(More Bible Studies Available @ www.marktabata.com)
It is written:
2 Timothy 3:16-17-All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Let’s think about five powerful lessons from the Book of Acts that are very important for us as Christians today.
One: Jesus Arose From The Dead
Acts 1:13-The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead was an absolute historical reality, acknowledged from the beginning of the church. The act of baptism (Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12) testifies to the belief in the early church that He arose from the dead, as does the partaking of the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29). Not only do these testify to the resurrection of Christ, but so also do the words and sacrifices of Jesus’ Apostles (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:22-33). The resurrection of Jesus cannot be separated from Christianity without compromising the Gospel of Christ.
Two: The Bible Gift Of Tongues Is Not Gibberish Speaking
Acts 2:4-8-And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?
The Bible gift of tongues was the ability of a person to speak fluently in the language of another nation which a person had not previously studied. This passages uses the words “tongues” and “language” interchangeably, demonstrating that this is the nature of Bible tongues. This also shows us that the gift of tongues was not a gift of “hearing” in another language, for the Apostles were speaking in tongues before they gathered together with those from the other multitudes and hence before they “heard” them speaking in these other languages.
All of this is different from modern descriptions of speaking in tongues, where it is said a person speaks in gibberish. The latter was actually a sign of demonic oppression.
Three: Salvation Is Only In Christ
Acts 4:12-Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
The exclusive nature of Christianity is here demonstrated. While the world teaches that there are many ways to be saved from sin and Hell, the Bible only knows of one: salvation through Jesus Christ. This message is as unpopular today as it was during the first century, yet it is a lesson we must heed and faithfully proclaim.
Four: Demons Are Real And Still Around
Acts 8:5-8-Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.
Demons are real beings, still present in the world after the death of Jesus. Some Christians reject the knowledge that demons exist, preferring instead to believe that there are no such creatures or that they were all consigned to Hades at the end of the miraculous age of the church. However, Paul points out that the demonic forces that we face are still in the world (Ephesians 6:1-18), and will be till the very end of the Christian Age (2 Timothy 3:1-9).
The Bible is a Book which is always relevant.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.
Leave a Reply