Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
When Peter declared ‘We ought to obey God rather than men,’ He was drawing a line of distinction between his God, the God revealed in the inspired word, and the one that men worship, the god of their imagination.
1.The God of the Scriptures-The God of our fathers (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob). The God of the Old Testament is the same as the new. Although the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, and priests professed to believe in the God of the Old Testament, the reality is that when He came in the flesh, to work out the salvation of His people, they could not and would not see God in the LORD Jesus. Such a God did not fit their mindset, yet it does not change who He is, and what He came to accomplish. They rejected Him, all the while claiming to believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This same mindset is in many today who claim to believe that the Bible is God’s inspired Word and yet do not believe the God of the Bible. As Paul wrote of his brethren in the flesh, ‘For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.’ [Romans 10:2]
The God Who is satisfied with the work of His Son- raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Those who crucified the LORD Jesus Christ thought they were doing God a service in putting Him to death…and they were, but not how they imagined. They were the ones responsible to declare the law, and observe the sacrifices on behalf of the people. God put His spotless Lamb in their hands to deliver Him up as God’s perfect Sacrifice in fulfillment of the law, but they did so to be rid of Him. Although by wicked hands, with wicked intent, all the while doing their will, God accomplished His will, not only in the slaying of His Son but in raising Him again. At no time was anything ever done to the Son, but what the Father purposed [Acts 2:23, 4:28]. God raising Him again is proof that He finished the work satisfactory to the Father’s law and justice, and therefore those for whom the LORD Jesus paid the debt were justified then and there, once for all. ‘Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.’ [Romans 4:25]
The God Who alone gives repentance and grants forgiveness- Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. Contrary to popular opinion that somehow ‘God has done all He can do and the rest is up to you,’ the God of the Bible sovereignly GIVES repentance to every sinner for whom Christ paid the debt, and whose sins are already forgiven. Both repentance and the forgiveness of sins are the fruit of the work of Christ at the cross. No part of salvation is ever dependent on man. Rather, from beginning to end, salvation is of the LORD, and the risen, exalted LORD ever lives to insure that every one for whom He paid the debt is drawn to Him savingly in repentance and faith.
The God Who by His Spirit reveals Christ in sinners- and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. Those who obey Christ (bowed to Him as LORD and Savior) do so because of the Spirit of God given them. Therefore, they believe and are witnesses to His Person and work.
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