Acts 4:1-14 (NLT)
1 While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the leading priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and some of the Sadducees came over to them. 2 They were very disturbed that Peter and John were claiming, on the authority of Jesus, that there is a resurrection of the dead. 3 They arrested them and, since it was already evening, jailed them until morning. 4 But many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of men who believed now totaled about 5,000.
5 The next day the council of all the rulers and elders and teachers of religious law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, along with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and other relatives of the high priest. 7 They brought in the two disciples and demanded, “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?”
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, 9 are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed?
10 Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. 11 For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’
12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing right there among them, there was nothing the council could say.
Religion reaches up to God—Christianity is God reaching down to man.
There is something you must understand and know about religion and religious legalism:
When threatened, religion exercises intimidation.
Acts 4:5 (NLT) The next day the council of all the rulers and elders and teachers of religious law met in Jerusalem.
When uncertain, religion emphasizes tradition.
Acts 4:6 (NLT) Annas the high priest was there, along with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and other relatives of the high priest.
When suspicious, religion employs interrogation.
Acts 4:7 (NLT) They brought in the two disciples and demanded, “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?”
THE LIMITATIONS OF RELIGION
Limitation #1: Religion lacks the Spirit’s filling
Acts 4:8-11 (NLT)
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Leaders and elders of our nation,
9 are we being questioned because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed?
10 Let me clearly state to you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed in the name and power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth, the man you crucified, but whom God raised from the dead.
11 For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’
Limitation #2: Religion is blinded to Christ’s working
Limitation #3: Religion is unmoved by the Gospel message
Acts 4:12-14 (NLT)
12 There is salvation in no one else! There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them.”
13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men who had had no special training. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.
14 But since the man who had been healed was standing right there among them, the council had nothing to say.
Limitation #4: Religion is silenced by transformed lives
Acts 4:14 (NLT)
14 But since the man who had been healed was standing right there among them, the council had nothing to say.
What’s the lesson we learn from the early church?
If we place our faith in a religious system, rather then in Christ, we may be moral churchgoers or even respected citizens, but we will never know of Christ’s power, His joy or His salvation!
