MORE THAN THE USUAL RELIGIOUS BARGAIN

Acts 3: 5: And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

Many spiritually lame sinners have grown accustomed to the usual religious bargain. Sinners are brought by their friends to a place that should be beautifully filled with the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ only to receive a carnal trinket to momentarily gratify the flesh. In like manner, after years of receiving the usual religious bargain, this lame man expected to receive nothing more than the same from Peter.

Yet, that which Peter had he gave. Through his gospel the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth sends forth the sovereign command with power from his throne of grace, saying, "Rise up and walk." Through his gospel from his throne of dominion, the Lord of heaven and earth takes hold of his redeemed, illustrated by Peter taking hold of the lame man. Through the Holy Spirit, Christ's Power becomes the strength of the sinner, even as this impotent man received strength in his ankle bones and feet. When the Faithful One joins himself with a lame sinner he gives the gift of faith whereby the lame leap up to walk for the first time. Through his gospel command the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth unites sinners with their brethren and together they enter into Christ the true Temple. The sinner saved by the absolute, irresistible, free grace of God in Christ praises continually the Lord who healed him.

If Christ is our Life then he is our Life at the time of conversion, in every hour of trial, in every hour of joy, and for all eternity. Believers do not go to Mt. Zion for eternal salvation then back to Mt. Sinai for matters of daily life. God has given his Son a name which is above every name. The more that name is declared the more the lame leap as a hart with joy. It is through the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth that the lame receive more than we could have ever bargained for.