Bible Studies

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Holy Tuesday
Acts 10:34-43 – Implications of Christ
Key Verses: (NRSV)

• 35: "but in every nation anyone who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him." – This sermon from Peter is in the home of the Roman Cornelius following dreams by both Peter and Cornelius. These dreams had made it clear that the good news of Christ is for everyone. There should be no barriers due to language, culture, prejudice, geography, economic class, or education.
  
  
• 36: "You know the message He sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ – He is Lord of all." – The message of Christ is that He is the Son of God and through our faith in Him peace in the world is attainable.
  
  
• 38: "…how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." – Jesus' message had spread throughout the region because of the healing and actions of good that He performed. He was able to do this work because God was with Him and He was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.
  
  
• 39: "We are witnesses to all He did…they put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree." – Peter and the disciples held a unique opportunity to serve the world as witnesses to the works and to the death of Christ.
  
  
• 40: "but God raised Him on the third day and allowed Him to appear…" – Victory over the world of sin, over death, and over the power of Satan had been secured.
  
  
• 42-43: "He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead." – After the resurrection, while the selected few ate and dined with their risen Lord, they were instructed to teach and to spread the good news of the Messiah to all the people. That everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness for their sins.
  

Points to Contemplate:

• Are you narrow-minded? Bigoted? What prejudices do you have that are keeping you from sharing with others how Christ has changed your life? Do you pick and choose who you discuss Jesus with based on appearances or other superficial criteria? How are people to find God without someone there to point the way? Is God asking you to show someone the way to Him? Better yet, are you praying that God will provide you with more of these opportunities in your daily life?
  
  
• What barriers are you breaking down in your life? If the gospel is available to those of every nation who fear God and do what is right, why do we continue to experience wars and strife between countries? Shouldn't the good news of Christ breakdown these barriers? Shouldn't His model of "doing good" and preaching peace have a greater impact? Are we truly following His example, doing what He would do, when we involve ourselves in war and conflict? Are there conflicts in your life that need the peace of Christ?
  
  
• What efforts of healing can you provide to others? What actions of good await you? How are you being called to alleviate suffering and oppression? Where can you fight evil? To whom can you share a message of hope? Where are you able to reach out into the world and be a light in the darkness? As a Christian, a witness to His glory, is this not the type of day you are being called to have? Do you recognize that as a believer, not only have your sins been forgiven and forgotten, but you are also called into the world to be His witness, testifying to the life-saving love that is available through Christ?
  

Promises of the Gospel:

"The implication of what Peter is preaching is that the best evidence of the resurrection of the living and the life-giving Lord is to be found in our daily witness to Jesus Christ. This says to us that the resurrection means that God, not only desires to give eternal life to us; God also desires to give the gift of eternal life through us! The Risen Lord actually lives, is alive, and is present today in our witness and in our testimony of his Gospel."<sup>1

1</sup> Mysterious Joy, CARL HOEFLER, C.S.S. Publishing Company, 1988, 1-55673-059-4

FUMC Devotionals

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