This study was first taught on January 1, 2017

Topic: Understanding the Acts of the Apostles_4: Concernment

(use the audio to study)

---

Background
In looking at the third consideration that should help us understand, comprehend and appreciate the actions, activities, deeds, and ministry of the Apostles—those sent by the Lord to propagate the good news of the kingdom of God—, we noted that the Lord Jesus Christ, “presented Himself alive” to His disciples, after His crucifixion and resurrection, “by many infallible proofs” over a period of “forty days” in order to ensure that they were irrefutably convinced beyond any doubt whatsoever about His resurrection, and by extension, about the truth that should they devote and commit themselves irrevocably to living for Him and by His word, they would likewise be raised from the dead when they “fall asleep”.

The missing ‘ingredient’ in the preaching of the gospel today, is the conviction or full persuasion, on the part of many people who are propagating the gospel, as to the veracity of the word of God, and more particularly, that the Lord Jesus Christ indeed resurrected from death. We described ‘conviction’ as a fixed and firm belief in something, which cannot be altered by persuasive arguments to the contrary; and, as the unshakable belief in something without the need for proof or evidence. The necessity and essentiality of having a conviction about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ was made clear by the lifestyle and conduct of the apostles of old; who, despite all the negatives that attended their doing the work of God—persecution, pauperization, and pulverization—did not lose heart, give up, ‘abandon ship’, nor, desert their post or their Lord! Rather, the apostles of old committed their souls to the safe-keeping of God, Who alone is able to keep it unto eternity.

In doing the work of God in our own time, we must likewise, be totally and completely convinced about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ; we must be irrevocably convinced that as He was raised up from the dead, so shall we also, when we die; and, we must have absolute confidence in God, and in His word—that what He has said He will do, He is not only able to do, but He will do it; otherwise, we will be dominated by the fear of death, and the desire for pleasures and material things; resulting in a ‘gospel’ which is no gospel at all. And, if we are not fully persuaded or convinced in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, our witness of Jesus Christ will be weak and ineffective; we will not be fully committed to the Lord; and, we would be unable and unwilling to endure persecution, pauperization, and pulverization, till the end, as was the case of Demas.

Scripture Text(s)
Acts 1:3
The Lord did not only show Himself to the apostles by many infallible proofs, over the forty-day period following His resurrection from death—to convince them irrefutably that He had indeed resurrected, and that they would likewise be raised from the dead, when they “fall asleep”—but He also spoke—by the Holy Spirit—to them—giving them instructions and commandments, and, information and teachings—of the things pertaining—revolving around, about, relating to, concerning—the kingdom—rule, reign, and realm—of God. This indicates the sheer weight the Lord placed on the matter.
When the Lord Jesus came to the earth, the kingdom of God was His principal focus; after His death and resurrection, He continued to make it a principal focus, spending the forty days after His resurrection to speak to them about the things of the kingdom of God—repentance, forgiveness of sin, faith toward God, salvation, eternal life, baptism, suffering, persecution, and much more! He wanted the apostles to understand that this was to be their focus. It must also be the same for us.
Mark 1:14-15; Luke 4:42-44; 11:2; Matthew 5:1-10; 6:31-33; Romans 14:17; John 3:1-5, 16; Luke 24:25-27, 44-49; Ephesians 2:13-22; 1 Timothy 3:14-15; Matthew 10:7-10; 6:24; Mark 4:18-19; Luke 10:38-42; 1 Timothy 6:6-12, 17-19; Acts 8:12; 14:22; 19:8; 28:23, 31; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Ephesians 5:5-12; Colossians 3:1-10; Matthew 6:19-21; Galatians 5:19-21, 24-25; Revelation 22:14-16.

Conclusion
The Lord’s message to the apostles of old, and to those of us who have, and will, come after them, is that whatever we do, we must propagate the kingdom of God. Our preaching of Christ, and Him crucified and glorified, are things pertaining to the kingdom of God; for, without Christ, we cannot be in the kingdom. There are also the things that we must do and not do—the result of being like Christ—so as to inherit the kingdom of God.

Indeed, it was the concern of the Lord; it was the concern of the apostles of old; and it must likewise, be our own concern. The Lord did not speak of a kingdom ruled by men; neither did He speak of a kingdom of empire-building; nor one dominated by the building of cathedrals, and superstructures. The Lord did not speak of a kingdom of cares, pleasures, crass materialism, or of dependence on and the pursuit of money; but of the rule and reign of God in the affairs of men.

The apostles of old did not lose focus on the matter, as they saw it as what mattered. We must likewise resist every attempt to dissuade us to take our focus off the matter of the kingdom of God, lest we fall prey to the devices of the reign of Satan and of the rule of self. May God help us, Amen!

---

Back to all Bible Study Outline List