Make Me Over

Acts 2:37–39 ESV

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?” 38 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. 39 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.”

Changed Apostle Peter

People in the upper room began to speak in tongues.

Those outside listening were perplexed and questioned the legitimacy of it all.

That's when Peter, an apostle, stands up to speak -- This becomes his first and most powerful sermon after Christ.

Now, after hearing and listening to apostle Peter, these people were said to be "cut to the heart." It's a great expression of what we call conviction -- You see, from vv. 14-36 apostle Peter gives a sermon so convicting and powerful, that it brings 3,000 people to give their lives for God.

But before we get into what Peter said, can we take a moment to consider the person.

Who is Peter?

How did he become this phenomenal preacher?

How did he just convince 3,000 people to believe in an invisible God?

I have been watching debates of atheist the past month — If you really want to be challenged in your faith, I highly recommend listening to Matt Dillahunty — He really challenges Christians to argue for God with evidence and not claim.

Who is Peter?

We know Peter as the first disciple called by Jesus -- He and his brother Andrew were fishing when Jesus came to them and said, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men" (Matt 4:19).

From there we begin to see the character arc of Peter.

He's bold and courageous -- While everyone remained quiet, it was Peter who was unafraid to speak out with answers or questions.

He's a risk taker -- What he learned from Jesus, he put into practice by lunging into it. Whether he's praying for healing for the sick or trying to walk on water, Peter was fearless.

He's also a thinker -- While the other disciples couldn't answer Jesus when He asked, "Who do you say I am?" it was Peter who spoke up and said, "You are the Messiah!" Often people view Peter to be a man of action, but he's a thinker, too!

But this is only half the story when it comes to Peter.

Listen to the remaining half:

Remember when Peter walked on water? -- Doubt creeped in. He looked around the raging sea, felt the wind picking up speed, he looked down and saw water beneath him. Eventually, he began to sink and heard from Jesus the words, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

Remember when Peter confessed Jesus is the Messiah? -- Did you know? Peter was rebuked shortly after by Jesus. Jesus said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."

Remember when Jesus brought Peter to the mountain where He was transfigured? — It said the spirit of Moses and Elijah appeared. James and John stood there in awe and knew their place, but Peter got ahead of himself and literally said, "It is good that I'm here," and began building a tent for them -- He was out of pocket.

This is the Peter (other half) we need to keep in mind as we try to understand how his sermon brought 3,000 people to Christ.

And that's not all -- It was only a month and a half ago when this Peter watched Jesus get nailed hands and feet on the cross. And when bystanders questioned him as a disciple, Peter denied it three times.

So, my question is, what happened to Peter in a span of 50 days that he is now boldly preaching Christ? How is it that this flawed individual is bringing thousands of people to Jesus with a single sermon?

Working Powers of the Holy Spirit

During the episode of Off the Pulpit this week, Pastor Tommy had asked whether or not if I ever experienced the power of the Holy Spirit -- As in, did I ever experience something supernatural?

Well, I did.

The story I shared was the story of my salvation. It's easy for people to look at my life and conclude pastoring and being a Christian was natural or meant to be. No, that's not remotely true.

Miracle of Salvation

Sure, I grew up in a Christian home, my father is a minister, and I spent my entire childhood in church...

But did you know I grew up with lot of resentment, bitterness, and anger?

Did you know I spent numerous nights where I thought God was bogus and a waste of time even thinking about?

Did you know, even today, I struggle mightily with sin? Sometimes, my mind runs rampant on evil thoughts, my heart desires worldly content, my flesh behaves in opposite of holy and righteousness.

When God saved me at age 14, that was a supernatural miracle. As God continues to forgive me of my sins and sanctify me, that's the working powers of the Holy Spirit.

God somehow melted away all of my resentment, bitterness, and anger. He restored my relationships and built a bridge between us. And can I tell you, that's a miracle.

It's a miracle that God took a whimpering coward, that is Peter, to a courageous and bold preacher. It's a complete makeover from God.

You Can Be Transformed

And listen, please hear me, you are offered the same makeover. There's nothing about Peter that's better than you. And there's nothing about you that God cannot redeem or restore.

"Oh, but what about blaspheming the Holy Spirit?" -- Most church people know the verse that tells us there's this one unforgivable sin. But I'll help you understand this clearly.

It's not that God can't forgive. Nor is it that God won’t forgive. Let's not misunderstand and think God has limits or boundaries. He is an infinite and all powerful God; there's nothing He is incapable of doing.

When He says, "Whoever blasphemes the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven," is due to the fact that it's our freedom of choice to reject salvation. And God will never force Himself on us -- How can He forgive someone who resists grace, mercy, and who says, “I don’t want your love?”

There's no sin God's forgiveness can’t cover. How foolish for us to ever think we're too sinful for God? How silly for us to believe God can't love a sinner like us?

A friend who I’d invite to church always said, “God would strike me dead before I step foot inside.” (He felt his sins were too great)

Speaking of sin, listen to what Peter says near the end of his sermon/message.

Our Imputed Sin

Acts 2:36 ESV

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.”

No wonder it states, right after those words that they were "cut to the heart." How could it not hearing that they crucified Christ?

But wait a minute, are these 3,000 people (who were cut to the heart) the ones who nailed Jesus on the cross? No. Were they even there on site where Jesus died? Probably not. Were they explicitly involved in the death of Jesus? Not at all.

Then why is Peter pointing his finger and blaming them for Jesus' death? -- This is known as imputed sin -- A sin they did not commit with their actions, words, or thought, but it has been imputed onto them. And guess what? We are guilty of the same sin.

You and I, by and through imputed sin, have crucified Christ on the cross. And I know, it's not fair, it's doesn't make sense, and how can God punish me for something I had nothing to do with!? How is this a loving God? Here we are 2,000 years removed from Jesus' death and we're punished for it?

Let's slow down and understand -- He did not commit the sins you have, yet He died for you. He is also 2,000 years removed in the past of our present sins, but He paid it all on that cross -- If we're willing to accept that our sins were forgiven on that cross, can we accept we had our hands on nailing Him?

At the heart of Peter's message is this -- We crucified Christ. And here's what they wondered...

Acts 2:37 ESV

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?”

And hear what Peter says because this is the makeover we desperate need.

Acts 2:38–39 ESV

38 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. 39 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.”

We Need a Makeover

Everyone, do you get it? You and I are stained with sin through and through. Past, present, and future. There's no way around this fact; we are sinners.

Isaiah uses the most fitting language to describe our state of sin, albeit distasteful -- "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6, KJV).

That's who we are. That's who I am.

The word "repent" in Greek is metanoeō -- It means to reconsider. More specifically, it's to have a change of self (heart and mind) that abandons our former dispositions and results in a new self, new behavior, and regret over former behavior and dispositions.

And the question that looms over each of us right now hearing this is, "Have you truly repented?"

It is not true repentance to have said a prayer.

It is not true repentance to feel guilty and/or remorse.

It is not true repentance to have repented as a child and never repented again since.

True repentance begins with you cut to the heart because your life conflicts with what you hear and read from the scriptures.

Therefore, you must not ignore your sinful ways, but to turn, reconsider, and repent from our wickedness.

And that includes (but not limited to):

Your lying lips.

Your lustful thoughts.

Your drunken nights.

Your selfish decisions.

Your sexual immorality.

Your prideful attitude.

Your jealous heart.

Your greed for more.

Your deceitful behaviors.

Your ignorance of God.

We need a makeover. We must pray, "God, make me over. Do to my heart what you did in Noah's Ark. Do to my life what you did with the dry bones. Do to my mind what you did with Job. Make me new!" This ought to be our prayer right now!

And as I’ve said, if Peter can change, so can you. That’s the power of the Holy Spirit we are learning today.

You don’t have to second guess or hesitate — Place your life into the hands of God’s mercy and dive in.

Benediction

May the Lord bless you and keep you.

May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.

May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.

Amen.