Devote Yourselves to the Apostles' Teaching

Ken Harding 11/11/12 Key Verses: Acts 2:41-42 - NIV “Those who accepted his message were baptised… They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and…” The apostles' teaching is: 1. Grounded in the Old Testament scriptures. Peter quotes: Joel 2, (verse 17 – 21), Psalm 16, (verse 25 – 28) Stephen quotes: Amos and Isaiah in Acts 7. Philip quotes Isaiah 53 in Acts 8. Paul quotes several OT writers in Acts 13. James quotes Amos in Acts 15. 2. A continuation of the teachings of our Lord. Acts 1:1- 7. What Dr Luke began in the Gospel he continues in the book of Acts. (see Luke 24:25-27, 44-49) We may add that every teaching of the Lord Jesus in the four Gospels is restated or expanded in the Epistles. 3. In harmony with all the scriptures. (The New is in the Old contained, The Old is by the New explained) To establish a doctrine/teaching we need to take in the whole Word of God. The Trinity is seen in Genesis, Isaiah, the gospels, the Acts and the Epistles. Jesus explained in all the scriptures the things about Himself, Lk 24:27 Jesus said search the Scriptures for they testify of ME, Jn 5:39 The prophecies, types and foreshadows in the OT are fulfilled in the NT. 4. Consistent with each other, e.g. Peter, Paul and John. Peter was the first to preach the Gospel to the Jews and to the Gentiles. This Gospel was about the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. It involved repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus. It brought forgiveness of sins and peace with God. It was followed by water baptism for those who believed. What Peter and John preached in Acts 4 and Acts 8 Paul preached later. Paul received by divine revelation the same Gospel, Gal. 1 & 2 This was confirmed by Peter, Gal.2:7-9 This is clearly set out by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 and in Romans. 5. Based on the Gospel of the grace of God. John the Baptist preached repentance and pointed to Jesus. Jesus preached repentance and faith in Him. Peter, John, Stephen, Philip and Paul all preached repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus. There was no other Name, no other way. John 14:6, Acts 4:12 It confirmed the Cross, the shed Blood, the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus as essential for our salvation. It demonstrated that all have sinned and are lost and that the Gospel is our only hope. It tells us that Jesus died for the sin of all and that all may believe and be saved. It assures us of the Love of God for all mankind. 6. The foundation of all righteousness. It reveals the righteousness of God which comes by faith. This is applied to all who believe in Jesus. It teaches us to deny ungodliness and live holy lives. It is consistent with the teaching of the Old Testament. 7. The embodiment of all truth. Jesus Himself is the embodiment of Truth. The apostles based all their teaching on their experience of Christ. John, 1 John 1:1- 5, Peter, 2 Peter 1:16-21, Paul, 1 Corinthians 15:1-8. God gave divine revelation to Peter (Acts 10) and to Paul, (Eph. 3:1-6) The truth of the Gospel. The truth of the Church which is His Body. The Truth of the Local Church. The truth of future events in the plan and purposes of God. The truth of our eternal hope. The truth of eternal condemnation for all who reject Christ.