The Gospel We Must Proclaim: Christ Crucified, Risen, and Exalted

October 12th, 2025

Acts 2:33–36

33 Therefore, since he has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, he has poured out what you both see and hear. 34 For it was not David who ascended into the heavens, but he himself says: The Lord declared to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.” 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.

Why This Passage Still Matters Today

This passage speaks to your life because:

It reminds you the gospel is not self-help or cultural comfort—it is God’s saving announcement that Jesus died for sins, rose in power, and reigns as Lord.
It shows you history is headed somewhere: from cross, to empty tomb, to occupied throne, to the day when every enemy is under Christ’s feet—including death.
It calls you to respond in faith, live under Jesus’ Lordship, and join the Church’s mission to proclaim the whole Christ to the whole world.

Stepping Into the Story

Pentecost is noisy—wind like a storm, tongues like fire, languages spilling out into the streets. A crowd gathers—bewildered, divided between wonder and mockery. Peter stands—not with clever slogans, but with Scripture. He takes the people by the hand and walks them through God’s story: Jesus’ flawless life, His God-authenticated ministry, His cross according to the Father’s plan, His resurrection that death could not chain, and His exaltation to the Father’s right hand. Then Peter does what the Spirit still does today—he presses truth to the conscience. “Know for certain,” he says. This is more than ancient drama; it is your moment in God’s ongoing mission. The crucified, risen, exalted Christ stands at the center of history—and at the center of your life.

Trust the Father’s Testimony about His Son

22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to these words: This Jesus of Nazareth was a man attested to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through him, just as you yourselves know.

Look Closer

Historical/Theological: Jesus’ public ministry was authenticated by the Father through “miracles, wonders, and signs.” These echo Exodus (plagues/signs), the prophets (Elijah/Elisha), and anticipate the kingdom’s arrival in Jesus (Luke–Acts).
Key Greek:
- Attested (apodedeigmenon, ἀποδεδειγμένον): “publicly demonstrated, accredited.”
- Miracles (dynameis, δυνάμεις): displays of divine power.
- Wonders (terata, τέρατα): acts that provoke awe.
- Signs (sēmeia, σημεῖα): acts that point beyond themselves to Jesus’ identity.

Truth To Live By

God has not left you to guess who Jesus is. The Father has signed His name across Jesus’ life in power. Faith rests not on hype, but on God’s public testimony to His Son.

Living The Story

Live by His Word: Read a Gospel chapter this week; list what Jesus does and what it reveals about who He is.

Build Each Other Up: Share one fresh insight about Jesus with a friend or small group.

Move His Kingdom Forward: When you serve someone, explain how Jesus’ compassion motivated you.

Write Your Story

Which attribute of Jesus’ ministry most strengthens your faith right now?
Where are you tempted to settle for opinions about Jesus instead of Scripture’s witness?
Whom could you invite to meet Jesus in the Gospels this week?

Consider This Prayer

Father, You have attested Your Son. Open my eyes to behold His glory, and make my life a sign that points others to Him. Amen.

If the Father authenticated Jesus’ life, Peter says He also ordained Jesus’ death.

Rest in the Cross—God’s Plan Meeting Our Sin

23 Though he was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail him to a cross and kill him.

Look Closer

Historical/Theological: The cross is not accident but appointment. Human guilt is real (“you… nailed him to a cross”), yet God’s sovereignty is ultimate.

Key Greek:
- Determined plan (tē hōrismenē boulē, τῇ ὡρισμένῃ βουλῇ): God’s fixed counsel/decree.
- Foreknowledge (prognōsis, πρόγνωσις): God’s loving, purposeful knowing beforehand—not mere foresight.

Truth To Live By

Your salvation rests not on human goodness but on God’s gracious purpose. At the cross, sovereign love met human sin—and grace triumphed.

Living The Story

Live by His Word: Confess a specific sin; thank God that Christ carried it according to the Father’s plan.
Build Each Other Up: Encourage a struggling believer: God’s plan in Christ is bigger than our failures.
Move His Kingdom Forward: Share the gospel emphasizing both human need and God’s sovereign grace.

Consider This Prayer

Sovereign God, thank You that my redemption is Your plan, not my achievement. Lead me to honest repentance and confident trust. Amen.

The plan did not end at Golgotha. Death could not keep what God promised to raise.

Live in Resurrection Hope

24 God raised him up, ending the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by death. 25 For David says of him: I saw the Lord ever before me; because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices. Moreover, my flesh will rest in hope, 27 because you will not abandon me in Hades or allow your holy one to see decay. 28 You have revealed the paths of life to me; you will fill me with gladness in your presence. 29 “Brothers and sisters, I can confidently speak to you about the patriarch David: He is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn an oath to him to seat one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke concerning the resurrection of the Messiah: He was not abandoned in Hades, and his flesh did not experience decay. 32 “God has raised this Jesus; we are all witnesses of this.

Look Closer

Historical/Theological: Peter quotes Psalm 16 to prove the Messiah would not see decay. David’s tomb stood in Jerusalem; Jesus’ tomb stood empty.

Key Greek:
- Ending/loosing (lysas, λύσας) the pains (ōdinas, ὠδῖνας) of death—literally “birth pains”: resurrection as the new creation bursting forth.
- Not possible to be held (krateisthai, κρατεῖσθαι): death lacked the authority to hold the Holy One.

Truth To Live By

Resurrection is not wishful thinking; it is God’s verdict on Jesus and His pledge to you. Because Christ lives, your hope is anchored, your future secured, and your present transformed.

Living The Story

Live by His Word: Memorize Acts 2:24; speak it over fears of loss or death.

Build Each Other Up: Comfort someone grieving with resurrection promises (1 Cor 15; 1 Thess 4).

Move His Kingdom Forward: Share how Christ’s resurrection changed your view of suffering and purpose.

Write Your Story

Where does the fear of death still whisper in your life?
What concrete hope does Jesus’ resurrection give you today?
Who needs to hear your resurrection testimony this week?

Consider This Prayer

Living Lord, loosen death’s grip on my thoughts and habits. Flood me with resurrection hope, and make me a witness to Your life. Amen.

From the empty tomb, Peter leads us to the occupied throne.

Draw Strength from the Exalted Christ and His Spirit

33 Therefore, since he has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, he has poured out what you both see and hear.

Look Closer

Historical/Theological: The ascended Christ receives the Spirit from the Father and pours Him out—Pentecost is the King’s coronation gift to His people.

Key Greek:
- Exalted (hypsōtheis, ὑψωθείς): lifted to the highest honor.
- Right hand (dexia, δεξιά): place of authority and rule.
- Poured out (execheen, ἐξέχεεν): lavish distribution, echoing Joel 2 and new-covenant promise.

Truth To Live By

You are not left to follow Jesus in your own strength. The exalted Lord supplies the very power you need—the Holy Spirit—to make you alive, holy, and bold.

Living The Story

Live by His Word: Begin each day praying, “Lord Jesus, fill me with Your Spirit to obey and witness today.”

Build Each Other Up: Ask and answer in your group, “Where did you see the Spirit’s help this week?”

Move His Kingdom Forward: Take one Spirit-led risk to speak of Christ to someone new.

Write Your Story

Where are you trying to serve God without relying on the Spirit?
What fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22–23) needs fresh cultivation in you?
How might you recognize and obey the Spirit’s promptings this week?

Consider This Prayer

Exalted Christ, thank You for pouring out the Spirit. Empower my obedience, deepen my holiness, and embolden my witness. Amen.

The enthroned Christ not only empowers His people—He also rules over His enemies.

Wait with Courage—Your King Will Finish the Victory

34 For it was not David who ascended into the heavens, but he himself says: The Lord declared to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.

Look Closer

Historical/Theological: Psalm 110:1 is the most-cited OT text in the NT. The Father has enthroned the Son and set the timeline—until every enemy is subdued.

Key Greek:
- Sit (kathou, κάθου): royal session—kingly rest and rule.
- Until (heōs, ἕως): telegraphed certainty of future victory.
- Footstool (hypopodion, ὑποπόδιον): Near Eastern image of total conquest.

Truth To Live By

Evil does not get the last word. The King you serve now is the King who will return; therefore live with courage, patience, and hope.

Living The Story

Live by His Word: When headlines stir anxiety, read Psalm 110 and pray it back to God.

Build Each Other Up: Encourage one another to persevere in trials by rehearsing Christ’s certain victory.

Move His Kingdom Forward: Confront darkness with active love—serve, give, reconcile—as a preview of the coming Kingdom.

Write Your Story

What “enemy” (sin, fear, injustice) most intimidates you today?
How does Christ’s certain victory reshape your choices this week?
Where can you embody Kingdom hope in a broken place?

Consider This Prayer

Father, anchor me in Your ‘until.’ Strengthen my hands to serve and my heart to hope while I wait for Christ’s triumph. Amen.

If Jesus’ future victory is certain, then His present identity must be confessed.

Bow and Believe: Jesus Is Lord and Messiah

36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

Look Closer

Historical/Theological: Peter reaches the Spirit’s verdict: the crucified Jesus is the exalted Lord (κύριος, Kyrios, divine Sovereign) and Messiah (Χριστός, Christos, the anointed Savior-King).

Key Greek:
- Know with certainty (ginōsketō asphalōs, γινωσκέτω ἀσφαλῶς): be fully convinced.
- Lord—divine authority over creation and salvation.
- Messiah—promised, anointed Redeemer who fulfills covenant hope.

Truth To Live By

Christianity is not advice but announcement. Jesus is Lord and Messiah—therefore repent, believe, and live under His gracious rule.

Living The Story

Live by His Word: Yield a specific area to Jesus’ Lordship today (time, tongue, spending, habits).

Build Each Other Up: Confess Christ openly together; encourage baptism and bold discipleship steps.

Move His Kingdom Forward: Invite someone to “call on the name of the Lord” (Acts 2:21); offer to pray with them now.

Write Your Story

Where is Jesus’ Lordship contested in your heart?
How will you publicly identify with Jesus this week?
Who in your life needs a clear invitation to trust Christ?

Consider This Prayer

Lord Jesus, You are both Lord and Messiah. I bow to Your rule and rest in Your redemption. Use me to call others to Your saving Name. Amen.

Whose Story Is This?

Acts 2 is not ultimately Peter’s story or ours—it is Christ’s. The Father attested His life, ordained His cross, raised Him from death, seated Him on the throne, poured out His Spirit, and promises His final victory. And by grace, you belong to this story: the Church of the crucified, risen, and exalted Christ. Live under His Lordship. Walk in His Spirit. Speak His gospel with courage. The world does not need more noise—it needs this message. So rise, Church: proclaim the whole Christ to the whole world.

Posted in Acts, Live By His Word