Everyone Who Calls part 2
You Are Witnesses of These Things • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 8 viewsNotes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
I remember my first couple of sermons well...well, sort of...
Last week we looked at the first sermon preached by the church of Jerusalem since the Ascension of Christ Jesus.
We saw that Peter starts off by assuring the crowds that the disciples weren’t drunk, but that what has happened fulfilled Scripture. That, as prophesied in the book of Joel, the Holy Spirit has come upon the disciples and that the day of the Lord has begun!
Next, Peter tells them that the inauguration of this came with the death and resurrection of Jesus, who they helped to execute.
The first call to response comes from the book of Joel: everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. That Lord, of course, is Jesus.
But, before inviting the people to follow Jesus, Peter must convince them of the resurrection. That’s where we pick up this morning.
Body
Body
Verses 25-36
One of the most vital teachings of the Christian church is the resurrection of Jesus.
In fact, if there is no resurrection, there is no Christian faith today!
And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
Because of the importance of the resurrection, it is vital that Peter attempt to convince his audience of the truth of the resurrection.
Peter argues that Jesus resurrection was part of God’s saving plan all along.
Quotation from Ps. 16:8-11
This is one of the interesting passages in the OT where two things are being talked about. The meaning, and then the deeper meaning. It is very possible that David didn’t even know the deeper meaning when he penned it, we don’t know.
David is talking about his own experience, but it’s even more deeply talking about the Messiah.
We see the same thing with Isaiah 7:14.
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Peter’s argument then is that Jesus of Nazareth is the fulfillment of this prophecy because his body did not see corruption or decay (v. 27). Thus, Jesus is the Messiah.
Peter points out that David couldn’t have been simply talking about himself because he was, in fact, dead and everyone there knew where his body was (south of the city, near Siloam).
Next, Peter brings the focus back to the Pentecost experience, helping the people to see that what was going on was brought about because of the fulfilled promise of God through the exaltation of Christ Jesus.
Peter furthers the argument by showing that this “power” they had, is actually the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, yet another proof that Jesus was the Messiah.
Then Peter quotes Ps. 110:1
Once again, pointing out that David didn’t ascend to the heavens, so this Psalm is talking about the Messiah.
Where did Peter get this idea? (Luke 20:41-44)
But he said to them, “How can they say that the Christ is David’s son? For David himself says in the Book of Psalms,
“ ‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’
David thus calls him Lord, so how is he his son?”
This isn’t suggesting that David didn’t go to heaven. What Peter is saying here is that David, unlike Jesus, was dead and buried and remained so. Jesus, on the other hand, died and rose again, then ascended into heaven alive.
Verse 36 is the invitation to respond to the truth.
They were being called to respond to Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah, but also as exalted Lord...
Lord & Christ...
...this Jesus whom you crucified...the people needed to be confronted with their guilt...
Verses 37-39
What does it mean to be “cut to the heart”?
“cut to the heart” here means “pieced” or “stabbed.”
The people were overwhelmed with their guilt.
And why not! If Jesus was indeed the Messiah and Lord, then how great is the offensive of having him killed!
Imagine that there may have been some there that yelled, “Crucify him!”
They likely felt like they had no hope!
But there was hope!
The hope is found in the call to repent.
Repentance is more than a feeling of fear because of the potential punishment. It’s a deep feeling of remorse because of our sin guilt before the Holy, Holy Holy God, and a turning away from said sin towards Christ Jesus for forgiveness.
It is a radical reorientation of one’s life because of sin.
It doesn’t mean we will never sin again, or even never sin again like the sin before. It means we recognize that the sin is an affront to the Holy God, and we make a concerted effort to not turn back. When one stumbles, he or she will confess and repent.
While repentance call for human effort, it is also a gift of God through the convicting work of the Holy Spirit.
They were also called to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
The idea here is to be baptized on the basis of their faith in Jesus.
Baptism was, and continues to be, a public identification with Christ Jesus.
Calling upon Jesus as one’s Lord and Messiah is what makes someone Christian. Following Jesus through the baptismal waters is a first step of obedience within that new confession.
But wait, it says, “...for the forgiveness of your sins...”
It’s important that we don’t separate this from the repentance; Peter is not suggesting that baptism forgives sins.
If someone has to be baptized to be saved, then no one in Hebrews 11 was saved.
Additionally, the thief on the cross was never baptized.
And, throughout Scripture we see that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone.
Here, a better interpretation of the Greek sense is: “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ because of the forgiveness of your sins.”
What is the “gift of the Holy Spirit”?
The Holy Spirit himself!
Not to be confused with the “gifts” of the Holy Spirit.
But things didn’t end there, they just began.
It was for those there, their families, and even those far off.
It’s unlikely that Peter even knew the full extent of his words at this point. He was probably referring to Jews alone, not knowing yet that it would extend even to the Gentiles.
Throughout his sermon, Peter continues to make it clear that God is doing all this; the gift of the Holy Spirit, the death and resurrection of Christ, and calling people to himself.
Called his effectual calling...
Verses 40-41
Consider that fact that 3000 people getting saved is more in one day than in all of Jesus ministry.
It’s proof positive of what Jesus said in John 14:12
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
A new community is formed as new believers are added to the original 120.
And we will see what God does with this new community next week.
So What?
So What?
Peter’s sermon makes the points easy for a preacher!
Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be saved.
Jesus was killed and yet rose victoriously from the grave and is, even now, living and exalted in Heaven as both Lord and Christ.
If we haven’t already, the call for us is to repent and then follow Jesus through the baptismal waters.
