Christ's Credentials Series

Christ’s Credentials

Acts 2:22-39

January 27, 2002

Intro:

A. [Resume Stoppers, Citation: Dave Wilkinson, Leadership, Vol. 12, no. 1.]

In Leadership magazine, Dave Wilkinson write the following to pastors…

Have you ever wondered why your pastoral resume doesn’t evoke more enthusiasm? Do you ever think, "What are these people looking for?"

Perhaps the question should be, "What aren’t they looking for?" because with the numbers of applications pastor nominating committees receive, their first task is to eliminate applicants.

Here, then, as a public service, are statements certain to stop a resume dead in its tracks.

· "I believe empathy is overrated."

· "In the five churches I have faithfully served over the past two years ..."

· "My hobbies are pit bulls and automatic weapons."

· "I am willing to sacrifice my family for the sake of the ministry. I am also willing to sacrifice yours."

· "I have learned to cope with financial crisis at every church I’ve served."

· "I require an attractive secretary and/or organist."

· "My extensive counseling of church members has proved a rich source of pointed sermon illustrations."

· "Amway taught me everything I know about evangelism."

· "I’ve been told that every sermon I preach is better than the next."

· "My personality has provided me ample opportunity to develop conflict-resolution skills."

B. In Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost, Peter lists Christ’s credentials as the Son of God (and they are certainly more credible than these).

I. Jesus was accredited by God to us with miracles, wonders, and signs.

Acts 2:22-23, ""Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross."

A. First Peter says that God accredited Jesus to us with miraculous things.

1. Jesus could do things that humans could not do.

2. Jesus could turn water into wine.

3. Jesus could make the deaf to hear and the blind to see.

4. Jesus could make the lame to walk and dumb to speak.

5. Jesus could make paralytics to walk.

6. Jesus could cast out demons.

7. Jesus could heal people in other towns.

8. Jesus could wither trees.

9. Jesus could raise the dead.

10. Jesus could feed great numbers of people.

11. Jesus could heal people who just touched His garment.

12. Jesus could escape lynch mobs.

13. Jesus could read people’s minds.

14. Jesus could predict the future.

15. Jesus could even predict His traitor.

16. Jesus could reattach cut off ears.

B. Jesus could do things that humans could not do.

1. It is very impressive that Jesus can do those kinds of miraculous things.

2. God has given Him miraculous powers which very much qualifies Him as the Son of God.

C. And absolutely nothing has changed in the past 1970 years!

1. Jesus still has that kind of power today.

2. Jesus is still in the miraculous business today!

3. Jesus can still make the lame to walk in 2002!

4. Jesus can still make the blind to see in 2002!

5. Jesus can still make the deaf to hear in 2002!

6. Jesus can still cause demons to flee in 2002!

7. Jesus can still predict the future in 2002!

8. Jesus can still heal people of cancer in 2002!

9. Jesus can still heal people of strokes in 2002!

10. Jesus can still do everything He could do 1970 years ago!

D. Jesus of Nazareth is a man accredited by God to us by miracles, wonders, and signs!

II. Jesus was accredited by God to us with resurrection power.

Acts 2:24, "But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him."

A. God raised Jesus up from the dead.

1. God freed Jesus from the agony of death.

2. It was impossible for death to hang on to Jesus.

3. Death couldn’t keep Him in the ground.

B. That is certainly a convincing credential!

1. Who else do you know that God has raised from the dead?

2. How ‘bout Buddha?

3. How ‘bout Muhammad? We’ve certainly been hearing a lot about him lately—did God raise him from the dead?

4. Or what about Bill Clinton?

5. No! Jesus is the only one that God has raised from the dead and that is certainly a convincing credential for someone who claimed to be the Son of God!

C. But not only could Christ raise Himself from the dead, but He can raise others from the dead.