Peter and John's stand for Christ seems like a perfect example of how we are to stand and witness for Christ. They had done an act of kindness by healing a crippled man in Jesus name, they preached the word of God boldly and courageously and then when faced by their opposition they did not back down and proclaimed that they answered to a higher authority and were just speaking the truth of what they have seen and heard.
19But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. 20For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."
What also caught my attention was verse 12:
12Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
The exclusivity of Christianity has always been a hard pill to swallow for people both back then and now. I mean, this is what the Sanhedrin were after really right? They were trying to punish Peter and John to find a way to stop the message of the resurrection of Christ.
3 comments:
"The exclusivity of Christianity" certainly is a hard sell overall. I cringe at trying to convince devout believers of other religion that they will be condemned by God if they don't believe in the power of the Cross-let alone tell atheists they need Christ in their lives.
I guess what I must remember is whether or not I believe in the power of the Cross. If so, that light that has afforded me my faith will shine forth without fear. It won't be my words or the level of confidence I have in myself that will matter but like it was for Peter and John, it will be the level of confidence I have in the risen Christ as Lord that will matter.
thanks for an insightful reflection, christine. i couldn't agree with you more. those who have been witnesses of the risen Lord, "cannot help speaking about what [they] have seen and heard". those who have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, even today, must necessarily speak of the truth of the gospel. the life of God emanates from the true believer--he or she cannot "help" it, just as "a city on a hill cannot be hidden".
Thank you, Christine!
I agree with you all in that Christianity is the hard road to take in life because all the snares and traps that are set out to get us from our inward struggle with our sins and all the temptations and persecution coming from the outside world.
If we're not careful, it'll ensnare us but I think Peter and John are great examples for us to model after. All the men and women in the Bible were. I'm just realizing what a rich resource the Bible truly is.
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