“The Genesis of the New Testament”

 

Introduction:

 

1.      Quote Genesis 1:1….

 

2.      If Genesis is the “beginnings” of the Old Testament, then Acts could be referred to as the “Genesis” of the New Testament.

 

3.      No other book is of greater value for finding out how to be saved and understanding the work of the church than Acts.

 

4.      Someone has even referred to Acts 2 as the hub of the Bible.  Everything before it looked to it and everything after it is predicated upon it.

 

5.      This morning we want to examine some of the Beginnings of New Testament Christianity found in the book of Acts.

 

I.                  The Genesis of  New Name (Acts 11:26, 26:28; I Pet 4:16).

 

A.      The Scriptures prophesies that God’s people would be called by a new name (Isa. 62:1-2).

1.      When?  Gentiles saw God’s righteousness (Acts 10-11).

2.      What name? Xian—11:26.

 

B.     What does it mean to wear someone’s name?  What implications does that carry?

 

1.      You are joined to that person (marriage) Gal. 3:27, Rom 7:1-4, I Cor 12:27.

2.      You want to be like that person (children idolize heroes) I Pet. 2:21, Rev. 14:4, Acts 4:13, Rom 8:29 (O To Be Like Thee—Do you really mean the words of that song?

3.      You are their follower (Josh. 24:15, I Kings 18:21, John 6:67-68, Lk. 9:23—Does the name you wear say that you are a follower of Christ of some other man?).

4.      You are trying to glorify the name of the one you follow (I Pet. 4:16, Isa. 43:7, I Cor. 10:31, Eccl. 12:13-14—Does everything you do in life glorify Christ?)

 

C.     Christ name is the only name you can wear and be God’s child (Acts 4:11-12, I Cor. 3:11).

           

1.      No sect names---Pharisees, Saducees, Zealots, Methodist, Lutheran, Pentecostals—Just New Testament Christians.

2.      Names are important to God (he changed names, Jezebel, Husbands How would you feel if your wife did not wear  your name?  That is the way Christ feels when we don’t wear his name—Eph 5:21-32).

 

 

 

II.               Beginning of “Gospel” sermons (Acts 2:16ff).

 

A.      The key word here is gospel.  Sure, there were many sermons of doom and destruction under the O. T., but this is the first sermon with good news as its main point (Acts 2:36, 38).

 

B.     In this sermon Peter had four main points that are very relevant to all of us today:

 

1.      Jesus was approved by God  (Vs. 22—Matt. 17:5, Jn. 6:38, what it meant to Jews).

2.      Jesus was Predetermined by God (Vs. 23, I Pet. 1:19ff, 2 Tim 1:9-10).

3.      Jesus death and resurrection (Acts 17:30-31, Rom. 1:4, 2 Cor. 5:21)

4.      Christ Ascension to the throne (Vs. 33-35, Rev. 19:16, I Tim. 6:15-16, King of Jews).

 

C.     The Conclusion—Acts 2:36

D.    The Response—Acts 2:37

E.     The Demand—Acts 2:38

 

III.              The Genesis of Immediate Forgiveness

 

A.    Under the Old Covenant forgiveness was granted on the blood of Christ (Heb. 9:15ff).

 

B.     The Blessing of forgivness (Heb. 8:12, Ps. 103:12, Micah 7:18-19).

 

C.     The prerequisites of pardon are given (Acts 2:38):

1.      Repent-Acts 3:19, 2 Cor 7:10, Rom. 2:4

2.      Be immersed-Acts 9:6—22:16, Rom 6:1-4, Gal. 3:27, Mk. 16:16, I Pet. 3:21, John 3:5.

 

D.    The benefits of their forgiveness were amazing:

1.      Reconciliation-Isa. 59:1-2, Rom 3:23, Col 1:20-21

2.      Victory-I Cor. 15:57, Satan had us trapped—Heb. 2:14-15

 

IV.           Genesis of the church (Acts 2:47).

 

A.    When—(Dan 2:44, Mk. 9:1, Rev. 11:15, Lk. 1:32-33—1st century).

 

B.     Where—(Isa. 2:1-4, I Tim. 3:15, Lk. 24:49, Acts 1:8, Acts 2).

 

C.     Who—(2 Sam 7:12-14, Matt. 1-seed of David, Rev. 5:4, Matt. 16:18, I Cor. 3:11).

 

D.    How—(by dying on a cross—Acts 20:28, Col 2:14-15, Eph. 2:16).

 

E.     Does the church that you are a part of meet the when, where, who and how of the New Testament?

 

V.               Beginning of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:16).

 

A.    Today there is much confusion over the Holy Spirit—miracles, holy laughter, baptism, snake holders, etc,.

 

B.     While all these things are very appealing, they are not biblically accurate.  Notice what the Bible teaches about the Holy Spirit:

 

1.      A 1st century purpose (Mk. 16:20; Heb. 2:3-4).

2.      Because you have the Holy Spirit does not mean you will do miracles (John 1:34—10:41).

3.      We have the Spirit today, but we do not do miracles (Acts. 5:32, Rom. 8:9, I Thes. 4:8, Eph. 1:13-14, Acts 2:38).

4.      Miracles were promised to come to an end (I Cor. 13:8-10, James 1:25, 2 Pet. 1:3).

 

VI.           Genesis of Salvation in Christ (Acts 4:11-12, 2 Tim 1:10).

 

A.    The Prophets prophesies of Salvation to come—I Pet. 1:10, Jer. 31:31-34, Zech 9:9, Isa. 53:4-6).

 

B.     Today, we are recipients of this salvation (Titus 3:5, Rom 1:16, Heb. 2:10, Heb. 5:8-9).

 

C.     How shall you escape if you neglect this great salvation (Heb. 2:3)

 

1.      Escape What?  God’s wrath—Heb. 10:31, 12:29, Ps. 7:11, Mk. 9;44, Matt. 25:46, 2 Thes. 1:7-10).

 

Conclusion:  This morning can be your genesis of salvation.  You can become a new creature—2 Cor. 5:17.