Gospel – Acts 3-4
October 7, 2009
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Today we read about Peter saying yet another great sermon and moved 5000 Jews to convert to Christians! (on top of the 3000 in chapter 2!)
Bible Passage: Acts 3-4
Peter and John were going to the temple and they saw this lame man at the Beautiful gate. There he proclaimed a famous saying…
“Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you”
What I do have?
How many of us really feel that we truly have Christ? And the Christ we have is so precious, He is the greatest gift we can have, and the greatest gift we can give to anyone!
It means so much more to share the gospel of Christ, than to provide silver and gold to a poor person. Then of course, people will say that you cannot show love till you look into other people’s basic needs first. But in fact, having the good news of Christ is more important than having our stomachs fed. What is the meaning of life if you do not know your real identity and how you may return to your eternal home? Such questions, cannot be answered with bread and butter.
Silver and gold
Different people seek God/gods for different reasons. Indeed some people seek gods for silver and gold. Therefore we are all aware of the famous God of Fortune, otherwise known as God of Prosperity.
What Christianity preaches – it is not about getting rich, but it is about gaining Christ. And through gaining Christ, you find the true meaning of life, and you will disregard the riches of the world like Paul and treat whatever that the world may esteem as rubbish.
“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.”
Phil 3:7-8
In recent times, some Christians, believe that wealth and prosperity are considered blessings of Jesus. They believe that how you see whether someone is blessed by Jesus, is by seeing how successful they are in their studies or career, and what they wear and eat! There are even people who preach that if you believe in Christ and offer money to God, you will get back more money in return. It is like an investment plan!
Strangely, we begin to see the God of Prosperity appearing in the realm of Christiandom. It is not so strange though… if you think of the plots of Satan – if you cannot win them, confuse them. Have our Christian values been confused also?
In actual fact, Jesus said that it is difficult for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Why? Because you cannot serve two masters, you cannot serve money and God at the same time.
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
Matt 6:24
Do not be deceived. Most of the time, riches will only draw a person away from God. Blessings in this life will only make a person work harder for the world. Yet the Bible clearly tells us that one cannot love the world and love God.
“Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?”
James 2:5
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
1 John 2:15
This is a cute video which is added without thechosen’s knowledge 
Is the healing at the Beautiful Gate extraordinary? Lord Jesus had performed more impressive miracle than this, isn’t it?
The healing was extraordinary bec it was done in the name of JESUS CHRIST.
Jesus is not the name of a mere man anymore. Jesus is Christ, the Originator of life, whom God has raised from the dead. (Acts 3:15)
When Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit, an important message which he preached was God has raised Jesus from the dead. (Acts 4:1,10)
The disciples with great power from the Holy Spirit also gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. (Acts 4:33)
When the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, they spoke the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31):
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16-18)
The name of the only begotten Son of God is Jesus. Jesus is Christ bec God raised Him from the dead.
Beside Jesus Christ, there is no salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)