40 ¶And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
[18/02/2021, 14:01]
Sunnie
Sir, may I ask some questions, please?
Acts 2 KJT
[40] And with many other words did he testify
and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
Q: Was that generation more untoward or evil
than our present generation?
Q: Was that generation more untoward because
they plotted & murdered the Messiah?
Q: Is our present generation less untoward
because we are not plotting or murdering our Savior? Or is there no Messiah
presently because He has finished His work of redemption, therefore, today
people are not warned at all of this untoward or evil generation.
Q: Or is our present generation more
civilised and warning need not be that severe?
Q: Or those with beautiful feet now only
preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Therefore,
very unfitting to warn the modern generation?
Thank you, sir, for helping us to put more
questions about verses we may be very familiar. Will ask further on the other
verses and hope our brethren will give an opinion.
[18/02/2021, 18:19]
Sunnie
[41 Then they that gladly received his word
were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand
souls.]
Q: A good 37 years ago, when I responded to
the preached word John 15: 1-7 by so much fear & trembling as that night I
was frightened by the loss of salvation and cast away & burned. (Only by
the grace of God I now understand perfectly of eternal, legal & spiritual
salvation). I noted verse 41, those that received the word gladly were added to
the church by baptism n three thousands added to the church.
Q: However, why believers today in our present
setting are dreading to consider baptism and be added to the church?
Q: Is it because these believers are frightened of the covenant commitment towards one & another? I don't know.
Q: Or the church members in the present SDC
show poor churchmanship that put off people? I don't know the answer
Q: Is it because non-church members are of
the opinions since it is the eternal heaven that counts, why bother? I don't know the answer either.
As all the questions helped me to ponder and
hoping answers from above could be provided. Amen
[18/02/2021, 18:58]
Sunnie
[42 And they continued stedfastly in the
apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.]
Comment: They remained steadfast in the
apostles' doctrine and fellowship. We have the right ingredients. A complete Bible compared to the time of the apostles. We have the revealed declaration
of Heaven & eternal judgement of which we, as Christ's righteous imputation, should be thoroughly convinced we are indeed very blessed with assurance
we will be one day in the eternal glory!
Yet these earlier disciples continued with steadfastness. They were indeed
blessed with minimal understanding but very definitely with gladness they are
saved!
Q: If we are hardly steadfast in the doctrine and
fellowship with each other, what is the matter? I wonder why? What's amiss?
Thank brethren for allowing me to share my
thoughts forthrightly!
[19/02/2021, 01:51]
sing
Thank you for taking the time and exercising
your mind on the subject. You have asked helpful questions on the passage.
Concerning [40] And with many other words did
he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
Let's understand the word *untoward* -
literally, it means crooked; metaphorically, it means morally perverse, wicked,
froward (difficult to deal with).
With that in mind, let us give some thoughts
to your questions.
Q: Was that generation more untoward or evil
than our present generation?
An answer:
That was an untoward generation
indeed, for several reasons:
- They were eyewitnesses of their Messiah
but rejected and crucified him.
- They were waiting for their Messiah but
when He has appeared, they rejected and crucified Him.
- They were shown the irrefutable signs and
miracles performed by Jesus of Nazareth but refused to believe that He is their
expected Messiah. Instead, they accused Him of performing those signs and
miracles by the power of Beelzebub.
- They heard the astonishing teachings of
Jesus but rejected them anyway.
- They were soundly reproved of their errors
and hypocrisy but they hardened themselves further.
So, that generation was untoward INDEED.
Brother Jonathan has a saying, "that generation was devil-possessed."
Morally perverse, wicked, froward, unfair, and unreasonable in their treatment
of Christ - speaking specifically of the religious establishment, and not the
common people, generally.
That untoward generation had been destined to
be destroyed in AD 70; Apostle Peter was appealing to the hearers to save
themselves by separating themselves from that untoward generation - by
believing that Jesus Christ was indeed the promised Messiah they had been
waiting for.
Please remember that most of Peter's hearers
were Jews and Gentile proselytes who had come from distant nations (Acts 2:5 )
to Jerusalem to observe the Pentecost.
Your question: Was that generation more
untoward or evil than our present generation?
It would be yes for the reasons given.
As your question necessarily implies, God's
children in this generation are untoward too, just in different ways. These
shall be considered in your other questions.
[19/02/2021, 10:03]
sing
Q: Was that generation more untoward because
they plotted & murdered the Messiah?
An answer:
- Yes, they are one of many reasons. It went
beyond plotting and murdering their Messiah.
-Jesus told them many times that He would
rise from the dead, and they did everything to ensure He remained dead in the
tomb. But when He had risen from the dead, instead of shame and repentance,
they concocted lies to deceive others further!
[19/02/2021, 10:04]
sing
Q: Is our present generation less untoward
because we are not plotting or murdering our Savior. Or is there no Messiah
presently because He has finished His work of redemption therefore today people
are not warned at all of this untoward or evil generation.
An answer:
- The present generation of God's children is
untoward too in their own ways. The untowardness
takes more forms than the literal plotting and murdering the Son of God. In
that literal sense, it is no longer possible to be untoward.
- Please note that only God's children can be
justly charged as being untoward in their conduct, words, and thoughts towards
their Father, and Elder Brother Jesus Christ, their Lord, and Saviour.
- "Without excuse" has reference to
God's children. Acting and believing contrary to what is revealed and shown to
them manifested their untowardness.
- With all the EXTRA light and truth from the
completed Scriptures and the easy access to all the tools to grow in the grace
and knowledge of Jesus Christ, Christians are acting untowardly indeed if they
are not growing as expected.
[19/02/2021, 10:04]
sing
Q: Or is our present generation more
civilised and warning need not be that severe?
An answer:
The present generation of religious leaders
and their followers are no more enlightened than that untoward generation in
different ways.
- When they believe the Devil's lie that
there is *NO* hell for them after they leave this world, no warning is severe
enough. Untoward children of God will find themselves in hell after they depart from this world. Christ did not save His people from hell; Christ
solemnly warned them to take drastic measures against their sins to avoid hell.
The Devil seduced them to turn that warning to non-children of God - O, how
subtle. Gen 3:1.
- Christ did most assuredly save His people
from the eternal misery in the lake of fire. Whosoever's name is found in the
Lamb's Book of Life - and Christ, the Lamb of God, came to redeem every one of
them, from the lake of fire. Rev 20:15.
- Sorry, I digressed.
[19/02/2021, 10:07]
sing
Q: Or those with beautiful feet now only
preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Therefore,
very unfitting to warn the modern generation?
An answer:
Unfortunately, few preachers have the gospel
of peace to preach, bringing the glad tidings of good things in the eternal
salvation by the free and sovereign grace of God, and warning them to
"work out their *own salvation* with fear and trembling" and the dire
consequences for neglecting such reasonable duties.
May my Lord assist me to discharge my duty
better.
Also, enjoying the grace of God in vain is a
harsh reality among God's children, 2Cor 6:1.
[Thank you Pastor for helping us to put
more questions to verses we may be very familiar. Will ask further on the other
verses and hopeful our brethren will give an opinion.]
Comment: Passages that seem very familiar become not familiar when we begin to ask apt questions. Try that on your Christian friends. Try John 3:16! Overfamiliarity is often an indication of a common but dreadful sickness called soundbytitis. I fear this dreadful disease more than Covid-19.
Continue to ask, and we will learn together.
[19/02/2021, 12:51]
sing
[40] And with many other words did he testify
and exhort, saying, *Save yourselves from this untoward generation.*
-----------
My comments:
- they were exhorted to save themselves,
- they must do something to save themselves,
- they are to save themselves from something
particular, that untoward generation.
What did Peter testify about?
What is the salvation spoken of?
What must the hearers do to be saved?
What will they save themselves from?
Many don't have a clue.
The moment they see the word 'save', they go
off tangent to hell (lake of fire) and heaven. 😢😢😢
[19/02/2021, 13:50]
sing
[41] Then they that gladly received his word
were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand
souls.
Q: A good 37 years ago, when I responded to
the preached word John 15: 1-7 by so much fear & trembling as that night I
was frightened by the loss of salvation and cast away & burn. (Only by the
grace of God I now understand perfectly of eternal, legal & spiritual
salvation). I noted verse 41, the brethren received gladly added to the church
by baptism n three thousands added to the church. However, why are believers today
in our present setting are dreading to feet to consider baptism and be added to
the church?
------------
Thank you for sharing your experience with
us.
Yes, only those who gladly received the
preached word of Peter – testifying that Jesus is indeed the promised Messiah,
and exhorted God’s children to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (they were
God-fearing devout men from all nations – Acts 2:5), and the fearsome temporal
judgment of 70AD.
- Those who gladly received the gospel of
Jesus Christ were baptized. No begging, no cajoling, no emotional appeal to
accept Christ, no saying the sinner’s prayers.
- Those who gladly received the word gladly
complied with what they were told to do.
- Yes, all those baptized that day were also
ADDED to the Jerusalem church that day. Most of those baptized that day were
from distant lands who would soon return to their homes far away from
Jerusalem.
- The Apostles were busy visiting them in the
far-flung places and planted local churches in those places wherever possible.
Q. *Why do believers today in our present setting dread considering baptism and being added to the church?*
An answer: this may sound simplistic – little
love for Christ is at the heart; other things are just incidental peripherals.
<Q: Is it because these believers are
frightened of the covenant commitment towards one & another? I don't
know?>
An answer: That’s probably one of the several
reasons.
<Q: Or the church members in the present
SDC show poor churchmanship that put off people? I don't know the answer.
An answer: That’s possible; sincere and good
people are stumbled and put off.
- Poor preaching, don’t have the activities
for their children, no crèche, closed communion, doctrines, etc.
<Q: Is it because non-church members are
of the opinions since it is the eternal heaven that counts, why bother? I don't know the answer either.>
An answer: that’s likely but probably rare.
I’m of the opinion that those who know that it is the eternal heaven that matters
would also understand the necessity of their obedience for their temporal
salvation.
<As all the questions helped me to ponder, and hoping answers from above could be provided. Amen.>
My little experience:
I grew up in the Methodist setting; I was
sprinkled in my early teens. Then I was converted while a student at Sydney University.
Later, when I had learned that the biblical mode of baptism is immersion, I
readily submitted myself to be immersed, and was added to the membership of
Newtown Baptist Church… no bitching and whining that I had been baptized in the
Methodist Church. It is easy when we keep our conscience clear before the Lord.
[20/02/2021, 13:53]
sing
Some comments:
a. We are indeed far more fortunate than the
believers in the Apostles' time.
- The Apostles may not be with us today; we
may no longer witness the marvellous signs and miracles performed by them, BUT
we have the full revelation of God, the complete inspired Scriptures, readily
available at our fingertips. This is such a great blessing.
- Even the Apostles themselves knew in part
only. 1Cor 13:9-10.
- Imagine for one moment if we don't have the
Holy Scriptures, or we are illiterate (unable to read or write). Would you feel
any poorer? How many of us grumble and whine when we have to miss a meal for
our belly! Do our souls feel famished when we miss feeding upon the word of God?
- We are blessed indeed with so much more for
our discipleship. Are we faring better than they?
- Christ's just and equitable principle,
"For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required."
Luke 12:48.
b. "they continued steadfastly":
- steadfast: an adjective, resolutely or
dutifully firm and unwavering.
- steadfastly: an adverb, describing the
manner they continued.
- They continued steadfastly attentive unto,
giving unremitting care to those things.
- To continue in those things requires effort
and discipline; to continue steadfastly implies that they have to fight off
lawful things that may distract and supplant their attention to those noble
things: the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in the breaking of bread,
and in prayers.
- The apostles' doctrine here means the preaching of the
apostles, not the apostolic doctrinal principles.
What explained their steadfast continuance in
those excellent spiritual exercises?
What do you think?
Were they less busy with life?
Were their circumstances favourable?
What would we do to cultivate that steadfast
continuance in those spiritual exercises also?
What's distracting each one of us?
