By Faith in Jesus' Name 

Acts 3:1-26

Key Verse 3:16

This passage shows us the way of salvation through a practical example. Essentially it is the work of the Holy Spirit working in and through those who have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  

1. Read verses 1-3. In what respect are many like the crippled beggar?

** Cripple = damage, maim, mutilate, wound, debilitate, disable, impair, incapacitate, paralyzed

[Antonym = heal, rehabilitate]

Beg = bum, panhandle, avoid, dodge, evade

[Antonym = demand, receive; give, face] 

Many are like the crippled beggar in that due to their crippled condition they end up begging. The causes are that they are damaged, maimed, mutilated, wounded, debilitated, disabled, impaired, incapacitated, and paralyzed physically and/or spiritually. As a result, they are bummed out, avoid challenges, dodge responsibilities, and remain evasive. 

2. Read verses 4-7. How did Peter (and John) help the crippled beggar? What can we learn from Peter in helping those who are like the crippled beggar?

** 1) Established eye contact

2) Planted in the beggar, faith in Jesus

3) Lifted him up that the man would stand up by faith in Jesus' name

- Notice what he did not do, that is, he did not give him money, for he did not have silver and gold. Rather he gave him what is far better that is faith in the name of Jesus Christ. He believed in the potential of the crippled beggar. By faith in Jesus' name he challenged the man to stand and walk. 

** We must first receive God's healing through the name of Jesus Christ. Peter did receive healing. He deeply repented. As he prayed the Lord healed him through the Spirit of God. He then could stand up on his feet. As he was filled with the Holy Spirit, he could stand and walk according to his own faith. In the past he did not have his own personal faith. When he repented, and turned to the Lord, the Lord granted him faith in His name. He then could help the crippled beggar to receive God's healing. Likewise as we repent, turn to the Lord, and offer ourselves to the Lord as the Lord's servant, the Lord enables us to help others receive God's healing through Jesus' power.  

3. Read verses 8-10. What does this passage tell us about the new life that is from the Lord (Jesus Christ of Nazareth)? 

** Walking, jumping, and praising God - this characterizes the life of the one who receives new life from the Lord.  As he lives a brand new life walking, jumping, and praising God, he influences others that they too would be motivated to live by faith in Jesus, and live a life that renders glory to God. 

 

4. Read verses 11-16. What gave "this complete healing" to the crippled beggar?

** Two factors: first, the name of Jesus, and second the faith in the name of Jesus Christ, the faith that comes through Jesus. Notice that Jesus’ name and faith work together. This faith comes through Jesus Christ. You should not worry about your faith or someone else's faith. Rather as you live as a witness of Jesus, the Risen Jesus works in your life and in the life of the one who listens to your message. Jesus works by strengthening your faith and the faith of the one who hears the word with undivided attention.  

5. Read verses 17-26. Why should all repent and turn to God? (19,20,23,26)

** We must repent and turn to God so that the following would happen to us:

1) to have our sins forgiven (19a);

2) the times of refreshing may come from the Lord (19b); 

3) he [God the Father] may send the Christ (20); 

4) we may listen to the Lord Jesus (22); 

5) we would remain connected among his people (23); and 

6) we may live under his blessings (26).   

      Times of refreshing - this indicates that sin makes man's life suffocated, making it stale, and die. But, through repentance, man's life can be refreshed. "Times" indicates that people keep sinning, yet as they repent and turn to God, in his great mercy and long patience, God keeps forgiving them, for Jesus died for the sins of the world. ` 

      When you repent and turn to God, God sends Jesus to you, so Jesus would live in your heart. 

      After receiving Jesus in your heart, you need to follow the next step, that is, to listen to Jesus. This means that you need to read and study God's word, so that you would grow up in the Lord, become strong, and remain obedient. 

      The next step for you is to remain in the fellowship with the Lord and with his [Jesus'] people, so the Lord would help you to grow up, serving the Lord together with other members of Jesus' body. This is a very healthy thing to do. It is a must, for which part of man's body can function properly when it is cut off from the body? 

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