Paid in Full!

Acts 2:33-36

33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. 34 "For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself:

'The Lord said to my Lord, 'Sit at My right hand, 35 till I make Your enemies Your footstool."'

36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." NKJV

. . . You will make me full of joy in Your presence.'

In our last study we looked at David’s understanding of his prophesy about the Christ. David had a real understanding of his need for salvation, but didn’t fully understand how it was to come. David knew that the “Holy One” would not leave him under the power of death. David’s faith in God rescued him. He knew that he would see the joy of his Lord, rather than remain in the misery of sin, both in his age and the one to come. David understood that to depart from the presence of sin is to be in fullness of God’s joyful presence (Matt.25:21). We also discussed that while David was referring to his own corruption, condemnation, and the hope of “his own resurrection” , that Peter applies it to the Messiah.

The Messiah had to come from the perfection of Heaven into the corruption and condemnation of man to rescue David. The Messiah had to be judged and condemned to forgive and bring sinners, like David, to God. The Messiah not only had to be judged, but also had to defeat death through His resurrection to show that He was more than a man, that He is God of very God, to pay the penalty for sin. The Messiah had to be a blameless and spotless sacrifice that fulfilled the whole law. "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill -- . . . how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Matt.5:17; Heb.9:14) Again, Peter applies this to the person of Jesus Christ, who David never met or saw, but had faith in the promise of His coming.

Acts 2:30-31 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. NKJV

David understood that if he was to be rescued from death and raised to life, it would have to come through the obedience of the last Adam -- Jesus Christ. And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. (1Cor.15:45). In other words, if David was to ascend to heaven, he would have to be raised in the work and person of Jesus Christ. David's resurrection wasn’t going to be a result of his own good works done in his body, for “the fruit of his body” spoke the truth concerning his works, that they were evil.

Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, . . .

Earlier in our study we discussed how the Lord was David’s right hand; but in this context we see Peter apply this phrase to show that Jesus was exalted to the right hand of God. Again, this means a position of authority and favor given by God. When David said it, he was exalting God above his own authority. But Peter is making the point that The Father has made His Son equal to Himself. Peter is proclaiming that God raised the “man” Jesus from the dead and exalted Him to the position of authority over all. This authority is a statement that declares that Christ is God of very God and that Christ is one with God. "I and My Father are one." (Jn.10:30). This is not just a figure of speech but a reality. Christ’s resurrection proves that He was God in the flesh, as Peter stated, David wasn’t raised from the dead appearing to many and exalted to the seat of authority. Jesus spoke as one who had authority making statements that He and His Father are One, which lead to His crucifixion, but now we have evidence that this is true having been witnesses of His death and exaltation.

. . . and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, . . .

Peter is applying what the Father has promised Israel to the person of Jesus Christ. He is the fulfillment of the promise. Since Christ received the promise of the Holy Spirit to be raised from death, having the full favor of God, and having never sinned we have access to God through Him and the Holy Spirit.

. . . He poured out this which you now see and hear.

Because Christ has received the fulfillment of the promise, what these Jews are witnessing, is God pouring out the same Spirit on them, who raised Christ from the dead. Peter is saying the Holy Spirit is making alive what was once dead according to the mind of God. "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins," (Eph.2:1).

Acts 2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. NKJV

Remember earlier that we studied about the “devout men”, some who were Jews, and some God fearing Gentiles, that slandered the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, as men “full of new wine” (v.13)? Therefore, this is also a defensive statement in response to the accusations of the “devout” Jews. And the authority behind Peter’s interpretation of the Word, which these “devout men”, who would have been able to understand had the power to silence their suspicions. Remember that the church at this time was mostly uneducated disciples who were fisherman, like Peter, that were now miraculously speaking in foreign languages without any formal education or access to the Sacred Scriptures. The only education they had was the 3 ½ years they spent with Jesus Christ. And if they did have access it was only through the scattered scrolls that were kept in the synagogues. I am not aware that every synagogue in that day was able to have the complete Old Testament cannon for use. Therefore to access such knowledge was difficult; but somehow these strange Galileans were able to testify with such power (v.7).

. . . "For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: . . .

Again, Peter is defining who the authority is. He is declaring Jesus, not David or himself, to be the authority who gives out the Holy Spirit. This is not an experience that comes to whoever demands Him, but to whomever God gives Him. "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day." (Jn.6:44). Peter is saying with David that they are not the authority but only messengers (1Thess.2:4;1Pet.5:3) and benefactors (1Cor.9:17) of the Holy Spirit. We are the recipients of the gift of the Holy Spirit and passive in His coming to us. We were not seeking or looking for Him. “There is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God”. (Rom.3:11)

. . . 'The Lord said to my Lord, 'Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool."'

God came down to us in the form of a man and purchased salvation for us through His sinless life, and His sacrificial death. Who was then raised from death before His flesh knew corruption, as a sign, that God has exalted this man to be His equal. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men”. (Phil 2:5-7 NKJV) It is important to note that this exaltation has taken place before the foundation of the world (Rev.13:8), before anything that was made, to show that all things were made for Him, through Him, and in Him. “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.” (Col 1:16 NKJV) This is not teaching that Jesus was a man who became God; but that Jesus was God who became man and returned to God. In other words, Jesus came from God to bring us back to Himself.

. . . 'The Lord said to my Lord, . . .

This statement also testifies of the Divine nature of God, that God is three persons who share equal authority, yet separate roles, in the singular mind or essence of God. They have one mind, one heart, and one Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the essence and nature of God. He is all and in all. In Him the Father and the Son are perfectly united in thought and will. They do not act apart from one another or against one another’s will, in other words, they have the same will. They possess a perfect unity, yet have separate responsibilities. The Father sent the Son, and The Son willfully carries out the Father’s will. The Holy Spirit works in the Son, and now the church to fulfill, both the Father’s and the Son’s will in the world.

Because Christ had to come as a man, He limited Himself, in the ability to act on His omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence. Jesus had to depend on the Holy Spirit to reveal the Father’s will, as seen through David’s comment, “The Lord said to my Lord”. Jesus Christ is David’s Lord, but The Father was Lord to Jesus Christ. And Jesus acting as a man depended on this revelation from David, written as Sacred Scripture, by the Holy Spirit in David, to lead and direct His life in the flesh and Jesus was the only one who possessed the Spirit without measure.

John 3:31-35 He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. 33 He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. 34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. 35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. NKJV

. . . 'Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool."'

Christ has come and has been exalted to a position of authority. But pay attention to the word “Sit”. This speaks of Christ’s intercession for the church. The Old Covenant priests were continuously offering sacrifices to God to atone for their sins, but this was only commanded by God to show the need for a “once and for all” sacrifice. Jesus was able to sit down at God’s right hand. The Old Sacrificial system was not enough because the priests had nowhere to sit down in the Temple, for they had no rest day or night, because of the continual need of atonement. The blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sin. We needed a pure and spotless lamb. This statement testifies that Jesus was the final sacrifice and that while we are still priests and sacrifices to our God, we can rest in this sure and promised hope of His resurrection.

Heb 10:8-14 Previously saying, "Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them"(which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God." He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. NKJV

. . . till I make Your enemies Your footstool."'

This is linked to the prophesy of Christ’s second coming. Christ now sits or rests in an intercessory work, for the chosen ones to come to a full knowledge of God, declaring that the work of salvation has been fulfilled. At His death, which is the judgment seat of Christ in the place of believers; He cried out, “It is finished” (Jn.19:30). He fulfilled the laws demands on behalf everyone who believes. In this work God in Christ has made His enemies His footstool. Believers have been (past tense) judged already in the person and work of Jesus Christ, but at Christ’s second coming; He leaves this intercessory work to judge the nations who have not submitted to His Name (future tense). In other words, He is waiting for the Holy Spirit to accomplish His work in the earth making it ready for His coming judgment.

"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

This is the summary of all that Peter just expounded from the law and the prophets concerning Jesus the Messiah. Peter is also charging the “house of Israel” with the murder of Jesus Christ. That is not to say he is excusing the actions of Rome, but that Israel is at a greater condemnation, if they refuse to repent, because the case has been made that Christ is Lord.

John 19:11 Jesus answered, "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin." NKJV

Lord willing we will get into Peter’s charge for the house of Israel to repent in a later study; but for now soak in the benefits and the pleasures of knowing the person of Jesus Christ and the hope of His resurrection with David.

You will make me full of joy in Your presence.