2. The main Core Beliefs or Teachings are as follows - 1.The Word of God 2.God 3.Man 4.Jesus Christ 5.God’s Purpose  Understanding these core teachings and concepts is the key to understanding the whole Bible.  Men and women in all ages have believed these things, and held them as fundamental to their faith.

3. Last Week, we looked at –  The dominion of Sin over mankind.  How sin was condemned in Jesus.  Reading and understanding – PPP  Jesus – what was the gospel he preached? This Week, we will look at –  The importance of Jesus’ resurrection  Jesus’ current work as a priest and a mediator.  Jesus returns to raise the dead and reign as king.  The gospel preached by the Apostles in Acts.

4. Jesus was raised on the 3 rd day Jesus died to sin and was raised again The Apostles’ were his witnesses The Importance – doctrinally Saved by his (resurrected) life

5. Christianity is based upon the fact of a resurrected Christ. His resurrection from the dead changes everything. Sin rules unto death. When we die die Sin is victorious Rom.5:21, yet death also makes us free from Sin’s influence Rom.6:7, for Sin is only active in living people. But death is hardly freedom for us. Yet here is a resurrected and living Christ, no longer either bound by death or affected by Sin. His life is the basis for our Salvation. Rom.6:9-10. knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Acts.2:24. …whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.

6. Jesus knew in advance what was to befall him. He did not run from the problem, but fully trusted in God …. Matt.20:18-19. Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again. After he was raised from the dead he spoke of the necessity of his suffering and death, and of his resurrection. Luke.24:45-46. And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day”.

7. The resurrection of Jesus was a central plank in the message that the Apostles’ preached … they were his witnesses. Acts.2:32. This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Acts.10:40-41. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead Jesus also later appeared to Paul (Acts.9:17) ….. 1.Cor.15:8. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

8. The gospel message was based upon the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 1.Cor.15:3-4. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, The ‘Scriptures’ that Paul is referring to in this reference are the OT writings. They had foretold, in great detail, both Jesus’ death and his resurrection on the third day.

9. We learn that all NT Scriptural belief is based upon the reality of Jesus’ resurrection. However, some had begun to challenge this idea, and no longer believed in the resurrection. 1.Cor.15:12-14. Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. The outcome of this wrong thinking undermined everything. 1.Cor.15:17. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins !

10. Consider this reference again ….. even the forgiveness of sins depends upon Christ’s resurrection. 1.Cor.15:17. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins ! How is this so? Why is Christ’s resurrection so important? The answer is only understandable if we –  Grasp the enormity of the problem we sinners face in escaping the clutches of the all pervasive power of Sin.  Fully comprehend the nature of Sin, in us.  Understand the mechanism that God has instituted in Christ, through which He saves us from Sin and Death.

11. God’s just sentence, since the beginning, was to condemn Sin and sinners. How then does God separate those who love Him and love his ways from those who love sin? How does God remain just and true to his word, yet save us? This is the wonder of God’s work in Christ. The answer to this conundrum is unique and largely misunderstood by many. The answer is only one that God could engineer. We must die to Sin, which in itself declares our agreement with God on His assessment of Sin. This is what the Law did, it condemned all - Rom.3:19-20 & Rom.7:12-14. How can we be saved from death? This is what God has provided for all in Christ Jesus, in both his death and his resurrection.

12. After Jesus was raised from the dead, be gave the following charge to his Apostles. Mark.16:15-16. And He said to them, “ Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned ”. Belief of the gospel message was to be followed by baptism. Why was belief to be followed by baptism? The answer to this is the answer to why the resurrection of Christ is so important, and also why those who no longer believed in the resurrection were still in their sins.

13. Rom.6:3-7. Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin.

14. There are two parts to salvation in Christ - 1) To be dead, with Christ, to sin = reconciled to God. 2) To be alive, with Christ, to a new life = saved from Sin. Rom.5:8-9. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. Rom.5:10. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. See also Rom.4:23-25 & 1.Pet.1:3, 3:21 for a similar emphasis upon the resurrection of Jesus Christ & of being born again.

15. The resurrection of Jesus Christ was an integral part of the preaching of the Apostles. Without it, there is no hope for believers. Belief in the gospel message is to be followed by baptism into Christ. This unites us together with him. The death of Jesus Christ is the basis upon which we can be freed from sin, as God is prepared to accept our faith and our baptism into Jesus Christ’s death as our death to sin. Therefore, by baptism into his death we are ‘freed from Sin’ (Rom.6:7) But forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God and freedom from the power of Sin is of little value if we are dead. Therefore, the resurrection of Jesus Christ to life again is the basis upon which we too can share in life and salvation. This is called being ‘born again to newness of life’, as a son or daughter of God. This only operates upon the basis of ‘faith and baptism’ into what God has done in Jesus Christ.

16. Jesus now sits on God’s right hand Jesus instructs his Apostles on the gospel Jesus’ ascension to heaven Jesus now sits on God’s throne, over all Jesus is now a priest mediator

17. After Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, he spent 40 days with his Apostles giving them instructions and information, preparing them for the work of preaching his gospel message (Acts.1:1-11) Acts.1:3. (Jesus to his Apostles) to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. Take note of what he spoke about for 40 days – ‘the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God’. This is the same message that he preached during his 3 ½ yr ministry to Israel. He completed their understanding of the subject, and they were now to preach the gospel to all.

18. After he had spoken to them for 40 days about the kingdom of God, they naturally asked him the question. Acts.1:6. Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “ Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel ?” They were most interested ….. Will it be NOW? This was not for them to know … they had another job to do. Acts.1:7-8. He said to them, “ It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

19. After the 40 days of instruction, Jesus ascended to heaven. Acts.1:9. Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. Although he ascended out of their sight, his return to the earth again was clearly spoken of and promised. Acts.1:10-11. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

20. After his ascension to heaven, we are told that Jesus now sits at God’s right hand. All the angels of God are subject to him. He is over all, except God himself (1.Cor.15:27-28) Heb.1:3. who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 1.Pet.3:22. (Jesus) who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

21. Sitting on God’s right hand implies sitting on God’s throne. For the throne represents power and authority, and in this case he is exercising God’s power and authority over all. Consider the promise that Jesus makes … if we also overcome, just as he overcame – temptation, sin and the world. Rev.3:21. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. Notice the mention of 2 different thrones here. Jesus now sits upon his Father’s throne in heaven. On that future day, when he returns, he will also sit upon his own throne, which is King David’s throne restored. Historically, this was also called God’s throne, for God ruled through the Kings (1.Chron.28:5, 29:23, 2.Chron.9:8, 13:8 c.f. Luke.1:32-33).

22. Only the Father knows the day of his coming (Mark.13:32). Psalm.110:1. The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” Acts.2:34-35. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” Jesus is now WAITING for the time appointed of the Father. Heb.10:12-13. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.

23. At present, Jesus exercises God’s authority. He is also a Priest for those who seek to know God. Psalm.110:4. The LORD has sworn and will not relent, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” Heb.6:20. Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. The Mosaic priests all died, but Jesus now lives forever. His priesthood is unchangeable, it is based on everlasting life. Heb.7:24. But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.

24. The priest’s role was to represent the people to God and to intercede on behalf of the people in their weaknesses. The priest was to be one with them, so that he could share empathy and show compassion on them, for he was like them. He had to be appointed by God.. no man could assume the role. Heb.5:1-2. For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. Heb.5:5-6. So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest but it was He who said to Him: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.” As He also says in another place: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek”;

25. There are many who try and interpose themselves between God and man. Those who do so are out of order …. assuming a role that is not rightfully theirs. Only God can appoint a priest and a mediator, and he has appointed HIS SON to the role. (Heb.5:4-5) 1.Tim.2:5. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. Jesus is also called the Mediator of the New Covenant, which was sealed with his blood (Heb.8:6, 9:15, 12:24). In the context of these ideas, he is speaking of a new basis for the relationship between God and Man. The Old Covenant was the Law of Moses (Heb.8:6-13) and Moses was its mediator (Gal.3:19).

26. Since his resurrection and glorification, Jesus is no longer subject to the weakness of the flesh, (of sin of death). His present condition is described in these words - Heb.7:26-28. For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.

27. The return of Jesus Christ to the Earth The promise of his coming He raises the dead and judges them He gives eternal life to those who love him He judges the nations at Armageddon He establishes God’s Kingdom and reigns as King on David’s throne.

28. The promise of Christ’s return to the earth was the hope of all NT believers. It is mentioned all throughout the NT writings, in many different places and ways. 1.Cor.1:7. so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 1.Thes.2:19. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? 1.Thes.3:13. so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

29. And more ….. 1.Thes.5:23. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2.Thes.2:1. Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, James.5:7-8. Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

30. And more …. 2.Pet.1:16. For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 2.Pet.3:3-4. knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 1.John.2:28. And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

31. The very first thing that Jesus does is to raise the dead. 1.Thes.4:16. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. After the dead are raised, then the next priority is to gather his disciples who are still living at the time of his coming. 1.Thes.4:17-18. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. The scene depicted here is based upon the type of God coming down upon Mt Sinai. Moses and the Elders of Israel ascended the mountain to meet the LORD, who had previously been hidden from them in the cloud (Read Exod.19:16-20 & 24:9-18).

32. After Christ returns, and he raises the dead and gathers his people to himself, he then sits in judgement upon them. They will all have to give an account of their lives, and will be rewarded or punished … according to what they have done. Rom.14:10. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: “As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 2.Cor.5:10. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

33. The outcome of this judgement seat is that some will be given life. Paul calls this ‘a crown of righteousness’. It will not only be Paul’s reward, but the reward of all who trust in God and place their hope in the appearing of Christ. 2.Tim.4;1. I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2.Tim.4:8. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

34. Some will be rejected. Dan.12:2-3. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever. Jesus also speaks of these things. Matt.7:22. “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Paul also spoke of those who ‘shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord’ - 2.Thes.1:7-10

35. The blessings upon those approved by Christ. Matt.25:34. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:’ Belief must be matched by moral integrity & virtue. 1.Cor.6:9-10. Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

36. Those accepted by Christ will be changed in body, which is called ‘the redemption of the body’ (Rom.8:23). 1.Cor.15:50-52. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. The change to immortality will be after the judgment seat, at ‘the last trump’. This is different to the ‘first’ trumpet which raises the dead, when Christ returns.

37. One of the major objectives of Christ’s return is to set up and firmly establish the ‘Kingdom of God’ on the earth. As we noted in Gen.1:26-28, this has always been God’s plan and purpose with man and with the earth. We noted earlier that the ‘hope’ of first century believers was the ‘Kingdom’ that Christ would establish at his appearing. This hope is based upon what the OT prophets had foretold. :Unfortunately, this kingdom will not be established peacefully, but through much violence and warfare. Why? Not because God wants it that way, but because those in power (both civil and religious) will reject Christ as the earth’s king – for they do not know him.

38. The Prophets spoke graphically and often about the coming kingdom, and how it would violently displace the existing kingdoms and dominions of men. Dan.2:44. And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. Dan.7:27. Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’

39. Rev.11:15. Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” Rev.20:4. And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

40. This coming warfare will begin in the city of Jerusalem, in the land of Promise (Israel). We have graphic details on this recorded in the writings of all the Prophets of Israel. Read the following references, and think upon them:  Rev.16:15-16  Ezekiel.38 & 39.  Joel.3:1-21  Zechariah.14:1-3 The eventual outcome of these wars will be world peace … all nations will be at peace with God (Isaiah.2:1-5, Zech.14:4-21)

41. The record of the Acts of the Apostles The gospel of the Kingdom of God and of the Name of Jesus Christ Faith and Baptism into Christ

42. The book of the Acts of the Apostles consists of 28 chapters, and was written by Luke (the Physician). It records the Activity of the Apostles after Christ’s ascension to heaven, as they discharged his command to preach to all. Acts.1:8. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts records 15 distinct examples of the Disciples of the first century preaching the gospel, to both Jews and Gentiles. Acts 1-9 mostly focusses upon the preaching to the Jews Acts 10-28 mostly focusses upon the preaching to the Gentiles

43. The early Christian Church was based upon – Acts.2:42. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. The Apostles were first hand witnesses to all that Jesus said and did, and they were charged with the responsibility of preaching his message to others. Believing the Gospel is believing Christ. Any who sought fellowship with ‘the Father and with the Son’ had firstly to believe the Apostles’ doctrine (= teaching). 1.John.1:3. that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

44. What we do not find in the book of Acts are strong ‘emotional appeals’ toward human guilt and remorse. The only exception is Peter’s speech at Pentecost, where the people had been complicit in rejecting Jesus and their leaders were guilty of organising his subsequent murder by crucifixion. In Acts there are no examples recorded that speak in terms of Jesus dying for our sins or for the sins of the whole world. In all of the public preaching efforts recorded there is no mention of his ‘blood’ or of his ‘sacrifice’ or of his ‘offering’. Neither is the word ‘love’ used in the book of Acts. The record testifies to the use of reasonable testimony which is advanced and argued in clear themes to persuade the hearers. The testimony was logically presented with all the essential themes necessary for repentance and baptism into Christ.

45. On reflection we may conclude that God firstly wants a rational response to his word – so that we hear, understand, believe, repent and are baptised, then walk in newness of life. The emotional response comes afterwards and is found woven through the themes of the NT letters. These letters were written to believers who had already accepted the Apostle’s teachings. Their knowledge of God needed maturing. This is very instructive and we may conclude that God does not at first call based upon an emotional response, as these can be superficial, misdirected and manipulated if they are not founded upon firm principles. For the truth of God to prevail, the facts came first and the emotions afterwards.

46. After he had spoken to his disciples for 40 days about the kingdom of God, they naturally asked him the most relevant question…… …... Will it be NOW? Acts.1:6. Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “ Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel ?” The theme of ‘the Kingdom of God’ was never far from their thinking. During his 3 ½ years of ministry, Jesus had spoken to this theme extensively, with particular focus upon the need for repentance that the people might be of the right mind to inherit the kingdom of God.

47. After Pentecost, the Apostles bore witness and testified to the Jews first. The early emphasis of the Apostles’ was upon proving that Jesus was the Christ of God. The Jews already believed and hoped in the kingdom, but they could not reconcile the necessity of Christ having to suffer and die. It did not fit into their understanding. Acts.3:18. “But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. See also Luke.24:46, Acts.23:23 etc. Christ crucified was ‘a stumbling-block to the Jews’ 1.Cor.1:23.

48. The ‘Name of Jesus Christ’ represents the basis of ‘authority’ by which the Apostles preached and testified. In the Name is invested all the power and authority of God himself, and some of this power was given to the Apostles. This basis of Authority was clearly referred to by the Apostles Acts.2:38. then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts.3:6. Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”

49. Only in Jesus name is the power to save. Acts.4:9-12. If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. “This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ “ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

50. Early on in Acts, when preaching to the Jews, Peter draws particular reference to the need of repentance now, so that the promised time of blessing might come. Acts.3:19. Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. The future promised kingdom will not rely upon or be ruled by sinful man. It will be ruled by Jesus Christ & those with him.

51. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, the message of the Gospel of the Kingdom was enhanced with things added. Information about Jesus being both Lord and Christ was added, with particular emphasis upon his resurrection. In the book of Acts the Gospel is sometimes now called - Acts.8:12. But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Acts.19:8. And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.

52. More examples …. Acts.28:23. So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. Acts.28:30-31. Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.

53. The response to the Apostles’ preaching was; firstly to understand, followed by belief, followed by baptism into Christ, followed by a way of life that displayed a new way of thinking (the fruits of repentance). See the following -  Acts.2:38, 41  Acts.8:12-13.  Acts.9:18.  Acts.10:47-48.  Acts.16:15.  Acts.16:33.  Acts.19:3-5.

54. This Week, we looked at –  The importance of Jesus’ resurrection  Jesus’ current work as a priest and a mediator.  Jesus returns to raise the dead and reign as king.  The gospel preached by the Apostles in Acts. Next Week is the Final Seminar, and we will look at –  Christ died for our sins and he rose again  Why believing God is important  The kingdom of God is coming  God will be ‘all and in all’