“And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead” (Acts 4:1-2).
Persecution against Peter and John began because they announced the coming resurrection of the dead. How else could they preach Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)? Why would anyone oppose such preaching? The Jewish leaders must have known that Jesus raised Lazarus, and they knew that Jesus had conquered death. Otherwise, they would not have bribed soldiers to tell that Jesus’ body had been stolen by His disciples (Matthew 28:12-15).
Rejoice In The Resurrection
Jesus came to deliver man from the fear of death (Hebrews 2:14-15). His resurrection proves that all men will experience victory or suffer defeat in the last day (John 5:28-29). Materialists of the 21st century cannot believe because of their faith in matter and physical man. Humanism, another word for atheism, blinds men to reality and causes immorality (Psalm 14:1). As Jesus survived death so shall His disciples. The persecutions suffered by the early church included death, but as Christ gave them victory He will give victory to the faithful of our day!
As the way to Calvary caused suffering, so does the way to Heaven, where Jesus rules at the Father’s right hand. Rejoice in the Lord!
“This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:11-12).
The Jewish court could not disprove Peter’s affirmation because proof of the apostles’ miracle stood beside them (Acts 4:14). The Sanhedrin resorted to commanding them not to preach Christ (Acts 4:17-18). Christians detest authorities who attempt to exploit people by misusing their power, but how many consider the privileges and responsibilities of discipleship?
Rejecting the Stone
God provided in Christ the Stone necessary for the construction of His spiritual temple. When they rejected that Stone their building collapsed. As the Savior taught in closing the Sermon on the Mount, foolish men build structures which cannot stand because they build on sand (Matthew 7:21- 29). The church of Christ consists of spiritual stones erected on the foundation of truth revealed by and in Christ (1 Peter 2:5).
Those who honor Jesus as precious obey Him as Lord. “Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed” (1 Peter 2:7-8). Those who imagine that justification is by faith without obedience, reject God’s corner Stone for an imagined ease on sand, but it cannot stand (Hebrews 5:8-9). The disobedient perish eternally (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).
Those who attempt to incorporate the theories of the secular into God’s spiritual temple cannot tolerate God’s presence. In contrast, consider the beauty of plans that originate in Heaven. “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief comer stone: in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:20-22).
No Other Savior
Much of Christendom imagines that Jesus will save sincere pagans who continue in their paganism. Choosing faith of fables they lack concern about the truth of the Bible. Jesus spoke emphatically of His Lordship (John 8:24, 14:6). He is the one source of life; there is none other. Error must be rejected (1 John 4:1; 2 John 9-11) if peace in Christ is to be experienced (Romans 5:l; James 3:18). Those converted to Christ must keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:1-6; Galatians 5:22-23).
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