Peter has just preached the church’s first sermon. He has deftly explained the coming of the Holy Spirit.
He used the OT to tell how Jesus is both the divine Son of God and the long awaited Messiah. And with the subtlety of a jackhammer, he accused his audience of murdering the Christ.
Scholars don’t hold up this message as an example of contextualization, but it really is. Like Paul on Mars Hill, Pete knows and understands his listeners.
They are Jewish. They understand the Torah. They know the OT Scriptures. And he uses their cultural context and sacred literature to prove Jesus is Messiah and to preach the Gospel message.
I find it very interesting that Pete simply and bluntly ends his sermon by accusing them of crucifying Jesus. No application. Just a punch in the neck. “Whom YOU crucified!”
Not one hint of what to do with the information. Was there a great silence? Was there a gasp?
We pick it up in verse 37 as the people are “cut to the heart.” The Greek verb here is katanuasomai, which means to be cut, stabbed or pierced.
Pete’s message had its intended effect. He had stabbed them in the heart. Today we might say he punched them in the gut.
His sermon evoked an emotional response. So much so, that they begged the apostles for what to do next. “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Rocky responds with the message of repentance. “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (v38).
“Repent” is one of those wonderful words that has been hijacked over the years. It’s a word associated with legalism, religion and fanaticism.
But the idea of repentance is a beautiful word that drips with the grace of God. It’s a word that we must reclaim with love and tenderness of the Lord.
A look at the original language is helpful. The Greek metanoeo means to repent, to have a change of hear and mind. Literally it means to think (noeo) after or again (meta).
It is the idea of taking a second thought of our sin after we understand how God sees it. It is a turning from and a turning to. In order to turn from my sin and I must turn to God.
It is that wonderful 180. John MacArthur describes repentance as a radical turning from sin that inevitably became manifest in the fruit of righteousness (Lk 3:8).
When I’m faced with the realization that something is terribly wrong, I immediately want to make it right. Sometimes I know what to do. Sometimes I don’t.
When it comes to my own sin and sinful behavior, I know what to do. Repent. Confess my sin to God. Agree with Him about my sin. Turn from my sin. Turn to Him.
Repentance is not a one time act. It is not something I did once in 1970 at the summer revival at First Baptist Church in Farmington. It is certainly that.
But repentance is so much more. It is a lifestyle. And it is a gift to be used regularly. God has granted me the gift of repentance so that I can continually turn back to Him.
Peter commands the crowd to repent and be baptized. There is forgiveness of our sins offered by Jesus.
But there is so much more. We also receive the Holy Spirit. His powerful presence in our lives enables us to obey God’s commands when we otherwise are powerless to do so.
Preacher Pete tells the Pentecost congregation that they can enjoy and experience the gift of God’s Spirit just as the 120 have.
He tells them, “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself” (v39). Once again, the Holy Spirit is referred to as the promise of God (Acts 1:4; 2:33).
The Third Person of the Trinity is a vitally important part of the great benefit package of salvation. And this salvation is available to EVERYONE!!! You. Your children. All who are far off.
Everyone whom the Lord calls to Himself. Pete preaches a compelling Gospel. If Jesus calls you, you are coming.
And don’t miss the fact that Peter is apparently opening the door to Gentiles. This very term “far off” is also used by Paul to describe non-Jews (Eph 2:11-13).
This is a very important point of the Gospel of Jesus. Previously, salvation was available only to and through the Jews.
The other thing that makes this interesting is the fact that Peter continually struggles with the inclusion of Gentiles throughout the Book of Acts.
God’s offer of repentance, baptism, the Holy Spirit and salvation is made to ALL. Every people group. Every strata of society. Every language. Every nation. Every person.
And I have been granted the precious privilege of being His ambassador to carry this Gospel of grace to a lost and dying world (2Cor 5:20). Lord Jesus, open my eyes and allow me to see others as You see them.
Peter continues teaching and explaining the Gospel (v40). When he finished, there was a massive response. Three thousand people were baptized and added to the 120 in the upper room.
Not a bad first day of church. And that was only the beginning.
©2011
Jay Jennings
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