“COUNTERING THE ‘WIDE ROAD’ OF RELIGION”

Acts 4:1-22

I. INTRODUCTION:
A. Three contrasts between genuine Christianity and
religion: (See Mt. 7:13-14)
1. Contrasting two roads and gates: (Mt. 7:13-14)
2. Contrasting two trees and fruit: (Mt. 7:15-20)
3. Contrasting two builders and two foundations:
(Mt. 7:24-27)

B. “Religion”, the dangerous adversary to genuine
Christianity:
1. What “religion” is all about: “Rather than sharpening
one’s senses and turning one’s attention to Jesus
Christ, the ‘institutionalized system’ dulls the mind
and promotes the works of the flesh. Religion places
emphasis on what man does to reach up and gain
God’s favor. It highlights human achievement.”
2. The deceitful “religious” destination: (what we did not
what Christ did) (See Mt. 7:21-23)

C. The background of our text:
1. Peter and John and the healing of the lame man:
vv. 14, 22
2. Peter’s message with 5,000 men (+ women and
children) are saved: v. 4
3. The religious leader’s confrontation: vv. 1-3

II. THE RELIGIOUSLY LOST COMPARED TO AUTHENTIC
CHRISTIANS:
A. Recognizing the “good” religiously lost: vv. 1, 5-6
1. Who they were:

a. Priests:
b. Captain of the temple:
c. Sadducees:
2. Their strategy exposed:
a. Silencing critics with intimidation: vv. 5-6
b. Interrogating to place others on the defensive:
v. 7
c. Don’t seek the truth but avoid the truth:
vv. 8-12, 16-17
d. Attempting to stop the message by stopping the
messenger: vv. 18, 21

B. Recognizing authentic Christianity:
1. Who they were:
a. Mature believers (Peter and John): vv. 3, 13
b. New believer (healed lame man): vv. 14, 22
2. Their strategy exposed:
a. Filled with the Spirit: v. 8
b. The name of Jesus was their defense: vv. 10-12
c. The source of knowledge and wisdom was the
Bible: vv. 11, 13
d. The decisions aligned with Christ’s defined
purpose: vv. 19-20

III. PRINCIPLES TO PERSONALLY APPLY:
(Together becoming “people of the Word” in principle AND in practice)
A. The trademark of authentic Christianity is purposeful
fruitfulness, in the midst of adversity. (II Tim. 3:12; Jn.
15:8, 16; Mt. 7:16, 20)

B. There is a fine line between the “religiously lost” and the
“religiously saved” when it comes to the “doing”.
(Compare Mt. 7:21-23 with I Cor. 3:13-15)

C. The sobering parables of Matthew 7 were given
specifically for self-evaluation.

Sinners Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, I was made by you and I was made for you, but
I have been living for myself. I am sorry for that self-rule you call sin.
I believe that Jesus Christ being my creator God, died, was buried,
and rose again to pay the insurmountable debt that my sin has
created. So right now, I am turning from a life of going my own way,
to by faith, place my trust in Jesus Christ, to pay the debt of all my
sin, and to get me to heaven, when I breath my last breath. Lord
Jesus, from today on, I am yours. Thanks for saving me, this very
moment, in Jesus name, Amen.

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