** Caption file: TLW 11-26-23.vnl
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>> [ Indistinct singing ]
>> Today we are blessed
with a wonderful gift from God,
the Bible.
This book is God's living word.
In its pages we are told,
"For the Word of God is living
and powerful and sharper
than any two edged sword."
It is in this book of books
that we find the answers
to all of men's questions
and need.
This morning, your area
Churches of Christ
welcome you to a program
committed to that perfect
law of liberty...
>> [ Singing continues ]
...as we present
"The Living Word."
>> [ Singing continues ]
>> Now, here is your host,
Ray Sullins.
>> We're excited to have you
with us today
for "The Living Word" program.
What a wondrous Lord's
Day morning it is.
And as always, what a privilege
that we have joined together
to worship our God.
And we thank you for choosing
to give this time of commitment
to our creator.
It is our hope and prayer
this morning
that we may each participate
and do our own part
to make the time
together acceptable in his sight
and according
to his perfect will.
And as we begin our worship
to God this day,
will you bow with me before
our father's throne in prayer?
Our God and Father in heaven.
We thank you so much for this,
another great day of life,
and we thank you so much
for Jesus and the love
that he has shown us
by giving his life
and the love
that you have also shown us
by sending him to do that very
thing according to your will.
And father, we thank you that
these things are revealed to us
by your Spirit in the word
and that we know exactly
not only who you are,
but what you have done for us
and what you require of us.
That we might be called
your children,
and that we might live
properly in this life,
and therefore be blessed
not only now,
but blessed eternally.
And father, we thank you
for the church and your family
and all that you have given us,
that we might be a part of
your kingdom here on this earth.
That certainly has
an eternal nature as well.
And father,
when this life is over,
please give us that promised
mansion to the faithful,
as certainly we have
proven ourselves
and therefore become recipients
of your grace,
your love, your mercy,
and your reward.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
Our first song of the morning
reminds us
of one of the greatest events
that has ever taken place.
Oh, how we are those who know
that the Lord God has sacrificed
so much for us
in giving his own son,
Jesus Christ,
to die on the cross.
So why don't you join in with
the congregation at this time
as we sing together
"A Hill Called Mount Calvary."
>>  There are things
as we travel 
 This earth's shifting sands 
 That transcend all
the reason of man 
 But the things that matter
the most in this world 
 They can never
be held in our hand 
 I believe in a hill called Mount Calv'ry 
 I'll believe
whatever the cost 
 And when time has surrendered and earth is no more 
 I'll still cling
to that old rugged cross 
 I believe that the Christ
who was slain on the cross 
 Has the power
to change lives today 
 For He changed
me completely 
 A new life is mine 
 That is why by the cross
I will stay 
 I believe in a hill called Mount Calv'ry 
 I'll believe
whatever the cost 
 And when time has surrendered
and earth is no more 
 I'll still cling
to that old rugged cross 
 I believe that this life
with its great mysteries 
 Surely someday
will come to an end 
 But faith will conquer
the darkness and death 
 And will lead me
at last to my Friend 
 I believe in a hill called Mount Calv'ry 
 I'll believe
whatever the cost 
 And when time has surrendered
and earth is no more, 
 I'll still cling
to that old rugged cross 
>> Whenever we go out
to buy a new house
or car or furniture
or virtually anything,
the first thing we see is that
of the appearance of the item.
Then we immediately begin
to look a little bit closer,
perhaps at the quality
or the workmanship
that was put in
to whatever the item is.
If we see or find a lot of flaws
or imperfections in the item,
we generally would be
less likely to buy it
or even to want it at all.
Have you ever considered that
you and I, as followers of God,
serve the same purpose often
to those in
this world around us?
Wasn't it Paul that said,
"For we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus
for good works,
which he prepared beforehand,
that we should walk in them"?
Ephesians 2:10.
You see, God says we are his
workmanship, created by him.
So what does this tell us
about those who live around us
and what they should see
and what we do,
or what they should hear
and what we say?
It is true that our words
and actions
must show forth the workmanship
of the one who has made us,
so that when others hear
what we say or see what we do,
they know that we are either
a creation that is of God
and made by God,
or one that is imperfect
and living
according to the world,
or maybe our own glory.
I also love what is said
about this and the concept
that we are created
for the sake of good works.
Do you realize that the very
reason that God made us like him
is that we might do his will
and do good works?
This is something that God
planned from the very beginning,
that you and I would be able
to follow him
by doing his will
unto good works in his name,
for his sake and to his glory.
And what a beautiful picture of
Christ we have presented to us,
and certainly what
a wonderful example
that we can present
to the world
as well as those who might be
spotless or striving for such,
and therefore showing forth
in everything we do
and say,
that workmanship of God.
A final verse
I would like to mention
is found in Psalm 139:14 --
There David said,
"I will praise you,
for I am fearfully
and wonderfully made.
Marvelous are your works,
and that my soul
knows very well."
The question that
we must ask today is,
are we those who are
the marvelous work of God,
and therefore showing forth all
that we want to for his sake,
unto his glory
in every aspect of life?
Hopefully, our answer is yes,
but if not,
make sure today that you
are living as God requires
and that you are a reflection
of his perfection
and what he requires of you
as one who is faithful.
This morning then
in just a few minutes,
we will continue with our new
our next song of the day.
But before that, we want to look
at our next series
and our next rather lesson
in the series
that we have been considering
concerning the book of Hebrews.
But as we have concluded
that series or come to the end,
we always like to look at the
question -- What shall we do?
The very question that was asked
on the day of Pentecost
by those who had just
crucified the Son of God.
Well, continue with us
this morning,
and after
the next song together,
I will return
in just a moment
to lead us in this study
from God's Word.
But for now,
let's join together
in our second song
of the morning,
the name of the hymn --
"Unto Thee, O Lord."
>>  Unto Thee, O Lord 
 ( Unto Thee, O Lord ) 
 Do I lift up my soul 
 ( Do I lift up my soul ) 
 Unto Thee, O Lord 
 ( Unto Thee, O Lord ) 
 Do I lift up my soul 
 ( Do I lift up my soul ) 
 O my God 
 ( O my God ) 
I trust in Thee 
 ( I trust in Thee ) 
 Let me not be ashamed 
 Let not mine enemies
triumph over me 
 Yea, let none that wait 
 ( Yea, let none that wait ) 
 On Thee be ashamed 
 ( On Thee be ashamed ) 
 Yea, let none that wait 
 ( Yea, let none that wait ) 
 On Thee be ashamed 
 ( On Thee be ashamed ) 
 O my God 
 ( O my God ) 
 I trust in Thee 
 ( I trust in Thee ) 
 Let me not be ashamed 
 Let not mine enemies
triumph over me 
 Remember not 
 ( Remember not ) 
 The sins of my youth 
 ( The sins of my youth ) 
 Remember not 
 ( Remember not ) 
 The sins of my youth 
 ( The sins of my youth ) 
 O my God 
 ( O my God ) 
 I trust in Thee 
 ( I trust in Thee ) 
 Let me not be ashamed 
 Let not my enemies
triumph over me 
>> We're so thankful that
you've continued today,
and that we now go to God's Word
and look at a lesson
at the end of our series
that kind of focuses on what
it takes to become a Christian,
And it's an important question
that we try to cover
at least every several months,
because we understand
that in order for someone
to be called
a follower of God,
that they must have followed God
and the way that he requires,
based on what we learn
in the New Testament,
and perhaps
there's no greater place
to study that concept
or to understand it,
than the day
that the church began itself
in Acts chapter 2.
If you turn there
to Acts chapter 2,
what you'll remember with me
is that the apostles have been
waiting for a period of time
there in Jerusalem
for the Holy Spirit
to come with power.
This was something
that had been prophesied
about not only
in the Old Testament,
but also in the New Testament,
even the Book of Luke,
that they should go there
and wait for the Holy Spirit
to come with power.
And certainly they did that.
And we learned there
in Acts chapter 1,
that that is exactly
what began to take place
as they had assembled there.
And then in chapter 2,
we see the event actually
coming to full culmination.
As we look in chapter 2,
though,
we also want
to ask the question,
who then was assembled
that day?
Well, it was the Pentecost,
50 days after the resurrection.
We see that now
they have the Pentecost,
the first Pentecost,
after the resurrection of Jesus.
And now, as the people
have gathered,
we have a representation
of multitudes.
If you'll notice there
with me in verse 5,
it says that every nation
under heaven.
So people from all over
the earth were there.
If you look around verses 9
and 10 and even verse 11,
it gives us a list
of all the many peoples
from all different areas
of the world
who had assembled
to worship God
according to the old law
on the day of Pentecost.
And one of the words
that I think is so interesting
there in verse 10
is that he mentioned
that these people
from all of these places
were not only encompassing Jews,
but he says, and "proselytes."
That tells us
that not only Jews,
but there were many Greeks
who had began to follow
the old ways of Judaism,
and therefore they were
observing that Pentecost
and coming together
for that purpose there
in relationship
to that celebration.
So all of that having been said,
it's interesting that as Peter
now gets up
with the others in verse 14,
that we learn that Peter
is the spokesman
and the others seem to be
standing there with him
as he begins to preach the first
gospel sermon again publicly
after the resurrection,
at least as far as we have
recorded in the Scripture.
And it's certainly
of common sense
that this would be the case,
because it is the day,
as we can tell
from the same passage,
that the church was established
as far as the blood of Jesus
and the New Covenant.
But here, what was it
that he preached?
Well, he actually goes back
to the Old Testament,
to the book of Joel.
He talks about prophecies
concerning the coming
of a kingdom,
the coming of the Messiah,
the idea of when it would
happen, how it would happen.
He makes many references there,
even to Isaiah and others.
And as he brings
all of these points together,
he continues to caution them
really about their role
and what has just taken place.
And what we know has just
taken place is best described
for us a little bit later there
in chapter 2 in verse 36.
And if you'll read
that verse with me,
I think you'll find it
interesting to again
give a summation of what he
is trying to warn them about.
What are they now guilty of?
Therefore, he says,
"Let all of the house of Israel
know assuredly
that God has made this Jesus
whom you crucified,
both Lord and Christ."
So what we know has just
taken place not so many days
before is the idea of
the crucifixion of Jesus.
The Jews did not believe him
to be the Messiah.
But what is it that Peter now is
telling them by the Holy Spirit?
He was not only the Christ,
but the very prophesied Messiah,
and now they have murdered him.
Remember now, this is after
the resurrection
and after many witnesses,
including the apostles,
but many other witnesses.
Hundreds have seen Jesus
after the resurrection
and after many other events
now have begun to take place,
where witnesses now
are confirming
that Jesus did raise
from the dead,
and that all these things
have been fulfilled
exactly the way
that prophecy had set out,
even from the Old law
or the Old Testament.
And then as we move there,
it's interesting
as well in verse 37,
after they have been warned
that they evidently received
that message,
they have been told
of the prophecy
of the coming of
the Messiah or Christ.
They have been warned
that exactly as was said,
that Jesus or the Messiah
would be crucified,
that he would be led
as a lamb before the shearer.
They have been warned and told
about all of these things.
And now what do they realize
in that moment in verse 36?
We are guilty.
We are those who have
crucified the very one
that came to save us
from this world and our sins.
And what is their response?
Oh, no big deal.
What is their response?
Well, let's go home
and we'll come back tomorrow
and think about it.
Well, you know,
what do you think or what?
No. What is their response?
Look at verse 37 with me.
Now when they heard this
from what Peter says,
they were cut to the heart
and said, "Peter,"
to Peter and those who
were with him, the apostles,
"Men and brethren,
what shall we do?"
You see, when they heard it,
their heart was sliced.
It was cut.
They were shaken to the core.
They were brought to a reality
that they have just made
the greatest mistake
of their life.
And then yet what is
their question?
What shall we do?
It's the same idea that,
no doubt many of us
in our own lives at times
have been found in a position
to where we have done things
we shouldn't or made mistakes,
and we then are caught in that,
that mistake,
or we're caught in that sin
and somebody says --
What are you doing?
Do you not understand
what you're doing is wrong?
And it's brought
to our attention.
And in that moment, as perhaps
we are cut to the heart
and we have tears in our eyes,
we say, what shall we do?
How can I overcome this?
What do I need to do
to set things right?
You see, it's not just
a spiritual matter
that was being dealt with here,
but a matter that we find
even in our secular lives
that we continually deal with
as we are making mistakes
and committing sin contrary
to the will of God.
Maybe I didn't crucify
the Son of Jesus,
but my sin can cause me
to lose my soul just as readily
if I am not careful
to repent of it
and make sure that I choose God
and serve him.
So when they were asked,
what shall we do?
What was the response?
Well, Peter didn't say,
well, it's -- it's time now.
Everybody just pray.
Let me say a prayer with him.
If you'll say this prayer,
then I'm going to add you or God
will add you to the church,
and then you're going to be okay
and everything will be fine.
Is that what he said?
No, he actually didn't say
anything at that point
about prayer.
He actually,
after he convicted them
and they were cut to the heart,
says to them, "Repent."
See, they were told,
you are in sin.
You have murdered
the Son of God, the Messiah.
And they said, what shall we do?
Blood is on our hands.
We are guilty.
And he says, "Repent."
The first thing
is to acknowledge sin
and turn away from it.
The idea of repentance means
not only do I acknowledge sin,
but as if I am focused
or looking to sin,
I turn completely away
and go the other direction.
That's repentance.
I try to make restitution
and no longer be a part of
that old way and the old sin.
But I turn to Christ
and head toward
that which is good and perfect
and righteous.
But then I want you to notice
he doesn't just say repent.
Certainly repentance
is required.
And we know that even Jesus
said, "Repent or perish,"
Luke 13:3, but notice
there he says, "Repent,
and let every one of you
be baptized."
Well, you see, baptism was
also mentioned here. Why?
Because baptism always played
a significant role even before,
of someone who was desirous
of proving to God and action
that they wanted to overcome sin
and somehow get rid of sin.
Even Jesus came baptizing back
in Matthew chapter 3 and 4.
Even John the Immerser
came baptizing.
When people want
a remission of sins,
they were baptized and many
of them in the Jordan River.
So it's not so strange here
that Jesus says, "Repent
and let every one of you
be baptized,"
because it is that moment
of baptism
that brings us to a point
to where we have a realization
of not only what Jesus has done,
but what we need to do
and how we overcome sin
and become a new creation.
How do I know that?
Well, I know it because
it's spoken there
and actually given an inference
in chapter 2.
But turn over to Romans
chapter 6 for just a moment.
If you'll give
an honest look there,
I think you'll
find it interesting
that it talks about baptism
beginning in verse 3.
And it says there
in verse 3,
"Do you not know that as many
as were baptized into Christ
have put on Christ, or were baptized into his death?"
If I want to be baptized
into something,
what would I want
to be baptized
in order to serve
God baptized into his death?
So what is the explanation
that the inspired Paul gives?
So it means therefore,
verse 4,
"We were buried with him
through baptism into death,
that as Christ was raised
from the dead
by the glory of the father,
even so, we should walk
in newness of life."
Verse 5, "For if we have been
united together
in the likeness of his death,
then we are also united together
in the likeness
of his resurrection."
And what is
the purpose of that?
Well, by doing so, "knowing that
our old man," verse 6,
"has been crucified with him,
that the body of sin might be
done away or put to death.
With that we should no longer
be then slaves of sin."
And therefore, because we have
now risen with Christ
and new creation,
what does verse 7 say?
It says, "For we are
his father who has died,
has been freed from sin.
Now if we died with Christ,
we believe that we shall
also live with him."
The symbolism here couldn't
be any more beautiful,
which always then
surprises me why
so many people are adamantly
against baptism
as a part of what was required
for salvation.
It is that symbolic moment
that teaches us and reminds us
that I am a servant of sin,
and I've got to repent
and turn away from that sin.
And so I'm going to die
to the old man of sin,
and I'm going to put him
in the grave,
and I'm going to cover him
with that dirt or water.
And then when I come
out of that water,
I'm going to be
resurrected like Jesus is.
And a new creation, as it says
in Colossians chapters 2
and even chapter 3
deals with it.
You see that new creation,
that one who has been found
in the likeness of God.
That's what happened
on the day of Pentecost.
And what was interesting
is that as we go back
and they believe
that Jesus is the Christ
and they no doubt say --
So what shall we do?
We've murdered the Messiah.
And he says, "Repent
and be baptized."
They were told,
do this in order to have what?
There is a outcome to baptism.
Be baptized in the name
of Jesus Christ
for remission of sins.
What is remission of sins
connected to?
Baptism because of the act
and the meaning of the act.
Dying to the old man
and rising to the new creation.
And at that point,
brethren and friends,
is where we receive
the gift of the Holy Spirit.
I'm excited to say on that day,
if you drop down to verse 41,
it says, "...about 3,000 souls
were added to them."
3,000 were baptized that day.
In fact,
the word baptism is used,
not repentance or confession,
which we know is also involved
because we've read it.
But it says,
"3,000 were baptized."
And what was
the outcome of that?
Verse 47,
"They were praising God
and having favor
with all the people,"
because the Lord was adding
to the church
daily those
that were being saved.
And so if I were to ask you
and you were to give it
an honest answer,
what did they have to do
in Acts chapter 2 to be saved?
Well, after believing
that Jesus was the Christ
and saying, what shall I do?
They had to repent of their sins
and they had to be baptized
to receive remission of sins.
And then at that point,
what happened?
3,000 were added by the Lord
to the church.
My question for you this morning
is have you done
that to be saved?
Many of you have not.
Maybe you've not
been done with that --
done so with that understanding,
knowing the significance of it.
Make sure that when you
commit yourself to God,
you do it in his way.
For the only way that you can
be called a child of God
is when you do it the way
that God has designed,
and therefore
those who do such
will receive the reward
in the end.
>>  'Tis the grandest theme through the ages rung 
 'Tis the grandest theme
for a mortal tongue 
 'Tis the grandest theme
that the world e'er sung 
 "Our God is able
to deliver thee" 
 He is able
to deliver thee 
 He is able
to deliver thee 
 Though by sin oppressed,
go to Him for rest 
 "Our God is able
to deliver thee" 
 'Tis the grandest theme
in the earth or main 
 'Tis the grandest theme
for a mortal strain 
 'Tis the grandest theme,
tell the world again 
 "Our God is able
to deliver thee" 
 He is able
to deliver thee 
 He is able
to deliver thee 
 Though by sin oppressed,
go to Him for rest 
 "Our God is able
to deliver thee" 
 'Tis the grandest theme,
let the tidings roll 
 To the guilty heart,
to the sinful soul 
 Look to God in faith,
He will make thee whole 
 "Our God is able
to deliver thee" 
 He is able
to deliver thee 
 He is able
to deliver thee 
 Though by sin oppresses,
go to Him for rest 
 "Our God is able
to deliver thee" 
>> Again, let me thank you
for choosing
to be with us this morning.
I hope our time together
has been an encouragement
and a blessing to us all.
And please remember
that you are invited to join us
every Sunday morning at 7:30
as we commit ourselves
to this service of God.
But for now, let me ask you
if you have any questions
or comments
about today's lesson.
Maybe like a free transcript or
a free CD or DVD of the program,
or possibly we could assist you
with free Bible materials
or free Bible
correspondence courses.
No matter what your need is,
please feel free to contact us
at the following address.
Many of these items are also
available on our website.
That address --
TheLivingWordProgram.com.
Or if you prefer, you may
call us at (417) 869-2284.
Have you submitted
to the Gospel of Jesus Christ
and done what is required
to become a child of him today?
If not, why not do
so even this morning
and follow the exact plan
that God has given in His Word,
that one might truly be saved
and thus have eternal life.
>> Our prayer is to help
the world know more
about God through
this television program.
"The Living Word"
has been brought to you
under the oversight
of the elders of the Kansas
Expressway Church of Christ
in Springfield, Missouri,
with the assistance
of the following area
Churches of Christ.
>> [ Indistinct singing ]