4. How did we arrive at our Statement of Faith?

- the big global picture of God's message (use of OT and NT)

The best method of establishing what the gosple message really consists of is to examine the speeches of the apostles in the Acts.
Within the book of Acts, we find:

1) The teaching of the apostles - what they taught as the gospel when they preached

2) The practices of the apostles - how the gospel message affected the way they lived

From these speeches, we can gain an apostolic statement of faith - those doctrines which the apostles identified repeatedly as saving truth.

Let's examine those speeches:

Peter in Jerusalem

Acts 2:22-42 (Citing Psa. 16:8-11; 110:1-7)

• One God: the Father and Creator; the Holy Spirit, His power - Acts 2:22,23

• Jesus, a mortal man - Acts 2:22

• Jesus: his perfect life, sacrifice - Acts 2:23

• Jesus: his resurrection, glorification, and ascension - Acts 2:24-33,36 (Psa. 110:1; 16:10,11)

• Christ as the mediator - Acts 2:42 (Psa. 110:4)

• The second coming - (Psa. 110:1,2)

• Resurrection and judgment - (Psa. 110:3)

• Promises to David: kingdom restored - Acts 2:30,35 (Psa. 110:2,5,6)

• Forgiveness of sins through faith in Christ, repentance, and baptism - Acts 2:38

• One body: fellowship and breaking of bread - Acts 2:42.

Peter in Jerusalem again

Acts 3:12-26 (Citing Gen. 12:1-3; 22:16-18; Deut. 18:15,19)

• The Bible: the word of God, inspired - Acts 3:18-21

• Jesus, the Son of God - Acts 3:26

• Jesus, a mortal man - Acts 3:22 (Deut. 18:15)

• Jesus: his perfect life, sacrifice - Acts 3:13,18

• Jesus: his resurrection, glorification, and ascension - Acts 3:15,21,26 (Gen. 22:17)

• The second coming - Acts 3:19-21

• Resurrection and judgment - Acts 3:23 (Deut. 18:19)

• Promises to Abraham: land inheritance - Acts 3:25 (Gen. 12:1-3; 22:16-18)

• Promises to David: kingdom restored - Acts 3:19-21

• Forgiveness of sins through faith in Christ, repentance, and baptism - Acts 3:19,26

• One body: fellowship and breaking of bread - (Gen. 12:3; 22:18)

Stephen in Jerusalem

Acts 7:2-56 (Citing Gen. 12:1-3; 13:14-17; Deut. 18:15,19)

• The Bible: the word of God, inspired - Acts 7:38

• Jesus, a mortal man - Acts 7:37 (Deut. 18:15)

• Jesus: his perfect life, sacrifice - Acts 7:52

• Jesus: his resurrection, glorification, and ascension - Acts 7:55,56

• Resurrection and judgment - Acts 7:37 (Deut. 18:19)

• Promises to Abraham: land inheritance - Acts 7:2-5 (Gen. 12:1-3; 13:14-17)

• One body: fellowship and breaking of bread - (Gen. 12:3)