Collinsville-Troy CHURCH OF CHRIST

A Rejected Stone

-David R. Ferguson

In Acts chapter 4, Peter and John were arrested for causing quite a stir by healing a man and teaching about the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead in verses 2 and 3. The next day the Jewish leaders, (the very ones who had condemned Jesus some months earlier), asked them by what power were they performing these miracles. Peter answered, and his answer was an interpretation of Jesus' word about the rejected stone found in Matthew 21:42. Starting at the end of verse 8 of Acts 4 Peter declares, "Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a cripple, by what means this man has been healed, be it 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 is standing before you well. This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, but which has become the head of the corner. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Notice Peter's interpretation, one point at a time.
-Verse 8: The builders are the rulers of the people and elders.
-Verse 10: The stone is Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
-Verse 10: The rejection of the stone was the crucifixion of Jesus.
-Verse 10: The elevation of the stone to the head of the corner was the resurrection of Jesus.
-Verse 12: The implication of this new position at the head is that there is salvation found in no other. This is the same point that Paul made years later at the Areopagus in Athens: The resurrection declares that Jesus is the Son of God in power: All men everywhere must repent and seek after salvation in Him alone.

That was Peter's interpretation of the word of Jesus in Matthew 21:42 while speaking to the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem. His testimony is still true to this day. We all must turn to Jesus Christ, and Him alone, to find salvation from our sins and have the hope to share in the resurrection with Him.

Salvation is in no other. It isn't in any human creeds or cleverly devised fables. It's not found in the accumulation of material wealth. Choose this day whom you will serve: Will it be the Living Savior, Jesus Christ? Or will it be mammon? May the Lord bless you this week!

- David R. Ferguson preaches for the Mentor Church of Christ in Mentor, OH.
- Article obtained from www.bulletingold.com

I Know Whom I Have Believed

-Dale J. Babinsky

As Paul was giving his final instructions to the young evangelist, Timothy, he wrote, "For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day" (2 Tim. 1:12 NKJV). Let us notice a few things about this particular verse.

First, Paul said that he knows whom he has believed. Paul does not have any doubt about the God that he serves. From the time that Paul first saw the light on the road to Damascus and spoke to our Lord and Savior, he never turned away. Paul was steadfast in his faith, even with all of the trials he had to endure (2 Cor. 11:23-28). Paul knows God, and we can know God too. He has left us sufficient evidence (Rom. 1:20).

Second, Paul is convinced that God is able to do anything He desires. God is all powerful. He is the God who spoke all of creation into existence (Gen. 1). He is the God who parted the Red Sea for the Israelites to cross on dry ground (Ex. 14:21-22). He is the God who was gracious to Paul by giving him a second chance, when he was persecuting God in his pursuit of Christians (Acts 9:1-5). God wants to give us a second chance also. He is able to cleanse our sins in the precious blood of His Son. He is able to make us whole.

Third, Paul has committed something to God. Like Jesus on the cross, Paul has committed his spirit, his soul, his very existence into God's hands. Paul trusts that God is able to keep his soul well guarded. Peter also spoke of God's ability to keep our inheritance in heaven under guard (1 Pet. 1:3-5). For those who follow God, their inheritance is reserved. No thief will break in and steal it, and rust will not corrupt it. It is ours, if we will obey and remain faithful to God.

We, like Paul, can have confidence in God. We can believe. We can know that He is able. We can trust Him with our very souls!

- Dale J. Babinsky preaches for the Great Smoky Mountains Church of Christ in Pigeon Forge, TN.
- Article obtained from www.bulletingold.com