Both Lord And Christ

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

Acts 2:36 

On the Day of Pentecost in his inaugural preaching of the gospel, Peter was quite direct. He drew from the Old Testament, quoted the prophet Joel, declared that the last days had begun, and charged his audience with the crucifixion of Christ. Our text is the culmination of his address. He declares unequivocally that the Person these people had been complicit in putting to death, God had raised from the dead, and that He is ‘both Lord and Christ.’ This was a startling, convicting, statement. It had a powerful effect. Their response was, ‘they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?’ This was exactly the right question. Peter responded with, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’ He calls upon them to repent and prove their faith in Christ by baptism. Their response was so wholehearted that 3,000 of them were saved. The most important point of Peter’s message was that Jesus is Lord and Christ. That is still the most important message. Christless preaching is worthless preaching. When God filled Peter and his fellow disciples with the Holy Spirit in a manner they had never been filled before, they immediately preached Christ. Christ was the heart and soul of their preaching all their days until they gave their lives in martyrdom rather than cease proclaiming Him. True preaching is still full of Christ. Nothing else will do. God has made Him both Lord and Christ. 

God of Grace and Glory, 
we rejoice that You have made Jesus both Lord and Christ. 
We praise You that we shall forever 
be able to praise and magnify Him. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning