Acts 3:4–20

This man was broken.

He was humiliated.

He was hopeless.

“And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” (Acts 3:4)

“But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”” (Acts 3:6, ESV)

“And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.” (Acts 3:7–8, ESV)

Why is it important that the lame man, after being healed, immediately goes to the temple? (HEADER)

1. He was disabled, he had never been able to go inside the temple.

2. Entering the temple during the hour of prayer reveals his recognition of God as healer

“And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.” (Acts 3:9–10, ESV)

How the lame man is an illustration of salvation:

1. He was born lame

We are born sinners

2. He was poor

We are bankrupt before God

3. He was outside the temple

All sinners are separated from God

4. He was healed by the grace of God

Salvation comes from God alone

Those who reach the many, care about reaching the 1.

May we not miss those who feel lost in the crowd.

Peter is going to boldly proclaim to this audience that they need Jesus just as much as the lame man did, not for physical healing, but for spiritual healing.

“And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of 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, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 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 the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.” (Acts 3:12–16, ESV)

Peter uses 3 titles for Jesus:

Servant Jesus, Holy and Righteous One, and Author of Life

Peter teaches his audience how to rightly respond to the gospel message —

faith alone in Jesus.

“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,” (Acts 3:19–20, ESV)

True repentance is admitting that what God says is true, and because it is true, you change your mind about your sin and the result is that you change course.

“Legalistic remorse says, ‘I broke God’s rules,’ while real repentance says, ‘I broke God’s heart.’” -Tim Keller

Unless we turn from our sins, we cannot place our complete trust in Jesus.

May we constantly have sensitive hearts to the Holy Spirit who convicts us of our sin, and as a result, we repent and turn back to God.

What happens if we repent and turn back to Jesus (HEADER)

1. Total forgiveness (v. 19)

“…your sins may be blotted out” (v. 19)

Sin must be punished by God. If not, He would not be just.

But when we turn to Jesus, God wipes out our sin and we no longer must bear its penalty.

Jesus has wiped out our wrongs.

We have no guilt

We are under no condemnation

Jesus has already wiped away our sins, and in the future, He promises to wipe away all of our tears.

2. Spiritual refreshment (v. 20)

“…that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (v. 20)

For those who turn to Jesus, we will find rest

3. Complete restoration (v. 20)

“…that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus” (v. 20)

The gospel gives us an unshakable hope that our best days are yet to come. This earth is not our home!