Acts 1:6-8

The Kingdom’s Gospel

Introduction:

Luke tells us the disciples in Acts were accused of turning the world “upside down” (Acts 17:6) The Jews meant this to be demeaning; but the truth is it was descriptive of how the gospel was making such great progress. The known world at that time became “right side up.” John Calvin stated that the gospel was successful as he put it in one of his sermons in Acts this way: “Jesus Christ overcame enormous obstacles with towering success. The way He did it shows clearly that all glory must be attributed to Him alone. For if He had chosen great, knowledgeable, or powerful personages, it could be said they had much to do with it and shared his glory. But what do we see here? Poor people of no account, undesirables…”

  1. The Nature of Christ’s Kingdom

    1. Christ’s Authority

      1. World Christians –v.8 (Tertullian AD 200)

      2. Informal missionaries - Adolf Harnack (German historian)

    2. Disciples misunderstood the Kingdom’s nature

      1. Not an earthly Kingdom but Spiritual – Luke 17:20,21

      2. Not an ethical Kingdom based upon the Law of Moses – v.6 Turn To: Eph.2:13-18

      3. Not a geographical Kingdom – (Jerusalem) II Pet. 3:9-13 (William Miller and Ellen G. White miscalculations about the Second Coming of Christ.

    3. The Nature of Christ’s Kingdom is Spiritual

      1. Foreshadowed by John – v.5

      2. Emphasized by Jesus – v.8

      3. Our culture thinks the spiritual is not at all important – Psalm 139:7-12; Rom. 1:20; Col. 1:15; I Tim.1:17

      4. Powerful v.8 what really changes the course of history?


  1. The Truth Within Christ’s Kingdom

    1. Christ Kingdom is riveted in truth – John 18:37-38

    2. Witnesses – origin of the word – “wit means, “to know” a knowledgeable person who testifies. (Testimony of Jim Garrestson, Knox seminary professor)

Jam. 2:1-7

C. The Kingdom of Christ does not flourish by

      1. Money – God has chosen the rich in faith – Jam. 2:5

      2. Law – (Zech. 4:60

      3. Miracles – Mark 1:38

D. Spirit controlled believers – Eph. 5:18

Conclusion:


  1. Do you want to experience the power of the Holy Spirit? Then testify about Christ

  2. Do not think the disciples in Acts were super-Christians. They were ordinary much like us.

  3. The commission given to us by Christ is both a Command and a prophecy – John 8:31 YOU SHALL BE MY WITNESSES!


Pastor Nick Iamaio

Reformed Presbyterian Church 207 First Street, Fulton, NY 13069

Web Site fultonrpc.org

5/30/2009