Acts 1 6 -8 Acts 1 6

Acts 1: 6 -8

Acts 1: 6 -8 n 6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel? " n 7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. n 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. " n

Discussion Question: What kind of kingdom do you think that the Apostles were thinking that Jesus would restore (Acts 1: 6)? n

THE QUESTION n Most Jews of this time - and the Apostles were no different - had the idea that the coming kingdom announced by John the Baptizer and by Jesus was a revival of the earthly kingdom of David and Solomon in the land of Israel. n They believed the coming Messiah would lead an earthly army to defeat their oppressors and restore Israel’s The Golden Dome is where independence. Herod’s Temple once stood.

THE NATURE OF THE KINGDOM n Jesus had told Pilate that He, Jesus, was a king. But He said His kingdom was not of this world. He said if it were, His servants would fight to defend Him (John 18: 33 -37). The Messianic Kingdom is now and always will be a spiritual kingdom. n Evidently Jesus did not want to take time to explain this difficult concept. They would learn the truth about this soon enough.

n Jesus did not answer the question directly, I think, because it would have been hard for them to understand. His explanation would necessarily have been long and detailed. They had more important and immediate things to be concerned about at the moment. n The Jews right now do have their land back, or most of what they had in Jesus’ day. They have their own independent government. But I do not think the Bible teaches that God has any special spiritual role for the nation of Israel today.

n A nation has never been saved as a nation in the sense of having a blanket gift of eternal life for all its citizens. That privilege belongs to the spiritual Israel of God which is the Church. That is God’s Holy Nation and Kingdom today. n Salvation was is and always will be an individual matter. n No Jew will ever be saved now or ever on any condition other than the same conditions on which any Gentile is saved.

KINGDOM STILL FUTURE: n n n They were still looking for a physical not spiritual kingdom (Matthew 20: 20 -21) Also this verse shows that the KINGDOM had not yet come (Mark 9: 1) Isaiah 2: 2 -4 predicted KINGDOM to be established in the LAST DAYS n Daniel 2 predicted KINGDOM to be established in the DAYS of ROMAN EMPIRE

KINGDOM STILL FUTURE: Mark 3: 2; Matthew 4: 17 KINGDOM at HAND n Matthew 16: 16 -18; I WILL build my church –FUTURE TENSE then refers to the KEYS OF THE KINGDOM n

KINGDOM STILL FUTURE: n Mark 15: 43 Joseph of Aramathea still waiting for the Kingdom AFTER the RESURRECTION n Back here in Acts 1: 6; THEY are STILL WAITING

KINGDOM STILL FUTURE: Some claim that the CHURCH or KINGDOM was established by John the Baptiser n All these verses make it plain that the church or kingdom was not established until after John’s death n It was not established until after Jesus death Hebrews 9: 15 -17; n

Discussion Question: n n Why do you think that Jesus didn’t say when (Acts 1: 7)? Why do you think that Jesus didn’t stop and explain the spiritual kingdom to the Apostles?

Some have said that this verse is the summary of the book of Acts: n“ 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. " Acts 1: 8

Jesus said to the Apostles YOU shall receive POWER When Holy Spirit came

Jesus said to the Apostles YOU shall be MY WITNESSES Where? Jerusalem, Judea Samaria, ends of the earth

Jesus said to the Apostles YOU shall receive POWER Enabling power or ability To work miracles therefore carry out the great commission which Christ entrusted to them

Jesus said to the Apostles YOU shall receive POWER Ability to REVEAL GODS WORD John 14 to 16

Jesus said to the Apostles YOU shall receive POWER Ability to CONFIRM GODS WORD By MIRACLES Mk 16: 17 ff Hebrews 2: 4 2 Corinthians 2: 12

Jesus said to the Apostles YOU shall receive POWER Jesus said this would happen to them when the HOLY SPIRIT came upon them

Jesus said to the Apostles YOU shall receive POWER This POWER would be a KEY element in ESTABLISHING Christ’s Kingdom Mark 9: 1;

SUMMARY Jesus used the term KINGDOM and CHURCH to refer to the same body Matthew 16: 16 -18

SUMMARY The KINGDOM or CHURCH would be established with POWER Mark 9: 1;

SUMMARY That POWER would be received by the Apostles WHEN the HOLY SPIRIT came upon them Acts 1: 8;

SUMMARY So we see that the KINGDOM or CHURCH would come with POWER and the POWER would be received by the Apostles WHEN the HOLY SPIRIT came upon them

SUMMARY Therefore we KNOW that the KINGDOM or CHURCH was established when the HOLY SPIRIT Came upon the Apostles of Christ Acts 2: 4 -48;

Jesus said to the Apostles YOU shall be MY WITNESSES Acts 1: 8 They had to have SEEN something and be willing to CONFIRM what they had seen Also Acts 1: 22;

Jesus said to the Apostles YOU shall be MY WITNESSES Acts 1: 8 Remember that Jesus had promised to them that the HOLY SPIRIT would bring to their remembrance ALL that Jesus had said and taught them John 14: 26; 15: 26 -27

Jesus said to the Apostles YOU shall be MY WITNESSES Acts 1: 8 In Acts 2: 14; we see the apostles begin to testify and witness on the basis of their personal observation of what Jesus DID and Jesus TAUGHT

Jesus said to the Apostles YOU shall be MY WITNESSES Acts 1: 8 It is interesting to note that the word witness is the basis of the word of MARTYR

Jesus said to the Apostles YOU shall be MY WITNESSES Acts 1: 8; Jerusalem, Judea Samaria, ends of the earth

Discussion Question: Is the command to “Go into all the world” for us today (Mark 16: 15 Matthew 18: 19)? n

Scripture: n “ 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. ” Matthew 28: 19 -20 (NIV)

Jesus said to the Apostles Go into ALL the WORLD Matthew 28: 28 -29; Mark 16: 1617; Was the GENERAL Command

Jesus said to the Apostles YOU shall be MY WITNESSES Acts 1: 8; Jerusalem, Judea Samaria, ends of the earth Is the more SPECIFIC command

Jesus said to the Apostles Remember the outline Chapters 1 to 7 Jerusalem Chapters 8 to 12 Judea Samaria Chapters 13 to 28 To the ends of the earth

n The Apostles, and through them the church, receives their “marching orders. ” n The promised kingdom will come in a few days with the power of the Holy Spirit as Jesus promised in Mark 9: 1 and repeated in this first chapter of Acts. n God’s kingdom, also called “the Kingdom of Heaven, ” will soon become a spiritual nation composed of people from all races and nationalities.

REVIEW of Acts 1: 1 to 1: 8; v 3 Jesus gave infallible proof of His resurrection by many appearance among His followers over 40 days

REVIEW of Acts 1: 1 to 1: 8; Jesus was SEEN by them Jesus was HEARD by them speaking about the kingdom

REVIEW of Acts 1: 1 to 1: 8; v 4 Jesus told the Apostles to wait in Jerusalem until they received the PROMISE of the Father

REVIEW of Acts 1: 1 to 1: 8; v 5 Jesus said the PROMISE would be FULFILLED in the NEAR future when the APOSTLES would be BAPTISED with the HOLY SPIRIT

REVIEW of Acts 1: 1 to 1: 8; v 6 The Apostles asked Jesus if He would RESTORE the KINGDOM to ISRAEL at that time

REVIEW of Acts 1: 1 to 1: 8; v 7 Jesus said that they did NOT need to KNOW that answer

REVIEW of Acts 1: 1 to 1: 8; v 8 Jesus told them FOUR things they could KNOW needed to KNOW

REVIEW of Acts 1: 1 to 1: 8; 1) THEY would receive POWER That POWER would be received when the HOLY SPIRIT came UPON them

REVIEW of Acts 1: 1 to 1: 8; 2) THEY then would be HIS WITNESSES 3)THEY would begin in JERUSALEM then to SAMARIA 4) then to the ENDS of the earth.

Mark 16: 16 Someone has said that the verse does not say “He that is not baptized will be condemned”. If I were to say to you he that eats and digests will be nourished I wouldn’t have to say he that does not digest is not nourished if I already said he that has not eaten is not nourished. You can’t digest if you haven’t eaten.

Belief by Itself is Not Enough! n “ 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. ” James 2: 17 n “ 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. ” James 2: 19

Baptism is Tied to Salvation: n “ 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, ” Acts 2: 38 n “ 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also-- not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience towards God. ” 1 Peter 3: 21 (NIV)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: n The signs were for confirmation, not so that the whole world could be saved from sickness, etc. If the purpose of miracles was intrinsically to save the sick and feed the hungry then overall they were a failure for many more were and are sick.

Discussion Question: Does Mark 16: 18 mean that we should pick up snakes and drink poison as a religious practice? n

“ 6 "If you are the Son of God, " he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: "`He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. '" 7 Jesus answered him, "It is also written: `Do not put the Lord your God to the test. '" Matthew 4: 6 -8 (NIV)

All the things mentioned in Mark 16: 17 -20 were fulfilled in the book of Acts except the drinking of poison. The following verses show the fulfillment of this prophecy: Driving out demons: Acts 16: 16 -18 Speak in new tongues: Acts 2: 4+5 Pick up snakes and not be harmed: Acts 28: 3 n n n -5 n n Drink deadly poison: Make sick well: Acts 28: 8

The life these now possess, A joy that will not cease, Is secure in Him who is Called “The Prince of Peace. ”

All citizens of heaven, They are not of this earth. Transferred out of darkness, They passed through the new birth.

By grace their sins forgiven, In Jesus they have rest. For they own all God’s promises. And are forever blest.

The Church is that Great Kingdom, On Zion’s holy mount, Eating from the Tree of Life And drinking from God’s fount.

Living stones in God’s Great Temple, And built upon he Rock, Have Jesus as their Shepherd; They’re His beloved flock.

God’s plan for all the ages, Accomplished in His Son, Saving to the uttermost, He need not lose a one.

Come join us in that kingdom, You’ll be forever blessed. You’ll feel secure, not anxious, And have eternal rest.

The End of Acts 1: 6 -8;