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Acts 2:37-42 Now when they had heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren,
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Acts 2:37-42 what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the
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Acts 2:37-42 forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children, and for
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Acts 2:37-42 all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself.” And with many other words he solemnly testified and
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Acts 2:37-42 kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” So then, those who had received his word
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Acts 2:37-42 were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they were continually devoting themselves
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Acts 2:37-42 to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
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Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, we really need to ask two questions.
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What does it mean to be devoted?
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Who is devoted?
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Devoted: to commit by a solemn act; to give over or direct time, money, effort, etc. to a specific person or cause.
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G4342 προσκαρτερέω pros-kar-ter-eh'-o To be earnest towards, to persevere, be constantly diligent, or to attend assiduously all the exercises, or to adhere closely to (as a servitor): - continually, continue (in, instant in, with), wait on (continually).
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Webster declares that in its simplest form, devoted means to be faithful to a vow.
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We often use this term when we think about a devoted spouse or maybe a devoted worker.
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Before we talk about being devoted, maybe we should clarify who is devoted.
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Let’s go back to our text.
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Acts 2:40-42 kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” So then, those who had received his word
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Acts 2:40-42 were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they were continually devoting themselves
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It’s clear from the text that those who are truly saved become devoted.
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Is it wrong to expect complete devotion?
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From the lost… “Yes”, but not from those being saved!
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Despite the hate, ridicule, and persecution they suffered… many remained faithful.
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That’s a mark of genuine salvation.
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John 8:31 So Jesus was saying to those who had believed in Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;
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John 8:32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
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According to John 15, the true branch that bears fruit abides in the vine.
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According to Matthew 13, the good soil that receives God’s Word (seed) will enjoy the harvest.
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In contrast, the Bible also has something to say about those who don’t abide or remain.
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I John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went
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I John 2:19 out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.
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I love the way God’s Word wraps up the conversation.
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Matthew 24:11 Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.
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Matthew 24:12 Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.
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Matthew 24:13 The one who endures to the end, he will be saved.
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Are you devoted?
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Have you made a vow to Jesus?
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Will you keep your vow?
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Let’s go back to our main text.
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Acts 2:37-42 were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they were continually devoting themselves
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Acts 2:37-42 to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
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Does that list resonate with you?
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Do you find yourself smiling or getting excited when you hear the list?
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If so, you just might be devoted.
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Let’s take a closer look at the first item on the list.
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The apostles’ teaching!
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Apostles’
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G652 ἀπόστολος ap-os'-tol-os A delegate; specifically an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ, (with miraculous powers): - apostle, messenger, he that is sent.
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Teaching
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G1322 διδαχή did-akh-ay' Instruction (the act or the matter): - doctrine, hath been taught.
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What did the apostles teach?
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How was it different from what was being taught at the Temple?
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What does it mean to continually devote yourself to the apostles’ teaching?
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I’m glad you asked!
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The apostles had been entrusted with the words and teachings of Jesus Christ.
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They taught the words of Christ and instructed faithful followers to do the same.
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II Timothy 2:2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to
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II Timothy 2:2 teach others also.
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The religious leaders were teaching takanot and ma’asim.
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Takanot: Rules enacted by the Pharisees which change or negate biblical law.
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Ma’asim: Acts of the Rabbis which serve as legal precedent for right behavior.
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Jesus taught emphatically that His disciples should not keep the takanot or ma’asim of the religious leaders.
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Jesus said, “Listen to what Moses said and do it.”
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John 7:16-19 So Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone is willing to do His will, he will
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John 7:16-19 know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory;
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John 7:16-19 but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. Did not Moses
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John 7:16-19 give you the Law, and yet none of you carries out the Law? Why do you seek to kill Me?”
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Let’s look at another passage in Matthew 23.
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Matthew 23:1-3 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves
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Matthew 23:1-3 in the chair of Moses; therefore all they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say
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Matthew 23:1-3 things and do not do them.
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Jesus wasn’t interested in doing what man had added to or put in place of the Word of God.
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He was interested in doing the Word of God.
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Does that sound familiar?
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James 1:21-25 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which
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James 1:21-25 is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
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James 1:21-25 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has
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James 1:21-25 looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the
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James 1:21-25 perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in
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James 1:21-25 what he does.
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He obeyed the instructions of His Father and He wants us to do the same thing.
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Jesus taught us to return to the ancient path, the narrow way.
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Let’s look at another passage in Matthew 5.
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Matthew 5:16-20 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
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Matthew 5:16-20 Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you,
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Matthew 5:16-20 until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law until all is accomplished.
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Matthew 5:16-20 Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the
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Matthew 5:16-20 kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you that
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Matthew 5:16-20 unless your righteous-ness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
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Jesus taught us to love God and obey Him.
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Jesus taught us to follow the narrow way.
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Jesus taught us to love our neighbors and care for them well.
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Jesus taught us to rely on the help of the Holy Spirit.
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Jesus taught us to stay the course until the very end.
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Are those the things that excite you the most?
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When we continually devote ourselves to the apostles’ teaching, we make time to hear God’s Word and do it.
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When we continually devote ourselves to the apostles’ teaching, we make time to test and confirm what we’ve seen and heard.
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We should be Bereans!
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Acts 17:10-11 The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the
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Acts 17:10-11 the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with
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Acts 17:10-11 great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
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Dare to be devoted to Jesus, God The Word!
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