abraham
glorified his servant, Jesus,
whom you delivered over to Pilate.
That's how bad it is.
God sent his servant
in the form of Jesus Christ
so that you could see him and know him.
But what did you do?
You didn't receive him.
You put him to death.
And Peter makes this connection
not to condemn them,
but as we're going to see
from verses 17 to 26,
Peter makes this connection
to invite them to something special,
to invite them to faith.
Because as we're going to see,
God's promises still stand.
His promises still stand.
So turn with me, if you would,
to verse 17.
I'm going to read the first several verses of this
and then we'll jump into our passage.
It says this,
And now, brothers,
I know that you acted in ignorance,
as did also your rulers.
But what God foretold
by the mouth of all the prophets
that his Christ would suffer,
he thus fulfilled.
Repent, therefore,
and turn back
that your sins may be blotted out,
that times of refreshing may come
from the presence of the Lord,
and that he may send Christ
appointed for you,
Jesus,
whom heaven must receive
until the time
for restoring all things
about which God spoke
by the mouth
of his holy prophets
long ago.
You see this invitation now.
You see this tone
that's beginning to shift.
This indictment,
this condemnation,
this rebuke
that Peter will bring
at the first part of his sermon
now turns to promise.
And he begins by saying,
receive the message
of God's promise.
That's the invitation.
Receive this message
of God's promise.
And in order to receive
this message,
you need to come to terms
with your own ignorance.
The danger of ignorance.
You need to recognize
that your ignorant hearts
have polluted the truth,
have darkened your heart,
and have caused this response
to Jesus himself.
And Peter begins this message
back in verse 12.
He begins with this tone.
Men of Israel.
He's addressing them.
And now recognize the shift
that's beginning to happen
in verse 17.
You see how he addresses them here?
He says,
and now brothers.
And now brothers.
Do you notice the tone?
The tone that has shifted?
Now this tone of invitation.
Now this tone
that we belong together.
By using this word brothers,
Peter is placing himself
alongside them.
And I wonder,
even as Peter was speaking
the words,
you denied the servant,
God's son.
I wonder,
even in the use
of the word denied,
Peter recognizes
in his own heart,
you know what?
I deny the Lord three times.
But it didn't disqualify me
from being able
to enjoy the benefits
of the promise.
It didn't keep me away.
And so now Peter
extends this invitation
to these brothers,
these men,
who are there
in front of him.
He's drawing attention
to their shared heritage,
their shared relationship.
He's also drawing attention
to their shared responsibility.
The first part
of this message
draws this attention
to the seriousness
of their rejection.
But Peter is now
going to invite them
to the solution
that they all share
in Christ.
This welcome invitation
to enjoy the benefits
of what Christ
has accomplished.
You acted in ignorance.
This is the Greek word
anoya,
which is a compound word.
The first part of it,
ah,
which is not.
The second part of it
is knowledge.
So not knowledge.
You acted without knowledge.
You acted in a way
that demonstrated
you didn't understand
what was taking place.
And all throughout
the scripture,
whenever this word is used,
it's always used
to implicate the heathen.
It's always used
of those who are outside,
who decide not
to believe in God.
This is not,
by the way,
the absence of information.
Those who were standing
there in Jerusalem
had all the access
of information.
Jesus himself
had ministered to them
for three years.
And not just the lack
of information,
but there was also
this access
to information.
So that's not
what we're talking about.
But it does talk about
the utter blindness
of these individuals
in their response
to the truth
that was right
in front of them.
It's similar
to what the apostle Paul
says in Ephesians
chapter 4,
verses 17 to 19,
describing the condition
of our hearts
before Christ.
He says,
Now I say
and testify in the Lord
that you must no longer
walk as the Gentiles walk,
in the futility
of their minds.
They're darkened
in their understanding.
They're separated
from the life of God
because of the ignorance
that is in them
due to the hardening
of their hearts.
They have become callous.
They have given themselves
up to sensuality,
greedy to practice
every kind of impurity.
What is this ignorance produced?
Well, it's produced
futility in their minds,
darkening of understanding,
alienated from God,
hardness of heart,
calloused in the way
they respond,
giving themselves over
to all kinds of wickedness.
In relationship
to the spoken word,
there is a total
rejection of truth,
a posture that has
set itself aside
from hearing and knowing
and embracing
the truth
that they had access to.
This is a perfect description
of the ignorance
that Peter is describing here.
It's an ignorance,
by the way,
that was shared.
Notice,
ignorance that is present
in you
but also present
in your rulers.
You see that in verse 17.
You acted in ignorance
as did also your rulers.
And that's important.
You can't point the finger
at the Roman authorities.
You can't point the finger
at those heathen people
over there.
No, there's shared culpability,
shared responsibility,
shared ignorance
that's taking place
that has rejected,
wholesale,
the wonder
of the gospel of God.
But now there's hope.
And that's where we turn next.
The hope of understanding
that we see in verse 18.
Notice this.
It says,
One of the most glorious words
in the New Testament
is one of the smallest.
This word, but.
But God.
This contrastive word.
The things which we deserve
would lead us away from God,
but God in his mercy.
He welcomes us
to something better.
He welcomes us
by his grace
to experience
the joy
of what we're going to read
in the remaining parts
of this passage.
But God.
God changes the story.
God offers hope
when we deserve punishment.
God fulfills promises
in spite of human failure.
God offers life
even though we put
his son to death.
The author of life
was killed,
was murdered,
and yet God continues
to extend mercy,
his grace.
And even in this moment,
Peter is trying
to awaken
in their minds
an understanding
of this hope.
He calls these brothers
out of ignorance,
not to leave them
with crushing judgment,
but to welcome them
to the hope
that can be found in Christ.
This message
of what Christ accomplished.
Notice,
God foretold this
by the mouth
of his prophets,
which means
God knew
this was going
to happen.
And we recognize
as we look
through the scriptures
and even in Acts chapter 2,
what does Peter say?
Well,
this happened
according to the definite
plan and purpose
of God.
God is not surprised
by your rebellion.
And we know
that things happen
by God's design.
We find that
as we work our way
back to Isaiah chapter 46,
what we see
in Isaiah chapter 46,
the character
of God on display,
set against
the character
of idols.
To whom will you liken me
and make me equal?
To those who hire
a goldsmith
and make it
into a god
and then fall down
and worship?
They lift it up
to their shoulder.
They carry it.
They set it in place.
It stands there.
It cannot move
from its place.
And here,
the prophet Isaiah
is describing
the character
of false gods.
You have to do
everything for this god.
You make this god.
You set up this god.
You move this god.
You set it in place.
It cannot do anything
for you.
It offers no hope.
But here's the character
of our god.
Remember this
and stand firm.
I am god
and there is no other.
I am god
and there is none
like me
declaring the end
from the beginning
and from ancient times
things yet not done
saying,
my counsel shall stand
and I will accomplish
all my purposes.
I have spoken
and I will bring it
to pass.
I have purposed
and I will do it.
God knows the end
from the beginning
and God knows
what was going to happen
from eternity past.
He spoke it into existence.
He doesn't just promise
that it will take place.
He makes it happen.
I will accomplish
my purposes.
You see,
what makes this beautiful
is that God's character
rests not on his ability
to make promises.
God's character
rests on his ability
to keep promises.
We have a promise
making
and a promise
keeping God.
And that's what Peter
wants his audience
to understand.
You,
in ignorance,
put your God
to death.
But that has not
disqualified you
from now being
the recipients
of those who are
invited to enjoy
the benefits
of this work
of Christ
in dying
for sinners.
You see,
anyone can make promises
but those promises
are empty
if they don't happen.
Only God
can make promises
and keep them.
And we find
from Isaiah chapter 53
what were some
of these promises?
Well,
it was the will of God
to crush his son.
Why?
Well,
because in verse 5
of Isaiah 53,
upon him
was the chastisement
that brought us peace
and with his wounds
we are healed.
With his wounds
we are healed.
And that's what Peter
is addressing
in verse 18.
God foretold
by the mouth
of all the prophets
that his Christ
would suffer
he thus fulfilled.
This is captured
by the prophets
ages ago
and this has now
been fulfilled
in God's servant
his son,
Jesus.
Not that
by his stripes
you are punished.
Not by his stripes
you are condemned.
Not by his stripes
you are judged.
But by his stripes
you might be healed.
Healed.
And especially healed
in a way
that runs
to the deepest
parts of you.
Your need
for salvation.
Your need
for forgiveness.
Your need
for cleansing
that Jesus offers
through his
crushed
broken body.
Through his stripes.
You can be healed
in the deepest
way possible.
So this is
this contrastive
word
but
it helps
to know
that we're being
led somewhere.
So receive
the message
of God's promise
and then
respond
next
here
to the call
for repentance.
The call
of repentance.
We find that
in verses 19
to 21.
It says
repent therefore
and turn back
that your sins
may be blotted out
that times
of refreshing
may come
from the presence
of the Lord
and that he may
send the Christ
appointed for you
Jesus
whom heaven
must receive
until a time
for restoring
all things
about which God
spoke by the mouth
of his holy prophets
long ago.
You need repentance.
This is really
the word
for the need
of a change
of mind.
That's kind of
the definition
of repentance.
That's what they needed.
They need to respond
in repentance
by changing
their mind.
Changing their mind
because of what
they know
about
about Jesus
himself.
This word
repent
is a compound
word as well
and it
talks about
the mind
itself.
And so
while there
was ignorance
in their heart
where they
were without
knowledge
now they
need to
engage
their mind
in repentance
and turn
and change
and redirect
their life
to Jesus.
This change
of mind
is a change
of thinking
a change
of truth
change
of posture
a change
of direction
in life.
It's something
that must happen
as we become
aware
of the truth
of God's
word.
Repent
and change
your life
turn back
he says.
Another Greek
word that
gives us
the direction
of this change
there is a turn
of mind
but a redirection
of life
a turning back.
I love
the statement
that's given
here.
Your father's
Abraham understood
the nature
of this faith.
Abraham believed
God and it
was accounted
to him
as righteousness.
It's not
that Abraham's
faith
was produced
righteousness
but it's that
Abraham's faith
was accredited
as righteous.
Not because
Abraham brought
righteousness
to the table
but because
through Abraham's
faith
the object
of faith
Jesus
was righteous.
So we see
in verse 14
of our passage
it says
you denied
who?
The holy
and righteous
one.
Jesus is
righteous
and it's a
righteousness
that belongs
to him
and it's a
righteousness
that then
is accredited
to the account
of those
who believe
in Jesus
as the
way
to faith
through repentance.
You see
true repentance
is not just
simply being
sorry
for bad
things.
True repentance
is not just
grieving over
consequences
or feeling
embarrassed
or feeling
a sense
of shame.
It's not
something that
just happens
one day
and fades
the next.
True repentance
involves faith.
It involves
a belief
in truth.
Repentance
is a
faith issue
and that
means that
repentance
is a
worship issue
and with this
we come full
circle right?
We come back
to where we
started.
Coming back
to verse 16
and understand
the significance
of what Peter
is saying here
in calling
his audience
to faith.
It's true
faith in Christ
that this man
is healed
and this
invitation
of faith
is for you
too.
You must
also believe.
Come to terms
with the seriousness
of your sin,
your rebellion
against God
and this
begins
to change
your mind,
your thinking
about who he is
and what you need.
in verse 19.
What is the result?
Well, the result
of this
is that your sins
will be blotted
out.
Blotted,
which is a
word to wipe
away or to
eliminate.
See, it's a
picture of a
record that
was recorded
in some
piece of
paper.
And in the
ancient world,
the ink that
was used
wouldn't bite
into the surface
of the papyrus
and so it
could often
very easily
be wiped
away.
So to be
blotted out
carries this
image of
this written
record where
that ledger
is totally
removed.
The sin
that was
there,
the indictment
against you
is removed
in totality.
Not just
crossed away,
not just
overlooked,
but it's
replaced.
There's an
exchange that
takes place
there.
That record
no longer
exists.
It's because
there's a
replacement
that's
taken place.
The
righteousness
of Christ
is now
accredited
to your
account.
So have
a change
of mind.
In verse
20,
now Peter
wants to
invite this
audience not
just to a
change of
mind,
but what are
the results
of that
change?
Well,
there is an
offer now
of times
of refreshing.
Notice
verse 20,
it says,
that times
of refreshing
may come
from the
presence of
the Lord
and that
he may
send the
Christ
appointed
for you
Jesus.
God offers
to replace
that ledger
of condemnation
with a record
of refreshing.
It's refreshing,
which is a
word for
relief.
It provides
this picture
of this
cool breeze
or this
very refreshing
water that
is given
to those
weary souls.
This time
of refreshing
that we can
enjoy because
of Jesus
Christ.
This is the
only place
it's found
in the
New Testament
and it's
not the
kind of
result we
would expect.
See,
our minds
are likely
to follow
when we
think about
being blotted
out or
purged away.
Our minds
often go to
Psalm 51
and that's a
good picture
as well.
In Psalm 51,
the psalmist
is saying,
verses 1 and 2,
have mercy
on me,
O God,
according to
your steadfast
love.
According to
your abundant
mercy,
blot out
my transgression.
Wash me
thoroughly
from my
iniquity
and cleanse
me from
my sin.
Purge me
with hyssop
and I will
be clean.
Wash me
and I will
be whiter
than snow.
Hide your
face from
my sin
and blot
out all
my iniquities.
Create in
me a clean
heart,
O God.
Renew
a right
spirit,
within me.
It's the
same language
that Peter
is using.
Wash
and blot
and cleanse
and purge.
That's a picture
of forgiveness,
right?
But it's
the picture
of refreshing
is meant to
go much
deeper.
That's still
contained within
what Peter
is describing.
There is
washing,
there is
cleansing,
but Peter
wants his
audience to
know there
is so much
more.
There's
not just
this temporary
ledger that
has been
fixed.
There is
now this
ongoing,
these times
of refreshing
that we get
to enjoy.
And he
uses this
word,
this Greek
word,
well,
kairos,
that's what
it is.
It's the
word kairos,
which is the
word for
seasons,
not the
word chronos,
which talks
about a very
distinct
time,
a time
signature.
Peter wants
him to
know,
these are
refreshing
times that
you can
enjoy for
the long
haul,
because of
what Christ
has accomplished.
It's refreshing
that he offers,
this forgiveness
of sin,
it's a different
kind than
Israel was
familiar with
because of
the once
for all
sacrifice
of Christ,
this permanent
refreshing,
this permanent
forgiveness,
this permanent
cleansing that
Jesus offers
now to
those who
are in
Christ through
faith.
And this
is the
kind of
refreshing
that God
offers and
extends through
his son.
It's the
refreshing that
Peter refers
to in
Acts 2
23,
he says,
this Jesus,
he was
delivered up
according to
the definite
plan and
foreknowledge of
God,
you crucified
and killed
at the hands
of lawless
men,
but he was
appointed for
you.
He was
appointed for
you.
The personal
nature of
what Christ
accomplished,
offered to
those who
were in
front of
the apostle
Peter,
those who
desperately
longed for
refreshing,
and Peter
wants them to
understand that
the real
refreshing that
you need is
found in
Jesus,
who was
appointed for
you.
Whether you
experience that
through repentance
and faith in
him.
And then this
promise that we
see of
restoration in
verse 21,
notice,
whom heaven
must receive
until the
time for
restoring all
things about
which God
spoke by the
mouth of his
holy prophets
long ago.
Did you catch
that?
This embedded
promise in
this statement?
Yes, Jesus is
in heaven right
now, okay?
But that is
not his
permanent
situation.
He is there,
but he is
there,
bounded by
this word
until,
until the
time for
restoring.
This word
that is used
here wants
to help us
understand there
is a terminal
boundary that is
in place.
He is there,
it is just the
waiting room for
the final
restoration he
intends to
give.
The restoration
hasn't happened
yet.
He is there
waiting in
the future
for us to
then enjoy
this full
restoration
that he's
promised.
Him being
in heaven
is not
the fulfillment.
It's the
waiting room.
The until
implies
incompleteness.
It implies
that something
remains outstanding.
That something
about restoration
has not yet
happened.
There will
be a time
of restoration.
It's yet
future.
It's not
in the past.
And the context
is significant
because for
this Greek
word restoration
that is only
used here
in this
verse,
it's shared
in a word
family for
restoration.
And the only
other time
it's used
in Acts,
we find in
Acts chapter
1-6.
Notice.
So when
they had come
together,
they asked
him,
this is the
disciples,
Lord,
will you at
this time
restore the
kingdom to
Israel?
They were
looking for
restoration.
They were
looking for
the Messiah.
They were
looking for
a king.
They were
looking for
Jesus to
establish his
throne in
Jerusalem.
That's what
they were
waiting for.
And you
remember that
Jesus for
40 days
before his
ascension is
talking about
the kingdom
and so the
apostles want
to know,
okay, so
when is it
going to
come?
Remember,
Jesus' answer
was,
it's not
for you to
know the
times or the
seasons.
And now
here we
are in
Acts 3
and Peter
is not
telling his
audience,
well,
there's no
more
restoration
that has
passed because
of your
rejection of
the Messiah.
Rather,
he says,
no,
there's a
restoration
coming and
we're waiting
for it.
It's coming.
It is in the
waiting room.
It's confirmation
that there will
be restoration
that will take
place.
And that's
what Israel
longed for.
You see,
Israel's problem
was not that
they expected
a kingdom.
Israel's problem
was they had
the wrong
timing.
And they
couldn't see
that the
suffering of
Christ had
to come before
the glory.
And that's
what we find
in 1 Peter
chapter 1
verses 10
and 11.
The prophets,
it says,
concerning this
salvation,
the prophets
who prophesied
about the
grace that
was to be
yours,
they searched
and inquired
carefully,
inquiring what
person or
time the
spirit of
Christ was
indicating when
he predicted
the sufferings
of Christ
and the
subsequent
glories.
And here
Peter wants
his audience
to know there
are times of
refreshing.
Yes,
you rejected
your Messiah.
Yes,
you delivered
him up to
Pilate.
Yes,
you turned
your back on
the author
of life.
Yes,
you put
him to
death,
but that
has not
disqualified
God's
promises to
you.
The invitation
is still
open.
The restoration
is still
waiting.
Will you
repent
in turn
in faith
and enjoy
the benefits
of this
promise?
God's promise
is still
intact.
We find
this promise
all through
the scriptures,
through the
prophets
that are
speaking to
us.
So receive
the message
of God's
promise
and respond
to the
call of
repentance.
And then
what we
find in
verse 22
and 23,
listen to
the witness
of the
prophets.
Listen to
the witness
of the
prophets.
Verse 22,
Moses said,
the Lord
God will
raise up
for you
a prophet
like me
from your
brothers.
You shall
listen to
him in
whatever he
tells you.
And it
shall be
that every
soul who
does not
listen to
that prophet
shall be
destroyed
from the
people.
And all
the prophets
who have
spoken from
Samuel and
those who
came after
him also
proclaimed
these days.
So listen
to the witness
of the prophets.
What did the
prophets say?
Well,
this first
prophet,
the most
prominent
prophet,
Moses,
would speak.
So listen
to the witness
of Moses,
this prophet.
God gave
Moses to
help build
a sense
of expectation.
What sort
of prophet,
what sort
of greater
prophet would
the people
look for?
Well, we
see in
Deuteronomy
several clues
of what this
prophet would
do.
Deuteronomy
chapter 18
verse 18
we find
that he
will speak
the words
of God.
I will
raise up
for them
a prophet
like you
from among
their brothers.
I will
put my
words in
his mouth.
He shall
speak to
them all
that I
commanded
him.
What do
you look
for?
Well, first
you look
for a prophet
who speaks
my words.
He's going
to speak
for me.
He's going
to speak
the truth.
He's going
to tell
you what
you need
to hear.
Those words
are going
to be coming
from me
directly.
Second,
you need
to be
looking for
a prophet
who speaks
with God's
authority.
Verse 19,
whoever will
not listen
to my
words
that he
shall speak
in my
name,
I
myself
will
require it
of him.
If you
don't listen
to the
words of
this prophet,
then you're
culpable.
You are
under obligation
to obey
the words
that I've
spoken.
so he
will speak
with God's
authority.
Third,
we're going
to find
that the
true prophet
will speak
words that
come true.
In verse
22,
it says
this,
when a
prophet speaks
in the name
of the
Lord,
if the
word does
not come
to pass
or come
true,
that is a
word that
the Lord
has not
spoken.
The prophet
has spoken
it presumptuously.
you need
not be
afraid of
him.
He's going
to speak
words that
will come
to pass.
And finally,
fourth,
his life
will match
his message.
We find
that in
Deuteronomy
chapter 13
verses 1
and 3.
If a
prophet or
dreamer
of dreams
arises
among you
and gives
you a
sign or
a wonder
and that
sign or
wonder that
he tells
you comes
to pass
and if
he says
let us
go after
other gods
which you
have not
known
and let us
serve them
you shall
not listen
to the
words of
that prophet
or that
dreamer
of dreams
for the
Lord your
God is
testing you
to know
whether you
love the
Lord your
God
with all
your heart
and with
all your
soul.
There are
going to be
those false
prophets
and those
false prophets
may even
get it right
once in a
while.
But if you
can find
from the
trajectory
of their
life
that their
life is
out of
sync
with worship
of the
true God
then don't
follow them
because the
words of
the true
prophet will
be in
alignment
with the
testimony of
scripture.
His life
will match
his message.
And so when
people looked at
the life of
Jesus
they knew
here is a
prophet
he is one
who spoke
God's word
he is one
who spoke
with God's
authority
he is one
whose words
proved true
he is one
whose life
matched his
message
and because
of the
integrity
of Christ's
ministry
the people
thought
this must
be the
true prophet
we find
that in
John chapter
6 verse
14
after the
people saw
the miraculous
sign that
Jesus did
they began
to say
surely
this is
the prophet
who has
come into
the world
and then in
John chapter
7 verse
40
on hearing
his words
some of the
people said
surely
this man
is the
prophet
they knew
that Jesus
was the one
they knew
that he was
the greater
prophet
and yet they
still rejected
him
and we find
as a testimony
in this
passage
those who
do not
listen to
Jesus
shall be
destroyed
but that's
not
that's not
God's
hope
God
invites us
to enjoy
times of
refreshing
he doesn't
want us
to be
destroyed
he wants
us to
repent
to turn
away
from sin
to turn
to Christ
to enjoy
the blessing
that Christ
intends to
offer
and then we
have the
witness of
the prophets
in verse
24
all the
prophets
who have
spoken from
Saul
and those
who came
after him
also
proclaimed
these days
you have
sufficient
voices
by the
mouth of
two or
three witnesses
a thing
shall be
established
God has
given you
plenty of
prophets
you know
exactly
who to
look for
and they
did
and that
they still
rejected
Jesus
finally
rest in
the blessings
of God's
servant
rest in
the blessings
of God's
servant
we find
the blessings
promised through
Abraham
in verse
25
it says
you are
the sons
of the
prophets
and of
the covenant
that God
made with
your fathers
saying to
Abraham
in your
offspring
shall all
the families
of the earth
be blessed
in your
offspring
shall all
the families
of the earth
be blessed
these were
promises given
to
the sons
of Abraham
they were
beneficiaries
of the promise
that God gave
all the way
back
thousands of
years
1500 years
before the
time of
Christ
and those
promises
stood
and now
Peter wants
to direct
attention
to the fact
that those
promises
still stand
and you
are still
beneficiaries
of those
promises
if you
believe in
Jesus
those promises
of blessing
are intended
to be carried
through you
not in spite
of you
your rebellion
has not
cancelled
his promise
rather
your rebellion
has established
the need
for God's
solution
and has
given you
the opportunity
to carry
that promise
forward
to establish
once and
for all
that the
promises
to Abraham
are secure
and that's
what God
is working
out
through
the gospel
through the
gospel
of Christ
you see
it's through
faith
in the name
of Christ
that we get
to enjoy
the benefits
of the promises
originally given
to Abraham
we find that
in Galatians
chapter 3
6
it says
just as
Abraham
believed
God
and it
was
accounted
to him
as
righteousness
and the
scripture
foreseeing
that God
would justify
the Gentiles
by faith
preached that
gospel beforehand
to Abraham
saying
in you
all the
nations
shall be
blessed
so that
in Christ
Jesus
the blessing
of Abraham
might come
to the
Gentiles
so that
we might
receive the
promised
spirit
through faith
and now
through the
gospel
it all
comes
together
Jews
and Gentiles
enjoying the
benefits of
this original
promise
that was
preached
initially
to Abraham
and now
extends to
us
that those
who believe
in Christ
those who
come in
faith
will enjoy
the benefits
of Christ's
righteousness
accredited
to our
account
and finally
we see this
blessing fulfilled
in Jesus
in verse 26
God having
raised up
his servant
sent him
to you
first
to bless
you
by turning
every one
of you
from
your wickedness
that's the
blessing
that Jesus
extends
to all of
us
all of us
who at
one time
or the
other
have either
rejected
him
denied
him
opposed
him
been an
enemy
of him
whatever
sense
of the
term
that you
have been
hostile
to Jesus
God offers
this invitation
for us to
enjoy the
benefits
of blessing
Jesus
came
to bless
to pour out
his blessing
by turning
us away
from wickedness
and that
only happens
when we
repent
in faith
and turn
to Christ
we ask
the Lord
Jesus
to undo
our
ignorance
to undo
the futility
of our
hearts
and to
draw us
into
truth
and knowledge
of him
so that we
can
participate
in faith
in Jesus
Christ
what a
wonderful
picture this
is
that the
Jews
who were
there
in Jerusalem
and likely
were the
ones to
say
crucify
him
are now
the ones
who can
be the
first
beneficiaries
of this
promise
and so
I want
you to
understand
whatever
your past
or even
your present
hostility
or sin
towards God
might be
whatever
rejection
of Christ
in the
message
of the
gospel
that has
been true
of you
whatever
skeletons
are in the
closet
that you
might have
whatever
things
that you
might be
ashamed
of
the
invitation
is still
there
Jesus
Christ
will
replace
that
wickedness
with his
righteousness
as you
confess your
sin
he is
faithful
and just
to forgive
your sin
and to
cleanse
you
from all
unrighteousness
not because
you deserve
it
not because
we deserve
it
not because
we have
merited
favor with
God
but because
of Christ's
mercy
and his
desire
to bless
you
and to
invite you
into times
of refreshing
have you
experienced
have you
enjoyed
the benefits
of that
refreshing
that's
the invitation
that Peter
ends with
here
and it
happens
through
repentance
it happens
through faith
in Jesus
have you
placed your
faith in
him
asked for
forgiveness
for your
sins
and entrusted
your life
to him
I trust
that that's
the case
and when
we do
when you
do
God wants
to lead
us
in the
direction
of being
able to
say
all my
boast
is in
Jesus
not just
privately
but publicly
we get to
experience the
benefits
of God's
work in
our life
and we
can't do
anything
more
than boast
about
can I
just tell
you
what God
has done
for me
that's
what he
wants to
lead us
to
our
boast
is in
him
we
talk
about
him
we
can't
help
but
talk
about
him
wherever
we
are
our
life
is
in
the
flow
that
direction
has
changed
in
our
hearts
and
we
delight
in
telling
others
about
him
let me
pray
God
thank you
for your
son
Jesus
thank you
that he
is
your
servant
who
was
crushed
for
our
iniquities
so
that
the
chastisement
that
would
offer
us
peace
was
put
upon
him
so
that
by
his
stripes
we
can
be
healed
and
not
just
the
physical
things
can
be
healed
you
have
the
power
to do
that
but
more
importantly
that
the
deepest
needs
of our
life
the need
for
forgiveness
of our
sin
and the
need
for
restored
relationship
with
you
that's
what
you
offer
and we
thank you
for that
in Jesus
name
amen
God
bless
you
good to
see you
have a
great
week