A Grand Invitation & A Glorious Promise

A GRAND INVITATION & A GLORIOUS PROMISE

(PART 1)

Acts 3:16-19

(Antioch Baptist Church: Wednesday, July 9th, 2025)

Audio - https://youtu.be/oLvzBVtZBUU?feature=shared

In recent years a common topic of conversation amongst pastors/preachers is whether or not what we refer to as “the invitation” is a biblical concept. It may surprise you to learn that providing an invitation (often referred to as an “altar call”) is a relatively recent development in Christian history. It is something that particularly gained prominence in the in the 1800s.

Personally, I think there is a great benefit in offering a time of response after a message from God’s Word. I am so thankful that there is great liberty in this church and people regularly come forward and utilize the opportunity to respond to whatever it may be that God is doing in their lives.

Whether or not we sing a hymn and offer a time of public response, I think that it is imperative for our sermons to contain an invitation. We should invite sinners to repent and turn to Jesus, and we should invite Christians to respond to the challenges that are given in whatever passage we are studying.

We have no greater example of the importance of calling people to respond than the preaching of our Lord. The opening words of Jesus’ ministry contained an invitation; He said, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel.” (Mark 1:15). As a fellow preacher wisely put it, “when God speaks, people should respond.”

Throughout his ministry, the Apostle Paul often offered people an invitation to repent and believe the Gospel. The New Testament is saturated with calls for action after the proclamation of the Gospel.

One such example of the importance of providing an invitation to respond is recorded in our selected text. At the conclusion of Peter’s bold sermon at Solomon’s Portico, he cried out, “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (v19). Almost two thousand years later, preachers all over the world are still extending that same invitation. Even greater is the reality that we are merely mouthpieces; it is Christ who offers men and women the opportunity to “repent and be converted”. It is Jesus who delivered the glorious promise that lost sinners can have their sins “blotted out”.

I would like to examine the invitation that is provided in this passage and consider, “A Grand Invitation & A Glorious Promise”. As we begin, I think it would be beneficial for us to look back and remember:

THE MESSAGE THAT PRECEDED THIS INVITATION

The catalyst that led to the mass conversion after Peter’s sermon was the miracle that Jesus performed in the life of the lame beggar who was laid daily at the Beautiful Gate. After this man began walking and leaping and praising God, a vast crowd came running to the Apostles “in the porch, which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed.”

Peter seized this opportunity to preach a bold sermon; one where he indicted the Jews and declared that they “denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to (them)”. They did this even when Pilate was determined to “let Him go”. Though they “killed the prince of life”, God raised him from the dead.

Peter also made it clear to the crowd that was before him that it was not by the power of godliness of the Apostles that this man was made to walk, rather, it was through faith in Jesus’ name that “this man was made strong”. He went on to say, “yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.”

Notice that faith in Jesus was essential to this miracle; in the same way, faith in Jesus is essential to the miracle of salvation. In the next chapter, Peter declares that there is no salvation in “any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

Those witnesses knew who this man was, they recognized him as the lame beggar who had sat for a long time at the entrance of the Temple begging for alms, now he is healed, his legs are strong, and he is able to walk, leap and praise God. God had “given him perfect soundness” in their presence.

Peter’s ultimate goal was not to attack the Jews for their rejection of Christ, his desire was for them to realize their error, repent of their sin and turn to Jesus. Though Peter’s boldness is on full display, so is his compassion. This compassion leads the Apostle to give an invitation for those in attendance to “repent and be converted” (v19).