Meditations on Acts - Gospel Facets

In Acts 2-4 Peter’s sermons give the gospel clearly, but not the reduced, simple message we expect.

 

When we think of the basic Gospel, we think Romans Road: “All have sinned.  Jesus died to pay for your sin.  Believe Him and you’ll be forgiven.”

 

But Peter, anointed by the Spirit on Pentecost, knows his unique moment, and the Gospel angle his particular audience needs to hear.  Academics call this contextualizing the Gospel.  Sometimes liberals use that to compromise and water down the message, but it remains true that the Gospel needs to be contextualized.  

Which facet of the Gospel does the person in front of you need to hear?  Which facet do YOU need to hear today?  That sin is awful, you have sinned, and need a torn up and humble heart about it?  That your rescue is only found in the person and work of Jesus of Nazareth, who God appointed for your rescue?  That you have the freedom of forgiven sin and a clear conscience because of Christ’s full payment for all your sins at the cross?  That God will give you daily grace anew by His Spirit to help you follow the Lord?

 

Peter’s audience needed to hear the second question in that list the most, and that they had killed that very Messiah:

“Jesus is the Messiah we’ve been waiting for God to send us.  But you killed Him.  But it isn’t too late to fix it, b/c God raised Him from death.  Repent and turn to God and believe in Him.”

 

For Christians today, we assume this point, that Jesus is the One.  But we still need the reminder that we won’t find satisfaction or salvation in money, sex or power.

 

One question to have in mind when you are reading the Bible is this: which facet of the Gospel is shining out here?  Whether it is the horrible offense of our sins in Jeremiah, justification by faith in Galatians, or wisdom for living (working out our salvation – sanctification) in Proverbs or James, every page of Scripture gives you some facet of the Gospel.