Acts 2:38 Sunday School

Acts 2:37–39 KJV 1900

37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Tarry In Jerusalem

About two months prior to this sermon that was preached in Acts 2, the Lord had been crucified, buried, and rose again on the third day.

After Jesus had showed himself alive by many infallible proofs, he appeared unto his disciples in

Luke 24:48–49 KJV 1900

48 And ye are witnesses of these things. 49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

From there Jesus blessed them and ascended into heaven. These men and women made their way back to Jerusalem with great joy, worshiping God and excitedly awaited the promise.

We don’t know just how many heard the command “tarry in Jerusalem” but a three-year ministry of miracles, signs, and wonders accompanied by a death, the burial, and resurrection, resulted in 120 in the upper room obeying Christ command.

What a blessing it is to obey the word of the Lord, to believe in his resurrection, even if maybe we don’t understand the fullness of it yet, those who obey the Lord will be blessed.

Outpouring Of The Holy Ghost

These men and women did not simply “believe” what Jesus had said but they put action with their belief, believing that they would be “endued with power from on high”. They didn’t know how, they didn’t know when, they just knew Jesus said it, and they believed it. So they gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem with one mind and in one accord.

And true to his words, at the appointed time the Holy Ghost was poured out. Acts 2:2–4

Acts 2:2–4 KJV 1900

2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Heard in Jerusalem

During this event, there was a feast going on in Jerusalem, the feast of Pentecost (50 days after Passover), which was to celebrate the gathering of the first fruits. Men from all over were required to make their way to Jerusalem for this feast. These men from at least 15 different countries, heard all this going on and heard all of these Galileans speaking in their own language the wonderful works of God by the power of the Holy Ghost and because of this some were amazed, and other mocked calling them drunk.

Peters Message (death, burial, resurrection)

But apparently some of these claims were within ear shot of a very bold man that, not long ago had denied the Lord three different times but now had just received the Holy Ghost because in the midst of those in amazement and those who mocked Peter along with the 11 stood up and began to preach Christ to them, now by the authority of the Holy Ghost.

It was not Peter alone that was filled with the Holy Ghost and it was not Peter alone that stood up before the people, but also the 11, so anything that Peter said that was contrary to the word of the Lord they would have spoken up.

But Peter preached a powerful message of conviction and hope in the Saviour, about how these wicked men had killed the savior of the world, how he was buried in a tomb but now he had risen and verse

Acts 2:36 KJV 1900

36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

And suddenly the hearts of those there, sank with the gut-wrenching reality that they, had killed the messiah just like the prophets spoke about. They had heard the message and believed that Jesus was the Christ, but now what?

The Response

Acts 2:37 KJV 1900

37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

It is important that these men did not simply say Peters message was true and go their way but they placed action with their belief.

At the stoning of Steven in Acts 7, men were also pricked in their heart but they refused salvation and chose reject Stevens message. But here at Pentecost, they were convicted and wanted to know how they should respond to this message.

By the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, Peter tells them how to apply the Gospel message to their life.

Acts 2:38 KJV 1900

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Repentance

To repent means to change one’s mind, to perceive after a mind-changing truth or understanding.

Peter was telling them to change their mind about Jesus Christ, to believe on him and obey his commands contrary to how they had been living their life.

Repentance qualifies us for the next part of the gospel.

Be Baptized

Be Baptized or immersed in the name of Jesus Christ. This is the second thing Peter said that “everyone of you” should do in response to the gospel.

Some will respond to this by saying all you need to do is believe, which is true in context, however in Luke 24 Jesus did not say go and preach to all nations John 3:16 but he said

Luke 24:47 KJV 1900

47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

· In this simple message about baptism the words of Peter fulfills Mat 28:19, Mark 16, Luke 24:47, John 20:22-23

It is the name of Jesus that holds salvation for there is not other name given among men whereby we MUST be saved.

It is by obeying the command to repentance and be water baptized, that our sins are remitted.

· Table cloth – imagine If my wife puts a nice new table cloth over the kitchen table and I just sat down to eat some hamburger patties covered with gravy and mashed potatoes, maybe some black eyed peas with it and a nice cold Dr. Pepper. And the first thing I do is spill my ice cold drink all over her pretty new table cloth. I can ask her to forgive me, and she might, but there is still a stain in that once new table cloth, its spotted, imperfect. Its going to take somebody doing some hard work to remove the stains left even after forgiveness.

This does not mean that God ignores or turns a blind eye to our sins but here God washes away every sin and cast them into the sea of forgetfulness. He does not bring them back up, they are not held against you they are completely remitted, you are clean by the blood of Jesus Christ.

This baptism in Jesus name so vital to the apostles, that even after meeting the disciples of John the Baptist, a man who was sent by God and had the appropriate message for his time, they commanded them to be re-baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Why is it so important?

Romans 6:4 - buried with him in baptism

1 Corinthians 6:11 - to be sanctified

1 Peter 3:21 - to be saved (noah)

John 3:5 - to enter the kingdom of God

In the name of Jesus Christ

Matthew 28:19 - in the name of

Luke 24:47 - repentance and remission of sins preached in his name

Acts 2:38 - (Jews) in the name of Jesus Christ

Acts 8:16 - (Samaritans) they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ

Acts 10:48 (Gentiles) baptized in the name of the Lord, one Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 19:5 - (Johns disciples) They were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus

The Holy Ghost

The Last thing that Peter told them was that they would receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. To say that repentance and baptism saves a person, is incorrect. Jesus said in John 3 except a man be born of the water and the spirit he can not enter the kingdom of God. So one must complete the new birth experience spoken of by Jesus and the apostles. Peter says this Holy Ghost is a gift and we see from scripture it is always accompanied by a sign, speaking with new tongues.

Here in Acts 2 we see the Jews speaking with other tongues.

2. In Acts 8:16, we see Simon the sorcerer. the people had great miracles, signs, and wonders. they even hard great joy in the city and were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, but none of them had recieved the Holy Ghost. (Acts 8:16) So they called for Peter to come lay his hands on them so that they may receive the Holy Ghost, and he did. in amazement, wanted to buy this ability from the apostle Peter, to which Peter rebuked him.

3. Later in Acts 10, we see the same thing happening to the Gentiles.

Acts 10:45–46 (KJV 1900)

45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.

The Holy Ghost is a free gift, I wonder if sometimes we can over complicate it. God has no reason to withhold that gift from anyone other than a lack of belief or repentance. I often use to hear of tarrying for the Holy Ghost, but the only people that were ever told to tarry or wait on the promise, was the 120 until the appointed time, we are in that appointed time and people are still filled the exact same way, filled with the Holy Ghost speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance.

What about relationship?

People get angry about this Pentecostal message. It is popular to say you do not need all of that, you just need to believe and have a relationship with God, here is the problem with that.

The root of there anger is that they believe they are saved. “I have a relationship with God, I know I am saved. I feel secure” I’ve not experienced Acts 2:38 so what you are saying must be incorrect.

We will be judged by the word of God. We will not be judged according to our feelings. We wont even be judged by our relationship with God.

1. Adam and Eve had a relationship. After they sinned God came and talked to them while they were hiding.

2. Cornelius had a relationship with God – his prayers and alms came up as a memorial before God.

Acts 11:14 (NKJV) Send men to Joppa and ask for Simon (Peter)

14 who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.’

3. Cain – when he didn’t offer what he should, God talked with him.

After he killed his brother God came and talked to him but he wasn’t saved

• The relationship is proof of the great mercy love and longsuffering of God. It Proves that He came to seek and to save that which was lost. So even though you may have a relationship you still must obey the word of God as it is written.

Closing Unfortunately many are excluded by the Gospel, but there is not one soul that is excluded from the Gospel. It is not Gods will that any should parish but that ALL should come to repentance. His desire is that each man, woman, and child would believe and apply the death, the burial, and the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

· All who are Afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call – gentiles and Jews, every creature under heaven

· Repentance – turns us right - Godly sorrow worketh repentance

· Baptism – washes us, sanctifies us, buries us with Christ

· Holy Ghost – prepared for service and gives us hope of eternal life in the Resurrection

· This One gospel to all nations makes us new creatures in Christ Jesus AKA new testament Christians.