JESUS: SLAIN BY MAN; RAISED FOR MAN!

Born again believers have been given one message to proclaim, a message which the Scripture calls the very power of God, the only message capable of bringing a lost soul to salvation:  the Gospel (Rom. 1:16).  Simply stated, the Gospel tells us that Jesus died for our sins; that His body was buried; but that God raised Him from the dead; all according to the Scriptures; that is, according to Old Testament prophecy (1 Cor. 15:3-4; Ps. 22:1-19; Isa. 53:1-12; etc.).

Just prior to His Ascension, Jesus told His disciples to go proclaim the Gospel to every creature (Mt. 28:19-20; Mk. 16:19-20; Lk. 24:50-53; Acts 1:8-9).  On the Day of Pentecost, ten days after His Ascension, the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:3; 2:1-4).  Although there were Jews present from many nations, each heard the disciples proclaiming the works of God in their own language (Acts 2:5-11).  When questioned about this, Peter quoted the prophet Joel, who had foretold of what they had just witnessed (Acts 2:13-22; Joel 2:28-32).

Now that Peter had their attention, he preached the Gospel!  Here is some of what Peter said:

"Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:  Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:  Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that He should be holden of it" (Acts. 2:22-24).

"This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.  Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.  For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit Thou on My right hand, until I make Thy foes Thy footstool.  Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:32-36).

Please note that Peter proclaimed the Lord's Crucifixion, the Christ's burial, and the Savior's Resurrection.  And what was the response?  Three thousand received Jesus Christ as their Lord (Acts 2:37-41)!  Their lives were changed, and as a result, souls were saved every day (Acts 2:42-47)!

If you truly want to see souls saved, proclaim the message that saves!