Introduction

• I Peter 1:3-5

I must first believe that Jesus rose from the dead.

• Acts 2:3, 24, 31
• Peter reached a spiritual low point after denying Christ.
• Luke 24:11-12, 17-27, 45-49 – The life work of the apostles would be to tell people about the risen Jesus.
• Acts 1:1-8
• Acts 2:36 – What changed for Peter? The resurrection!
• I Corinthians 15:12-17 – If Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, how could we believe anything He said? But He did rise!

I must get to work!

• Acts 2:38; 3:15, 19-20
• Acts 17:18, 30-31 – This is the proof that we need to repent!
• Romans 1:4-5

I must die to sin and walk in newness of life!

• Romans 6:1-4

• Our goal should be to never sin again!
• Philippians 3:6-11 – However hard it is to put away the old life, it’s worth it!
• Colossians 2:12; 3:1-14
• I Peter 2:24

Imprisoned in Caesarea (Acts 24-26), continued:

Felix (Acts 24), continued:

• Acts 24:10 – Felix had been governor for 5-6 years at this point.
• Acts 24:24-27 – This seems to be moral procrastination on the part of Felix. Compare Acts 2:41; 8:36; 16:33. In those cases, baptism was immediate!

Festus (Acts 25)

• Acts 25:11-12 – We have known for a while that Paul would somehow end up in Rome. See Acts 23:11.
• Acts 25:13 – This is King Agrippa II. Agrippa and Felix were brothers-in-law. Berenice was Agrippa’s sister (with some rumors of an incestual relationship).

Agrippa (Acts 26)

• Acts 26:6 – Compare Acts 23:30-35.

Introduction

• Matthew 4:18; 10:2; Mark 1:16; Luke 6:14; John 1:40; 6:8
• Andrew was always described as Peter’s brother.
• John 12:20
• Mark 13:3-4
• Just because Andrew’s work was not mentioned much in the Bible does not mean his work wasn’t important.
• Mark 3:13
• Mark 14:6 – This small act was remembered!
• Mark 9:41

He spotted the truth and told others about it

• John 1:35-42
• John 1:15, 19-23, 29
• Am I open to truth like this? If we are waiting for the majority, we won’t be like Andrew!
• Andrew brought Peter to Jesus and Peter is still teaching many through his recorded words. Not bad work for the ordinary man Andrew!

He changed his life for Jesus

• Mark 1:14-22
• He dropped everything to follow Jesus!
• Acts 23:24-25 – Don’t be like Felix!
• We all have our own lives. So did Andrew. But he dropped everything to follow Jesus.

He was still a disciple after seeing what was involved

• Acts 1:13-14
• Matthew 10:16-23 – Their job was not a rosy picture!
• Matthew 13:20-21
• Being a Christian means persecution and enduring temptation.

Divorce and remarriage

• Mark 10:1-9 – Jesus went all the way back to the beginning to explain marriage.
• Mark 10:10-12 – The laws of marriage work the same way for both husband and wife.
• Compare Matthew 19:8-9.
• God’s plan was one man and one woman for life.
• Jesus re-affirms and re-establishes God’s original plan for marriage and gives God’s present law for mankind.
• All who are put away for any reason and anyone who has put away a mate for some cause other than fornication cannot remarry with God’s approval – their marriage is adultery!
• What are people to do who are in such marriages?
  • Some say, “well, they’re married, so it’s okay.”
    • Mark 6:17 – Herod was in an unlawful marriage and was rebuked for it.
  • Some say, “God wouldn’t break up families.”
    • Ezra 9:3 – Ezra was dismayed at the unlawful marriages.
    • Ezra 9:4-15 – They took this seriously!
    • Ezra 10:1-2 – Now there is hope!
    • Ezra 10:3-4 – They put away unlawful wives and children.
    • Ezra 10:11 – It took time, but they did it!
  • Repent or perish!
    • Repentance demands cessation of all sinful deeds and relationships.
• There are many false doctrines on divorce and remarriage.
  • Alien sinners and marriage
    • Do God’s laws apply only to Christians?
    • The Bible teaches:
      • Men in the world are guilty of specific sins.
        • I Corinthians 5:9-10; 6:9-11
      • We are to reprove the world of specific sins.
        • Ephesians 5:3-13, 11
      • All men are subject to the universal authority of Jesus.
        • Matthew 28:18
        • Ephesians 1:19-23
  • But doesn’t baptism wash away all sins?
    • Baptism does not allow any sinful relationships to be continued or carried over into Christ’s church.
    • Baptism without repentance is NO GOOD. Repentance demands the cessation of all sinful deeds and relationships.
    • Repentance and prayer do the same thing for the Christian (Acts 8:22; I John 1:7-10) that repentance and baptism do for the alien sinner (Acts 2:38 - remission of sins in both cases).
• Conclusion
  • The only God-approved “remarriage” whether involving aliens or Christians is when:
    • One remarries after his/her mate has died.
    • One remarries after putting his/her mate away for adultery.
    • All other remarriages are without God’s approval and are adulterous relationships.
  • There are three groups God will join in lawful matrimony:
    • Those who have never been lawfully married.
      • Genesis 2:18-24; Matthew 19:3-9; I Corinthians 7:2
    • Those whose mate has died.
      • I Corinthians 7:3-9 (marriage must be according to God’s law)
    • Those who have put away a mate because of fornication.
      • Matthew 19:9; 5:32

“Abstain from fleshly lusts”

• I Thessalonians 4:3-8 – God takes this seriously!
• I John 2:15
• This admonition is for all of us!
• Matthew 18:6 – Jesus cares if we cause others to sin!
• It is certainly possible for us to dress in such a way to cause others to sin.
• Genesis 29:17 – “form and face”
• Genesis 39:6
• Esther 2:7

“aliens and strangers”

• We’re different! We don’t belong here.
• Philippians 3:19-20
• Hebrews 11:13
• When temptations arise, we must remember that we are different. Just because other people in the world are doing something, that doesn’t mean it’s okay for us to do the same.
• Hebrews 13:4
• I Peter 4:2-5

“… they may, because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation”

• I Peter 2:15
• I Peter 3:16