In the first message, we talk about the cost of discipularing as the act of following Jesus, now let’s talk about the cost of teaching others to follow Jesus, I mean three evidences of marks that we are aware of the cost we must teach others to follow. follow Jesus.
The text of Acts speaks of Peter’s persecution because of Christ. This passage contrasts with Mark’s account when Jesus said Peter would deny it. Peter, full of himself, says that Jesus must be wrong. The first reaction of a person who does it. Not knowing yourself is that you can trust yourself more than God. She cannot suspect herself, so she doubts God.
- Peter does not know the cost of discipleship.
- Promises things he cannot fulfill.
- And certainly then encounters the painful reality of his self-deception in denying Christ.
- Yet we must overcome this pain of inadequacy to leave anonymity.
- Crowd to become a disciple.
In Acts 4, we see Peter no longer as a denialist, but as a sick man called Christ. The same leadership opposition that was against Christ (v. 1:6) was now against the Apostles. Were the Israeli authorities hampered by the teachings and miracle of Peter and John?A miracle that bore witness to Christ’s Resurrection.
Peter in his talk reveals that he is now aware of the cost of following Jesus and teaching others to follow Jesus.
The first proof that someone understood the cost of teaching others to follow Jesus is faithfulness, but what kind of loyalty?Loyalty to teach the whole gospel and not just the interesting part for a group. Peter did not edit his message, but repeated to the authorities exactly the same speech he had given before, he did not alter the message of the gospel.
This is shown in two ways. First, it does not publish the gospel, suppressing what offends people for fear of consequences. A second aspect of faithfulness is not adding something to the gospel, pure and simple.
We often try to add something to the gospel to make it attractive as a missionary strategy, but it is nothing more than infidelity and sin. When we do not believe in the power of the Word to unite and attract people, we turn to similarity-based programs, so it does not show the beauty of the diversity that the gospel brings.
The Apostle also preaches the same gospel. You don’t need another gospel for a new situation; the faithful disciple does not bother to repeat the same gospel; you don’t need to continue to invent new gospels to deal with the old problems of men.
The faithfulness of the disciple is highlighted not by removing or adding something to the gospel message, but by faithfully repeating it.
After Peter’s speech, the authorities admired Pedro’s courage, knowing that they were illiterate and uneducated, we see, therefore, that madness is not about information and education, but about the sin of every human being. The madness of the authorities is revealed in the fact that the lame healed is before them. The folly of sin leads man to deny the clear evidence of the Gospel.
Peter’s faithfulness does not come because he is no longer afraid, but more of God than of men; the teaching of the gospel must be accompanied by the fear of the Lord; not a fear because you want to gain something from God, but because you already have Fear and obedience flowing from gratitude