Preaching our Hope in the Resurrected King

Prepared by: J.A.O. Vergara | January 24, 2026

Theme: Authority, Responsibility, and Accountability in Acts 1:8

Framework: RECHARGE

Scripture Text: Acts 2:22-36 (NASB)

Focus: Encouragement and Restoration through the Lordship of Christ

I. Reference (The Major Anchor)

“This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.” — Acts 2:32-33

II. Entry Point: The Importance for Today’s Christian

Life can often feel like a series of defeats. We face health problems that do not seem to go away, financial burdens that keep us awake at night, and a world that seems to be moving further away from God every day. For the Christian in the Philippines today, it is easy to feel small and powerless. We look at the giant mountains of problems in front of us and we feel like grasshoppers in comparison.

But the message of Apostle Peter in this passage is designed to provoke us out of our fear and encourage us with a great truth: We do not serve a dead teacher whose words are merely recorded in history; we serve a Living King who is actively working in His church today. This is the heart of our faith. Understanding that The Lord Jesus Christ is truly alive changes everything about how we face our problems, our work, and our future. It means that no matter how dark the situation looks, there is a King on the throne who has already conquered the greatest enemy of all—death itself.

III. Context: The Time of Writing

As Apostle Peter continues his sermon in Jerusalem, he shifts his focus from the Prophet Joel to the life of The Lord Jesus Christ. Imagine the tension in the air. The people standing there were the same people who had walked the same streets as Jesus. They had seen Him heal the blind, feed the thousands, and teach with authority. Yet, just weeks earlier, they had allowed Him to be crucified.

Apostle Peter is standing in a city filled with guilt and confusion. He is speaking to people who thought they had finished the story of Jesus at the cross. They thought the movement of The Way was over once the stone was rolled in front of the tomb. But Apostle Peter is here to tell them that the cross was not a mistake or a defeat—it was part of God’s deliberate plan for the salvation of the world. He is moving the crowd from the deep guilt of what they did to the overwhelming glory of what God did. He is showing them that man’s greatest sin became the stage for God’s greatest victory.

IV. Honor: Celebrating the Seekers

We want to honor those of you who continue to seek the truth with an open heart. We honor the teachers in our Bible classes who spend hours preparing lessons to ensure the next generation knows the Word. We see the effort you put into studying the maps, the history, and the Greek words just to make sure our children have a firm foundation. We honor the members who are always the first to arrive and the last to leave, quietly serving behind the scenes to make sure the house of the Lord is ready for worship.

We especially honor those who are currently studying the Bible with their neighbors, even when they feel nervous or unqualified. You are the "feet" that bring the good news to our communities. Your desire to "handle accurately the word of truth" is what makes this church a true family of God. Your dedication ensures that the light of the Gospel continues to burn brightly in our neighborhoods, showing others the way to the one true King.

V. Admonish: A Call to the Errant

However, this text also provides a sharp warning that we cannot ignore. Apostle Peter tells the crowd in verse 23 that they took The Lord Jesus Christ and put Him to death by the hands of godless men. We must ask ourselves a hard question today: Are we still "crucifying" Him by our disobedience and our apathy? We admonish those who want the "blessings" of the King but refuse to submit to His "authority."

If you claim to be a Christian but live a life of secret sin, or if you seek pleasing sermons that "tickle your ears" rather than the hard truth of Scripture, you are working against the very Lord who died for you. Many today prefer to follow a human church authority or a popular tradition rather than the simple, powerful words of the New Testament. It is a dangerous thing to call Him "Lord" with your lips during our songs while your heart is far from Him during the week. It is time to stop playing games with your soul and recognize that The Lord Jesus Christ is not just a savior; He is the Judge of all the earth.

VI. Reteach: Three Key Points

1. The Power over Death (Greek: Lūō)

In verse 24, Apostle Peter says God "put an end to" (lūō) the agony of death. The word lūō means to untie, to break, to unbind, or to completely destroy the power of something that holds you back.

• Application: Death tried to tie up The Lord Jesus Christ like a prisoner in a dark cell, but the power of God was too strong for the grave to hold. Because God "loosed" those bonds for Him, He can "loose" the bonds of sin, addiction, and despair in your life today. If the grave could not hold Him, then no habit or past mistake can hold you if you are in Him. You are no longer a slave to fear because your King has broken the chains of the grave once and for all.

• Cross-Reference: Romans 8:15 — "For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’"

2. The Plan of God (Greek: Horizō)

Apostle Peter explains in verse 23 that Jesus was delivered over by the "predetermined plan" (horizō) of God. This Greek word means to mark out a boundary or to determine a specific path beforehand. It tells us that nothing was left to chance.

• Application: This teaches us that while God has a general purpose to save all of mankind, He also has a specific purpose for every specific person in His kingdom—those of us who have heard and believed the Scripture and discovered through our own free will and obedience to His Word. Nothing that happened to The Lord Jesus Christ was an accident, and nothing that happens to you is outside of God's knowledge. Even when your life feels chaotic, unfair, or broken, remember that God is the Master Architect. We are what we are and what we could be because of God's providence, but not fate. He can take the most painful moments of your life and use them for His "set purpose" if you remain faithful and obedient to His calling.

• Cross-Reference: 2 Timothy 1:9 — "who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in The Lord Jesus Christ from all eternity."

3. The Highest Position (Greek: Kyrios)

In verse 36, Apostle Peter brings his sermon to a powerful and undeniable close: "Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord (Kyrios) and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified."

• Application: The title Kyrios is a word of absolute authority. It means that The Lord Jesus Christ is the owner, the master, and the legal ruler of our lives. This is the foundation of the Church of Christ. We do not vote on truth, and we do not follow our own rules; we follow the King who sits at the right hand of God. When we recognize Him as Lord, we commit to obeying His Word in everything we do—from how we treat our families to how we worship on the Lord's Day. If He is Lord, then His Word is the final answer.

• Cross-Reference: Matthew 28:18 — "And The Lord Jesus Christ came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.’"

VII. Generalize

What does this mean for us as a congregation? It means our hope is not built on how we feel, how much money we have, or how the economy is doing. Our hope is built on the historical fact that the tomb is empty and the throne is occupied. Apostle Peter used the inspired writings of the Prophet Joel and the actual life of The Lord Jesus Christ to prove one thing: God is in control of history. Whether you are a student facing exams, a parent trying to provide, or a retiree facing health struggles, the Lordship of Christ gives your life a solid foundation and a clear direction. We are not a people of defeat; we are a people of the Resurrection.

VIII. Encourage: The Final Charge

Brothers and sisters, stand tall! You do not walk alone. You serve the Resurrected King who is more powerful than any storm you will ever face.

• Do not be afraid of the future or the "last days"; The Lord Jesus Christ has already gone before you and holds the keys to eternity.

• Do not be discouraged by your own weaknesses; remember that God’s power is made perfect when we admit we are weak and lean on His strength.

• Do not stop sharing the Gospel with those around you; it is the only power that can truly change a heart and save a soul.

Let the words of Apostle Peter recharge your soul today. Remember that God has made Him both Lord and Christ. Go out from this assembly knowing that you are on the winning side of history. Live for Him, serve Him with all your heart, and find your daily strength in Him. Amen!