What are the consequences of ignoring the prophet "like Moses" in Acts 3:23? Setting the Scene Acts 3 finds Peter preaching in Solomon’s Colonnade after a lame man is healed. He identifies Jesus as the long-promised “prophet like Moses” (Deuteronomy 18:15-19) and then drives home a sober warning. The Warning in Acts 3:23 “‘Everyone who does not listen to that Prophet will be completely cut off from the people.’” (Acts 3:23) Old Testament Echoes • Deuteronomy 18:18-19 — “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers… I will hold accountable anyone who does not listen to My words that he speaks in My name.” • The phrase “cut off” in the Law (e.g., Leviticus 7:20; Numbers 15:30) consistently points to removal from covenant blessings and exposure to divine judgment. Immediate Consequences—Being Cut Off Ignoring Jesus severs a person from: • The covenant community: no share in God’s people (Ephesians 2:12). • The blessings Peter had just offered—“repent… so that your sins may be wiped away, that times of refreshing may come” (Acts 3:19). • Divine protection and favor promised to those who heed the Son (Psalm 2:12). Covenant Blessings Missed 1. Forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). 2. The gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:39). 3. Adoption into God’s family (John 1:12). 4. An eternal inheritance (1 Peter 1:3-4). Eternal Consequences—Judgment and Loss • John 3:36 — “Whoever rejects the Son will not see life, but God’s wrath remains on him.” • Hebrews 2:2-3 — neglect brings “just punishment.” • 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 — “eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord.” • Revelation 20:15 — final exclusion from the Book of Life. Why This Matters Today The identity of the “prophet like Moses” is not theoretical; it is a living Person—Jesus. To shrug at His words is to refuse God’s final, decisive revelation (Hebrews 1:1-2). The stakes could not be higher: fellowship or separation, life or wrath, eternal joy or eternal loss. Responding to the Prophet • Hear His voice in Scripture (John 10:27). • Believe the gospel: Jesus died and rose for sins (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). • Repent—turn from self-rule to His rule (Acts 3:19). • Confess Him openly (Romans 10:9-10). • Walk in daily obedience, proving you are not among those who ignore Him (John 14:15). To heed Jesus is to receive life; to ignore Him is to be “completely cut off.” The choice stands before every soul today. |
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