Gateway Baptist Church
January 4, 2026

      • Matthew 25:40NKJV

      • Bible Trivia
        Loading...

      • Matthew 25:40NKJV

  • I Am Resolved
  • Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)
  • Faith Is the Victory
  • I Know Whom I Have Believed
  • Precious Lord Take My Hand

  • Acts 5:27-42

    What does it mean to be innocent? It signifies not being guilty of a crime; not being responsible for or directly involved in an event, yet enduring its consequences, or being a pure, guileless, or naïve individual. I want to profess here that I am innocent in the second sense; however, that would be a falsehood; consequently, I am not innocent. Nonetheless, I am, and you are, considered innocent if we are followers of Christ. We have been deemed not guilty of any offense.
    Imagine standing in a courtroom, the weight of the world on your shoulders. The judge, representing God, looks down at you with piercing eyes, knowing every secret you’ve ever kept. Yet, in this moment, you feel a profound sense of innocence—not because you are without sin, but because you understand the grace that covers you. Just as the apostles in Acts 5 stood boldly, knowing they were called to testify, we too can stand confidently, assured of our identity in Christ, free from guilt before our Maker.
    What does it signify to be innocent? It indicates that we have accepted and professed (BELIEVED) Christ as our Lord and Savior. Consequently, we are no longer shrouded in our sinful transgressions but are covered by the invaluable blood of Jesus. The apostles recognized that their innocence enabled them to proclaim the truth of God with confidence. They were innocent because they willingly accompanied God to the places He directed them to go.
    In these verses, we see three distinctions for being innocent. The first distinction is speaking the truth. The second distinction is standing in His truth. The last distinction is staying in His truth.

    Speaking:

    Some individuals may misconstrue God’s Word for personal advantage. We have all encountered and observed such individuals. Does this imply that we will never misunderstand or misinterpret scripture? Certainly not. However, upon recognizing our misunderstandings, we proceed to repent and seek forgiveness. The Pharisees and Sadducees were informed of their errors; nevertheless, they had no intention of repenting or relinquishing their authority.
    Not only did Jesus confront them, but the disciples and apostles also spoke truth to them. Listen to the two indictments that were placed on the apostles. First, they had disregarded the Sanhedrin's orders. They were ordered not to teach in the Name of Jesus. Why?
    They were aware that His Name possessed a power they lacked. Have you observed that individuals tend to become defensive and agitated when they perceive their authority to be threatened? Power or the thought of power is a dangerous thing. We all have fallen into this trap, especially me. The ONLY POWER any of us has is the WORD OF GOD!
    This underscores the importance of not only reading but also studying His Word. Conveying truth derives from speaking His Word. Our primary focus for this year is BELIEVE, BELONG, BECOME. How can we help others believe? We share His truth, Romans 10:17.
    Romans 10:17 ESV
    So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
    Peter and the apostles, together with His disciples, recognized that the power resides in Him and His Words. Consider Peter’s response to Christ after the disciples departed from Jesus, as recorded in John 6:68. This brings us to our second key distinction: standing firm in His truth.
    John 6:68 NIV
    Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

    Standing:

    We have observed a display of boldness among the disciples since the ascension of Jesus. When an individual holds a conviction, it becomes exceedingly difficult to dissuade them from that truth. Peter would never be the same Peter because of Jesus. Just as Peter spoke those words to Jesus about who else has the truth, he did not just say them, but now he is standing in them.
    There is more than just speaking the truth; you must live the truth. How many of us have heard the saying, “You might be the only Bible someone reads.” In essence, are we living out His truth in our lives? Standing in His truth is living a life that exemplifies who Jesus is and who He is to you. Peter and John are standing in His truth. Reality is all they have to fall back upon in front of the Sanhedrin Court.
    Listen to Jesus’ prayer in John 17:15-20.
    John 17:15–20 NASB95
    “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. “For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word;
    He is asking the Father to sanctify them in His Word, which is truth. Not only them but also us. We can stand innocent in front of God because of the Blood of Jesus. We believe these words, but are we living them out in our lives?
    Because they spoke and stood in His truth, they remained in His truth. This leads us to the last distinction: staying in His truth.

    Staying:

    There is a verse that has become a love/hate verse for me. I love it because it comforts me, but I hate it because it makes me rely solely on God. Psalm 46:10.
    Psalm 46:10 NKJV
    Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
    This is not our battle to fight; rather, it belongs to Him. Remaining steadfast in His truth demonstrates to the world that we BELIEVE in all aspects of His nature. For example, consider how many supporters Indiana likely has now due to their football achievements. How many of these supporters were genuinely Indiana fans when the team was considered a mockery in the realm of sports? The same principle applies to all other teams. It is effortless to support them when they are victorious. However, are you still standing by them when they face defeat? RTR!
    It is effortless to stand with Christ during prosperous times; however, what occurs when one faces severe persecution? Consider the words of Christ spoken to Peter in Luke 22:31-32. Jesus did not indicate that He would halt or deny Satan’s authority, but rather that He would intercede through prayer on behalf of Peter.
    Luke 22:31–32 LSB
    “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat. “But I have prayed earnestly for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, once you have returned, strengthen your brothers.”
    Listen to the second indictment made by the Sanhedrin against them: “…and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” This charge accuses them of causing the blood of Jesus to be upon them. Peter’s response is a clear rebuke of these accusations. We speak only the truth, stand in the truth, and uphold the truth. In essence, we affirm our belief in Jesus Christ, whom you hung on a tree.
    Peter, through the Holy Spirit, illuminates the truth that Christ’s blood is on their hands, as they expressed during His trial (Matthew 27:25). Their reaction is characteristic of individuals lacking the truth within them. They sought to eliminate Him. The actions of a guilty person are aimed at destroying the threat to their deception. But when we stay in His truth, He will always protect us.
    Matthew 27:25 CSB
    All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”
    God put it in the heart of a teacher, not only a teacher, but Saul’s teacher. Gamliel stands up to stop the killing of the apostles for a time. When we are innocent in front of God, we are innocent in front of men.
    Allow this year to be the year that we speak, stand, and stay in God’s truth. Our lives should resemble His Truth.

      • Romans 10:17NKJV

      • John 6:68NKJV

      • John 17:15–20NKJV

      • Psalm 46:10NKJV

      • Luke 22:31–32NKJV

      • Matthew 27:25NKJV

  • Lord I'm Coming Home
  • Gateway Church

      • Matthew 25:40NKJV

Gateway Baptist Church
gatewaybaptistchurch@live.com
8128533787
11 members