Though under attack from within and without, Christ will build His church. Summaries have marked pivotal points in Luke’s discourse. The first (2:42-47) glimpsed the vitals of the newborn church. The second (4:32-35) its witness within. Now, the third summary considers her witness without, that is with an eye to the outside. The holy presence and power of God is central in the main thought of the passage. And the witness and testimony to the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is its purpose. In typical fashion, signs are mentioned to be followed by a sermon. It all points to Christ, here in the church’s witness without.

This is the second of a three-part series on the English Reformation with a particular focus on the life, contribution, and martyrdom of Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556), Archbishop of Canterbury.

Christ’s church manifests the wonder of new life in a world of old lies. She finds herself under attack. Old corruptions assault the new people of God, both from without and from within. The witness within bears testimony to an already-not-yet reality. The first twin example of this section reveals that both good and evil are present in the church on earth. It is a shocking narrative where hypocrisy meets holiness.

This is the first of a three-part series on the English Reformation with a particular focus on the life, contribution, and martyrdom of Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556), Archbishop of Canterbury. This introduction touches on the uniqueness of both the Reformation in England and Cranmer as a reformer. Background is presented that sets up the emphasis on his contribution to strategically persevere for truth over tradition in the Church of England.

Peter concludes his letter to the elect exiles with exhortations to persevere in the faith through sufferings, to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God, cast their cares on him, be soberminded, watchful, and resist the devil who prowls around like a roaring lion. Suffering is the common experience of all Christians in the present age and is for our sanctification and to share Christ’s sufferings according to God’s will. But suffering in this age will surely be followed by God exalting believers at the proper time in the age to come. Echoing the theme of suffering according to God’s will (4:19), Peter beautifully summarizes this  letter to the elect exiles by affirming that God promises to sustain even through suffering: “the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while.”

This sermon begins a look at the consequences of godly fear. That is the benefits of it. After introducing the fear of the Lord and focusing on three categorical attributes of God that furnish cause to fear Him, we set before us consequences of fearing Him. First in line is the good of godly fear, that is the good that is given to those who fear the Lord.

After the introduction, the last two sermons in this series sought to demonstrate that God is holy and just, respectively. These are two categoric grounds for God to be feared. But they are not uniquely Christian. In this sermon, the third and greatest categoric ground is explored, namely that God is gracious.

When the gravitas of God reorients His people and His sovereign centrality marks their mind, something wonderfully attractive is felt. A oneness of heart and soul that resonates deeply in human longing under the curse. Now, a summary heads up a new section, beginning with this picture of unprecedented unity. The profoundness of the church belongs to the work and power of God and not man. In her best moments, the church realizes this. When she strays from it, she suffers. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is all about making Christ known, but not in word only. The Spirit bears witness not only without but within the church to the church. Here a powerful principle is sounded as the church falls under attack.

Man’s greatest good by man is condemned. The offer of redemption rejected. The telling of truth threatened. But Peter and John return from such hostile opposition unsurprised. What’s more, the church shares in the same way of thinking. It is not so much the things they do as it is the way they think that marks them. Here, in this extraordinary scene that concludes the healing drama and the first taste of persecution, the gravitas of God is put on rich display through a prayer. The early church, in its most glorious moment of unity recorded, testifies to the sovereign centrality of God in her worship.

The first sermon in this series introduces the subject drawing particular attention to the nature, complexity, and different dispositions of fear. The second focuses on the nature of God as holy. This third sermon considers the just character of God, showing the connection between justice and fear.