THE
CRUCIFIED
Acts 2:32-36
32
"This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. 33
"Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having
received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured
forth this which you both see and hear. 34
"For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: “THE
LORD SAID TO MY LORD, "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,
35
UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET." 36
"Therefore
let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both
Lord and Christ--this Jesus whom you crucified.
Who is this one who has been given all power? – Who
is exalted by God’s right hand, and by that appears as one of the
persons in the Trinity? We are talking about Jesus, one would say. And
it is, - But not just anybody Jesus, who is being preached. It is like
that in a lot of congregations unfortunately, that only the name of
Jesus is mentioned, and then all is good. It is so few who actually
know what they should listen to – so few who are capable to try out
what are being preached. Therefore can seductive people come in and
lead them almost wherever they want. But “My sheep know My voice,”
Jesus says. And this voice is an appointed message.
At Matthew’s Jesus says Himself something about the teaching about
His name, - Which should make us really timid: “Not everyone who says
to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does
the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. “Many will say to
Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in
Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?
"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME,
YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.” (Matt. 7:21-23).
“But he who does the will of My Father,” He will enter the kingdom of
heaven.
These people had prophesied, cast out demons, and performed many
miracles, everything in His name, - But they had not done the will of
His heavenly Father – because they could not enter, but was told to
depart from Him.
What kind of will did they not do? “For this is the will of
My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will
have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”
(John 6:40).
These people get access: Those who believe in His name! It is
the Fathers will that you should believe in Jesus. Where the Father’s
will is done, the soul will be destined for heaven, - yes, the
heavenly door is then open for you. But those people that we read
about – those who were told to depart from Him – they were actually
able to do great things in His name, without believing in Him! They
were convinced themselves that they believed in Him – and the signs
that followed them were for them, “the evidence of faith. ”But the end
of this faith in Jesus was perdition.
What is this belief, where the Father’s will is revealed?
First: You have probably heard the expression: “God has more to give!”
Many people lives in this struggle after “something more,” – yes,
their whole “Christian life” is about seeking and being active to get
something more. By that they say pretty clearly that what they
have achieved is very imperfect and insufficient, since they are left
with unrest and an urge after something more. But is it not Jesus that
they have received? – Him in whom all the fullness of God has a
home. (Col. 1:19). What more is there, than all the fullness of
God? You have been given everything,
the Lord says to those who have taken their refuge in Him. That is
what you should grow in knowledge of, and by the knowledge of God’s
love revealed that He gave Christ in our place, also become filled
with all the fullness of God (Eph. 3.1) – And not go after something
else – like those who has made the Holy Ghost to a false god.
We can see that because
they have placed the Holy Ghost in a role He does not have according to
the Word - nor want to have. Thereby it is not the Holy Ghost you meet
in this preaching, but a false god - just like
the Jesus you met in the previous mentioned lost preachers teachings,
which not was the true Jesus, and therefore also a false god. These
people preach that, - yes, you have received Jesus, but now you also
have to receive the Holy Ghost in a special way, - while the truth is
that no one can believe or receive Jesus without the Holy Ghost.
When it says in the passage that Him (Jesus) has outpoured this – the
Holy Ghost, - then He is outpoured, or sent to the world, - not to be
anything for a person in Himself, - which means, that His works is not
to be attentive towards Himself, - but has the work of making the word
about Jesus alive for the heart, to bring us into believing in Him.
He is also the one who will help the believer to grow in mercy and
knowledge to Jesus. So, as we mentioned to show you that you already
have been given everything in Him.
“He will glorify Me,” Jesus says, and you shall notice that Jesus do not
say, through a bunch of mystical manifestations, signs and wonders, -
but: “…He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose
it to you.” (John 16:14). He shall use the
Word on us and remind us of what Jesus has taught us.
“My soul is like a weaned child within me.” David says (Ps. 131:2),
while these strive after more, and flutter like restless butterflies
from one “flower” to another.
What do you lack you who have received Jesus? Notice
the serious word: “Depart from Me, you who have
done injustice!”
They
nullified the indescribable gift of God (Gal. 2,21). What you seek after
and yearn for has to be something that you necessarily do not have. For
if you had it, - then you would not search any more. Now I have found
what I ponder my blessed anchor – that is why one can travel about and
preach - and also tell you about it! - The ground is Jesus death and
wounds. It was clarified before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1,4).
That is the foundation that will stand forever, when earth and heaven
will perish.
Did you hear what was preached to you now? Your sins – everything
that shuts you out from the kingdom of God – Was put on Him,
before the foundation of the world was made!
What is this faith, by what we do the will of the
Father? – Who is this Jesus we believe for salvation? Peter says so
clearly in our passage: "Therefore let all the house of Israel know for
certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ--this Jesus whom you
crucified." (v.36).
“This Jesus whom you crucified!”
He
is the Lord in
the kingdom which shall not perish – the heavenly kingdom: -
the
crucified
When
you read:
the crucified
– what do you exactly read? Yes, I can with joy and astonishment tell
you what you read, you who have received faith in Him – and you who have
not received faith, you read the exact same thing, but your eyes have
not been opened to what is says, still: It says: “He who died for the
atonement for all my sin!” He is Lord! It is no wonder the Word says:
“Shout
joyfully,
you lower parts of the earth!” (Is.44:23). Have you not heard that He
who atoned all your sin, - He has become the Lord of the kingdom of
heaven! Incredible Gospel!
“This
Jesus God raised up again!” (v.32). This Jesus! – In other words, the
one you
crucified.
Wherever you read and hear about Him, - you read and hear about your
salvation – what God the Father have given you, because He wanted you
with all of His heart – exactly
you
– into His
heavenly kingdom! Wherever you do not read and hear about
Him
– there is only down fall and perdition, - how spiritual and devout it
may look.
“The
Lord said to My Lord: Sit at My right hand” (v.36b). The writer in the
book of Hebrews testifies of it like this: “When He had made
purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on
high” (Heb. 1:3b).
What is completed
cannot be added
to!
E.K.
Holy Bible New American Standard Version
Translator: Benedicte Holtan Smart |
