Acts is an amazing book of the Bible. I always am struck by the excitement, awe, and wonder that must have existed during that time. Just imagine how amazing it would have been to be in the midst of the first Christians right after the resurrection, ascension, and gift of the Holy Spirit. I often wonder what the disciples and apostles felt and believed. How do these characteristics, emotions, and behaviors match up with the Church today?

It’s very clear there was a profound change in the disciple’s lives after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. They were never to be the same. Acts communicates a clear message – Jesus Christ is the Son of God, He was resurrected, forgiveness of sins is found in His name and His name alone, and He gives salvation as a free gift. However, in order to receive salvation, we must repent or turn away from selfish, sinful ways. The early church was found on, and focused on, this simple and uncomplicated message. As a matter of fact, the leaders of the early church elected not to impose all of the traditional Jewish customs on the Gentile believers, but focus them on the person of the risen Jesus Christ and the salvation found in Him alone.

This is what I see in Acts:

• I am forgiven of all my sins – what blessed freedom!
• I am redeemed out of the sin-driven world – what a blessed hope!
• I am empowered to live a purposeful, meaningful, fulfilled life – what joy!
• I am heaven bound – what hope, what joy, what gratitude!

The question then becomes how should I live? The answer is by faith, recognizing that what I have received in Jesus Christ is incomprehensible and must be shared with a lost world both through me and through His church.