On Christ The Solid Rock I Stand
June 11, 2023
We have seen Jesus ascend; the promised Holy Spirit poured out on the 120. The first sermon preached by Peter, the first invitation given, the first salvations, first baptisms, first miracle, All of this is being accomplished in and by the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Peter and John have just healed a lame man, who had been lame from birth. He was begging at the temple gate called beautiful. He asks Peter and John for money. “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” This man was known to everyone, because that is where he had laid and begged for years….now this lame man was walking, Praising Jesus for his healing….these Religious leaders could not deny the miracle, so they decided to go after the ones responsible for the miracle… Peter and John. But, Ultimately who they are trying to discredit is Jesus of Nazareth.
Acts 3:11-26
Acts 4:1-4 First persecution of church
Acts 4:5-12
Vs11 Jesus is “the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.”
Jesus was rejected by men — by these leaders — but was exalted by His Father.
Peter, quoting from Psalm 118:22, is saying that Jesus is the fulfillment of that prophecy. The powerful name of Jesus Christ, the cornerstone of Jesus Christ, the foundation of Christ was rejected by the world, but has now become the cornerstone!
Let me elaborate on the significance of this cornerstone. The cornerstone here is not simply a decorative stone used to finish off the corners of a building with a bit of architectural style. It is a fundamental foundational stone that structurally holds an entire building together. (God’s entire Salvation plan)
Eph. 2:20
1 Peter 2:6-8
Jesus also quoted this verse: The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers
Matthew 21:42-44 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? Jesus quotes Psalms 118:22-23 43 “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44 Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.” (“it will grind him to powder.” NKJV)
Judging others, ask seek knock, wide & narrow gate, true & false prophets, true & false disciples, (7:21-23) wise and foolish builder. Matthew 7:24-27 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Vs12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Let’s be absolutely clear here: Peter isn’t proclaiming Jesus as a way of salvation, but the only way of salvation.
Man, how the world hates this statement! (SHORT SIGHTED-INCLUSIVE-NARROW MINDED)…But Jesus said the same thing: John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
If you want to be laughed at, scorned, persecuted, even hated, testify to this truth-to this exclusive claim of Jesus Christ.
But the truth is: If we are going to be saved, rescued, redeemed; if we have any chance of being made right with God, Jesus is the only one who can do it.
For those who choose to believe that all are saved or that there are many roads to heaven or that they can take the best of all faiths and blend them into one; fine. Believe that and bear the consequences; but please do not claim this is the teaching of the Bible.
Jesus is the stone the builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone. Jesus is the only solid rock on which to stand, all other ground is sinking sand, and on this rock you will either come and be broken, or it will come for you one day and you will be crushed and ground to powder!
Acts 4:13-22
The Sanhedrin had a closed meeting and came up with a solution to the problem. The solution was that they could continue to teach and preach, but they couldn’t do it in the name of Jesus Christ.
Basically, they didn’t care what they did as long as they didn’t follow Jesus’ command to be His witnesses. (Take away that name and you take away the power!!)
Peter and John had a choice to make: They could be politically correct and stay out of trouble or they could stand boldly and courageously upon the rock that is Jesus.
Acts 4:18-20 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
Have you been to the rock that is Christ and have you been broken? Are you standing on the cornerstone, that rock that is Christ? Then let the storms come, the streams rise and the winds blow, we are safe and secure, on Christ the solid rock I stand!
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