The God of Second Chances - Acts 4:1-12

Someone has said we serve a God of "second chances".  Today we see what Peter does with his second chance, as he boldly proclaims Jesus Christ of Nazareth.  This is a great story of what true transformation looks like. 

Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin
    

1 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand. 5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.  12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

If you don't believe people can change, then you haven't read the bible.  Here we have Peter, who completely denied Jesus not once, not twice, but three times to save his own skin, now preaching boldly and fearlessly about the resurrection of Jesus. He did this knowing he would be arrested and possibly treated in the same fashion as Jesus.  And when the Jewish leaders saw the following Peter and John were getting, they were greatly disturbed and threw them into prison.  The Sadducees did not believe in the afterlife, so they were particularly offended by the teaching that Jesus had risen from the dead.  

So what can we learn about this changed man and the way God used him to lead thousands of people to faith in Christ? 

1. Peter was unabashedly clear about the content of his preaching, which was centered around Jesus Christ of Nazareth.  Jesus was a man raised in a small town.  He proved he was God by rising from the dead.  Someone has said the "linchpin of the Christian faith" is the resurrection.  If Jesus didn't rise from the dead proving he was who he said he was, Christians are among all people "most to be pitied", says the apostle Paul.  Why? Because what we believe in is not true.  It's that simple. If Jesus did not rise from the dead he lied and can't be trusted.

2. Peter preached that Jesus was the only way to be saved.  Many have a hard problem with this message thinking it is exclusive.  It is exclusive but it was what Jesus himself said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father except through me."  To preach Jesus is the only way is only repeating what Jesus taught.  It is not arrogant. It is bold because people get really mad when this truth claim is made.  

Of course proclaiming this message needs to be done with gentleness and respect, especially with people who believe in another truth claim.  But let's be clear this is the Christian message and to water it down is to water down the gospel and not be true to what Jesus asked of us.  We often do if in fear of what people will think about us.  Peter faced this fear up close and personally and yet he preached the message Jesus had taught knowing what the consequences would almost surely be.  

3. Peter did not preach this in his own power.  One of the reasons for the change in Peter was when he received the promised gift of the Holy Spirit.  Note it says, "Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit."  It was the Holy Spirit who encouraged him and empowered him to preach boldly.  But also remember Peter still had to get up and do it.  The Holy Spirit didn't make him do it, but filled him when he obeyed the commission Jesus had given him. 

So here is a question?  Do you think you need to be more like Peter?  I know I do.  I often care more about what people think about me than being faithful to preach Jesus as the way, the truth and the life.  Jesus changed Peter and redeemed him from his past failures. Peter had in fear denied and betrayed him.  Yet, God is God of second chances. Let's use our second chance like Peter did by boldly proclaim the resurrection in Jesus and how is the way God provided people to come to him in this life and be with him eternally.