April 14, 2002 Acts 2:14, 36-47
14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd:
36 "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 38 Peter replied, "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. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off -- for all whom the Lord our God will call."
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (NIV)
Several years ago one of my members had temporarily lost a very precious trinket - one that she had cherished for over twenty years. Have you ever lost something like that, never to find it again? Whether it was an old doll that your mom threw out or a precious jewel that unknowingly fell off your neck, most of us know what it feels like to lose something irreplaceable. Even if you could buy the exact same product, the new could never replace the sentimental value of the old. There is a sense of helplessness when we lose something of sentimental value, knowing that there is nothing we can do to replace it.
In today’s text, Peter reminded the Jews very pointedly, “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." When these words struck their hearts, it felt like a dagger. The deed was done. They couldn’t take back the spikes, remove the cross, or burn up the evidence. Now Jesus was Lord and Christ. You can feel the sense of hopelessness as the Jews cried out, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Jesus Lives! What Shall We Do?
I. Peter’s reply
That’s quite a question, isn’t it? What can I do to make up for putting God’s Son to death - for spitting in His face - for mocking Him - for whipping Him? We might feel the same way over sins that we committed years ago - there is nothing we can do now to take them back - nothing that can be done to make up for what was done. I once ministered to a man in Norton who had served over 20 years for a murder that he had committed. I know that if he could have done anything to make up for his deed, he would have. But the one thing the parents and family wanted was their son back. And so there was nothing that he could do. No matter how many lives he saved, how many people he fed, or how many years he was in prison, he could never do enough to make up for the life of another. The same is true of us and the deeds we have done.
So how did Peter respond? What if Peter had shrugged his shoulders at their question and said, “I don’t know!”? Or worse, what if he had said, “it’s too late. You’re going to hell in a hand basket.” What utter despair the Jews would have gone through! But Peter had a better answer which gave them a bright ray of hope in the midst of darkness.
How? First of all, Peter told them to repent. The Jews had already been struck with sorrow over what they had done. But repent doesn’t only mean sorrow over sins. It literally means to “change your mind.” They knew what they had done was wrong - that they were on the wrong pathway. So by telling them to repent - Peter was not only telling them to stop going down the path they were headed - he was pointing them to the new pathway - to the path to heaven. And there’s only one way to be on that path, Jesus said in John 11:25, He who believes in me will live. So what Peter was really telling the Jews was to believe in Christ!
The next thing Peter told them to do was to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. What did Peter mean by telling them to be baptized in the name of Christ? It’s like when you hear the name Saddam Hussein, you think of a cruel dictator. So when Peter told them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ - He was pointing them to the reputation of Jesus - to what Jesus had done - that was the basis - the power of this baptism. Jesus had suffered and died for the sins of the world, and rose three days later as evidence that God accepted Jesus’ sacrifice. The good news was that this forgiveness of Christ could be given to them through baptism. All of their wicked intentions, their crucifixion of Christ - all would be wiped away through the waters of baptism.
That wouldn’t be the only benefit of baptism. God would also give them the gift of the Holy Spirit. What is the gift of the Holy Spirit? God would actually now dwell in their souls - giving them faith - enabling them to believe in Jesus as their Savior and act like believers. As you can see from these verses - baptism was a very powerful and effective tool that God could use - kind of like a big eraser that God uses to wipe away the past and rewrite the future.
Peter told the Jews - this is God’s promise for you - and not only for you - but also for your children - for all who are far off. What does ALL mean? It doesn’t matter who you are, how old you are, what you’ve done - or where you come from! Peter said baptism was for ALL! Even though the Jews had crucified Christ, their sins could be wiped away just through the waters of baptism. Since Jesus died for the sins of the WORLD, there was plenty of forgiveness to go around! Through this simple water God could reconnect them to God! What good news this must have been for the Jews - and such an easy escape! They didn’t have to really do anything. God had provided a simple way to save them from this corrupt generation - and give them a new start in connection with Christ - just through baptism!
This is hard for many people to believe. Many would like to think that baptism just signifies that we are forgiven - that it is a symbolical act of their conversion - of how they made a decision for Christ. They don’t believe that baptism really washes sins away or gives the Holy Spirit. They feel that if we preach that baptism washes away sin - then we are putting faith in the ritual of Baptism instead of Christ. They feel that conversion cannot be worked just by pouring some water over someone.
Finally, it comes down to the fact that they don’t believe what God’s Word says here. God says that baptism is FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS. It actually gives the forgiveness of sins. And this passage also clearly says YOU WILL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. You can’t get around the clear word! Just as the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus at His baptism, God promises that He comes into you through the water of baptism - even though you can’t see Him. If God could make a donkey talk, He could certainly work through the waters of baptism to give forgiveness of sins and faith. And so we believe that baptism washes away sins and gives faith because God promises us this. It isn’t a faith in the water or the ritual. It’s a trust in the promise of God. God promises us that in baptism we are given the Holy Spirit and connected with Christ. So we believe it!
Think of how wonderfully simple this is! God could have told us to climb Mt. Sinai and bathe in the coldest snows of the North Pole to receive the gift. He could have made us be baptized in the waters of the Jordan. He could have demanded us to give Him all of our possessions. He could have only offered baptism to the rich and influential - the old or the “good”. But instead, God made it so easy! He just said, be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - and He will work through these means. No matter how evil you have been, repent and be baptized, all of you, and God will wipe away your sins. No sin is too great for God to forgive. No past is too checkered. Therefore, we thank God that He has established such an easy method of making believers. It seems so simple. It seems so easy. But this is the way God likes to work - He doesn’t like to come in the earthquakes, He would rather come in the gentle whispers of life. Thank the Lord!
II. The crowd’s response
How did the people respond? After Peter laid out such an easy course for them, the Holy Spirit worked through that message to give many of them faith. I suppose that some thought it too easy, and walked away. Peter didn’t chase after them with water - he let them go - they would have rejected the Holy Spirit even if they were baptized. But others believed this promise. The text goes on, Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. What a great growth for the church! 3,000 believed that what Peter promised was true, and so they were baptized all in that one day!
But was this the end of it? Did they say, “we were baptized, so we can just live however we want to now?” Of course not. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
The first thing that they did was to “devote themselves to the apostles’ teaching.” The Greek word for “devote yourself” comes from the verb which means “to be strong, endure.” This variation of the word means to have a constant focus upon - to hold tightly onto. What did they constantly focus on? The apostles’ teaching. They wanted to learn more and more about this merciful God who had saved them from the depths of hell. If God could wash their sins away - make them right with Him, they wanted to learn more about Him. So every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They wanted to get to know Him better. This included the breaking of bread - which would include the Lord’s Supper - and prayer.
The Holy Spirit also produced in them a sense of family - they wanted to share with one another. They even went to the point of selling their possessions and giving to anyone as they had need. They ate together and grew closer and closer together as one big happy family.
Compare our church to this New Testament church. We also have the apostles’ teaching at our fingertips every day - along with fellowship with other believers. Notice the zeal that they had - to meet EVERY day in the temple courts. What would happen if we tried to do that today - to have church or Bible class EVERY DAY. Some of our own members feel it is too much to come to church just once a week. Some feel that once they get confirmed they have learned enough about God’s Word. And so you may never see them in a Bible class after they are accepted as confirmed members. Others won’t come to a Bible class unless it “meets their needs” or fits into their schedule. Notice also the willingness to share with one another - to help one another. How many of us would think about selling our VCR’s or DVD’s or TV’s to help another family in need? How many of us would give up our new carpeting and new cars to see that we can send a missionary to Russia? How many of us are willing to give up a day to clean around the house so we can help out at church? How many of us would be able to get along if we met together every day?
When compared to this church, we have much to be ashamed of - and much to confess. We don’t share our goods like we could. We don’t have the zeal to learn more like we should. These are more than imperfections - these are sins - sins that earn us God’s condemnation. And so we also must cry, “what shall we do?” Thank God that we have the answer to that problem. Jesus has died for our sins as well - and God has given us faith to believe it. Our sins have been washed clean in baptism. We need do nothing for salvation. Just believe in God’s promise.
Therefore, we will respond the same way that the crowd of Jews did. Knowing that our sins of indifference have been forgiven and that our salvation is free, we will want to learn more about this God of forgiveness. We will want our children to make it to Sunday School every Sunday. We will want to go to Bible class on Sundays AND Wednesdays. We will want to share what we have with others.
If you were to compare this Sunday to two Sundays ago, you would notice a difference. People were excited about the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. We had special music - with the choir and trumpets going full force. Today the mood isn’t quite as jovial. It may seem like just another Sunday. But remember, we are still celebrating Easter! Jesus lives! And as long as He lives, we have reason to live as well. We have been baptized - Jesus’ forgiveness has been applied to us. Now through the Holy Spirit living in us, we don’t have to ask, “what shall we do?” We know what we’ll do. We will make every effort to grow in faith, just like the Christians did back in Peter’s time. Amen.
