2. 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,

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. Acts 2:37-42
kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” So then, those who had received his word

7. Acts 2:37-42
were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they were continually devoting themselves

8. Acts 2:37-42
to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

9. Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, we really need to ask two questions.

10. What does it mean to be devoted?

11. Who is devoted?

12. Devoted: to commit by a solemn act; to give over or direct time, money, effort, etc. to a specific person or cause.

14. 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).

15. Webster declares that in its simplest form, devoted means to be faithful to a vow.

16. We often use this term when we think about a devoted spouse or maybe a devoted worker.

17. Before we talk about being devoted, maybe we should clarify who is devoted.

18. Let’s go back to our text.

19. Acts 2:40-42
kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” So then, those who had received his word

20. Acts 2:40-42
were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they were continually devoting themselves

21. It’s clear from the text that those who are truly saved become devoted.

22. Is it wrong to expect complete devotion?

23. From the lost… “Yes”, but not from those being saved!

24. Despite the hate, ridicule, and persecution they suffered… many remained faithful.

25. That’s a mark of genuine salvation.

26. 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;

27. John 8:32
and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

28. According to John 15, the true branch that bears fruit abides in the vine.

29. According to Matthew 13, the good soil that receives God’s Word (seed) will enjoy the harvest.

30. In contrast, the Bible also has something to say about those who don’t abide or remain.

31. 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

32. I John 2:19
out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.

33. I love the way God’s Word wraps up the conversation.

34. Matthew 24:11
Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.

35. Matthew 24:12
Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.

36. Matthew 24:13
The one who endures to the end, he will be saved.

37. Are you devoted?

38. Have you made a vow to Jesus?

39. Will you keep your vow?

40. Let’s go back to our main text.

41. Acts 2:37-42
were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they were continually devoting themselves

42. Acts 2:37-42
to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

44. Does that list resonate with you?

45. Do you find yourself smiling or getting excited when you hear the list?

46. If so, you just might be devoted.

47. Let’s take a closer look at the first item on the list.

49. The apostles’ teaching!

51. Apostles’

52. 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.

53. Teaching

54. G1322 διδαχή did-akh-ay' Instruction (the act or the matter): - doctrine, hath been taught.

55. What did the apostles teach?

56. How was it different from what was being taught at the Temple?

57. What does it mean to continually devote yourself to the apostles’ teaching?

58. I’m glad you asked!

59. The apostles had been entrusted with the words and teachings of Jesus Christ.

60. They taught the words of Christ and instructed faithful followers to do the same.

61. 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

62. II Timothy 2:2
teach others also.

63. The religious leaders were teaching takanot and ma’asim.

64. Takanot: Rules enacted by the Pharisees which change or negate biblical law.

65. Ma’asim: Acts of the Rabbis which serve as legal precedent for right behavior.

66. Jesus taught emphatically that His disciples should not keep the takanot or ma’asim of the religious leaders.

67. Jesus said, “Listen to what Moses said and do it.”

68. 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

69. 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;

70. 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

71. John 7:16-19
give you the Law, and yet none of you carries out the Law? Why do you seek to kill Me?”

72. Let’s look at another passage in Matthew 23.

73. Matthew 23:1-3
Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves

74. 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

75. Matthew 23:1-3
things and do not do them.

76. Jesus wasn’t interested in doing what man had added to or put in place of the Word of God.

77. He was interested in doing the Word of God.

78. Does that sound familiar?

79. James 1:21-25
Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which

80. James 1:21-25
is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

81. 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

82. 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

83. 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

84. James 1:21-25
what he does.

85. He obeyed the instructions of His Father and He wants us to do the same thing.

86. Jesus taught us to return to the ancient path, the narrow way.

87. Let’s look at another passage in Matthew 5.

88. 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.

89. 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,

90. 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.

91. 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

92. 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

93. Matthew 5:16-20
unless your righteous-ness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

94. Jesus taught us to love God and obey Him.

95. Jesus taught us to follow the narrow way.

96. Jesus taught us to love our neighbors and care for them well.

97. Jesus taught us to rely on the help of the Holy Spirit.

98. Jesus taught us to stay the course until the very end.

99. Are those the things that excite you the most?

100. When we continually devote ourselves to the apostles’ teaching, we make time to hear God’s Word and do it.

101. When we continually devote ourselves to the apostles’ teaching, we make time to test and confirm what we’ve seen and heard.

102. We should be Bereans!

103. Acts 17:10-11
The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the

104. 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

105. Acts 17:10-11
great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

106. Dare to be devoted to Jesus, God The Word!