We Kill What Gives Us Life

Nov. 25

Read: Acts 2:14-36 (Peter’s Sermon Part 2)

“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” (v.22-23)

Why do we “kill” the very things that will give us life? This is an unsettling truth: we are actually not that good at knowing what is good for us! “There is a way that seems right to a person,

but its end is the way to death.” (Prov. 14:12, 16:25)  Likewise, “The way of a fool is right in their own eyes, but a wise person listens to advice.” (Prov. 12:15) Peter’s sermon is pointing out this very fact: Jesus Christ came into the world to bring “light” and “life”, but the ones he came to save killed him. They killed the “life-giver”. We think that we know the path to life, but apart form Christ and his intervention and movement in us… we don’t. Humanity is wired for self destruction without Christ. This is why the in-breaking of the Kingdom of God is good news. This is why the “Gospel” is good news. It is rescue and redemption from our own self-destruction. When left to our own devices, we will sabotage ourselves. This is why we need the “renewing of our minds” (cf. Rom 12:2) This is why we must be made a “new creation” and our “old self” must be done away with… our old self-destructive self. (cf. 2 Cor. 5:17, Gal. 6:15, 2:20) 

This is the heart of Peter’s sermon. When the Holy Spirit works in the lives of hearers… when the Spirit’s work in his people flows through them into the lives of those outside…they are drawn near to hear the scriptures and face this terrible truth: without help, you will kill that which brings you life. Avenues for fullness and life will be squandered “at our hands”. Christ is the one bringing us HOPE. Christ is opening our eyes to this biblical truth. Christ is making us new, and leading us into JOY and LIFE. “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Ps 16:11) “You have put more joy in my heart than when grain and wine abound.” (Ps 4:7) Jesus declares: “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11) And Jesus prays to the Father: “But now I (Jesus) am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” The world is a self-destructive place apart from Christ. 

We should not be surprised by nor underestimate people’s bent towards self destruction. What seems like the collective “world’s” propensity to deconstruct the very things that have given life and stability. We lash out at the very ones we love. Those closest to us normally draw the most “fire”. This is why, as God’s children, we should be aware of the ways it still lingers in us… aware of our own patterns of self-destruction. This is yet another reason why the gathering with the fellow people of God is so crucial. We help see the self-destruction in each other and lead one another into life in Christ. My wife and I were discussing this idea, and she made the observation: “maybe this is why God doesn’t always show us too far into the future what he has in store for us, we wouldn’t agree to it anyways… we wouldn’t recognize it as a path to life and joy… it wouldn’t match ‘our way’.”  We must boldly declare the words of Peter’s sermon to the world around us and to ourselves. Whether we like to hear it or not, left to ourselves we will squash life and joy… not nurture it. We will run headlong into what WE think is good… this is why sin is often called “doing what is right in one’s own eyes.” (cf. Judges 17:6, 21:25, Prov. 12:15, 21:2) God is calling us to point towards the way of life that is in Christ. We are being called to live in this life as well. We need one another to boldly declare the scriptures - as Peter did - fueled by the Holy Spirit to lead one another away from death and into life. This is the only antidote to the self-destructive disease we have within us: the indwelling presence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit worked out in community with each other boldly declared through the supernatural work of the Spirit and bolstered by the word of God. Ask those around you what your self-destructive ways are. Allow them to speak truth into your life. God works through his people to help one another enter into this newness of life we have in Christ. Do not be afraid to lean into those around you. This is the powerful work of God’s people. We will see tomorrow how 3000 people are impacted!! Love you guys. - JDP