Intro: Not many people understand Jesus’ title of King. We join in singing, "King of my life I crown thee now, thine shall the glory be. Lest I forget thy thorned crowned brow, lead me to Calvary".

"LEAD ME TO CALVARY’. It’s a beautiful song with meaningful words. "King of my Life" expresses what most people understand as the kingship of Jesus. But reigning in hearts is not what it meant to be king when kings ruled in the earth. Whether it is the king of Babylon, the king of Medo-Persia, the king is Israel or the King of Great Britain.

But here is the sequence for our lesson this morning. First, Jesus has become our Redeemer. Then he will return from heaven where he is seated at God’s right hand. Then he will Rule the nations. Redeemer, Returner and Ruler.

Redeemer

From derision to decision

v. 13, "some, however, made fun of them and said, ‘They have had too much wine"".

Then came serious conviction

"Men and brethren, what shall we do?"

"Ridicule" is common beginning

Faith is for old ladies and children

I have pressing important issues to attend to

Religion is a good thing, it teaches morals and ethics, not that I need any help personally

D. Peter, the fisherman’s First Sermon

not scream and shout. He simply "raised his voice" to be heard

Peter’s message was reasoned. He referred to the scriptures in the psalms and in Joel many knew and reasoned the obvious fulfillment in Jesus.

Peter’s message was pungent. He minced no words. He came straight to the point. It was calibrated to the occasion and to the people. "God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ". V. 36

The kind of straight talk everyone says they want but very few do.

Albert Barnes " . . . this is the first discourse that was preached after the ascension of Christ, and is a model which the ministers of religion should imitate. There is no ranting, no declamation. nothing but truth presented in a clear and striking manner. . . Minister have no right to address men as incapable of reason and thought; nor to imagine that because they are speaking on religious subjects, that therefore they are at liberty to speak nonsense.

Many Convicted

Convicted comes from assurances

"be assured of this"

"we are all witnesses"

consider the obvious fulfillment of scripture

The Awakening of Guilt

Just last month they murdered the Messiah (King and Judge)

"Let his blood be on us," they cried.

What they had done could not be undone.

Jesus was coming back to earth (they did not know how quickly)

A Good Question

"Men and brethren, (expression of affectionate earnestness) what shall we do"?

Paul Acts 9:5-6 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. [6] And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Jailer Acts 16:29-30 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. [30] He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

Age of grace

There WAS something they could do!

Peter knew exactly what to tell them.

There are two sides to the gospel.

The gospel contains damnation that it might reveal deliverence.

Sin that it might preach salvation

A true, one-sided gospel (gospel of love, liberty, grace, forgiveness, sweetness and light) is as rare as a one-sided coin.

2 Cor. 2:15-16 For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. [16] To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?

1. ridicule

His Return

"sit at my right hand until . . ."

"this ("same" 1:11) Jesus" v. 32

The same one you put to death. (Jesus does not change from God to man or angel to man and back to one or the other)

Proves we will be the same person following our resurrection

Coming Back has always been essential to the gospel.

But it marks the end of grace for salvation

The answer will no longer be, "repent and be baptized"

Hebrews 9:28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

TO RULE

Universal

"will extend your mighty scepter from Zion (Ps.110:2) He will judge the nations…" (v. 6

Psalm 2:8  ... the ends of the earth your possession. 

Psalm 72:8  ... to the ends of the earth.

Will be KING

1. Commentator Albert Barnes in his book on The Acts of the Apostles published in 1865 wrote, of verse 35, ". . . it clearly means that God had exalted him to be the king so long expected; and that he had given him dominion in the heavens; or as we should say, ruler of all things" (true but vague). But that is not what very 35 says, is it?

Psalm 110:1-6  The LORD says to my Lord:  "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."  ...

C.. Gospel also called the "Gospel of the Kingdom"

Clear and central

Acts 3:21 He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything...

Acts 8:12 ... he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, ...

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