THE BOOKS OF ACTS AND ROMANS -- Sermon 5
Introduction: In the first four lessons we dealt with the four gospels. The four gospels are the foundation for all of the New Testament. In this lesson we will continue our survey of the New Testament as we see the sending forth of the gospel message in the Acts through the early Church. In the latter part of this lesson we will complete a survey of Romans, a book displaying the righteousness of God.
ACTS
I. SURVEY
A. Writer: There is no doubt that Luke, the writer of the third gospel, is the writer. The book of Acts, like the
Gospel of Luke, is dedicated to Theophilus, a Roman political leader.
B. Date: A.D. 63
C. Purpose: To set forth a continuous work of the Lord Jesus Christ as He directs it through the person and power
of the Holy Spirit.
D. Key Verse: Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be
witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
E. Four words summarize the book of Acts: 1. Power 2. Preaching 3. Persecution 4. Progress
F. Those Four things will still work in the day we are living in.
II. OUTLINE - Acts 5:31-37 - When you look at the book of Acts you have to be impressed with the Church. That is the theme of this book. How Jesus Christ continued his work through the Church. The book of Acts is the best history available on the early Church. The early Church should be studied and followed to help today’s churches grow and go for God’s glory. Let’s look at some things about the early church.
A. THE RESULTS OF THE EARLY CHURCH
1. One hundred and twenty initial members.
2. The first baptism of the Early Church--Acts 2:41-- “...there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”
a. There have been questions by some about the 3,000 that were baptized in one day.
b. It has been stated as impossible to baptize that many in one day because of a lack of water. This is an argument that is centuries old.
c. If you complete a study of the water supplies in and around Jerusalem you will find five pools or bodies of water.
1. The Pool of Bethesda - 360 ft. long by 130 ft. wide and 75 ft. deep at its maximum. It has five large porches surrounding it with room for multitudes to wait.
2. The Pool of Siloam - 53 ft. long by 18 ft. wide and 19 ft. deep at its maximum. It was built by King Hezekiah in 700 B.C. It is a conduit, and artificial pool, known as the lower pool.
3. The Upper Pool - 316 ft. long by 218 ft. wide and 18 ft. deep at its maximum. It is connected to the spring at Gihon, where Saul was anointed King.
4. The Pool of Hezekiah (different from #2) - 240 ft. long by 144 ft. wide was still partially filled with water in 1840.
5. The Pool of Gihon - 592 ft. long by 260 ft. wide and 40 ft. deep at its maximum.
d. All were constructed with sides which gradually sloped inward and downward, allowing safe and easy descent into the water at any required depth.
e. It should also be noted that Pentecost was in the spring time, after the rainy season, and the pools were more than likely filled to the brim. Psalm 84:6 tells us that the rain fills the pools. In the context of the 84th Psalm it is speaking of the City of Jerusalem.
f. The question is could 3,000 be baptized in one day?
1. If all 12 apostles were baptizing simultaneously (easily possible), there would have been no problem as to time.
2. Each Apostle would have 250 converts each to immerse.
3. If Each Baptism took one minute, the Baptismal service would last for 4 hours and 10 minutes.
g. There were both ample supplies of water and time to baptize 3,000 people in one day.
3. Daily additions--Acts 2-- “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
4. Acts 4:4--The congregation totaled “about five thousand men.”
5. Acts 4:32-They had thrown away their adding machines and got out their multiplication tables. Acts 6:7 “...the
word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly...”
6. Acts 5:28-- “...behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine...”
7. Noted scholars have estimated that the first church grew to at least 25,000 and some estimates of 50,000 to
100,000 in just a few months.
8. Within 30 years time they had gone beyond Jerusalem to Judaea, Samaria, Asia, Greece, and Rome.
9. Tertullian, a first-century historian said, “We are of yesterday, yet we have filled your empire, your cities, your
towns, your islands, your tribes, your camps, castles, palaces, assemblies, senate.”
B. THE RESISTANCE OF THE EARLY CHURCH -- They had Problems as does every Church
1. The Problem of a Pathetic Past
a. I’ve heard people say “We can’t do anything at our church because of our past.” But what about the early Church.
b. Their chief leader in whom they had set all their hopes had just been cruelly crucified and as far as the world
knew was still in the grave.
c. Their treasurer had gone to a suicidal grave, after betraying their Master.
d. Their chief spokesman Peter had played the baby and coward.
e. No church today has had a worst history to overcome in its community than this church did at Jerusalem.
2. They had The Problem of a Powerful Political Social and Religious Society
a. The Whole World was against Them
(1) The Political World--King Herod and Pontius Pilate
(2) The Social World--The whole Gentile world was against them.
(3) The Religious World--The Jewish Religion hated them
b. The Only Modern Comparison to the early church would be to start a Church next door to the Vatican in
Rome, Italy and start a daily, energized door-to-door visitation.
c. That’s exactly what the Apostles did- They went on and Won people to God
3. The Problem of a Powerful Price--Born-again believers can evangelize anyone, anywhere, anytime if they
are willing to pay any price!
a. Holy Spirit filled preachers were mocked and slandered as drunkards in Acts 2:13, but Peter said BOYS I’m
going to preach anyway and 3,000 got saved!
b. The Apostles were imprisoned for preaching Christ and curing a cripple man (4:3). When they were
released, they had a prayer meeting that erupted into a Revival (4:31)!
c. Imprisoned again (Acts 5:17-42)-Angels loosed them and they went back to preaching Christ again!
d. Deacon Stephen was slain (Acts 6,7)
e. Persecution was intensified (Acts 8, 9)--Saul declared all-out war
f. Next was Political persecution (Acts 12) James was beheaded and Peter was cast into prison.
g. Paul, now converted, is persecuted next and finally paid the ultimate price with his life.
4. The Problem of Pitiful Possessions
a. They had no Numerical Status--The 120 were a minority among the multitudes.
b. They had no Financial Status--What little treasury they had accumulated had been stolen by Judas.
c. They had no Social Status--They were Mostly fishermen, traders.
d. They had no Educational Status-Acts 4:13 “they perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men...”
e. They had no Physical Status--They had no property, no buildings in which they could preach the Gospel
but they met in homes and preached anywhere and everywhere they could find opportunity.
C. THE REALITIES OF THE EARLY CHURCH--GOD WAS REAL
1. A Personal Reality--I John 1:1 “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have
seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life.”
a. They had Seen the Saviour--They seen him live for 3 1/2 years
b. They had Heard the Saviour--They had heard Him forgive them of their sins, call them into the ministry,
and they had heard him pray.
c. They had Heard Him Preach--to 5,000 at one time.
d. They had Heard Him command them to seek out souls. His last words were “...and ye shall be witnesses
unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
2. A Powerful Reality
a. They had a total submission to the Holy Spirit
b. 41 times in 26 chapters, the Holy Spirit is mentioned. 17 times, His power is manifested.
3. A Prayerful Reality
a. Prayer was as essential to them as breath is to the nostrils and as blood is to the veins.
b. The Early Church prayed any time and all the time, over anything and over all things.
c. “These all continued (ten days) with one accord in prayer and supplication (Acts 1:14).
d. “And they prayed” for God’s will in the choice for a successor to Judas (Acts 1:24).
e. They “continued in prayers” (Acts 2:42). “Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the
hour of prayer” (Acts 3:1).
4. A Preaching Reality--There are Twenty-Four Sermons in the Book of Acts.
a. Five by Simon Peter, One by Deacon Stephen, One by Deacon Philip , One by James (Acts 15), One by
Apollos (Acts 18), Fifteen by Paul
b. There were no Programs, Ceremonies, Ordinances, Musicals, or Entertainments to take the Place of
Preaching. Just Preaching!
c. What did they preach?
a. They Preached Christ and him crucified.
b. They preached on Repentance and Faith.
c. They preached on Baptism and Local Church Membership.
d. How did they preach?
1. Their messages were marked by clarity and simplicity.
a. They preached Pointedly - They didn’t beat around the Bush
b. They preached Purposefully - They didn’t take preaching lightly
c. They preached Personally - Paul looked at Felix in Acts 24:25 and Righteousness and temperance
and judgment to come
d. They preached Powerfully
2. They preached doctrinally and no apologies were asked or given.
ROMANS
I. SURVEY
A. Writer: The Apostle Paul as stated in the first verse.
B. Date: 57 and 58 A.D.
C. Purpose: To inform the brethren that Paul would visit them soon, and to declare that man is justified by faith,
and by faith alone.
D. Theme: The Righteousness of God
E. Key Verse: “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall
live by faith” Romans 1:17
II. OUTLINE - Taken from Dr. J. Vernon McGee’s book on Romans
A. DOCTRINAL - Romans 1-8 -- “Faith”
1. Justification of the Sinner -- Romans 1:1-5:11
a. Revelation of the Sin of Man -- Romans 1:18-3:20
b. Revelation of the Righteousness of God -- Romans 3:21-5:11
2. Sanctification of the Saint -- Romans 5:12-8:39
a. Potential Sanctification -- Romans 5:12-21
b. Positional Sanctification -- Romans 6:1-10
c. Practical Sanctification -- Romans 6:11-23
d. Powerless Sanctification -- Romans 7:1-25
e. Powerful Sanctification -- Romans 8:1-39
B. DISPENSATIONAL - Romans 9-11 - “Hope”
1. God’s Past Dealing with Israel - Romans 9
2. God’s Present Purpose with Israel - Romans 10
3. God’s Future Purpose with Israel - Romans 11
C. DUTY - Romans 12-16 - “Love”
1. The Service of “the Sons of God” - Romans 12-13
2. The Separation of “the Sons of God” - Romans 14-16
