the Vine with Chris Green

How do we live out our faith in times when it isn't welcome, when we are treated shamefully for it or even when we are persecuted? The original apostles found themselves having to answer that question very early on in the church's existence.

How are we to live for the sake of the Name when, even in a tolerant society, such a life can be deemed intolerable? Peter and the apostles paved the way for us and we can learn from their example.

In the aftermath of the healing of the lame man, Peter and John were imprisoned and brought before the religious council. They were fearful of the Name they spoke of and healed in. But one thing they could not deny the power they had seen.

That same powerful Name has not lost its power. Our prayer is that this world would see in us what that council saw in Peter and John.

In the aftermath of the healing of the lame man, Peter and John were imprisoned and brought before the religious council. They were fearful of the Name they spoke of and healed in. But one thing they could not deny the power they had seen. That powerful Name has not lost its power. Our prayer is that this world would see in us what that council saw in Peter and John.

Peter and John had walked with Jesus for years. This day the walked into the temple. The same temple that had been there all their lives. Same temple. Same time of day. Same Peter. Same John. Same gate. Same lame man. It was an everyday, ordinary kind of day. Except there was a new Spirit at work within them. That Spirit was leading them on an adventure into the life of the Kingdom of God.

Peter and John had walked with Jesus for years. This day the walked into the temple. The same temple that had been there all their lives. Same temple. Same time of day. Same Peter. Same John. Same gate. Same lame man. It was an everyday, ordinary kind of day. Except there was a new Spirit at work within them. That Spirit was leading them on an adventure into the life of the Kingdom of God.

The 3,000 people who responded to the gospel call in Acts 2 did not keep this gospel call at arms length. That would have been easier. It would have been easier to not have to be cut to the heart, to not get carried away, to not respond. But instead, these 3,000 internalized this gospel call and responded with their whole lives.

It wasn't that they found a new set of religious activities. It wasn't that they had found a religion that gave meaning to their old lives. No, they found new life.

So they lived a new life.

The 3,000 people who responded to the gospel call in Acts 2 did not keep this gospel call at arms length. That would have been easier. It would have been easier to not have to be cut to the heart, to not get carried away, to not respond. But instead, these 3,000 internalized this gospel call and responded with their whole lives.

It wasn't that they found a new set of religious activities. It wasn't that they had found a religion that gave meaning to their old lives. No, they found new life.

So they lived a new life.

Maybe if Peter hadn't walked with Jesus and instead grew up in 21st century, New England Protestantism, his call at the end of the gospel message would have been different. But he did walk with Jesus. He knew this was more than a new, pious perspective on how to achieve inner peace. This is reality. Jesus is the Son of God, crucified because of us, raised to again from the dead, seated at the right hand of God the Father, and poured out His Spirit on all who believe.

And the people that day in Jerusalem were "cut to the heart" with the truth of that message. They were left with one question: "What should we do?"

Maybe if Peter hadn't walked with Jesus and instead grew up in 21st century, New England Protestantism, his call at the end of the gospel message would have been different. But he did walk with Jesus. He knew this was more than a new, pious perspective on how to achieve inner peace. This is reality. Jesus is the Son of God, crucified because of us, raised to again from the dead, seated at the right hand of God the Father, and poured out His Spirit on all who believe.

And the people that day in Jerusalem were "cut to the heart" with the truth of that message. They were left with one question: "What should we do?"