Part 6, The Anatomy of a True Church
Acts 4:11-13, Luis Cruz, GCF Durham
This message aims to teach the high value of Jesus Christ. To some people who do not reject the historical Christ but saw Him as a highly moral person only, who deserves recognition and no more than that; and even to those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and yet gives Him the back seat in their life; my prayer for you is that you will see Jesus as The Lord and Cornerstone of the church, the Name above all names (the preeminent One), and the Life and Lover of His church.
1. Jesus: The Lord and Cornerstone of His Church.
“11 Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’” Acts 4:11
Psalm 118: 20-22, “20 This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter. 21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. 22 The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; 23 the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.”
Building illustration: Cornerstone is the biggest and most solid stone for structure foundation.
Two walls meet in the cornerstone and build on top of it.
Passages point to Jesus as the Cornerstone of our faith.
Jesus claimed to be the Cornerstone in Matthew 21:42.
Rejected by people, loved by His disciples.
He is the only reliable faith foundation that meets God’s highest standard.
Two walls: Jews and Gentiles, united by the Cornerstone and making one unified body of Christ.
Measuring line and plumb line: A measurement of all lifestyle and belief (faith).
Would your life and faith be according to God’s standard?
Jesus is the way to meet God’s standard.
2. Jesus: The Name above all names and the Savior of His church.
“12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
Jesus’ name means “The Lord is Salvation”.
Jesus’ Aramaic form is Yeshu’a, a contracted form of Yehoshu’a.
The only Name by which we must be saved.
God owns the heaven and so He sets His own requirement.
Jesus fulfilled all the requirements of the law.
His death, burial and resurrection paid it all.
Jesus the Messiah: The deliverer and Rescuer of His people.
Salvation from eternal punishment guaranteed by Jesus.
Do you believe that there is no other name that you must be saved?
3. Jesus: The Life and Lover of His church.
“13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished, and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13
Peter was an ordinary guy, had a small business, met Jesus in Luke 5.
He denied Jesus three times.
After the resurrection, Jesus sought Peter and asked him if he loves Him, three times Peter said yes in each time.
Jesus gave Peter a clean slate, asked him to feed His sheep.
Peter courageously served Jesus and the Lord became His priority. Jesus used Peter to start and grow the NT church
Is Jesus first in your life?
If Jesus loves His church, don’t you think we should, too