“The Acts of the Apostles: Prison Break!”

Bible Text: Acts 5:17-42 | Preacher: Pastor Mark Verbruggen | Series: The Acts of the Apostles | In the game of Monopoly, the “Get out of jail free” card is lucky draw. For some Christians it is now used as a metaphor for a “Ticket to heaven”. They will say such things as “Jesus saves me from my sins and now I can go to heaven which is better than anything on earth.” However, this is a wrong way to think about our faith and the gospel message. Our reading today from Acts 4:17-42 shows us something better. Jesus doesn’t give us a so called “Get out of jail free” card, he gives us a “Prison Break” and this is much better! He liberates us from the kingdom of darkness, and from our slavery to sin once and for all. In Christ we are set free from the power of those who would confine us to a godless and graceless view of life and this world. This world and our lives in it, is not a prison. We belong body and soul, in life and in death, to a risen and victorious Savior who brings us into New Life in a New Creation. This is the new, Spirit-filled life to which we are called.