DELIVERED, CRUCIFIED, RAISED, EXALTED

BY W. F. BELL

In Acts 2:22-36 the central message of Christ is clearly outlined for us by Simon Peter.  Four words are at the heart of this message: delivered, crucified, raised, exalted.  Nothing greater could ever be proclaimed!  The Lord of glory came to earth to do His Father's will (John 6:38), and after accomplishing it (John 17:4), "Jesus the Son of God" returned to heaven in triumph (Hebrews 1:3; 4:14).  He was not frustrated in the least in what He came to do.

Peter says, "Hear these words," so let us do so with joy.  "Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you."  A just and righteous approval of a wonderful life; a perfect life, for Jesus "knew no sin."  "Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God."  What?  Yes, though without sin, "delivered" by divine purpose and predestination.  Why?  "Ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain."  So, the cross was no accident; it was not just a human murder.  There was purpose and reason behind it.  Note carefully, Jehovah "delivered" His Son, but wicked men "crucified" Him.

But Peter goes on to say, "Whom God raised up."  Don't pass that so quickly.  Death upon the cross for Jesus was gory, and His burial was gloomy, but glory was to follow, for we read, "This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses."  "Raised up!"  What glorious words, filled with hope.  Christ was not left in "hades" (the grave), and His body saw no "corruption."  He arose!  He arose the Victor!  "It was not possible that He should be held" in Joseph's new tomb.  Note, "not possible."  David foretold of the Messiah's victory over death (Psalm 16:8-11).  David himself "saw corruption" (Acts 13:36), but not the Christ of God!

Now we enter the heavenly throne-room.  The Lord "ascended" to His Father's right hand, never to die again.  "Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted."  "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him" (Philippians 2:9).  Yes, "highly exalted."  He reigns triumphant over all, now!  "Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come" (Ephesians 1:21).  Note, not just "above," but "far above."

Peter concludes his message: "God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."  Here is where sinners must bow!  Though Christ was crucified, He is now forever exalted.  We do not "make" Him "Lord," but we do humbly acknowledge that He already is "crowned with glory and honor" (Hebrews 2:9).  Yes indeed, "crowned" already!  So, poor sinners come in contrition, and gladly worship the exalted Christ!  And with Charles Wesley, all of God's elect people gratefully sing,

Christ, the Lord, is risen today!...
Love's redeeming work is done!...
Lives again our glorious King!...
Hail the Lord of earth and heaven!...
Thee we greet, triumphant now!

JOHN BUNYAN, THE TINKER OF BEDFORD

BY CHARLES WOODRUFF

John Bunyan (1628-1688) was born into a poor English family near Bedford in the parish of Elstow, Bedfordshire , England. After some formal schooling, he became a tinker by trade. We may call such a trade "a handyman" today. He repaired all sorts of things, mostly for poor people who couldn't afford new items. After serving in the Parliamentary Army, and living an ungodly life, Bunyan came under powerful conviction for his sins.He believed that God was speaking audibly to him. The voice had said: "Wilt thou leave thy sins and go to heaven or have thy sins and go to hell?" There were several years of struggle, and seeking light from God. Like Paul, he saw himself as the "chief of sinners". When he was converted, he was baptized in St. Johns Church  (a non-conformist church, which was baptist, immersing repentant sinners). Bunyan began to preach there in1655. This was in an era of turmoil in England. The state church (Church of England, i.e., Anglican) opposed all others, and especially the Puritans and Baptists, of which John Bunyan had, in the best sense, become both. He was a strict non-conformist, and had been immersed.

The next year (1656), he wrote his first of many books Some Gospel Truths.  Ultimately, after the Restoration of the monarchy in England, Bunyan was jailed for preaching without a license. The monarchy had put the Anglicans back in power, and persecution against other churches increased.

John Bunyan wound up spending 12 years in the Bedford prison, with some short releases during that time. But, because he refused to conform  to the statutes of the Anglicans he could not be licensed, therefore he remained imprisoned most of those 12 years. During that time in jail, he wrote his best known book Pilgrims Progress, an allegory of the Christian life. That book is still a good seller. In earlier times, it was the best selling book in the world, other than  the Bible. In these apostate times, his books are still valuable, having been reprinted many times. Most are available online.
http://www.monergism.com/free_online_books.php    and in print as three large volumes. Many of his individual books are still in print as well.  I recommend to you, after first reading Pilgrims Progress, read Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, which is Bunyan's autobiography. The try The Holy War. All of his work is in 17th century English (like the King James Version). If that troubles you too much, Pilgrims Progress and some of the others are available in modern English versions. Check Amazon, or Monergism.


Now a few short Bunyan quotes to further whet your appetite for this godly writer.

“He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find him the rest of the day” John Bunyan

"Temptations, when we first meet them, are like a lion that roared at Samson; but if we overcome them, the next time we see them we shall find a nest of honey within them."  John Bunyan

“You can do more than pray, after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed”   John Bunyan

“He that is down needs fear no fall, He that is low, no pride”  John Bunyan

“If you have sinned, do not lie down without repentance; for the want of repentance after one has sinned makes the heart yet harder and harder” John Bunyan

“No child of God sins to that degree as to make himself incapable of forgiveness” John Bunyan 

"One leak will sink a ship: and one sin will destroy a sinner." John Bunyan   

"Words easy to be understood do often hit the mark; when high and learned ones do only pierce the air." John Bunyan 

HIS BY PURCHASE- THOMAS BROOKS

I am His by purchase and I am His by conquest; I am His by donation and I am His by election; I am His by covenant and I am His by marriage; I am wholly His; I am peculiarly His; I am universally His; I am eternally His. Once I was a slave but now I am a son; once I was dead but now I am alive; once I was darkness but now I am light in the Lord;...
 

once I was a child of wrath, an heir of hell, but now I am an heir of heaven; once I was Satan's bond-servant but now I am God's freeman; once I was under the spirit of bondage but now I am under the Spirit of adoption that seals up to me the remission of my sins, the justification of my person and the salvation of my soul.