Bulletin
Escape
The main point of the speech that morning was “Be saved from this perverse generation!” (Acts 2:40). The NASB Bible has a side note by the words “Be saved” for an alternative translation (Or - Escape). That generation had killed Jesus about 6 weeks ago, but they didn’t realize it. They had killed their own Messiah, and now the wrath of God will come upon them. Peter emphasized this point, for “he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them” (2:40). A few years later the Apostle Paul found himself preaching a message just like that of Peter’s. A wrath was coming. Escape it!
“For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews, who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men, hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved; with the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the utmost.” (1 Thess. 2:14-16). They didn’t repent after they killed Jesus, but also killed Steven (Acts 8:54-60), and then, James son of Zebedee (Acts 12:1-2), and then, they killed the brother of Jesus named James (see the Jewish/Roman historian - Josephus, Antiquities 20:200). Paul and Peter preached that people should “escape” or “be saved” from this wicked generation.
It is hard not to feel this way about the present generation also. Jesus’ name is used as a curse word. God’s name is used along with other obscene words. OMG - has become a profaning of God’s name as an acronym. Nothing is sacred, not God, not life.
But there is but one way of escape, says Peter. Talking about Jesus he says, “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12). Instead of cursing the name of Jesus, they must begin to treat Jesus as holy, sacred. Jesus in his teaching, his cause, his mission, must be regarded as a holy mission from God. Following him is the way of escape. About 3000 believed in that way of escape, and were willing to be baptized (Acts 2:41) into Christ. They began to live their lives so differently, “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42). They stayed together, “Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,” (Acts 2:46). Let us join in with them. Dan Peters
- Escape_Word.docx (9.33 kB)
