EASTER 3 – April 18, 2021 – Acts 3:11-21
“TURN TO THE AUTHOR OF LIFE”
Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the First Reading, from Acts 3. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- It is an astonishing but true accusation that Peter makes: “You killed the Author of Life.” This is the vulnerability that Jesus assumed when He became flesh and dwelt among us. You remember how John identified Jesus: “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” [John 1;4] Earlier John wrote: “All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.” That would include all living things, and especially human beings. Though He is Almighty He became vulnerable for us, and humbled Himself unto death, even death on a cross.
- The accusation is made against “all the people” who were in the temple area, who were astounded at the miraculous healing of the lame man who for years had begged for a living. It was quite an indictment! I’m certain, that in view of the power exhibited by Peter, this charge was chilling and frightening!
- But like the prophets of the Old Testament, Peter didn’t stop with condemnation. He rather moved on in his sermon, to make the point that really matters to God. It is the reason for which Christ willingly suffered. It is so that we may “TURN TO THE AUTHOR OF LIFE” and be forgiven and healed!
- This is the same call that Holy Scripture presents to human beings to this day! We also are invited to “turn again that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” It is appropriate for us to hear this call and rejoice anew in God’s gift of new life in Christ. We see in our text that:
I. No Matter The Sins We May Commit – Even Causing Christ’s Death – There Is Forgiveness And Healing
Text: “You delivered Him over to Pilate when he had decided to release Him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life. . . . Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come.”
A. So Let Us Heed This Call As Well, And Repent
Text: “Repent therefore.”
B. Let Us Receive God’s Absolution
Text: “That your sins may be blotted out.”
C. Let Us Believe This Good News
Text: “And His Name – by faith in His Name – has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given this man this perfect health in the presence of you all.”
D. In This Way We Too May Live In The Refreshing And Healing Presence Of Jesus
Text: “that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus.”
Statement: This is remarkable, even to us as Christians, that such mercy would immediately be offered to those who had just recently demanded the crucifixion of God’s Son, our beloved Savior! Perhaps this is because we don’t consider our sins to be of nearly the magnitude of the sins committed by the crowd on Good Friday! We wouldn’t have cried out “Crucify, Him! Crucify Him!” At least, this is what we think or hope. However, each time we sin – which is often – we are calling for the crucifixion of Jesus. Our sin, each and every one of our sins, requires the shedding of Christ’s blood for forgiveness. And this He willingly endured so that we might be saved and healed.
Application: So let us also fully repent of our own sin. And more importantly, let us take full advantage of the refreshing that comes from the presence of Jesus, Whose blood has blotted out our sins. Let us put full faith, trust, and confidence in Jesus, and in the Lord, Who so graciously and mercifully provides this great redemption and salvation for us! And all of this is sure and certain, for:
II. All Of These Things Occurred According To God’s Word
A. Christ’s Suffering And Death
Text: “What God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He thus fulfilled.”
B. Also Christ’s Resurrection And Exaltation
Text: “Jesus, Whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all things.”
1 Cor. 15:3,4 “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.”
Statement: If God fulfilled the Words of His own prophecy regarding the death and resurrection of His own beloved Son, then surely all of His Word is faithful and true. This includes His many assurances of forgiveness and salvation in Jesus. This includes His promises to heal and refresh us, to give us rest and peace in His great love for us.
Application: This is what Peter invites people to “turn” to – “THE AUTHOR OF LIFE.” Rather, this is Who God invites all people to turn to, through the preaching of Peter, His servant. This includes us, even today and every day! We can live in health and refreshment in the presence of Jesus, the Savior appointed for us as well!
Transition: And although we are aging, and are troubled in this life, and perhaps somewhat daunted by what we know is coming, death, the Lord bids us to:
III. Look Forward To The Restoring Of All Things – Which God’s Word Assures Us Is Going To Happen
Text: “Jesus, Who heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets long ago.”
Statement: Yes, the prophets recorded God’s Word when He spoke of creating new heavens and a new earth. [Is. 65,66] Daniel knew about the Last Day and the resurrection of all flesh. So did Abraham. Jesus also talked about it, and all of the authors of the New Testament are aware of these promises of God. So these promises are again held out to us so that we may have hope even in our worst times.
Application: Jesus, in Whom we place our faith and trust for forgiveness and God’s salvation, is Creator, the Author of Life! He is not only Author of physical life, but more importantly He is Author of New Life. As John wrote: “But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” [Jn 1:12,13] He is also the Restorer of all things, on the Last Day. Christian faith, that which grasps the real Christ, includes all that Christ is and all that He has done for us! Christians, as Peter urges “TURN TO THE AUTHOR OF LIFE.”
Conclusion: So again, regardless of the dark and damnable nature of our many sins, the promises of God in the gospel are for us as well! We too are invited to turn, to repent, to receive forgiveness, to believe, to be restored to health, and to have eternal life. All of this comes to us through “THE AUTHOR OF LIFE,” our Lord Jesus Christ! He is the Christ, the Savior, appointed for us and for all people.
He is also the Almighty Creator and the Restorer of new heavens and a new earth at the end, restoring all things! God has indeed sent Jesus to us, and Jesus has promised to be with us always, even to the end of the age. May we fully enjoy His times of refreshing! Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.