The Power of the Gospel

I want to ask you a question: Have you ever had an experience that shook you to your core? An experience that stopped you in your tracks and made you question everything you thought you knew?

This could be something as simple as realizing you've been driving on the wrong side of the road or as life-changing as the birth of your first child.

Life has a way of hitting us with revelations, both big and small.

Today, we'll dive into a powerful moment in Scripture where thousands of people were hit with a profound spiritual revelation that left them trembling and asking, "What shall we do?"

This was a moment when hearts were convicted, lives were transformed, and the Church as we know it was born.

We're diving into Acts 2:36-41, a part of Peter's sermon at Pentecost, a message that moved the hearts of listeners from denial to deep conviction, from ignorance to repentance, and from death to life.

These verses speak to us even today, reminding us that the Gospel still has the power to bring deep conviction and lead to life-altering conversion.

So, let's journey together into this transformative moment and see what it holds for us today.

Acts 2:36–41 NKJV

36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” 40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

The gospel message is powerful. This message empowered by the Holy Spirit will change lives. We see that...

The Gospel Brings Deep Conviction

The Holy Spirit helped the listeners with...

Understanding the Message

Acts 2:36 NKJV

36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Here Peter boldly proclaims a revelation that shakes the foundations of their understanding.

It’s a profound truth that challenges their beliefs and confronts their actions.

They had unknowingly crucified their own Messiah, the anointed one, who was sent to deliver them.

This reality introduces a new dimension to Jesus' identity, showing him not only as a prophet or a rabbi but as the Lord and Christ - the ultimate authority and the long-awaited savior.

It's this comprehension that begins to stir their hearts and lead them toward the path of conviction.

This is what happens today when we share the Gospel. The Holy Spirit opens the eyes of someone so they can see Jesus for who He is, and understand He is their Savior.

This new understanding helped them to...

Experiencing Heartfelt Conviction

Acts 2:37 NKJV

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

What we see here is the crowd's response to Peter's message.

Here we see the power of the Holy Spirit at work, convicting the hearts of the listeners.

They were "cut to the heart," a phrase indicating deep emotional and spiritual distress.

In Acts 5:33 when Peter said the disciples needed to obey God rather than men, the religious leaders were “cut to the heart.” And in Acts 7:54 before the religious leaders killed Stephen for telling others about Jesus, a different Greek word was used that suggested anger.

But here in verse 37, the Greek word John used meant “conviction for sin.”

This wasn't merely a passing sentiment; it was a profound, transformative conviction. They realized their sin and the gravity of their actions.

Their response - "What shall we do?" - shows their genuine desire to rectify their wrong and seek salvation.

This moment showcases how the gospel, coupled with the Holy Spirit's power, brings about deep conviction, which is the first crucial step toward salvation.

Next we see that...

The Gospel Leads to Conversion

Peter responds with what was necessary for them to be saved from condemnation. He gave...

The Call to Repentance

Acts 2:38–39 NKJV

38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

In response to their desperate plea, Peter delivers God's promise of redemption.

Many people today don’t like the word “repent.”

Being convicted of their sinful condition, Peter’s listeners asked, “What do we need to do?”

Peter’s answer? One word… Repent.

This word literally means “a changing of direction.” “A turning from one way to another way.”

This word is extremely important.

You may be thinking this morning, “But I thought it’s faith that saves us. You know, saved by grace through faith and all that stuff.”

You’re exactly right. It is faith alone that saves you.

But, it is a biblical understanding of faith that we’ve got to keep in mind here and that biblical understanding of faith involves repentance.

We’re turning from something to something. We can’t just add Jesus to our life and think we’re ok.

This call to repentance is not simply a call to regret or remorse; it is a call for a complete change of mind and direction, a turning away from sin and a turning towards God.

The act of baptism signifies this radical change of life and allegiance, and it is to be done in the name of Jesus Christ, symbolizing our identification with His death, burial, and resurrection.

It’s unfortunate that the translation here suggests that people must be baptized in order to be saved, because this is not what the Bible teaches.

The Greek word eis (which is translated “for” in the phrase “for the remission of sins”) can mean “on account of” or “on the basis of.”

In Matthew 3:11 John the Baptist baptized on the basis that people had repented. Acts 2:38 should not be used to teach salvation by baptism.

If baptism is essential for salvation, it seems strange that Peter said nothing about baptism in his other sermons (Acts 3:12–26; 5:29–32; 10:34–43).

In fact, the people in the home of Cornelius received the Holy Spirit before they were baptized! (Acts 10:44–48)

Since believers are commanded to be baptized, it is important that we have a clean conscience by obeying (1 Peter 3:21), but we must not think that baptism is a part of salvation.

If so, then nobody in Hebrews 11 was saved because none of them was ever baptized.

When Peter added “and to all who afar off” he was referring not only to the immediate listeners but also to future generations and those "far off" – a nod towards the inclusion of the Gentiles.

The promise of the Holy Spirit underscores that this is not merely a human endeavor but a transformative work of God.

We can’t save people. We can’t force people to trust Jesus by winning the argument or by biblical proof. It’s only by the work of the Holy Spirit.

Next we see...

The Response of Faith

Acts 2:40–41 NKJV

40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

Verses 40-41 record the fruit of the gospel message.

After presenting God's call to repentance and the promise of the Spirit, Peter earnestly exhorts the listeners to heed the message.

He does not sugarcoat the truth. He calls out the corruption of the present generation and calls them to separate themselves from it.

And in response to Peter's plea, many accepted his message, resulting in a mass conversion and the formation of the early Christian community.

It is a powerful reminder that the gospel doesn't just bring conviction; it leads to a transformation that affects our lives, our relationships, and our communities.

When the Holy Spirit indwells us, we cannot help but be changed. No change, no new life.

A great preacher from the past, George Whitfield would stand and preach to 20,000 people without a microphone, I don’t know how he did it. It’s just amazing how God used this guy to lead many people to Christ.

People would come up to him and ask him after they had a meeting they’d say, “How many people were saved in the meeting tonight or this week?”

His response? He would say, “I don’t know we will see in about six months.”

You don’t hear that from a lot of evangelists today, you hear, “Well we had this number or that number.”

Whitfield wasn’t saying over the next six months they were going to earn their salvation. What he was saying was we’re going to see who’s repentant by their lives.

Do our lives reflect that in a continuation in a seeking after Christ?

As we draw this message to a close, let's not lose sight of the profound truths we've uncovered from Acts 2:36-41.

We've seen how the Gospel brings deep conviction, stirring hearts and revealing the reality of our sin.

But we've also witnessed the incredible promise of conversion - a call to repentance, a path to forgiveness, and the promise of the Holy Spirit for all who put their faith in Christ.

The beauty of the Gospel message is that it not only confronts us with our sins but also offers us hope and transformation. Just like the people who heard Peter's sermon 2000 years ago, we are also called to make a decision. We must decide whether we will accept this message or continue living our lives apart from God.

My challenge to you today is this: Do not walk away from this service unmoved.

Let the message of the Gospel penetrate your heart. Reflect on the deep conviction it brings. Allow it to expose areas in your life that need repentance and healing. And most importantly, respond to God's call to conversion.

Here are three practical next steps that I encourage you to take this week:

1. Personal Reflection: Spend some time in prayerful introspection this week. Ask God to reveal areas in your life where you need to repent and turn to Him.

2. Public Profession: If you haven't been baptized yet, consider taking this step of obedience to outwardly profess your faith in Christ. Speak to a church leader about getting baptized as a symbol of your identification with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.

3. Community Involvement: Seek to actively participate in a church community. Just as the early Christians in Acts committed to a new community of faith, we also need the encouragement and support of fellow believers in our spiritual journey.

Remember, it is the Holy Spirit who convicts, converts, and comforts.

Let's respond to His prompting, and let's witness the transformative power of the Gospel in our lives, just as the early believers did on that remarkable day of Pentecost.

May God guide us and empower us as we commit to these steps. Amen.