“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!
The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.
God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.
We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.
But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.
Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.
After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.
Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
Acts 5:28-39.
The above is about an incident in which a couple of the apostles who had already been told not to preach in the name of Jesus were caught doing so. The general consensus of the religious leaders was to have them put to death.
However a “Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people” stood up and made a wise statement. After giving them a brief history of men who had risen up claiming to be great men with purpose who had all failed. Told the assembled men,
“Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
I believe he was right.
Over the centuries many have come against the message of Christ. Many have predicted the demise of Christianity. Instead it continues to grow. Today there are close to three billion Christians in the world and that number is growing throughout the world.
Jesus was and is all he said he is. The Son of God the Saviour of each and every person who will accept him into their lives.
Jesus came into this world for each individual.
C.S. Lewis said,
“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.”
C.S. Lewis
Lewis also said,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
C. S. Lewis.
I think the importance of Christianity is in part demonstrated by the fact it continues to grow. That it’s message is as relevant today in the twenty-first century as it was in the first century.
I firmly believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God that the words he spoke when he said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”.
John 3:16-18.
Are completely true.
Please think about it.
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