A man whose faith comes through Jesus (Acts 3:11-16)

 A man whose faith comes through Jesus

 

 

 

[Acts 3:11-16]

 

 

Scottish pastor Samuel Rutherford once said, ‘Christ carries the wind.  God has placed you beside Christ, facing the same direction as Christ.  Therefore, you cannot expect a sheltered, windless spot on the mountainside.’  In this statement, it implies that just as we walk in the same direction as Christ, we too must live carrying the wind. In other words, we cannot move forward without facing resistance (Tozer).  However, human instinct longs for the sheltered, windless spot on the mountainside.  Pastor Tozer stated in his book "That Incredible Christian" regarding 'true faith' and 'false faith': ‘A person with genuine faith does not shy away from any suffering in order to partake in Christ's victory.  On the other hand, a person with counterfeit faith is only certain of wanting no part of the wind, but desiring the sheltered, windless spot on the mountainside.  Everyone must decide for themselves whether they want to stand in the temporary peace that seems to come from false faith, or in the eternal peace that comes from genuine faith’ (Tozer).  What decisions do you make every day?  Are you standing in the temporary peace that seems to come from false faith, or are you standing in the eternal peace that comes from genuine faith?  Those born of faith from human sources will seek only the sheltered, windless spot.  However, as believers born of Jesus, they will follow Christ, resisting the world's winds, just as Jesus did.

 

Today, focusing on Acts 3:11-16, I reflect on how a believer born of faith in Jesus lives.  I hope to examine whether we are truly possessors of faith in Jesus.  In the midst of this, if we find that we have a faith derived not from Jesus, but from some other source or a misguided belief, I pray that it becomes an opportunity for repentance and a pursuit of true faith.

 

First, a man whose faith comes through Jesus does not seek to be the center of attention.

 

Look at Acts 3:12 - "When Peter saw this, he said to the people: 'Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?'"  As we have already contemplated, Peter and John encountered the man who had been crippled from birth at the temple gate, and, in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, commanded him to walk, lifting him up by his right hand.  We are familiar with the miraculous healing that followed.  As a result of this miracle, Peter and John gained the attention from all the people (v. 9).  Everyone gathered in amazement, and they even crowded into Solomon's Colonnade (v. 11).  It was in this context that Peter addressed the assembled crowd, saying, "Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you?...   Why do you stare at us?" (v. 12).

 

Now, consider this: What if news had spread about me, in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, raising a man who had been crippled?  Wouldn't people gather in astonishment, exclaiming, "Wow, that's incredible!"?  For instance, when certain well-known revivalist pastors hold healing meetings, don't people flock to them?  And when a healing miracle takes place, the pastor becomes well-known, and the church experiences significant growth.  Wouldn't you agree?  However, the question arises afterward.  How should we respond when we gain recognition from everyone, become popular, and achieve widespread fame?

 

Peter and John clearly stated to the amazed all the people: "It is not by our own power or godliness that we made this man walk" (v. 12).  This is the confession and attitude of a genuine believer.  A believer born of faith in Jesus actually finds it strange to be the center of attention.  The reason for this lies in knowing one's own lack of personal power and recognizing one's human inadequacy.  Additionally, when comparing one's own godliness to the holiness of Christ, it is clear that one is nothing.  Therefore, receiving attention from people can be burdensome, knowing that it was not one's own actions that brought it about.  However, what is happening in churches today?  Many individuals within the church are struggling with a strong desire to be noticed.  This applies not only to pastors, elders, and deacons, but also to many believers.  The immature faith that is unable to overcome the human instinct to seek recognition and attention from people is prevalent.  What is the cause?  It's the immature faith that desires recognition and attention from visible people rather than seeking recognition from the unseen God.  One result of this is that instead of God's glory being manifested, one's own glory is exalted.  Such a faith can never be called a faith that comes through Jesus.

 

The believer whose faith comes through Jesus does not seek to be the center of attention. He does not boast of his own power or godliness in order to gain recognition from people.  Therefore, we must uproot the temptation of seeking honor.  We should not become like fame-seeking celebrities in the church.  There should be no superstars in the church.

 

Second and last, a believer whose faith comes through Jesus gives glory solely to God.

 

Look at Acts 3:13a - "The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus ...."  What does it mean to glorify God?  It means to humble oneself before the infinite and glorious presence of God, to revere Him.  It involves offering thanks and praise in the face of God's love and grace, finding joy only in God, and manifesting and bearing witness to God's glory through every aspect of one's life.  It means acknowledging God in the highest place, loving Him, walking in His will, and not only exalting God but also expanding His kingdom and participating in all that God does (Internet).  Look at Isaiah 43:7 - "everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."  Peter and John, through the healing miracle of the lame man, rejected all the attention directed at them and instead gave all the glory to God.  How did they glorify God?

 

(1)   They glorified God by proclaiming that the God of our fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who raised Jesus from the dead among the dead, has glorified His servant Jesus.

 

Look at Acts 3:13-15: " The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go.  You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.  You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this."  Peter, speaking to the assembled people in Solomon's Colonnade, declared that the crippled man was now walking by the work of the covenant God they knew well, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  In doing so, he seized the opportunity to proclaim the gospel.  He addressed the gathered crowd, emphasizing how they had denied Pilate's attempt to release Jesus.  But instead, they had called for the release of a murderer and put to death the Author of life (vv. 13-15).  However, he proclaimed that God, in contrast, raised Jesus from the dead, declaring the message of resurrection.  This proclamation led the assembled people to believe in God and His Son Jesus Christ, urging them to proclaim the gospel.  Thus, rather than seeking personal acclaim when presented with an opportunity to be exalted, Peter chose to humble himself, confessing that his own power and piety amounted to nothing (v. 12), and exalting God by proclaiming His power, while seizing the opportunity to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

(2)   They glorified God by proclaiming that the man who was lame from birth was made well in the name of Jesus.

 

Look at Acts 3:16 - "By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see."  When all the people were astonished at the miracle performed by Peter and were about to exalt him, Peter was cautious, fearing that the glory would be attributed to himself.  Instead, he glorified Jesus. A true miracle is one that glorifies Christ, focusing on Him and bearing witness to Him (Park).

 

Desiring to become a possessor of faith born from Jesus,

 

 

 

 

James Kim

(While wishing to give glory to God alone, being uncomfortable with seeking attention from people)