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Sep 18, 2024 06:00am

The Simple Truth

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My husband is a hunter and a fisherman. So naturally, he’s a great storyteller. As he’s telling the story, he adds in lots of details. He wants you to feel like you are right there with him, witnessing the action or hilarious turn of events.

In my impatience, I’ll say, “Well, what happened? Did he get the deer?” Or “Just tell me if the dog was okay! Did the boat flip?”

“Hold on, I’ll get to that. Just wait.”

Don’t get me wrong, I can make a short story long. But I’m more of a “let’s get straight to the point” type of person.

Peter was too.

Acts 10:36-43
“You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—
38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross,
40, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.
41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.
43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

In just a few moments, Peter shared the gospel. He told the good news of Jesus clearly and concisely so that anyone who listened could understand. He didn’t add in a lot of details. He didn’t make it a long, drawn-out story, he simply shared the gospel.

And the Holy Spirit came to all who heard the message. The scripture goes on to say that the Jewish believers, those who were circumcised, were astonished. And as proof that this was the work of God, these Gentiles in Caesarea were praising God in a language the Jews could understand!

“47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.”
48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.”

The gospel was presented clearly.
The Holy Spirit came upon them.
They praised God, and there was proof of their salvation.
They were baptized, demonstrating and declaring before all men that the old life had passed away and that they were made new because of Jesus.

It’s that simple, friends.

You don’t have to have a PhD in theology to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus. The message is clear and concise.

Jesus loves you so much that He died to pay the debt for your sins. He offers salvation to anyone who will call upon His name and put their trust in Him.

Have you done that? Go to the Lord in prayer and ask Him to save you.

If you have, have you followed Him in baptism like these men did? Show the world that you have been made new because of Jesus!

And then share it! Just as Peter did with these strangers – go and share the good news of Jesus! It doesn’t have to be a big, long story—just the simple truth.