WEBVTT 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:09.000 Amen. Now, I don't know if any of you have ever asked the question, which legendary swords 00:00:09.000 --> 00:00:16.260 through time and history is the most powerful. I've never asked it, but apparently lots of 00:00:16.260 --> 00:00:22.900 people have. If you go onto YouTube, you can find Viking sword challenges, Japanese katana 00:00:22.900 --> 00:00:28.580 sword challenges, and they're all trying to find out, do they match the legends? And so 00:00:28.579 --> 00:00:35.739 you can watch fairly geeky guys, scientists with swords cutting through ice and metal 00:00:35.739 --> 00:00:43.700 bars and steel, trying to figure out which is the most powerful. Well, in truth, it's 00:00:43.700 --> 00:00:51.579 neither, it's none of those. The most powerful sword is the sword of the Spirit. It is the 00:00:51.579 --> 00:00:58.239 Word of God. The sword of the Spirit has the ability to cut through the hardest 00:00:58.240 --> 00:01:06.659 material on this planet, a hard human heart in resistance to God, as we heard in Hebrews 00:01:06.659 --> 00:01:12.340 4 verse 12. And one of the wonderful things that Jesus promised to his followers, John 00:01:12.340 --> 00:01:19.040 chapter 16, he said, wait for this wonderful gift. He promised a gift that would come to 00:01:19.040 --> 00:01:25.320 all God's people, that he would send the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit would lead his people 00:01:25.320 --> 00:01:35.100 into all truth. The Holy Spirit would speak God's truth about Jesus. And he would do that 00:01:35.100 --> 00:01:46.060 in such a way that lives would be utterly transformed. So the Holy Spirit wields a sword, and that sword 00:01:46.060 --> 00:01:51.079 is the Word of God is the Word of God. And what we read in Acts chapter 2 is a demonstration of what 00:01:51.079 --> 00:01:58.240 the Spirit does with his Word. He cuts through defenses, he cuts through lies, he exposes sin, 00:01:58.520 --> 00:02:05.920 he exposes our need, and it's a sword remarkably that brings life. So one thing I tried and failed to 00:02:05.920 --> 00:02:11.879 do this week, and maybe some of you can help me out here, I tried to find a story, a mythical story, 00:02:11.879 --> 00:02:19.000 a story in fiction where there's a sword, but the sword brings life. I couldn't find one, 00:02:19.740 --> 00:02:30.300 except in the Word of God. That the Spirit applies the Word in such a way that we have life as we come 00:02:30.300 --> 00:02:36.919 to believe in Jesus. So we're going to spend some time thinking about this dramatic scene in Acts 00:02:36.919 --> 00:02:42.059 chapter 2, where we see again the Spirit working powerfully. So at the beginning of the chapter, 00:02:42.139 --> 00:02:46.639 if you have your Bibles open, you'll find it super helpful. At the beginning of the chapter, 00:02:46.819 --> 00:02:52.799 just as Jesus promised, the Spirit is poured out. And what happens then is the apostles start to preach. 00:02:53.560 --> 00:03:00.159 Peter preaches this sermon that's all about Jesus, and 3,000 are added to the church. 00:03:00.159 --> 00:03:11.120 And this wasn't a neutral crowd. From shouting just a few weeks previously, crucify Him. Peter could 00:03:11.120 --> 00:03:19.859 say to them, you put Jesus to death. To them asking, what shall we do? And we see them being baptized as 00:03:19.859 --> 00:03:28.620 followers of Jesus. So Acts 2 is showing us another powerful work of the Spirit, working through the 00:03:28.620 --> 00:03:36.659 Word of God, revealing and guiding us into the truth, convicting us of our needs, and giving the 00:03:36.659 --> 00:03:44.200 gift of repentance and faith. So let's get to our text and think about the sword of the Spirit, how the 00:03:44.200 --> 00:03:53.580 Spirit uses God's Word. So verse 36 is really the conclusion of Peter's sermon. Therefore, let Israel be 00:03:53.580 --> 00:04:00.660 assured of this. God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah. When the people 00:04:00.660 --> 00:04:09.540 heard this, they were cut to the heart. Okay? So the Spirit is working through the Word of God as it is 00:04:09.540 --> 00:04:15.540 preached, and they are cut to the heart. Remember Hebrews 4, verse 12, the Word of God is alive and 00:04:15.539 --> 00:04:24.399 active, sharper than any double-edged swords. It penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, 00:04:24.759 --> 00:04:30.300 joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and the attitudes of the heart. And that's exactly what 00:04:30.300 --> 00:04:38.639 we see here. Acts 2 is remarkable. It has a remarkable sense of drama. But at the same time, it's very 00:04:38.639 --> 00:04:46.259 ordinary. Because what leads to all the drama is that Peter stands up and preaches a sermon. He 00:04:46.259 --> 00:04:53.959 preaches God's Word. So if you flick back a page to Acts chapter 2 and verse 17, you'll discover 00:04:53.959 --> 00:05:01.959 he preaches from the Old Testament prophecy of Joel. To say that what's happening is that promise being 00:05:01.959 --> 00:05:07.740 fulfilled. The Spirit is poured out, that Spirit that was promised by Jesus. And because of that, 00:05:07.740 --> 00:05:14.759 salvation comes to all who call on the name of the Lord. He's preaching God's Word. He also preaches 00:05:14.759 --> 00:05:27.439 from Psalm 16, from verse 25 onwards, making the point that Jesus is God's chosen King, that this is 00:05:27.439 --> 00:05:35.560 the King that death had no claim over. Death could not hold him because he was not guilty of sin. But that 00:05:35.560 --> 00:05:40.980 having died in the place of sin, Jesus, God's King, has been raised and exalted to sit on the throne of 00:05:40.980 --> 00:05:50.319 heaven. He uses God's Word to preach Jesus. And then a few verses later, verse 34, he preaches Psalm 110. 00:05:51.519 --> 00:06:00.459 To make the declaration that Jesus is a son of David, one of David's family line. He is in that line where the 00:06:00.459 --> 00:06:05.000 great promise came, the great promise came that one of David's descendants would reign forever. 00:06:06.379 --> 00:06:14.740 That's Jesus. But he's also David's Lord. He is superior to David. He was before David. He's the true 00:06:14.740 --> 00:06:21.339 Son of God. And this Son, this King, will judge his enemies and establish an eternal kingdom. 00:06:21.339 --> 00:06:30.899 So he's preaching the Word of God. And he's preaching Jesus as the Word. God's definitive revelation. 00:06:32.279 --> 00:06:40.879 God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah. 00:06:42.359 --> 00:06:50.459 And he points the people to what they already knew. He points to what they had seen and heard. Verse 22, 00:06:50.459 --> 00:06:57.159 Jesus was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through 00:06:57.159 --> 00:07:03.659 him as you yourselves know. So they have seen Jesus working with the authority and power of God, 00:07:03.979 --> 00:07:10.799 continuing his mission in the world, giving us a window into this perfect world, this perfect kingdom 00:07:10.799 --> 00:07:19.740 that Jesus has come to establish. He speaks to them in verse 23 of the cross as the plan of God. 00:07:20.459 --> 00:07:27.919 He can say, you were sinful. You killed Jesus. But this was all done according to the Father's plan. 00:07:28.859 --> 00:07:39.439 That the Father lovingly sent his Son to pay the price for sin, to absorb God's wrath against 00:07:39.439 --> 00:07:47.120 unrighteousness. That this great exchange would take place where Jesus takes our sin, our unrighteousness, 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:55.860 our death, and gives us his righteousness, his life, his grace. And he preaches about the resurrection 00:07:55.860 --> 00:08:05.019 of the Lord Jesus as the confirmation of this promise about the Messiah King. He is the victorious 00:08:05.019 --> 00:08:10.800 King who rules and reigns for his people. And so Peter stands up on the day of Pentecost and he 00:08:10.800 --> 00:08:15.120 preaches that Jesus is the great theme, the great hero of God's story of salvation. 00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:21.939 That in Jesus we find the fulfillment of every hope and promise in the Bible. That in Jesus we 00:08:21.939 --> 00:08:31.620 discover God's gift of love to a world that desperately needs it. He preaches. But as he 00:08:31.620 --> 00:08:37.519 preaches, we need to understand also that he preaches as one who is filled with the Holy Spirit. 00:08:37.519 --> 00:08:44.879 Chapter 2, verse 4, all of them, Peter included, were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak 00:08:44.879 --> 00:08:52.139 in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. And then in verse 14, Peter stands up to explain what's 00:08:52.139 --> 00:08:58.220 going on and he says, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel, verse 17, in the last days I will 00:08:58.220 --> 00:09:06.039 pour out my Spirit on all people. So to go back to our sword imagery, it's not Peter's sword, 00:09:06.039 --> 00:09:12.620 it's not his logic and rhetoric that's doing the decisive work, it's the sword of the Spirit. 00:09:13.179 --> 00:09:17.980 Yes, Peter's words are being used, but it's the Spirit working through Peter's words. 00:09:19.799 --> 00:09:25.480 As an aside, Tim Keller, the New York preacher, was once asked, what's the difference between a good 00:09:25.480 --> 00:09:31.659 sermon and a great sermon? And without skipping a beat, he said the Holy Spirit. It's the Holy Spirit 00:09:31.659 --> 00:09:37.159 coming in power. That's what makes the difference. Well, the Holy Spirit here shows up powerfully 00:09:37.159 --> 00:09:43.639 and he works through his word as it's preached, so it cuts to the heart. So we come to verse 41. 00:09:44.899 --> 00:09:51.860 Those who accepted his message were baptized and about 3,000 were added. 3,000 people in a day, 00:09:51.860 --> 00:10:01.899 they receive the word of God about Jesus. They stop resisting Jesus. There's no more denying he's the 00:10:01.899 --> 00:10:09.100 Son of God. No longer are they rejecting him, saying, we don't want this king. They're no longer 00:10:09.100 --> 00:10:15.519 rebelling against God's word and against God's will. They're no longer saying no to the clear. It's 00:10:15.519 --> 00:10:24.159 statements from Jesus. The sword of the Spirit cuts deep and brings life. 00:10:26.679 --> 00:10:32.939 It's a powerful image, isn't it, to think about the sword of the Spirit. The Bible isn't afraid to 00:10:32.939 --> 00:10:41.779 speak about the reality of spiritual battle, of the realities of good and evil. And what this passage 00:10:41.779 --> 00:10:51.679 reminds us is that we need the Spirit's work to break through our natural defenses, to make us 00:10:51.679 --> 00:11:00.839 willing to surrender to Jesus as Lord. We need the Spirit to use the word of God powerfully to cut 00:11:00.839 --> 00:11:10.480 through all those excuses that we naturally make about trusting and obeying. You know, when the word of 00:11:10.480 --> 00:11:17.259 God confronts us, and we know what we should do, and we naturally then want to resist against, we need 00:11:17.259 --> 00:11:25.120 the Spirit to cut through our excuses. We need the Spirit to do His work through His word to cut through 00:11:25.120 --> 00:11:33.560 our defenses. We don't like naturally to hear that we are sinful and we are powerless. 00:11:33.559 --> 00:11:42.539 We'd much rather hear that we are basically good and we are fine without Jesus. So we set up a defense 00:11:42.539 --> 00:11:49.319 of our own self-righteousness, and we need the Spirit to expose and to break it down. We need the Spirit 00:11:49.319 --> 00:11:56.859 to work through His word to expose the lies that we typically believe. My sin is no big deal. 00:11:56.860 --> 00:12:09.320 I have more freedom without Jesus. We need the Spirit to expose our hearts to God's truth. 00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:19.320 That naturally we're living in darkness, we need God's light to shine, to see the truth. We need the 00:12:19.320 --> 00:12:24.480 Spirit so that we can appreciate the beauty and the goodness of Jesus, 00:12:24.480 --> 00:12:33.519 and salvation that's found in Him. We need the Spirit of God to work in our hearts so that we would 00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:42.039 gladly welcome God our Father, Jesus our Savior. We need the Spirit actually to generate the response 00:12:42.039 --> 00:12:48.539 that we hear from this crowd. The end of verse 37, as they hear the message, as they're cut to the heart, 00:12:48.539 --> 00:12:56.139 they ask, brothers, what shall we do? Actually, we need the Spirit to generate that response in our hearts. 00:12:56.439 --> 00:13:02.339 Every time we come to church, every time we read God's word, what shall we do? 00:13:04.439 --> 00:13:08.279 Because reading the Bible isn't just about gathering a bunch of information. 00:13:10.079 --> 00:13:16.799 God, by His Spirit, is looking for transformation. He wants response. He wants worship. He wants confession. 00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:24.859 He wants faith and obedience. So that's the sword of the Spirit. Now let's think a little bit more 00:13:24.859 --> 00:13:32.740 about how the Spirit uses the words. And especially to think first about how the Spirit uses the word to 00:13:32.740 --> 00:13:44.879 expose our needs. So picture an epic battle scene of any kind that you like. Two armies opposed, 00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:57.259 two warriors locked in battle. You hear the clash of sword and steel. What's the key to victory in the heat of battle? 00:13:58.460 --> 00:14:07.120 It's who's going to break through the other's defenses. Or to change our imagery, we hear this all too often in 00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:16.440 our news headlines. Big businesses, individuals, even governments, they have their systems hacked. 00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:25.940 You know, personal information stolen. Systems messed up. A computer, hackers are able to cut through 00:14:25.940 --> 00:14:31.899 firewalls. And what that does is to expose weaknesses within a system. 00:14:31.899 --> 00:14:44.459 The Holy Spirit uses the word of God to cut through human barriers and defenses against Jesus. 00:14:45.919 --> 00:14:53.120 It's exactly what we see from the crowd in Acts chapter 2. All of a sudden, having been really happy 00:14:53.120 --> 00:15:01.079 to see Jesus crucified, now all of a sudden they realize they have a massive problem. 00:15:01.080 --> 00:15:08.259 And as we think about their story, the text actually reveals two needs of every human heart. 00:15:09.240 --> 00:15:17.060 And the Spirit exposes and convicts those for us in a way that would give us life. 00:15:18.820 --> 00:15:25.960 The Spirit wields the sword not to cut and destroy, but that we might be healed. 00:15:25.960 --> 00:15:33.980 Here's the first need that's exposed. We need forgiveness from God. 00:15:35.240 --> 00:15:41.240 It's hard to imagine how these 3,000 must have felt. 00:15:42.379 --> 00:15:51.820 When they saw Jesus put on the cross and they gladly shouted, crucify him, they thought God was 00:15:51.820 --> 00:16:00.600 pleased with them. They thought Jesus was a blasphemer and he deserved to be done away with. 00:16:00.600 --> 00:16:07.080 But now they discover Jesus is my Lord. 00:16:08.560 --> 00:16:14.940 Jesus is the promised Messiah that God sent to save me and to save my people. 00:16:14.940 --> 00:16:20.780 And I happily said, crucify him. 00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:32.320 God's verdict on Jesus, God has made this Jesus Lord and Messiah, and our verdict, crucify him, 00:16:33.640 --> 00:16:34.840 they don't match up. 00:16:34.840 --> 00:16:44.480 And whenever our verdict and God's verdict don't match up, we have a problem. 00:16:46.440 --> 00:16:48.720 And a problem that shows our obvious need. 00:16:49.879 --> 00:16:52.600 We need forgiveness from God. 00:16:53.700 --> 00:16:56.220 Acts chapter 2, they needed forgiveness from God. 00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:59.200 The Spirit opened their eyes in that moment to that reality. 00:16:59.200 --> 00:17:05.620 As Peter continued to preach, verse 40, with many other words, he warned them and he pleaded, 00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:09.700 save yourselves from this corrupt generation. 00:17:10.120 --> 00:17:13.299 How could Peter describe that generation as corrupt? 00:17:14.220 --> 00:17:16.600 Because they turned their back on God's Word. 00:17:17.600 --> 00:17:23.940 They weren't reading the Scripture to find Jesus as God's Son and the promised King and Savior. 00:17:24.539 --> 00:17:28.220 They were turning their back on God's free offer of forgiveness. 00:17:28.220 --> 00:17:30.539 They were a corrupt generation. 00:17:33.019 --> 00:17:34.960 But it wasn't just that generation. 00:17:36.819 --> 00:17:45.019 We all need what the crowd received that day, that painful but necessary realization. 00:17:46.140 --> 00:17:51.440 Without Jesus to recognize, I have not loved God as I should. 00:17:52.440 --> 00:17:55.839 I have not loved him with all my heart and soul and mind and strength. 00:17:55.839 --> 00:17:58.720 Often I have absolutely ignored him and ignored his commands. 00:18:00.399 --> 00:18:04.439 I have not loved my neighbor as I love myself. 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:09.839 I put myself at the center and love others when it's convenient. 00:18:11.839 --> 00:18:16.539 I have broken God's law and God is right to be angry. 00:18:16.539 --> 00:18:20.059 God is holy and righteous and good and his laws are good. 00:18:20.059 --> 00:18:23.759 And when his laws are broken, he is right to be angry. 00:18:24.759 --> 00:18:32.119 So that without Jesus, without exception, we stand condemned. 00:18:32.119 --> 00:18:42.259 And what we need is for the Spirit of God to take the Word of God to cut us to the heart. 00:18:43.299 --> 00:18:49.500 To cut us in our conscience so that we would understand that we need to be forgiven. 00:18:49.500 --> 00:18:55.440 There's a proverb that says the wounds of a friend can be trusted. 00:18:56.259 --> 00:19:05.099 When the Spirit takes his Word and convicts you that all is not well, that your verdict does not match up with God's, 00:19:05.099 --> 00:19:11.420 or your life is not matching up with how God wants us to live, those wounds can be trusted. 00:19:12.240 --> 00:19:13.359 It's a kindness. 00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:13.719 Forgiveness. 00:19:14.919 --> 00:19:21.119 And especially here we see that kindness where the crowd recognize, first of all, we need forgiveness. 00:19:24.319 --> 00:19:26.539 But also we can be forgiven. 00:19:28.759 --> 00:19:31.419 It's a powerful thing to discover there is forgiveness. 00:19:32.279 --> 00:19:36.879 In a sense, there is a word for our generation here. 00:19:37.479 --> 00:19:41.259 All too often we hear the message of you do you. 00:19:41.259 --> 00:19:47.579 Where we get to decide for ourselves the standards of right and wrong. 00:19:48.920 --> 00:19:51.500 Who is God to think he can tell me what to do? 00:19:52.519 --> 00:19:58.579 But the problem seems to be developing where if we ignore God as ultimate lawgiver, 00:19:58.660 --> 00:20:02.680 if we say there is no law, if we say there is no ultimate standard, 00:20:02.779 --> 00:20:04.539 if we try and do away with sin, 00:20:04.539 --> 00:20:13.680 we also destroy any prospect of forgiveness and any prospect of grace. 00:20:15.099 --> 00:20:17.700 And aren't we seeing that in our society? 00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:21.519 Conflict and breakdown. 00:20:22.859 --> 00:20:27.359 And a lack of civility across deference. 00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:32.559 And perhaps we can identify that sad problem that, 00:20:33.059 --> 00:20:35.339 okay, we're trying to get rid of the idea of sin, 00:20:35.399 --> 00:20:38.859 but people still feel guilt and people still feel shame. 00:20:38.959 --> 00:20:40.859 It's written in our hearts and our conscience, 00:20:41.339 --> 00:20:42.439 but now it's got no name. 00:20:43.259 --> 00:20:47.059 And even worse now, there's that loss of the reality of God, 00:20:47.139 --> 00:20:49.279 so people don't know there is a place to be forgiven. 00:20:49.279 --> 00:20:56.960 In rejecting God, we reject the one and the only one who can remove that great burden. 00:20:57.859 --> 00:21:00.500 And so our generation, like every generation, 00:21:00.859 --> 00:21:05.279 needs to recover and rediscover the biblical hope of forgiveness. 00:21:06.299 --> 00:21:11.599 That the cross of Christ, the crucified one, is God's grace to us. 00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:17.220 That there is forgiveness and salvation when we turn to him in faith. 00:21:17.220 --> 00:21:20.500 So we need forgiveness from God. 00:21:20.779 --> 00:21:23.819 We also need the gift of the Holy Spirit. 00:21:24.940 --> 00:21:26.059 Back to verse 38. 00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:29.519 Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, 00:21:29.860 --> 00:21:31.519 for the forgiveness of your sins, 00:21:31.779 --> 00:21:34.299 and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 00:21:34.740 --> 00:21:36.319 Why do we need the gift of the Holy Spirit? 00:21:36.900 --> 00:21:39.880 Because the greatest gift God can give is himself. 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:42.680 And the promise that we've been thinking about, 00:21:42.740 --> 00:21:45.460 as we've been thinking about the work of the Holy Spirit, 00:21:45.460 --> 00:21:48.440 is he comes to fill God's people, 00:21:49.140 --> 00:21:51.600 and he comes to empower God's people. 00:21:51.920 --> 00:21:54.400 He comes to live within God's people. 00:21:55.700 --> 00:21:56.759 And so the Bible says, 00:21:57.160 --> 00:21:58.940 when we put our faith in Jesus, 00:21:59.160 --> 00:22:00.840 if you put your faith in Jesus, 00:22:01.559 --> 00:22:03.759 the Holy Spirit will live in you. 00:22:04.700 --> 00:22:06.259 God is in your life. 00:22:07.019 --> 00:22:10.880 God will be at work to change us from the inside out, 00:22:10.880 --> 00:22:14.500 as he makes your heart his home. 00:22:16.560 --> 00:22:17.840 And here again, 00:22:18.320 --> 00:22:21.020 it is a hope for a modern longing 00:22:21.020 --> 00:22:24.420 that so many people still have. 00:22:25.660 --> 00:22:27.020 People are still, 00:22:27.140 --> 00:22:29.200 as much as we live in a secular society, 00:22:29.340 --> 00:22:31.980 we are still searching for the other. 00:22:32.980 --> 00:22:36.360 People are still looking for something above us, 00:22:36.359 --> 00:22:37.619 for ultimate truth, 00:22:37.719 --> 00:22:39.359 for spiritual encounter. 00:22:40.919 --> 00:22:41.759 And as Christians, 00:22:41.859 --> 00:22:43.859 we come to discover this wonderful reality 00:22:43.859 --> 00:22:46.259 that God has answered that 00:22:46.259 --> 00:22:48.039 in wonderful ways. 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:49.759 He meets with us, 00:22:49.779 --> 00:22:50.659 he speaks with us 00:22:50.659 --> 00:22:52.379 in his words. 00:22:53.339 --> 00:22:54.719 And as we worship, 00:22:55.419 --> 00:22:57.240 and in coming to be with us, 00:22:57.899 --> 00:22:59.139 and within us. 00:22:59.140 --> 00:23:02.660 It's encouraging to hear 00:23:02.660 --> 00:23:04.680 around our nation 00:23:04.680 --> 00:23:07.120 that there seems to be a rising 00:23:07.120 --> 00:23:09.259 spiritual interest. 00:23:09.780 --> 00:23:11.400 People who had abandoned faith 00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:13.220 coming back to faith. 00:23:13.280 --> 00:23:14.420 And we take heart, 00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:15.759 and we want to keep praying 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:18.580 that God would give the Holy Spirit, 00:23:19.120 --> 00:23:20.700 would bring that change. 00:23:20.940 --> 00:23:23.120 That power to say yes to Jesus, 00:23:23.240 --> 00:23:25.480 and that power to say yes to obey his word, 00:23:25.480 --> 00:23:26.759 and to say no to sin. 00:23:26.759 --> 00:23:29.220 That power within us 00:23:29.220 --> 00:23:31.319 that would change and shape our character, 00:23:31.879 --> 00:23:33.539 that would grow the fruit of the Spirit, 00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:36.779 love and joy and peace and patience 00:23:36.779 --> 00:23:39.220 and kindness and goodness and faithfulness 00:23:39.220 --> 00:23:41.259 and gentleness and self-control. 00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:44.700 That power that draws us wonderfully 00:23:44.700 --> 00:23:48.019 into life with God. 00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:51.180 So the Spirit exposes those needs 00:23:51.180 --> 00:23:51.779 for forgiveness 00:23:51.779 --> 00:23:54.759 and for the gift of the Holy Spirit. 00:23:54.759 --> 00:23:58.079 And the Spirit also works, 00:23:58.200 --> 00:23:59.140 thirdly and finally, 00:23:59.259 --> 00:24:01.980 to bring us saving grace. 00:24:02.680 --> 00:24:05.940 One more sword image for us. 00:24:07.319 --> 00:24:08.940 Again, battle scene. 00:24:09.059 --> 00:24:10.220 Suppose you are captured, 00:24:11.319 --> 00:24:13.099 and you become a prisoner of war, 00:24:13.720 --> 00:24:15.259 and you find your hands 00:24:15.259 --> 00:24:18.539 and your feet are bound and tied. 00:24:19.240 --> 00:24:20.480 In that moment, 00:24:20.599 --> 00:24:21.940 as much as we might long 00:24:21.940 --> 00:24:23.099 for things to be different, 00:24:23.099 --> 00:24:24.500 we are trapped, 00:24:24.619 --> 00:24:25.459 and we are unable 00:24:25.459 --> 00:24:27.279 to find our way to freedom 00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:31.379 unless someone comes to rescue us. 00:24:31.959 --> 00:24:34.019 For the sword to cut through 00:24:34.019 --> 00:24:36.019 the ties that bind us 00:24:36.019 --> 00:24:37.819 to give us freedom. 00:24:40.419 --> 00:24:41.419 Peter preaches, 00:24:41.559 --> 00:24:43.839 repent and be baptized 00:24:43.839 --> 00:24:46.879 in the name of Jesus. 00:24:46.879 --> 00:24:48.379 Jesus preached, 00:24:48.619 --> 00:24:51.980 repent and believe the good news. 00:24:51.980 --> 00:24:53.660 repentance and faith 00:24:53.660 --> 00:24:54.700 is what we're talking about. 00:24:55.440 --> 00:24:57.160 And what we need to understand, 00:24:58.099 --> 00:25:00.299 that if the Spirit hadn't worked 00:25:00.299 --> 00:25:02.319 on the day of Pentecost, 00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:07.019 those 3,000 would have remained 00:25:07.019 --> 00:25:09.299 in spiritual chains. 00:25:10.420 --> 00:25:12.720 For everyone who is a Christian, 00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:15.579 if the Spirit hadn't worked, 00:25:16.220 --> 00:25:20.099 we would still be without Christ. 00:25:20.099 --> 00:25:23.639 we would still be without salvation. 00:25:25.119 --> 00:25:26.059 John 8, 00:25:26.319 --> 00:25:28.919 we find Jesus clearly declaring 00:25:28.919 --> 00:25:31.919 that he was sent by his Father, 00:25:32.919 --> 00:25:35.259 and he speaks God's truth, 00:25:35.859 --> 00:25:38.399 and he is God's way of salvation. 00:25:39.059 --> 00:25:40.199 But then he asks a question 00:25:40.199 --> 00:25:41.000 of the crowd, he says, 00:25:41.659 --> 00:25:44.699 why is my language unclear to you? 00:25:44.700 --> 00:25:46.759 He says, 00:25:46.840 --> 00:25:49.360 you are unable to hear. 00:25:51.200 --> 00:25:53.259 They are unable to hear, 00:25:53.640 --> 00:25:57.279 not because of some kind of physical deafness, 00:25:57.799 --> 00:25:59.539 not because Jesus is speaking 00:25:59.539 --> 00:26:01.000 in such a complicated way 00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:02.259 that they can't understand. 00:26:03.720 --> 00:26:05.660 They cannot hear 00:26:05.660 --> 00:26:08.840 because they are still spiritual slaves. 00:26:08.940 --> 00:26:11.160 They're still believing the lies of the devil. 00:26:11.160 --> 00:26:13.080 They have decided that Jesus 00:26:13.080 --> 00:26:15.160 is not worth listening to. 00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:16.480 They have rejected him. 00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:20.800 And a vital part of the work of the Spirit, 00:26:22.440 --> 00:26:24.100 by his grace, 00:26:24.380 --> 00:26:27.480 he makes us both able and willing 00:26:27.480 --> 00:26:30.540 to seek Jesus our Savior. 00:26:31.860 --> 00:26:34.220 That he has the power to unite us 00:26:34.220 --> 00:26:36.560 to Jesus for salvation. 00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:41.339 He cuts through those spiritual handcuffs, 00:26:41.619 --> 00:26:43.619 setting us free to enjoy forgiveness 00:26:43.619 --> 00:26:44.659 and life with God. 00:26:46.079 --> 00:26:48.119 He speaks about repentance and faith. 00:26:49.139 --> 00:26:52.460 These are two sides of the same coin, 00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:55.639 the same coin of saving grace. 00:26:56.279 --> 00:26:57.159 Peter says, 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:58.919 here are the actions you require. 00:26:59.039 --> 00:26:59.759 You need to repent, 00:26:59.859 --> 00:27:00.759 and you need to believe. 00:27:02.059 --> 00:27:03.339 So those are human activities, 00:27:03.339 --> 00:27:08.159 but there's a divine origin behind that. 00:27:09.079 --> 00:27:11.279 These are not natural responses. 00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:13.579 These are spot responses that come 00:27:13.579 --> 00:27:15.159 when by God's grace 00:27:15.159 --> 00:27:16.279 and through God's Spirit, 00:27:16.399 --> 00:27:17.980 we are led willingly 00:27:17.980 --> 00:27:20.139 to repent and believe. 00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:22.919 Let's think for a moment about repentance. 00:27:24.659 --> 00:27:25.819 So repentance is about having 00:27:25.819 --> 00:27:27.859 a turning of our heart and our mind, 00:27:27.939 --> 00:27:29.720 to have a new heart and a new mind. 00:27:30.299 --> 00:27:32.579 No longer are we turned away from God. 00:27:32.579 --> 00:27:35.519 No longer do we find ourselves at war with God, 00:27:35.639 --> 00:27:36.980 but there's an about turn. 00:27:38.740 --> 00:27:41.259 Now our life is towards God. 00:27:41.919 --> 00:27:43.799 And again, remember, this isn't natural. 00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:47.179 Naturally, we hear God's word, 00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:48.299 we hear God's law, 00:27:48.439 --> 00:27:50.299 and we stubbornly put up defenses. 00:27:51.559 --> 00:27:54.240 Or we present our own self-righteousness. 00:27:54.899 --> 00:27:57.740 Or we read about sin and we excuse ourselves. 00:27:57.839 --> 00:27:59.699 Or we point the finger of blame at others, 00:27:59.779 --> 00:28:00.699 including at God. 00:28:00.700 --> 00:28:03.640 And it takes a work of God's grace. 00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:06.380 It takes the Spirit using the sword, 00:28:06.539 --> 00:28:07.480 using the word of God, 00:28:07.580 --> 00:28:08.799 to convict us. 00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:11.600 Jesus in John 16 said, 00:28:11.720 --> 00:28:12.580 when the Spirit comes, 00:28:12.840 --> 00:28:13.680 He'll convict you. 00:28:14.440 --> 00:28:16.240 Real sin, real guilt, 00:28:16.600 --> 00:28:18.720 real unrighteousness before a holy God. 00:28:18.759 --> 00:28:20.319 And again, we need that conviction 00:28:20.319 --> 00:28:22.019 so that we might know 00:28:22.019 --> 00:28:23.100 that we need to turn 00:28:23.100 --> 00:28:24.240 and that we can turn 00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:26.019 to Jesus for salvation. 00:28:26.019 --> 00:28:30.440 What we see in Acts chapter 2 00:28:30.440 --> 00:28:31.599 is that by God's grace, 00:28:31.700 --> 00:28:33.480 that natural hostility to Jesus, 00:28:34.420 --> 00:28:36.319 that crowd that wanted Jesus crucified, 00:28:36.480 --> 00:28:37.359 has been transformed. 00:28:37.500 --> 00:28:38.220 Now they're made willing 00:28:38.220 --> 00:28:39.619 to seek and find forgiveness. 00:28:41.359 --> 00:28:43.220 It's a change of heart and mind. 00:28:44.279 --> 00:28:45.920 That's not a one-time thing. 00:28:46.139 --> 00:28:48.180 It's a pattern for all of life. 00:28:49.200 --> 00:28:51.259 Jesus spoke of it in the Lord's Prayer. 00:28:51.259 --> 00:28:53.980 Father, forgive us our death. 00:28:55.599 --> 00:28:56.579 Martin Luther, 00:28:57.099 --> 00:29:00.680 who famously wrote the 95 theses 00:29:00.680 --> 00:29:02.400 that sparked the Reformation, 00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:05.160 the first of those said this, 00:29:05.240 --> 00:29:06.680 when our Lord and Master, 00:29:06.900 --> 00:29:08.160 Jesus Christ, said, 00:29:08.299 --> 00:29:08.700 repent, 00:29:10.119 --> 00:29:12.920 He called for the entire life of believers 00:29:12.920 --> 00:29:15.920 to be one of repentance. 00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:19.160 So the Spirit's going to be working in us 00:29:19.160 --> 00:29:21.259 to keep on exposing, 00:29:21.840 --> 00:29:23.560 convicting us of sin. 00:29:24.540 --> 00:29:25.779 So as the people of God, 00:29:25.860 --> 00:29:27.240 we are to be those who are quick 00:29:27.240 --> 00:29:29.140 to confess our sin to God, 00:29:29.960 --> 00:29:31.960 knowing in Jesus our sins are forgiven, 00:29:32.060 --> 00:29:33.460 that God is faithful to forgive. 00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:36.580 We should be quick to say sorry to others 00:29:36.580 --> 00:29:38.560 and to seek and practice 00:29:38.560 --> 00:29:41.500 reconciliation and forgiveness. 00:29:41.500 --> 00:29:46.579 The other side of this salvation coin 00:29:46.579 --> 00:29:48.140 is faith, 00:29:48.440 --> 00:29:49.259 is belief, 00:29:49.420 --> 00:29:50.799 believing trust. 00:29:52.299 --> 00:29:54.559 Faith is essential to salvation. 00:29:54.700 --> 00:29:56.960 We hear it so often in the Bible. 00:29:57.059 --> 00:29:59.920 We need to look to Jesus and live. 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:02.319 We need to believe in the Lord Jesus 00:30:02.319 --> 00:30:03.619 and be saved. 00:30:04.940 --> 00:30:06.240 And the focus 00:30:06.240 --> 00:30:09.599 isn't in vague faith. 00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:10.740 You know, 00:30:10.819 --> 00:30:12.519 I sincerely believe 00:30:12.519 --> 00:30:14.180 there is someone up there. 00:30:15.120 --> 00:30:16.880 Or I sincerely believe 00:30:16.880 --> 00:30:17.500 there is a God. 00:30:17.559 --> 00:30:18.480 We need to know God, 00:30:18.620 --> 00:30:19.980 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:30:20.700 --> 00:30:21.759 And to know the gospel. 00:30:23.000 --> 00:30:25.079 Nor is it a faith in my faith. 00:30:26.740 --> 00:30:27.940 My hope and confidence 00:30:27.940 --> 00:30:29.519 is not in my feelings 00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:30.640 and my performance. 00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:35.280 The focus of saving faith 00:30:35.280 --> 00:30:36.580 is on Jesus. 00:30:37.740 --> 00:30:39.360 He is the object of our faith. 00:30:40.200 --> 00:30:41.280 Our song is always 00:30:41.280 --> 00:30:42.440 in Christ alone 00:30:42.440 --> 00:30:43.540 my hope is found. 00:30:44.660 --> 00:30:45.600 Our song is always 00:30:45.600 --> 00:30:47.620 nothing in my hands I bring 00:30:47.620 --> 00:30:49.280 simply to your cross 00:30:49.280 --> 00:30:51.060 I cling. 00:30:52.800 --> 00:30:54.780 And the Spirit reveals that to us. 00:30:55.060 --> 00:30:57.020 And the Spirit then acts like a glue 00:30:57.020 --> 00:30:58.540 binding us securely 00:30:58.540 --> 00:30:59.960 to Jesus. 00:31:00.640 --> 00:31:02.380 So that we enjoy Christ 00:31:02.380 --> 00:31:04.600 and all the saving benefits 00:31:04.600 --> 00:31:06.020 of His death 00:31:06.020 --> 00:31:07.280 and resurrection 00:31:07.280 --> 00:31:09.120 through saving faith. 00:31:09.940 --> 00:31:11.780 So repentance and faith 00:31:11.780 --> 00:31:13.600 are ongoing steps 00:31:13.600 --> 00:31:15.000 in the life of faith 00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:16.240 that keep us on 00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:17.740 the narrow way. 00:31:18.759 --> 00:31:19.660 We repent 00:31:19.660 --> 00:31:21.540 and we keep on repenting 00:31:21.540 --> 00:31:22.860 turning from sin 00:31:22.860 --> 00:31:24.000 turning to God 00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:24.820 with sorrow 00:31:24.820 --> 00:31:26.680 for offending 00:31:26.680 --> 00:31:28.259 such a wonderful Father 00:31:28.259 --> 00:31:29.860 and seeking His mercy. 00:31:30.640 --> 00:31:31.480 and then we live 00:31:31.480 --> 00:31:33.200 the whole of the Christian life 00:31:33.200 --> 00:31:34.440 by faith. 00:31:34.440 --> 00:31:36.320 We receive Christ 00:31:36.320 --> 00:31:37.080 for salvation 00:31:37.080 --> 00:31:38.700 and then we rest 00:31:38.700 --> 00:31:39.820 in Christ 00:31:39.820 --> 00:31:42.200 and His finished work. 00:31:43.560 --> 00:31:44.700 We rest 00:31:44.700 --> 00:31:45.640 enjoying 00:31:45.640 --> 00:31:46.759 all His 00:31:46.759 --> 00:31:48.080 gracious benefits. 00:31:48.759 --> 00:31:49.460 By faith 00:31:49.460 --> 00:31:50.240 we live 00:31:50.240 --> 00:31:51.620 in love 00:31:51.620 --> 00:31:52.940 and obedience 00:31:52.940 --> 00:31:54.559 with the Spirit 00:31:54.559 --> 00:31:54.580 with the Spirit 00:31:54.580 --> 00:31:55.400 helping us 00:31:55.400 --> 00:31:56.700 to love God 00:31:56.700 --> 00:31:57.500 and to love 00:31:57.500 --> 00:31:58.400 our neighbor. 00:31:59.080 --> 00:31:59.860 By faith 00:31:59.860 --> 00:32:00.860 we trust 00:32:00.860 --> 00:32:01.860 His grace 00:32:01.860 --> 00:32:03.200 that will keep us 00:32:03.200 --> 00:32:04.720 every step of the way 00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:05.500 until we reach 00:32:05.500 --> 00:32:07.059 journey's end. 00:32:07.059 --> 00:32:11.220 there is no sword 00:32:11.220 --> 00:32:12.200 like 00:32:12.200 --> 00:32:13.379 the sword 00:32:13.379 --> 00:32:14.039 of the Spirit. 00:32:14.859 --> 00:32:15.700 That sword 00:32:15.700 --> 00:32:16.879 that cut to the heart 00:32:16.879 --> 00:32:17.740 on the day 00:32:17.740 --> 00:32:18.639 of Pentecost 00:32:18.639 --> 00:32:20.039 the Spirit 00:32:20.039 --> 00:32:21.399 still uses 00:32:21.399 --> 00:32:23.240 that same sword 00:32:23.240 --> 00:32:24.319 the Word of God 00:32:24.319 --> 00:32:25.240 to cut 00:32:25.240 --> 00:32:26.240 to the heart 00:32:26.240 --> 00:32:27.000 today. 00:32:28.740 --> 00:32:29.619 To cut 00:32:29.619 --> 00:32:30.440 through darkness 00:32:30.440 --> 00:32:31.179 and confusion 00:32:31.179 --> 00:32:31.879 to cut through 00:32:31.879 --> 00:32:32.639 our defenses 00:32:32.639 --> 00:32:33.480 and our sin 00:32:33.480 --> 00:32:34.799 and to expose 00:32:34.799 --> 00:32:35.259 our need 00:32:35.259 --> 00:32:36.400 to open our hearts 00:32:36.400 --> 00:32:37.119 to receive 00:32:37.119 --> 00:32:38.440 God's good news. 00:32:39.920 --> 00:32:40.440 That 00:32:40.440 --> 00:32:41.819 Jesus is 00:32:41.819 --> 00:32:42.859 God's Son. 00:32:43.579 --> 00:32:44.539 That He is Lord. 00:32:45.059 --> 00:32:46.039 That He is King. 00:32:46.539 --> 00:32:47.180 That He died 00:32:47.180 --> 00:32:48.259 so we might be forgiven. 00:32:48.660 --> 00:32:49.680 That we might have 00:32:49.680 --> 00:32:50.640 eternal life. 00:32:51.000 --> 00:32:51.819 That He is risen 00:32:51.819 --> 00:32:52.920 so we can enjoy life 00:32:52.920 --> 00:32:53.519 in Him 00:32:53.519 --> 00:32:54.519 and with Him. 00:32:55.079 --> 00:32:55.539 The Spirit 00:32:55.539 --> 00:32:56.259 moves us 00:32:56.259 --> 00:32:57.160 to respond 00:32:57.160 --> 00:32:58.940 in faith 00:32:58.940 --> 00:33:01.079 and in repentance. 00:33:02.460 --> 00:33:04.859 So as we close 00:33:04.859 --> 00:33:07.859 let's ask ourselves 00:33:07.859 --> 00:33:08.699 the question 00:33:08.699 --> 00:33:10.479 what shall 00:33:10.479 --> 00:33:11.559 we do? 00:33:12.519 --> 00:33:13.500 What shall 00:33:13.500 --> 00:33:14.479 I do? 00:33:15.719 --> 00:33:16.939 What response 00:33:16.939 --> 00:33:17.459 do we need 00:33:17.459 --> 00:33:18.219 to make 00:33:18.219 --> 00:33:19.879 to God's Word? 00:33:20.659 --> 00:33:21.519 To the message 00:33:21.519 --> 00:33:22.279 of salvation? 00:33:23.099 --> 00:33:24.159 To God's Son 00:33:24.159 --> 00:33:25.359 today? 00:33:26.119 --> 00:33:27.159 Let's pray. 00:33:27.159 --> 00:33:27.259 Amen. 00:33:27.259 --> 00:33:27.319 Amen. 00:33:27.319 --> 00:33:27.359 Amen. 00:33:27.359 --> 00:33:27.379 Amen. 00:33:27.379 --> 00:33:27.419 Amen. 00:33:27.419 --> 00:33:27.879 Amen. 00:33:27.879 --> 00:33:28.319 Amen. 00:33:28.319 --> 00:33:28.419 Amen. 00:33:28.419 --> 00:33:29.319 Amen. 00:33:29.319 --> 00:33:29.379 Amen.