Sermon is here in the book of Acts. A few weeks ago, we're in chapter 2 today, verses 22 to 41.
Acts chapter 2, verses 22 to 41.
Amen.
God raised him up, losing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
For David says concerning him,
I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken.
Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced, and my flesh also will dwell in hope.
For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption.
You have made known to me the paths of life.
You will make me full of gladness with your presence.
Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David,
that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
Being there for a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him
that he would set one of his descendants on his throne,
he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ,
that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.
This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.
Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God,
and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit,
he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.
For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,
The Lord said to my Lord,
Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.
Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ,
this Jesus whom you crucified.
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart,
and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles,
Brothers, what shall we do?
And Peter said to them,
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.
For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off,
everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.
And with many other words, he bore witness and continued to exhort them,
saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation.
So those who received his word were baptized,
and there were added that day about 3,000 souls.
This is God's holy and authoritative word.
God, we pray that you would speak to us as you spoke through Peter on that day of Pentecost,
that you would move among us in power,
that you would bring conviction,
that as we hear the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ,
that our hearts would be cut to the heart,
that we would be cut to the heart,
that we would be filled with your spirit,
that there would be repentance, faith, baptisms.
We look to you, Lord.
In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
If you have ever walked into a Christian bookstore,
or actually any bookstore,
you know that there's a glut of self-help books out there.
But what you might not be aware of
is that there's also a glut of church-help books out there.
There are hundreds of books
that purport to have the silver bullet of church growth.
You have to create an inviting atmosphere
and a welcoming experience.
You have to have a better and bigger musical production.
You have to make your sermons shorter
and tell more stories
and talk less about the Bible.
You need to be more woke and relevant for your culture.
You have to canvass your neighborhood
and talk about the issues that they care about.
You have to have certain kinds of small groups.
You have to have a better assimilation strategy
for getting first-time visitors to become regular attendees
and then eventually members.
There are all kinds of ideas out there.
Some are more helpful than others.
And pragmatically speaking,
all of those strategies work.
The problem, however, is that
though they are effective in gathering a crowd,
they cannot grow a church
because the church grows by the Spirit-empowered
preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Even the records of the best church growth experts
pale in comparison to what happens here
in Acts chapter 2, verses 22 to 41.
In Acts 1, verse 15,
the church was about 120 people.
But in Acts chapter 2, verse 41,
there were added that day about 3,000 souls.
25-fold growth in one day.
But we see no brilliant human strategy or production at all.
Only a bold proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ
among people whom the Spirit of God was working in.
And throughout the book of Acts,
Luke provides summary statements
that tell us about the state of the church.
And if you examine those statements,
they often use language like this.
Acts chapter 6, verse 7 says,
And the word of God continued to increase,
and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly.
When the word of God increases,
the number of the disciples multiplied.
Acts chapter 12, verse 24,
The word of God increased and multiplied.
Acts chapter 19, verse 20,
So the word of the Lord continued to increase
and prevail mightily.
This is because the church grows
by the Spirit-empowered preaching
of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
So in verses 22 to 36,
we see the gospel proclamation.
And in verses 37 to 41,
we see the church's growth,
the people's response to the gospel proclamation.
In the preceding passage we talked about last week,
Peter cited Joel chapter 2
to explain the sound like a mighty rushing wind
and the divided tongues as a fire
that came upon the people
and how they spoke in other tongues,
other languages.
And we saw that this was a fulfillment
of Joel's prophecy,
that in the last days,
the Spirit of God would come upon
all of his people in power.
And at the end of that citation,
he said in verse 21,
And it shall come to pass
that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord
shall be saved.
And now he pivots from that point on,
starting in verse 22,
to get to the meat of his sermon,
to explain who this Lord is
that we must call upon
in order to be saved.
He says in verse 22,
Peter addresses the Jews from every nation
that are in the audience as men of Israel,
and then he introduces Jesus as Jesus of Nazareth,
a man.
In other words,
Jesus was a man,
just like you men.
This is the reality of Jesus' incarnation,
that the Son of God took on human flesh.
He became a Son of Man.
He was born in Nazareth.
Or,
he grew up in Nazareth.
In our passports,
we have our birth date
and a place of birth.
And Jesus,
the second person of the Trinity,
the only begotten Son of God,
had a birth date in human history,
and he had a birth place on earth.
That's the mind-boggling reality
of the incarnation.
But this man, Jesus,
though in one sense
he was an ordinary human being,
in another sense was extraordinary.
Because it says
he was attested to you by God
with mighty works and wonders
and signs that God did through him
in your midst,
as you yourselves know.
God himself testified
to the kind of man that Jesus was.
By doing mighty works
and wonders and signs through him.
And notice that Peter
doesn't even feel the need
to prove this,
to demonstrate this.
He doesn't have people stand up
to give testimonials.
He doesn't say,
hey, Mary Magdalene,
you,
yes, you,
you've been,
you know,
healed by Jesus.
You've had seven demons
cast out of you.
Why don't you come on up here
and tell this crowd
about what happened?
Peter doesn't do that
because he doesn't need to.
He says that God did
these mighty works
and wonders and signs
through Jesus
in your midst,
as you yourselves know.
This is taken for granted.
If you look at the controversies
between Jesus
and the Jewish religious leaders
in the Gospels,
like in Matthew 9 or 12
or Mark chapter 3,
Jesus' naysayers never questioned
that Jesus did miracles.
They questioned
how Jesus did miracles.
They accused him
of using the power
of the prince of demons
to cast out other demons.
But of course,
that's an absurd argument
because Jesus was driving out demons
and healing people.
So Peter is here
starting out
with what the crowd
already knows.
It doesn't need to be proven.
Everyone there knows
that Jesus was attested
by mighty works
and signs and wonders.
That's not in question.
But then when he begins
to challenge them
in verses 23, 24,
he doesn't mince his words.
This Jesus delivered up
according to the definite plan
and foreknowledge of God,
you crucified and killed
by the hands of lawless men.
God raised him up,
losing the pangs of death
because it was not possible
for him to be held by it.
In his description
of Jesus' trial
in Luke chapter 22 and 23,
Luke portrays
the Jewish leadership
as really driving
Jesus' condemnation
and eventual crucifixion.
And here,
since he's speaking
to Jews
who were in Jerusalem
at the time
for Pentecost,
Peter holds them
responsible for Jesus' death.
You crucified
and killed him.
It's possible,
even likely,
that some of the people
who were witnessing
the events of Pentecost
were the very people
who were among the mob
that yelled,
crucify him,
crucify him.
But the Jews
are not solely responsible
for Jesus' death.
Peter says,
you crucified and killed
by the hands
of lawless men.
The phrase lawless men
does not merely mean
immoral men
or law-breaking men.
It refers to those
who are outside the law,
Gentiles.
In other words,
Jews,
as well as
the Romans,
the Gentiles,
were responsible
for Jesus' execution.
Both are to blame.
And though they are
the immediate cause
of Jesus' death,
they're not the ultimate cause,
and we see this
in verse 23.
This Jesus delivered up
according to
the definite plan
and foreknowledge
of God.
There's a wonderful
interplay here
between divine sovereignty
and human responsibility.
The Jews
and Gentiles
are responsible
for their unjust
killing of Jesus.
But all of that
happened according
to God's definite plan
and foreknowledge.
The divine sovereignty
and human responsibility
are like
two ends
of a guitar string
that needs
to be held
taught
for it to make sound.
As soon as you
try to resolve
that tension
by letting go,
it becomes useless.
On the one hand,
if you find yourself
thinking and saying
things like,
well, God wouldn't
do something
so despicable
as giving up
His own son to death,
putting Him forward
as a sacrifice,
God didn't do that.
Humanity killed Him
and then God
used it for good.
If you find yourself
saying things like that,
then you're letting go
of the divine sovereignty
side of the string.
because Romans 3.25
says,
God put Him forward
as a propitiation
by His blood.
Romans 8.32
says,
God did not spare
His own son
but gave Him up
for us all.
It says here
in Acts 2.23
clearly that Jesus
was delivered up
according to
the definite plan
and foreknowledge
of God.
On the other hand,
if you find yourself
thinking and saying
things like this,
it's ultimately
God who put Jesus
on the cross
so the Jews and Gentiles
really had no choice,
then you're releasing
the human responsibility
side of the string.
It's a mystery
that must be held
in tension.
Both are true.
This Jesus delivered up
according to the
definite plan
and foreknowledge
of God,
you crucified
and killed
by the hands
of lawless men.
And when you hold
these truths
in tension together,
it offers wonderful
comforts for the Christian.
The worst things
that other people
have done to you,
a malicious gossip
that made you
lose your best friend,
a vindictive co-worker
that made you
lose your job,
a domineering relative
who abused you,
whatever they did to you,
they are fully responsible
for what they have done
and they will be held
accountable
by our just God.
So God is not
to blame for it.
At the same time,
you can rest assured
that even the most
heinous and harmful
things that people
have done to you
did not happen
outside of God's
definite plan
and foreknowledge.
God is not
to blame for it.
It's not that God
was unaware
that it might happen
or that He was powerless
to do something about it.
Imagine such an ignorant
and impotent God.
He would not be
God at all.
He knew
it was part
of His definite plan.
Why?
Because
it will make you
more like Jesus.
Because it will prepare you
for the glory
that He has in store
for you.
Because He loves you.
Because we know
that for those
who love God,
all things work
together for good.
For those who are called
according to His purpose.
So God put Jesus forward
as a propitiation
by His blood
that we might be justified
through faith in Jesus.
God did not spare
His own Son
so that He might spare
sinners like us.
That was God's plan
of salvation all along.
And though it says
that the Jews
crucified and killed
Jesus by the hands
of Gentiles,
it says in verse 24,
God raised Him up
losing the pangs of death
because it was not possible
for Him to be held by it.
Notice the contrast
between verse 23
and verse 24.
You crucified
and killed Him
but God raised Him up.
The phrase
losing the pangs of death
teaches us that
death is a form
of captivity.
It keeps men bound.
We must be freed from it.
Losed from it.
The administrative
maximum facility
in Florence, Colorado,
known as
the Alcatraz
of the Rockies,
is the most secure
prison
in the world
has ever seen.
It's classed
as a super max prison
which means
it's more secure
than a maximum
security prison.
Each prisoner inside
is under 24-hour
supervision
and are confined
in single cells
23 hours per day
which is made of
poured,
reinforced concrete.
Their one hour
per day
out of the cell
is unpredictable
and can occur
at any time
in the day
and the windows
of their cells
are so narrow,
four inches to be exact,
it's impossible
for them to make out
even where they are
inside the complex.
And they made it
like this
so that no prison
would even plan
an escape.
They can't even
plan an escape.
No one has ever
attempted to escape
from this prison.
And yet,
even this prison
has only a 27-year history
and has kept
only hundreds of people
within its concrete walls.
But that's nothing
compared to death.
Over the many millennia
of human history,
death has kept
over 100 billion people
in captivity.
And no one
who has ever died
has escaped
its chains permanently.
Even the few
who had been
miraculously raised
from the dead
eventually succumbed
to death again
because that's
our human destiny.
As people have sinned
and rebelled
against our Creator,
we can't ever
escape this grip
of death on our own.
That's why people
fear death.
Do you fear death?
Are you afraid
of its bondage?
Do you fear
its pain?
Because if
that's the case,
you're right to fear it.
Because there's no hope
of escape from it
except
in Jesus Christ.
God raised Jesus
up from the dead
so that He
never dies
again.
And now
whoever believes
in Him
should not perish
but have
eternal life.
That's the hope
that's given
only to those
who follow Jesus Christ.
Jesus has broken
free
from that eternal
prison
and if you
follow Him
you can follow
Him out.
But how was it
that it was not
possible for Jesus
to be held
by death?
Peter explains
by citing
Psalm 16,
8-11
in verses 25-28.
For David says
concerning Him,
I saw the Lord
always before me
for He is at my
right hand
that I may not
be shaken.
Therefore my heart
was glad
and my tongue
rejoiced.
My flesh also
will dwell in hope
for You will not
abandon my soul
to Hades
or let Your Holy One
see corruption.
You have made known
to me the paths
of life.
You will make me
full of gladness
with Your presence.
In this Psalm
David asks God
for protection
from a mortal threat
that He is facing
and then He ends
the Psalm
by expressing
his confidence
in God's deliverance.
But Peter
as well as Paul
later on
in Acts 13-35
interpret this Psalm
typologically
to be about Jesus
because David
is a type
of Jesus Christ.
He foreshadows
Jesus Christ.
He's a figure
that points
to the coming
of the Messianic King.
So let's look
at Peter's explanation
in verses 29-31.
Brothers,
I may say to you
with confidence
about the patriarch David
that he both died
and was buried
and his tomb
is with us
to this day.
Being therefore
a prophet
and knowing
that God
had sworn
with an oath
to him
that he would
set one of his
descendants
on his throne
before he saw
and spoke
about the resurrection
of the Christ
that he was not
abandoned to Hades
nor did his flesh
see corruption.
Though David
was delivered
from that moral threat
that he was
crying out to God
about in the Psalm,
his deliverance
was only temporary
because he did
eventually die
of old age.
1 Kings 2,
verse 10
tells us that
David's buried
in the city of David.
You can go
and visit it.
And his body
has been thoroughly
decomposed.
And for that reason,
Peter argues
that David
was speaking
prophetically
of a Messianic King
who would come
from his dynastic line
who will overcome
death once
and for all.
So then a thousand years
before Jesus is born,
there's a prophecy
of his resurrection.
It's possible
for a spirit-inspired
prophetic speech
to have double meaning
like this.
We see an example
of it in John
chapter 11,
verse 49-51
when Caiaphas
talks about
how it's advantageous
politically
for them to kill
Jesus
so to suppress
the movement
and not
incur the wrath
of the Romans.
But that prophecy
actually ends up
having a double meaning
because he says
it is better
for one man
to die for the people.
It ends up speaking
through the spirit
of the death
of Jesus Christ
as an atoning sacrifice
for the salvation
of his people.
And so that's
what's happening here
in Psalm 16 as well.
What David said
was true
of his own situation
but it's true
in an even deeper sense
with Christ's situation
because David
was prophesying
that the messianic king
would be raised
from the dead.
Though he would
enter Hades
the realm of the dead
he would not
be abandoned there.
Though he would die
his body
would not see
corruption
he would be raised
from the dead
to enjoy fullness
of life
in God's presence.
And Peter
along with the rest
of the apostles
personally witness this.
Peter says
in verse 32
this Jesus
God raised up
and of that
we all
are witnesses.
Jesus' disciples
did not
anticipate
the resurrection
because the Jews
did not have
an expectation
for a resurrection
like Jesus.
They expected
a resurrection
a general resurrection
at the end
of the days.
And when they
first saw Jesus
risen from the dead
it says in Luke 24
verse 37
that they were
startled and frightened
and thought they saw
a spirit.
Jesus' resurrection
is not a mere
myth
or metaphor.
It's a fact
of history
as real
as his death
on the cross.
This is a
distinguishing
characteristic
of Christianity.
Islam
began
with
private
visions
that
Muhammad
had
in a cave
which can
never be
historically
verified.
Buddhism
similarly
does not
stem
from
historical
events
but from
the
personal
philosophical
musings
of
Siddhartha
Gautama.
The veracity
of neither
religion
can be
established
from a
historical
standpoint.
But
Christianity
makes
historical
claims.
This
Jesus
God
raised up
and of
that
we all
are
witnesses.
This
is a
historical
claim
that's
either
true
or
false
and
the
entirety
of
Christianity
depends
on it.
1 Corinthians
15
14
says
if
Christ
has
not
been
raised
then
our
preaching
is
in
vain
and
your
faith
is
in
vain.
And
generation
after
generation
of
Christians
since
then
have
been
bearing
witness
to
the
fact
that
Jesus
was
raised
from
the
dead.
And
it's
precisely
because
Jesus
was
raised
from
the
dead,
precisely
because
Jesus
has
ascended
to
heaven,
that
he's
now
able
to
pour
out
the
Holy
Spirit.
Peter
says
in
verse
33,
being
therefore
exalted
at
the
right
hand
of
God
and
having
received
from
the
Father
the
promise
of
the
Holy
Spirit,
he
has
poured
out
this
that
you
yourselves
are
seeing
and
hearing.
And
this
too
is
a
fulfillment
of
Old
Testament
prophecy.
Peter
cites
Psalm
110
verse
1
in
verse
34
and
35.
For
David
did
not
ascend
into
the
heavens,
but
he
himself
says,
the
Lord
said
to
my
Lord,
scene
where
God
basically
appoints
someone,
puts
someone
on the
throne.
And
David
says,
the
Lord
said
to
my
Lord,
sit
at
my
right
hand
until
I
make
your
enemies
your
footstool.
So
the
right
hand
of
someone
is
a
position
of
honor
and
power
and
authority.
It's
the
place
of
the
second
in
command,
the
king's
most
trusted
agent.
But
this
identity
of
the
second
Lord,
who
is
this
that
has
baffled
Jews
for
hundreds
of
years?
Because
the
subtitle
of the
psalm
says,
a
psalm
of
David,
and
David
is
the
king
of
Israel.
So
who
is
this
king
that
David
is
calling
Lord?
When
he
says,
the
Lord
God
said
to
my
Lord,
this
is
exactly
the
argument
that
Jesus
himself
used
in
Luke
chapter
20
to
prove
that
he
is
the
messianic
king
that
David
is
calling
Lord
in
that
psalm.
Peter
makes
the
same
point
but
from
a
different
angle.
He
argues
that
David
could
not
possibly
be
the
Lord
that's
in
view
in
that
psalm
because
God
says
to
him,
sit
at
my
right
hand
because
David
never
ascended
into
the
heavens.
Israel
kings
reigned
at
God's
behest
but
they
never
sat
at
the
right
hand
of
God's
heavenly
throne.
So
this
it's
a
reference
to
Jesus
the
Son
of
God
the
messianic
king.
And so
Peter
concludes
in
verse 36
let all
the
house
of
Israel
therefore
know
for
certain
that
God
has
made
him
both
Lord
and
Christ
this
Jesus
whom
you
crucified.
Jesus
is
both
Lord
and
Christ.
God
has
made
him
Lord.
That
means
he's
given
all
authority
in
heaven
and
earth
to
him.
He
has
been
raised
above
every
name
God
has
subjected
all
things
under
him.
That's
what
it
means
to
be
made
Lord.
God
has
also
made
Jesus
Christ
which
means
anointed
one.
He
is
the
promised
messianic
king
who
brings
forth
the
kingdom
of
God.
And
this
according
to
Peter
is
what
Pentecost
is
all
about.
The
outpouring
of the
Holy
Spirit
is
for
Peter
proof
that
Jesus
is
the
risen
and
ascended
Lord.
Because
only
such
Lord
could
pour
out
the
Spirit
of
God
as
they
were
witnessing
at
the
time.
Jesus
said
in
John
16
verse
13
and
14
when
the
Spirit
of
truth
comes
he
will
guide
you
into
all
truth
for
he
will
not
speak
on
his
own
authority
but
whatever
he
hears
he
will
speak
and
he
will
declare
to
you
the
things
that
are
to
come
he
will
glorify
me
for
he
will
take
what
is
mine
and
declare
it
to
you
this
is
the
wonderful
thing
about
the
Spirit
of
God
the
Spirit
of
God
does
not
glorify
himself
the
Spirit
of
God
always
glorifies
the
Son
of
God
wherever
the
Spirit
of
God
is
powerfully
present
Jesus
is
central
and
his
name
is
exalted
even
at
Pentecost
when
the
Spirit
of
God
appeared
as
divided
tongues
as
a
fire
and
rested
on
each
believer
Peter's
sermon
does
not
focus
on
the
experience
of
the
Holy
Spirit
nor
on
the
wondrous
signs
but
on
Jesus
Christ
whom
the
Spirit
of
God
points
to
a
truly
Spirit
empowered
church
is
always
a
Christ
centered
church
Jesus
is
what
the
Bible
is
all
about
and
Jesus
should
be
what
our
church
should
be
all
about
the
name
Peter
is
mentioned
156
times
in the
New
Testament
Paul
158
times
even
the
word
love
only
occurs
259
times
but
the
name
Jesus
occurs
917
times
his
title
Christ
occurs
529
times
the
word
God
occurs
1317
times
there
are
four
books
in
the
New
Testament
entirely
dedicated
to
the
life
the
person
and
work
of
Jesus
Christ
the
church
is a
gathering
of
God's
people
and
if
we
are
not
preaching
this
crucified
risen
and
ascended
Christ
then
we
have
no
business
being
in
business
at
all
do
you
proclaim
the
risen
Lord
Jesus
Christ
with
your
family
members
with
your
friends
with
your
neighbors
it's
scary
yes
note that
speaking in
front of
thousands of
people
probably
didn't
come
naturally
to
Peter
who
was a
fisherman
by
trade
Peter
was also
very
aware
that
just a
few
weeks
ago
they
killed
Jesus
his
master
he
knows
that
he
is
inviting
their
scrutiny
and
persecution
when
he
stands
up
to
proclaim
the
gospel
but
the
spirit
of
God
enables
him
to
do
it
and
when
he
does
faithfully
the
church
grows
that's
what we
see in
verses
37
to
41
it says
in
verse 37
now when
they heard
this
they were
cut to
the heart
and said
to Peter
and the rest
of the
apostles
brothers
what shall
we do
the Jews
in the audience
are pierced
in their
conscience
when they
hear Peter
say that
Jesus
that they
crucified
was the
messianic
king
who had
come to
save
them
when
the
movie
passion
of
the
Christ
first
came
out
which
portrays
the
suffering
and
death
of
Jesus
Christ
I
remember
there
was
a lot
of
debate
and
controversy
with
some
people
accusing
the
film
of
inflaming
anti-Semitism
because
of its
depiction
of Jewish
involvement
in the
killing
of
Jesus
while
still
others
expressing
concern
that
it's
well
if you're
going to
argue
that
you could
also
argue
that
it
fuels
anti-Italianism
through its
depiction
of Roman
officials
but
all of
this
is
missing
the
point
because
Christ
died
for
us
according
to
the
definite
plan
and
foreknowledge
of
God
as
Jesus
said
in
Matthew
chapter
26
verse
53
he
could
have
appealed
to
the
father
and
he
would
have
at
once
sent
him
more
than
12
legions
of
angels
to
deliver
him
in
2
Samuel
24
we
see
one
angel
of
the
Lord
stretch
out
his
hand
and
70,000
men
die
with
pestilence
imagine
the damage
that
12,000
angels
can
do
and
yet
Jesus
doesn't
call
for
the
legion
of
angels
instead
he
goes
to
his
death
like
a
lamb
before
shearers
that
silent
that
Jesus
said
about
his
life
in
John
10
18
no
one
takes
it
from
me
but
I
lay
it
down
of
my
own
accord
Jesus
willingly
goes
to
the
cross
Jesus
willingly
lays
down
his
life
because
it's
the
only
way
to
save
sinners
like
you
and
me
and
so
that's
why
the
hymn
how deep
the
father's
love
is
correct
behold
the
man
upon
a
cross
my
sin
upon
his
shoulders
ashamed
I
hear
my
mocking
voice
call
out
among
the
scoffers
it
was
my
sin
that
held
him
there
until
it
was
accomplished
his
dying
breath
has
brought
me
life
I
know
that
it
is
finished
and
when
the
spirit
of
God
brings
this
truth
to
bear
on
your
heart
you
also
will
be
cut
to
the
heart
have
you
come
to
terms
with
this
the
careless
hurtful
words
that
you
said
the
haughty
judgmental
eyes
with which
you
scorned
others
the
anger
resentment
unforgiveness
that you
have
harbored
the
gossip
and
slander
that
you
whispered
the
greed
which
you
defrauded
and stole
this
lustful
heart
that
you
indulged
the
selfish
pride
and
vanity
in which
you
have
lived
to
make
much
of
yourself
and
not
much
of
God
your
sins
and
my
sins
held
Jesus
on
his
cross
the
beloved
son
of
the
father
the
holy
one
of
God
the
righteous
one
the
blameless
one
dying
on a
vile
filthy
cross
for
you
and
me
brothers
and
sisters
what
shall
we
do
there's
only
one
appropriate
response
Peter
says
in
verse
38
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
we
see
here
three
distinct
yet
inseparable
aspects
of
conversion
first
repentance
second
baptism
in
the
name
of
Jesus
Christ
for
the
forgiveness
of
sins
and
third
finally
as a
result
of
those
two
things
the
reception
of
the
Holy
Spirit
first
we
must
repent
turn
from
our
sinful
ways
and
turn
toward
Jesus
in
faith
to
repent
is
to
acknowledge
that
you
have
been
going
in
the
wrong
direction
and
to
turn
around
to
repent
is
to
regret
our
former
rejection
of
Christ
and
to
accept
him
as
our
Lord
and
Savior
repentance
and
faith
are
two
sides
of
the
same
coin
when
you
repent
of
your
rebellion
against
Christ
then
you
are
simultaneously
pledging
allegiance
in
faith
to
Jesus
Christ
that's
the
first
thing
but
that's
not
all
secondly
Peter
says
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
the
Greek
verb
to
baptize
literally
means
to
immerse
for
Jews
immersion
in
water
for
the
purpose
of
purification
from
ritual
impurities
was
a
habitual
thing
did
it
often
it
signifies
the
washing
away
of
our
guilt
and
the
purifying
of
our
conscience
so
we
could
approach
God
with
a
clear
conscience
and
it
says
we
are
baptized
in
the
name
of
Jesus
Christ
earlier
Peter
said
in
verse
21
everyone
who
calls
upon
the
name
of
the
Lord
Jesus
shall
be
saved
to
be
baptized
in
the
name
of
Jesus
Christ
is
to
call
upon
Jesus
and
acknowledge
that
he
alone
can
save
us
from
sin
and
when
we
are
baptized
in
the
name
of
Jesus
we
are
taking
on
his
name
we're
coming
under
his
authority
and
by
doing
so
we
become
members
of
the
church
which
is
the
body
of
Christ
in
this
way
Romans
6
3
to
4
also
describe
baptism
as
a
union
with
Christ's
death
and
resurrection
we're
dying
to
ourselves
and
now
living
to
Christ
in
the
newness
of
life
by
the
power
of
the
Holy
Spirit
and
this
public
and
corporate
dimension
of
baptism
is
very
important
baptism
is
an
outward
expression
of
an
inward
faith
I'm
going to
talk about
this
because
we
actually
have
baptism
service
coming
up
we'll
probably
do
some
baptisms
on
Easter
on
resurrection
Sunday
first
Sunday
of
April
baptism
Christians
sometimes
talk
individualistically
about
salvation
as if
personal
repentance
and faith
is all
there is
to it
but the
Bible
associates
our
personal
repentance
and faith
with
corporate
baptism
in the
body
of
Christ
an
outward
public
profession
of
faith
is
important
because
the
Christian
faith
is
a
public
faith
because
Christian
faith
is
not
a
matter
of
personal
opinion
but
it's
a
matter
of
universal
truth
John
12
42
to
43
says
this
nevertheless
many
even
of
the
authorities
Jewish
authorities
believed
in
Jesus
but
for
fear
of
the
Pharisees
they
did
not
confess
it
so
that
they
would
not
be
put
out
of
the
synagogue
for
they
loved
the
glory
that
comes
from
man
more
than
the
glory
that
comes
from
God
you see
the
contrast
there
between
believing
and
confessing
there
were
Jewish
authorities
who
believed
in
Jesus
secretly
but
for
the
fear
of
what
the
Pharisees
might
do
to
them
and
they
might
afraid
of
getting
kicked
out
of
the
synagogue
they
never
confessed
the
glory
that
comes
from
man
more
than
the
glory
that
comes
from
God
meaning
they
were
not
true
followers
of
Christ
because
they
were
ashamed
of
Christ
and
his
words
they
loved
the
glory
of
man
this
is
why
Jesus
says
in
Luke
chapter
12
verses
8
to
9
and
I
tell
you
everyone
who
acknowledges
me
before
man
the
son
of
man
also
will
acknowledge
before
the
angels
of
God
but
the
baptism
and
not
a
private
recitation
of
the
sinner's
prayer
is
used
to
mark
the
beginning
of
a
Christian's
life
nowadays
it's
become
fashionable
among
some
missiologists
are
scholars
who
study
missions
to
suggest
that
in
the
name
of
compassion
the
Christian
converts
in
hostile
Buddhist
and
Muslim
countries
should
be
allowed
to
delay
their
baptism
or
to
not
make
their
baptism
public
or
to
alter
the
form
of
baptism
entirely
in
a
manner
that
fits
their
native
culture
and
religion
so
that
it
doesn't
look
like
a
Christian
baptism
in
order
to
help
them
avoid
being
persecuted
and
perhaps
killed
by
the
members
of
their
own
families
while
that
is
a
legitimate
concern
the
solution
that
they
propose
is
tragically
misguided
the
Lord
Jesus
will
not
acknowledge
before
men
before
the
heavenly
divine
heavenly
court
those
who
refuse
to
acknowledge
him
before
a
human
earthly
court
Jesus
is
clear
in
Matthew
10
36
to
37
a
person's
enemies
will
be
those
of
his
own
household
whoever
loves
father
or
mother
more
than
me
is
not
worthy
of
me
becoming
a
Christian
entails
a
radical
reorientation
of
one's
entire
life
top
to
bottom
how
then
can
a
Christian
hide
that
being
a
Christian
entails
obeying
Christ's
command
to
evangelize
tell
others
about
him
how
then
can
a
Christian
be
a
Christian
in
secret
the
early
church
grew
under
persecution
these
Jews
understood
very
well
that
they
were
following
in
the
footsteps
of
a
crucified
king
and
that's
the
cost
that
one
counts
when
he
or
she
decides
to
get
baptized
it's
a
transfer
of
citizenship
into
the
kingdom
of
God
it's
a
declaration
of
allegiance
to
a
new
king
and
the
result
of
baptism
Peter
says
is
the
forgiveness
of
your
sins
forgiveness
is a
commercial
metaphor
that
conveys
the
remission
of
debt
God
grants
us
loan
forgiveness
because
of
our
disobedience
and
rebellion
we've
amassed
a debt
of
sin
that
we
can
never
repay
but
God
mercifully
forgives
our
debt
accepting
Jesus'
payment
on
our
behalf
on
the
cross
the
idea
that
baptism
results
in
forgiveness
of
sins
makes
us
as
Protestant
Christians
uncomfortable
but
it
shouldn't
because
it's
not
baptism
in
and
of
itself
or
baptism
by
itself
that
saves
Christ
commands
baptism
God
does
impart
his
grace
through
the
means
of
baptism
but
it's
not
a
rigid
formula
where
no
one
can
be
saved
without
it
for
example
in
Luke
23
verse
43
Jesus
assures
the
criminal
that's
being
crucified
next
to
him
that
he
will
be
with
him
in
paradise
even
though
obviously
he
has
not
been
baptized
1
Corinthians
1
14
Paul
says
Christ
did
not
send
me
to
baptize
but
to
preach
the
gospel
why
because
apart
from
faith
in
the
gospel
of
Jesus
Christ
baptism
does
nothing
we
also
see
in
Acts
chapter
10
verses
44
to
48
that
the
gift
of
the
Holy
Spirit
can
fall
upon
a
group
of
believers
before
their
baptism
prompting
Peter
to
say
well
can
anyone
withhold
water
for
baptizing
these
people
who
receive
the
Holy
Spirit
just
as
we
have
so
baptism
is
not
a
magical
ritual
that
saves
in
and
of
itself
apart
from
repentance
and
faith
nor
is
it
a
rigid
formula
without
which
no
one
can
be
saved
but
when
it
is
accompanied
by
genuine
repentance
and
faith
baptism
is
the
usual
and
ordinary
means
by which
God
marks
our
new
birth
and
imparts
his
Holy
Spirit
the
individual
repents
and
believes
the
church
baptizes
the
Holy
Spirit
regenerates
makes
alive
these
three
things
usually
happen
in
close
connection
to
each
other
throughout
scripture
but
even
when
it
mentions
only
one
of
them
it
has
all
three
of
them
in
view
repentance
and
baptism
go
together
they
usually
precede
the
gift
of
the
Holy
Spirit
so
he
says
repent
and
be
baptized
every
one
of
you
in
the
name
of
Jesus
Christ
for
the
forgiveness
of
sins
and
you
will
receive
the
gift
of
the
Holy
Spirit
the
Holy
Spirit
indwelling
presence
is
an
indispensable
mark
of
the
Christian
the
Spirit
is
God's
seal
on
us
his
stamp
of
ownership
and
without
the
Spirit
we
cannot
fulfill
our
Christian
calling
to
love
and
follow
Christ
there's
no
such
thing
as a
Christian
that
does
not
have
the
Holy
Spirit
Romans
chapter
8
verse
9
affirms
it
clearly
anyone
who
does
not
have
the
Spirit
of
Christ
does
not
belong
to
him
and
as
we
see
throughout
the
New
Testament
and
especially
in
1st
John
those
who
have
the
Holy
Spirit
confess
Jesus
Christ
and
obey
Jesus
Christ
that's
how
you
know
that
you
have
the
Holy
Spirit
that's
why
when
a
person
who
claims
to
be
a
Christian
strays
into
heresy
or
apostatizes
and
denies
Christ
or
engages
in
persistent
unrepentant
sin
the
church
disciplines
that
member
and
declares
that
he
or
she
is
not
a
spirit
indwelled
Christian
this
doesn't
mean
that
you
obey
Christ
perfectly
if
you're
a
Christian
but
it
does
mean
that
you're
always
repenting
and
believing
you're
always
growing
in
obedience
if
you
have
confessed
Christ
and
you
love
Christ
and
you're
seeking
to
please
him
with
your
life
that's
evidence
that
you
have
received
this
precious
gift
of
the
Holy
Spirit
but
if
you
have
not
received
the
gift
of
the
Holy
Spirit
you
must
repent
and
be
baptized
in
the
name
of
Jesus
Christ
if
you
are
not
yet
baptized
if
you
have
not
yet
pledged
allegiance
to
Jesus
in
this
way
and
put
all
your
faith
in
him
please
talk
to
someone
after
the
service
you
can
come
talk
to
me
and
we
can
prepare
you
for
the
baptism
that's
coming
up
and
this
invitation
knows
no
boundaries
Peter
says
in
verse
39
for
the
promises
for
you
and
for
your
children
and
for
all
who
are
far
off
everyone
whom
the
Lord
our
God
calls
to
himself
the
phrase
for
your
children
indicates
temporal
extent
the
salvation
and
the
gift
of
the
Holy
Spirit
that
Christ
offers
is
not
only
for
the
present
generation
but
it's
also
for
future
generations
the
phrase
for
all
who
are
far
off
indicates
spatial
extent
the
salvation
is
not
only
for
those
who
are
in
Jerusalem
but
it
will
reach
to
the
ends
of
the
earth
and
then
Peter
casts
it
all
off
with
another
quotation
from
Joel
2
32
the
latter
half
of
which
was
omitted
from
the
earlier
citation
from
Joel
it
says
everyone
whom
the
Lord
our
God
calls
to
himself
will
be
saved
once
again
we
see
the
interplay
between
divine
sovereignty
and
human
responsibility
Peter
said
early
in
verse
21
everyone
who
calls
on
the
name
of
the
Lord
shall
be
saved
but
he
says
here
in
verse
39
everyone
whom
the
Lord
God
calls
to
himself
shall
receive
the
promised
Holy
Spirit
and be
saved
you
find
both
of those
truths
throughout
scripture
and in
Joel
2
32
that
Peter
is
quoting
on
the
one
hand
we
issue
a
universal
invitation
we
plead
with
everyone
to
call
upon
the
same
time
remember
that
only
God
saves
only
those
whom
he
calls
get
saved
if
you
find
yourself
thinking
or
saying
things
like
well
there's
no
point
in
evangelizing
because
people
whom
God
has
called
will
be
saved
anyway
or
this
person
will
never
come
to
faith
in
Christ
because
he's
not
part
of
the
elect
then
you
have
resolved
this
tension
by
letting
go
of
human
responsibility
but
if
you
find
yourself
saying
things
like
this
well
that
person's
salvation
depends
on
me
and
my
persuasiveness
or
so many
people
are
becoming
Christians
because
I'm
such
a
great
evangelist
then
you
have
resolved
this
tension
by
letting
go
of
divine
sovereignty
verses
40
and 41
conclude
this
narrative
and
with
many
other
words
he
bore
witness
and
continued
to
exhort
them
saying
save
yourselves
from
this
crooked
generation
and
so
those
who
received
his
were
baptized
and
there
were
added
that
day
about
3,000
souls
every
generation
styles
itself
as an
improvement
over the
previous
generation
but
in truth
every
generation
is a
crooked
generation
that
rejects
Christ
and
we
must
be
saved
from
it
out
of
it
this
in
this
case
Peter's
message
is
well
received
it
says
about
3,000
people
are
baptized
but
the
proclamation
of the
gospel
doesn't
always
get
this
kind
of
reception
as
we
will
see
throughout
Acts
sometimes
when you
proclaim
the
gospel
people
throw
rocks
at
you
and
try
to
stone
you
to
death
but this doesn't make the apostles
go back to the drawing board
and then say well that didn't work
we must have said something wrong
what can we do differently next time
no you never find the apostles doing that
they keep proclaiming
the same gospel message
because they understand that the church grows
by the spirit empowered preaching
of the gospel of Jesus Christ
people change
the audience changes
but the gospel does not change
that many people are added to the church
does not necessarily indicate superior methods
of gospel proclamation
and that many people respond with hostility
and persecution does not necessarily indicate
inferior methods of gospel proclamation
everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord
shall be saved
everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself
shall be saved
and we are witnesses
not saviors
God will not judge us by the number of people
that are saved through us
but by whether or not we faithfully bore witness
to Jesus Christ
you are a Christian today
because somebody bore witness to Jesus Christ to you
whether it's your parents
or your friend
or your neighbor
so let's continue to carry this gospel torch
handed down to us from the apostles
and trust that this gospel
as it is proclaimed
will bear fruit
in our midst this year
let's pray together
yes Lord
grant us the faith
the boldness
to be faithful witnesses of Jesus
and help us never
to question for a moment
that it is your word
proclaimed by your spirit
that saves
that grows the church
help us never
lose our identity
as a church
that we are a church
of Christ
that ministers
the gospel
of Christ
in Jesus name we pray
Amen