Ken Harding

11/11/12

Key Verses: Acts 2:41-42 - NIV

**“Those who accepted his message were baptised…

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and…”**

The apostles' teaching is: 1. Grounded in the Old Testament scriptures. - Peter quotes: Joel 2, (verse 17 – 21), Psalm 16, (verse 25 – 28)

  • Stephen quotes: Amos and Isaiah in Acts 7.

  • Philip quotes Isaiah 53 in Acts 8.

  • Paul quotes several OT writers in Acts 13.

  • James quotes Amos in Acts 15.

  • A continuation of the teachings of our Lord.

  • Acts 1:1- 7. What Dr Luke began in the Gospel he continues in the book of Acts. (see Luke 24:25-27, 44-49)

  • We may add that every teaching of the Lord Jesus in the four Gospels is restated or expanded in the Epistles.

  • In harmony with all the scriptures. (The New is in the Old contained, The Old is by the New explained)

  • To establish a doctrine/teaching we need to take in the whole Word of God.

  • The Trinity is seen in Genesis, Isaiah, the gospels, the Acts and the Epistles.

  • Jesus explained in all the scriptures the things about Himself, Lk 24:27

  • Jesus said search the Scriptures for they testify of ME, Jn 5:39

  • The prophecies, types and foreshadows in the OT are fulfilled in the NT.

  • Consistent with each other, e.g. Peter, Paul and John.

  • Peter was the first to preach the Gospel to the Jews and to the Gentiles.

  • This Gospel was about the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

  • It involved repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus.

  • It brought forgiveness of sins and peace with God.

  • It was followed by water baptism for those who believed.

  • What Peter and John preached in Acts 4 and Acts 8 Paul preached later.

  • Paul received by divine revelation the same Gospel, Gal. 1 & 2

  • This was confirmed by Peter, Gal.2:7-9

  • This is clearly set out by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 and in Romans.

  • Based on the Gospel of the grace of God.

  • John the Baptist preached repentance and pointed to Jesus.

  • Jesus preached repentance and faith in Him.

  • Peter, John, Stephen, Philip and Paul all preached repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus.

  • There was no other Name, no other way. John 14:6, Acts 4:12

  • It confirmed the Cross, the shed Blood, the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus as essential for our salvation.

  • It demonstrated that all have sinned and are lost and that the Gospel is our only hope.

  • It tells us that Jesus died for the sin of all and that all may believe and be saved.

  • It assures us of the Love of God for all mankind.

  • The foundation of all righteousness.

  • It reveals the righteousness of God which comes by faith.

  • This is applied to all who believe in Jesus.

  • It teaches us to deny ungodliness and live holy lives.

  • It is consistent with the teaching of the Old Testament.

  • The embodiment of all truth.

  • Jesus Himself is the embodiment of Truth.

  • The apostles based all their teaching on their experience of Christ. John,* 1 John 1:1- 5, Peter, 2 Peter 1:16-21, Paul,* 1 Corinthians 15:1-8.

  • God gave divine revelation to Peter (Acts 10) and to Paul, (Eph. 3:1-6)

  • The truth of the Gospel.

  • The truth of the Church which is His Body.

  • The Truth of the Local Church.

  • The truth of future events in the plan and purposes of God.

  • The truth of our eternal hope.

  • The truth of eternal condemnation for all who reject Christ.