4.14 - THE FIRST SERMON UNDER THE COMMISSION

THE FIRST SERMON UNDER THE COMMISSION

I know of nothing, my friends, more gratifying than the continued presence of this company which is made up, practically, of the same people night after night. And, your presence, I repeat, is the greatest encouragement that could be given. This meeting, as has been said before, had a definite object in view. I tried to state that at the first service. Carrying out that objective, every service has had its bearing upon it.

I want, before it closes, to present some of the old-time, simple gospel stories, so familiar to all of you people who chance to be with us from time to time.

Tonight, I am talking about the first Gospel Sermon ever preached in the name of the risen Lord. I recognize the fact that, to many of you older brethren, this is exceeding familiar ground. I’ll have nothing new to reveal to you, but just bear in mind, this was a time when you and I did not know it, due to the lack of opportunity. This are possibly hundreds of people in our hearing tonight, and on various nights, who likewise have not been blessed with the privilege of hearing these elementary matters discussed, and that’s the reason for the repetition of these old-line talks. In harmony with that outline of last night, be it remembered, that I reviewed God’s dealings with man from the very beginning. He saw His plan unfolded and developed through the different ages, until the fullness of time was come, when Jesus Christ was born upon the earth. He lived a third of a century; walked among men; and left us an example that we should follow in His steps. After the tragic scene of the cross, He came forth triumphant o’er the powers of the dead and br ought life and immortality to light, and then, for the first time in all the history of the world, this was the glad announcement that the gospel was to be preached unto every creature on this earth.

I want you to think just a moment how simple that matter is as planned by God, executed by Christ, and revealed by the Holy Spirit. God drafted the plan of human redemption. When all was complete, He transmitted that blue print to his Son, with direct specifications to come to this earth and carry out that which the Father had planned. And then the Holy Spirit stepped in with his particular work and made known what God had planned, and what Jesus Christ had executed. Hence, the work of the three, and yet, all of them are one. Of course, you believe that God’s plan was adequate for the purpose intended. You would not think of asking Jehovah to draft another scheme of redemption, but with what He has done, those who believe the Bible are satisfied. You wouldn’t think of asking Jesus Christ to leave heaven again, and come to Palestine to carry out the Father’s will and to suffer, sorrow, bleed, and die once again for a lost, a ruined, and a recreant race of mankind. Why? You believe that he did that and tasted death for every man. Then, my friends, when the Holy Spirit comes to consummate the work of redemption, and has finished his revelation to man, and closed the record, it’s an expression of a lack of faith for any man to pray God’s Spirit to make known to us any other than that which already has been revealed. What we need, therefore, is to study God’s plan, Christ’s execution, and the Holy Spirit’s revelation. So, when Christ gave the great world-wide commission to the apostles, to teach all nations and to preach the gospel to every creature, he said to them: Go to Jerusalem and this wait until ye be endued with power from on high. Why that? Simply because of this: the message that you are to deliver to mortal man is fraught with such momentous importance, that I do not want to leave it to you unaided, but wait till power comes upon you, and then it’ll not be you that speaks, but God’s Spirit that speaks through you. Therefore, wait in the city of Jerusalem. Thither they went and with them we are, tonight, ready to begin the execution of that Great Commission but recently received.

I propose the following method of studying this first sermon: namely, I want to find out, first, the time of it; I’d like to know next the character of the audience assembled; then I want to study who the preacher was; and next, I want to analyze that sermon thoroughly, and then, after it’s proclaimed, I ask what the effect was, and what the further results that followed? Now, can you think of any other vital topic that ought to be included in an investigation of this kind? I think those cover it, and to them I address myself tonight.

I am raising a point: when was this first sermon delivered to mortal man? The record says: "When the day of Pentecost was fully come." That’s the time. It’s the first Pentecost, of course, after the resurrection of our Lord. Now Bible students remember that Pentecost was one of the three annual feasts of the Jews; that it always came on the first day of the week. This never was a Pentecost on Monday, nor on Thursday, but always on what we call Sunday, the first day of the week. This Pentecost, especially, was the time of many prophecies, and the inauguration of various things this came to pass. It’s the day when God’s Spirit was to come; it’s the time when Jesus Christ was to be crowned at God’s right hand; it’s the time when the administration of our Lord was to begin upon this earth; it’s the time when the church of the Lord, or the Kingdom of God, was established upon this earth. Hence, it was a wonderfully memorable occasion. Thus, we are at Jerusalem, according to God’s announcement, on the first day of the week, around 9 o’clock in the morning. Well, with that answered, note the next.

What kind of an audience was here assembled? Here is what the Bible says: "This were dwelling at Jerusalem, Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven." Now, we read that carelessly, and it makes not much of an impression, but, notice it, where did you ever see or hear of an audience like that? You’ve been in big crowds where multiplied throngs of people came together, but you’ve never seen an audience wherein this were devout men, representing every nation under heaven. I’ve preached to big crowds right here in Nashville, many times this auditorium has been packed to its capacity, but we’ve never had a crowd like that. We’ve had perhaps various nationalities, but not all of them assembled, and furthermore, our crowd has not always been made up of men as devout as they might have been. But here is a select crowd of honest, upright men devoted to religious matters, and they had gathered from every nation under heaven to attend this Jewish feast of Pentecost. I know that this are brethren who sometimes visit in Nashville and, while here on some other business, they might drop in to church. Friends, that wasn’t the character of the audience this assembled. They went this for one definite purpose, and that was to worship God Almighty. Hence, they were men devoted and they were this out of every nation under heaven. Then the writer of the book of Acts enumerates fifteen different nationalities, and if you’ll draw upon your memory with reference to geography, I want you to see the countries. From away up yonder northeast of the lands of the Bible, around about the Caspian Sea, this were representatives; then sweeping on down toward the Persian Gulf, and up the rivers of Tigris and Euphrates, you’ll find men from this. Passing across the great Wilderness of Wandering into the country of Africa, you’ll observe representatives from parts of Libya about Cyrene, and on west as far as Rome, this were strangers, Jews and proselytes. That’s the most wonderful audience of which I have ever read, and it is so fitting, for Christ had said: "Go teach all nations." That’s the fine audience thus assembled.

Now, watch the next point. I am asking, who was the preacher? Just naturally, you would center upon Peter. Why? Because Christ had said to him, I’m going to give unto you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and, therefore, it’ll be your task to inject the key, turn the lock, open wide the door, and bid characters to enter in. Peter is the preacher. But it is not the Peter who wavered; it’s not the Peter who followed afar off; it’s not the Peter who denied the Christ and boasted of what others might do, but he never would. That’s not he, but it is Peter as a new man, filled with the Spirit of God, who stood like a stone wall, with powers from on high granted unto him. It was not Peter speaking but the Holy Spirit using him as a medium through which the truth of God was to be proclaimed. That’s the preacher of the occasion.

Well, you note the next point, the sermon that was delivered. But be it remembered, that before Peter could get their ears, gain their attention, and begin that address, this were certain difficulties that had to be cleared away. When the noise from heaven was sounded abroad, as the result of the Holy Spirit’s coming, and filling all the house wherein they were sitting, the people were all in confusion. The Bible says "the multitude came together, and were confounded," they marveled, they were amazed, they were in doubt, saying one to another, what does all this mean, how is it, this here we are listening to every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Now, to them, that was a real problem. They understood it not, and therefore, they were bothered, confounded, confused, amazed, and wondered, how can these things be? But did you ever note, that in any kind of a crowd, this are always some smart enough to explain almost anything? So, some mockingly said: all these men are drunken. "These men are drunken," "they are filled with new wine"; and for that reason, all of this amazement, and confusion. Well, when Peter got their ears, he lifted up his voice, and said: "Ye men of Israel, these men are not drunken as ye suppose." Well, why? "It is but the third hour of the day." Now, that’s Peter’s explanation in refutation of their charge that these men are drunken. "It’s but the third hour of the day." I am not sure that I understand all about that. I don’t know whether it was just simply contrary to their custom to get drunk before nine o’clock in the morning, or whether some other explanation is due. I just know that that wouldn’t hold good here in Nashville, or in West Tennessee; we’ve got stuff that will make a fellow drunk before nine o’clock. But, be that as it may, Peter’s statement that they are not drunken because it was the third hour of the day, was perfectly satisfactory to that crowd. They argued it no more. Now, Peter, if that’s not the explanation, what is it? Peter appealed to them through their Old Testament, the scriptures which they were forced to believe. He said to them: these are not drunken, but here is the explanation: This is the fulfillment of that which was spoken by our Jewish prophet Joel, namely, "I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh." While Peter, therefore, unfolded Joel’s prophecy the audience regained their reason and were soon ready to hear what further Peter had to say. Now then, with explanations having been made and with their ears tuned, Peter began: "Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know." Now that is rather lengthy, but it is the statement of one proposition. Now what is it? You know that Jesus Christ of Nazareth is a God-approved man, and the proof is, the performance of miracles, wonders, and signs that he’s done right in your midst. You know it. Now Peter never did refer to that again. He simply stated that proposition and clinched it by saying, you know it. Well, all right, what’s the second one? "Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God." Now, that’s the second proposition laid down by Peter. All of this is according to the foreknowledge of God, and our Jewish scriptures abound in statements to that one effect, that God has foreordained and according to his foreknowledge, Jesus Christ was thus to be. Well, now what’s the third one?

Here it is: "Ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain." That’s the third statement. Now, I just want to ask you, do you think that needed argument? This they were, who a little more than fifty days before, had seen Jesus Christ on the cross, and had said to old Governor Pilate: "Crucify Him, Crucify Him; away with Him." Well, that didn’t need any argument. Nobody on earth knew that any better than did they. Hence, the mere recitation of it was sufficient.

Well, what’s the next statement? "God bath raised him from the dead. It was not possible that death should hold him." Here we have a model sermon outline. First, the introduction, including the clearing away of all misunderstanding, and preparing the audience for the reception of the more sober and more solemn declaration. Then, step by step, this was the statement of his four propositions.

Now, let’s get them again. First: Jesus of Nazareth who went among you, is approved of God by the performance of miracles, wonders, and signs, which he did in our midst, and you know it. Next, what is number two ? That he was delivered according to the foreknowledge of God. And again, what is number three? You have crucified him by wicked hands, and they are right now dripping in the innocent blood of the spotless Son of God. Finally, what is the fourth one? God has raised him from the dead.

Now friends, I want to submit to you this simple thought, and I think all of us ought to get some lesson from it. Sometimes we are in the habit, as preachers, of stating a thing that everybody knows, and which nobody denies, and yet we’ll argue that point for fifteen minutes. Now, all such ought to be eliminated, and here is a fine example. Peter never argued the fact that Jesus is God-approved. He said, you men know that. Neither did he stop to argue that Christ was delivered according to the foreknowledge of God. He simply stated the fact.

Well, what’s the next point? You have crucified him by the hands of lawless men. Now, why talk five minutes on that? Anybody doubt it? Nobody knew it better than did that crowd. Therefore, Peter passed it by and he said, God has raised him from the dead. Now, that’s the only point among the four that Peter’s crowd denied. They were bound to accept three of the propositions, and hence, he spent no time in arguing matters of that sort, but he devoted his time to the proposition that needed support, and that was the resurrection from the dead. Now, may I submit to you that Peter adduced three arguments in behalf of the resurrection of Christ from the dead, and here they are: I read from Acts the second chapter: "Whom God bath raised up, having loosed the pains of death; because it was not possible that he should be holden of it." I want you to note how skillful and how accurate Peter’s argument is. It wouldn’t do for him to turn to some Gentile and introduce him as authority. So he goes right back to that crowd’s own prophet David, whom they recognized, in whom they had confidence, and whose testimony they must accept. Peter said, you killed the Christ and God has raised him from the dead. You deny it but that’s the thing I’m going to prove to you, and I’ll commence with our own prophet David. Hear him: "David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer shine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance." Now that’s what David said. He declared that somebody was going to die, but that his soul was not to be left in hell, and that his flesh would not see corruption. Now they were bound to admit that David said that.

Now, watch Peter’s comment: "Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day." Possibly Peter pointed out exactly the spot where David’s body was lying. David "therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne." "He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption." Christ’s soul was not left in Hades and the body of Christ did not see corruption. That’s Peter’s argument. He said to them: if you’ll accept our own David, you must admit the resurrection, for he prophesied this very thing. He said somebody would not be left in hell, nor would his flesh see corruption. But David wasn’t talking about himself, for David knew that God had sworn to him, with an oath, that of the fruit of his loins, he would raise up someone to sit upon his throne, and, therefore, seeing this before, he spake of the resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did Christ’s body see corruption, but God raised up Christ. For what intent? To sit on his, David’s throne. That’s Peter’s argument thus far, but he presented another and here it is: "This Jesus bath God raised up." What’s the proof of it, Peter? "Whereof we all are witnesses." Now I want you to see just what an array of testimony this statement included. That audience to whom he is preaching, must say either that all of you twelve apostles and you 120 disciples are liars or else it must accept the statement thus given. So that’s argument number two. Watch argument three. "Therefore, being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he bath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." Hence, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit with its like demonstration is the third argument in behalf of the resurrection of Christ. I submit to you, again, the four statements of Peter’s sermon: First, Jesus is God-approved among you and you know it. Second, he was delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God. Third, you have crucified him. Fourth, God bath raised him from the dead.

What’s the evidence of the resurrection? First, the evidence is David’s own testimony, when he prophesied not regarding himself, for this his body lies as yet, but he is talking about Christ. Second, all of us testify. Third, look at this wonderful demonstration.

Friends, that’s the sermon. Now then, I want you to think, what effect did it have? "When they heard this." This what ? The climax of Peter’s sermon. Well, what was it? "That God bath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." Now Peter, what has been your procedure? "I have stated matters fundamental, three of which you do not doubt, and the fourth one I have produced evidence to support. Hence, I want you to know that God has made that very Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." Now note the effect of that address.

"When they heard this they were cut to their heart," conviction to them was brought. They were affected by the proclamation of the gospel of God’s Son. This was God’s Sword of the Spirit bringing conviction of their guilt. Therefore, they cried out to Peter and to the rest of the apostles: "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Now let’s just see matters as they are. What has been the program? First, Peter has preached. Second, that multitude has heard. Third, conviction to their hearts has been brought, and it expressed itself by their inquiry, "What shall we do?" I want to ask, were they believers or infidels? To ask that is to answer. Where, friends, did you ever hear of a set of infidels cut to the heart by the preaching of God’s word? Where did you ever see a set of unbelievers crying out, saying: "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Now then, if Peter had subscribed to certain doctrines he might have said: "Gentlemen, you can’t do anything; all was fixed before the foundation of the world, and the number to be saved is definitely settled," or he might have said: "If you men believe what I have preached you are already saved and nothing else is required. You know we are justified by faith only, and that’s a most wholesome doctrine." Now this audience knows that Peter did not subscribe to anything that even sounded like such doctrines. I want you to see it, friends. Sacred and serious matters are confronting us tonight. Those Jews heard the gospel as preached by Peter, and the effect of it was, they were cut to their hearts. It brought conviction unto them. It stirred them up. It made them conscious of their guilt, because they were made to believe that their hands were stained in the innocent blood of the Son of God. Therefore, they cried: "What shall we believers do ?" Now watch it— "Then Peter,’; speaking by God’s Spirit, "said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Friends, I just want to ask you, is that perfectly clear and easily understood? Is this anything difficult about that? Can a man responsible to God Almighty misunderstand it? What is the program?

First, preached the gospel unto them; they heard it; as a result of hearing, faith was theirs, and due to that faith they made the move and cried: "What can we do?" For what? "To rid ourselves of the heinous crime, that you have charged upon us in that we have killed the Son of God. What can we do about it?" Now God’s Spirit, speaking through Peter, said unto that crowd of believers: "Repent and be baptized." Now it’s strange to me that folks resent a matter of that kind, that a great many preachers, with high-sounding titles and terms attached to their names, would not tell a Nashville audience just what Peter told that multitude on that memorable Pentecost. My friends, are you here tonight believing that you have heard the gospel of God’s Son? Do you believe in the Lord with all your heart? If so, are you anxious about your eternal welfare? If you are, and want to go to heaven when you die, Peter said, my dear sir, "repent and be baptized." Do what? Two things, repent, and, what does "and" mean ? Addition, plus, something else. Repent plus be baptized. "Repent and be baptized." Well, why? "For the remission of sins." Why repent? "For the remission of sins." Why be baptized ? "For the remission of sins." That’s God’s word about it. Someone may saw, now, Brother Hardeman, that’s just your opinion and your view of it. No, my friends, that’s not my opinion; that’s what God said; that’s not nearly it, that is it, and everybody knows that’s exactly what God said.

Friends, it isn’t a question of understanding. It is just a question of whether or not you and I believe what God said, and are willing to take Him at His word, do what He requires, and then trust Him for every promise. Now that’s the story. He said to them: "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." It’s not popular to proclaim Peter’s answer to that guilty crowd on Pentecost. It’s not popular to stop and tell our friends today just what to do "for the remission of sins." Some would much rather hear a psychological discussion. If I were to announce to you that I’m going to preach on "The Physiological Analysis of the Psychological Anthropos," many would say, I want to hear that; I imagine that will be deep. Yes, so deep you’d never know one thing on God’s earth about it. But when I come and announce the simple story of redeeming love, and tell it just as the Bible tells it, men say: "Well, I’m disappointed in that, I just can’t see it that way." Friends, yes, you can see it that way. Don’t insult your intelligence; don’t deceive yourselves by saying: "I can’t understand that." Yes, you can. What does it say? God says to every believer: "Repent, and be baptized for the remission of sins." The man who can’t understand that reflects upon his own intelligence.

Peter said further: "For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." Note again: "And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation." How save yourselves? Surely, not in procuring the salvation, nor the means of it, but by laying hold of that which he had pre. sensed for their consideration.

I once stood on the American side of Niagara Falls, and a gentleman told of some boys once coming down the river beyond the danger point. Fortunately, their boat ran against a boulder and this they were suspended. From the Canadian shore, this was thrown out the life line, with the command: "Boys, save yourselves." They laid hold of it and were brought to the shore and saved. God provides, but man must appropriate. It’s Jehovah-jireh all the way along the line. God provides water, by which our physical thirst is slaked. He provides us with a drinking apparatus, and all round about us this is water. But, suppose, I just refuse to drink. Don’t you know that I’ll die of thirst? Friends, I have sense enough to know this, if I get the benefit of that water, so abundantly provided by Jehovah, I must appropriate it, drink of it, apply it, and work with God to bring about the physical blessings. The atmosphere is all round about us. It is about fifty miles in every direction from the surface of the earth. Well, here I am with a breathing apparatus, nostrils, a pair of lungs, the ability to inhale and exhale. Well, does God want me to have air? Certainly. Do I have to have it to live? Yes, sir. Well, when do I get it? This it is, without money and without price, and whenever I accept it, the physical blessing is mine. Paul said: "We are labourers together with God." Watch the point: God provides the means of human redemption. By God’s grace men are saved, but while it’s a matter of grace on the part of God, it’s a matter of faith and trust on the part of man. Do I have sufficient faith in God to lay hold of that means provided? If so, I can come to shore, stand justified, purified, washed and cleansed in that fountain filled with the precious blood of His spotless Son.

Now, you ask what was the further effect of Peter’s sermon ? They, on that Pentecost day, that received God’s word "were baptized, and the same day this were added," put together, "about three thousand souls." But who did that? "The Lord added to the church day by day."

Friends, that’s the system. I am hoping tonight, as we come to sing the invitation hymn, that this is not only one, but two, three, and many, in this audience who will gladly duplicate the experience of these Pentecostians and rush to the outstretched arms of Him who said: "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I’ll give you rest." Friends, do you believe the story tonight? If so, why linger any longer ? Render that obedience demanded by God. But you say, "I just don’t see any reason for being baptized." Friends, the very fact that God said it, that God commanded it, is the highest reason possible for man. Out of deference to His authority, out of regard for His word, do it and trust Him for every promise.