What Shall We Do?

Context

We are told in verse one of Acts chapter two the people that Peter would end up preaching to were gathered together in one place on the Day of Pentecost. Pentecost was the annual Jewish harvest festival celebrated seven weeks after passover. We now know it to be the day that the Holy Spirit was poured out on God’s people. This occurred fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Something new was happening in and among the people, and Luke tells us in verse four that all were filled with the Holy Spirit. Pastor Josh helped us understand the reference to people speaking in tongues last week, but the people were enabled to speak in a language they did not know nor understood to demonstrate that a new era of redemption that was anticipated under the Old Covenant has now come.

But many of the people responded to this new movement of God with amazement and confusion and some thought it was nothing more than people getting drunk and acting ridiculous (12-13). So in this moment of amazement, bewilderment and suspicion, Peter preaches the Word. His sermon made clear that what was happening was prophesied in the book of Joel, and in doing so, he elevated the person and work of Jesus the Messiah.

But in addition to bringing clarity to what was happening, he proclaimed that those who heard his voice were in a dire state. He says in verse 23:

Acts 2:23 ESV

23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.

They killed the Messiah. They were the lawless men. And preaching from Psalm 110, Peter exposes just how dire their situation is by declaring they are the enemies of God. As the Psalm says:

Psalm 110:1–2 ESV

1 The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” 2 The Lord sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies!

They are the enemies of the Messiah who will become His footstool, and no force against the Messiah will ever prevail over Him. They crucified the One whom God has made both Lord and Christ.

What comes next is the people’s response to

Peter’s sermon

Peter’s response to their response

and a description of the impact of the sermon on the people’s way of life.

What we will see in the rest of Acts 2 is the result of Spirit-wrought awakening. Real transformation for the glory of God.

Read Text

Acts 2:37–47 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.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Introduction

On March 28 of this year, the State Audit Office in Bangkok, Thailand was devastated by an earthquake. The earthquake registered a magnitude of 7.7 and resulted in the deaths of at least 96 people. As the search and rescue crew did their work to find survivors, it is reported they would cry out for any survivors. Many of the workers would cry out asking if there was anyone who could hear their voices, and then they would all stop calling out. Everyone was silent amidst all the rubble, hoping for a response. A video was posted of the workers waiting in silence to hear, and on one occasion, a desperate voice could be heard saying, help. It was both chilling and hopeful all at once. It was chilling as the workers were heard calling out for survivors and then waiting in silence with the hope of hearing a response, but hopeful when one voice was heard crying out for help.

You and I are not used to being completely helpless. I know we are aware of our limitations. Some of us may dwell upon them more than others, but we know we are finite. We have weaknesses, vulnerabilities, limited strength and wisdom. I cannot imagine what it is like to be trapped underneath a pile of rubble. No ability to free myself, not sure if anyone is looking for me or if I would be found. Just absolutely unable to do anything to free myself. The person heard on that video was crying for help be he or she could not free themselves.

This was the state of the people who heard Peter’s sermon in Acts 2. They were confronted with their guilt and their helplessness, and they saw that there was nothing that they could do about it. This is the reality of sin. People are trapped under the weight of their sin, and while some try to escape it, find a way out, perhaps wait for someone in their life who will provide escape, all is ultimately futile.

Peter’s audience cried out for help. They had saw no answer, they had no answer. But as we will see, though they were far off, their rescue was near.

FCF

There are many, and perhaps you are one of them, but there are many who labor in the futility rescuing themselves despite the fact that they are helpless to do so.

But what we will see this morning is that

Main Idea

God rescues the helpless.

The events of the Day of Pentecost are difficult to imagine, but what you and I can imagine is what the people who heard Peter’s sermon were able to see: They were helpless and needed rescue.

Analytical Idea

What is the process of God’s rescue of sinners?

In our text, the people respond to Peter’s sermon, Peter responds to their response and the effects of of the ministry of the Word preached is seen in their lives. So, the outline for the rest of our time this morning is:

The response of the people: which is one of desperation

The reconciling promise: which is the promise of salvation

The refuge of partnership: which can be seen the the people’s new devotions.

The process of God’s rescue of sinners begins with:

The Response of the People: Desperation (37)

So, again, the people understood they were far off.

What did Peter declare about them in his sermon?

They crucified Jesus who was declared by God to be Lord and Christ. He was the Messiah, and they crucified Him.

They are the enemies of God referenced in Psalm 110. Christ will come again and make His enemies His footstool.

Upon coming to this realization, the ask their desperate question at the end of verse 37: brothers, men, what shall we do? This is the right question. It reflects they understand what’s at stake.

Now, Peter answers, but before we get to his answer, I want us to see that the people sensed their need. There’s a reason they are asking what they can do is they know they need something that they cannot provide themselves: Forgiveness.

What they did: killed the Messiah

Who they are: Enemies of the Messiah

This understanding came as a result of hearing the word of God preached. Peter preached from Joel 2; Psalm 16 and Psalm 110. As the people heard this word preached, they saw clearly.

So, their need was forgiveness. Forgiveness from God.

Now, notice how their response is described: they were cut to the heart. They were pierced in the heart. They were wounded in their conscience.

There’s an idea here that their wounded conscience left them speechless. They had no words, no excuse, no explanation, no defense. They were guilty and they knew it. So they ask, what shall we do.

Why is this a good response? It’s desperate. When our eyes are opened to the offense of our sin towards God, we see and feel our desperation.

This reminded me of when Paul and Silas were in prison. Acts 16.

Acts 16:25–26 ESV

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened.

The prisoners were freed, but the one who was responsible to make sure they stayed imprisoned was now in trouble.

Acts 16:27 ESV

27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.

The jailer thought his life was over because the prisoners escaped under his watch. But all was not lost:

Acts 16:28–31 ESV

28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

The jailer knew his situation was desperate, and he was going to take matters into his own hands, but Paul and Silas intervened. The jailer’s eyes were opened to something much bigger and more important than keeping some men in prison, and asks the right question: Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

Peter’s audience asked the same question. Brothers, men what shall we do? Peter answered by putting forth the promise of God.

This brings us to the next part of the process of God’s rescue of sinners.

The reconciling promise: Salvation (38-41)

What does Peter say the people need?

Forgiveness from God (38)

The first word in verse 38 is a command: repent. If asked to define repentance you might say it is to be sorrowful over your sin. You might say that it is to turn away from your sin (180 degree turn). And both of these are true of repentance, but there’s more to it.

Peter’s call to repent echoes the preaching of John the Baptist.

Luke 3:8 ESV

8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.

And John linked the call to repent to his proclamation that thw Kingdom of Heaven (of God) had drawn near.

Matthew 3:2 ESV

2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Jesus preached this same message

Matthew 4:17 ESV

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

And after Jesus fulfilled His mission by dying, rising from the dead and ascending to heaven, the exhortations to repent was more explicitly to Jesus. For example:

Acts 3:17–21 ESV

17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

Remember what we saw last week regarding the completed work of Christ:

Acts 2:33 ESV

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.

Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father, received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father and sent the Spirit to empower His people to serve Him. The New Covenant was being fulfilled in this.

Repentance is a change in posture towards Jesus. Yes, repentance involves sorrow over our sin, turning away from our sin, but even more fundamentally repentance is a reorientation to Jesus who has secured the pathway to redemption and has sent the Holy Spirt to apply redemption to sinners. I came across a John MacArthur quote that captures some of this:

false repentance dreads the consequences. True repentance dreads sin itself. John MacArthur

A sorrow over offending Christ, rejecting Christ, rebelling against Christ. This is the offense of our sin.

Faithfulness to God (38)

The next exhortation from Peter is to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. This is a command for everyone.

Back to the ministry of John the Baptist, his baptism was a sign of repentance:

Luke 3:3 ESV

3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

But was also clear about John baptism was that it was preparation for the coming Messiah and His baptism with the Holy Spirit:

Luke 3:16 ESV

16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Now that Jesus has secured the promises of the New Covenant, those who become members of the covenant community through repentance are called to be baptized. Water baptism is the sign of the New Covenant.

I realize that isolated from other parts of Scripture, what I just said about the relationship between repentance and baptism is a bit of an imposition on this particular text. It does read, repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins… It should be noted that it is possible to interpret the word for (for the forgiveness of sin) as because of (because of the forgiveness of sins), but that’s probably not the strongest argument here. One could read this to mean that one must be baptized in order to have forgiveness of sins. So what keeps us from doing this. The rule of faith. Allowing for Scripture to interpret scripture.

Luke’s usual connection to the forgiveness of sins is repentance and does not include baptism:

Luke 24:47 ESV

47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

Acts 3:19 ESV

19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,

Acts 5:31 ESV

31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

But where does the idea of faithfulness come in here?

Think of who Peter was exhorting to be baptized. Jews who were opposed to Jesus and all that he stood for. Who rejected the idea that the Messiah had come. Now they are called to express their repentance publicly by being baptized in the name of the One who they had once rejected. To express their new relationship to Jesus for everyone to see. To demonstrate they are not ashamed, not hesitant, not apologetic, but unashamedly devoted to Jesus.

Those who come into the new covenant community are forgiven people, but they are also unashamedly faithful people. When we are baptized, we are declaring our allegiance to Christ, our commitment to Him, to proclaim His name to those who are crying out, what shall we do?

They were now to be in fellowship with God through Christ. They were now united with Him in a death like His and a resurrection like His. Baptism demonstrates this reality.

For Peter’s audience to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ would likely result in their loss of family relationships, work relationships and societal ostracization. Being baptized meant for the Jew in this day to be a blasphemer deserving of execution. We’re talking about significant sacrifice.

But, consider what Paul says in Colossians:

Colossians 2:11–13 ESV

11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

What was the sign of the Old Covenant? Circumcision. What does Paul say here? In His crucifixion, Jesus was cut (circumcised) so that we could be cut in our hearts through regeneration (circumcision of the heart).

Sometimes it is said that baptism replaced circumcision. It didn’t so much replace it, but fulfilled what it pointed to. People would not experience a mere cutting of the flesh to signify a connection to the covenant community, but would, on the basis of Christ’s crucifixion, experience a circumcision of the heart which resulted in the promises of the New Covenant being applied to us. It resulted in peace with God. Water baptism shows that we are recipients of these blessings.

So, the need is to be forgiven, the answer to this need is to repent, and the sign that this new posture towards the Messiah exists is baptism. This is salvation. This is peace with God. And, it’s important to be clear that we do not acquire this through our effort. Repentance is a gift. Seeing our offense as an offense against God is supernatural.

Peter drives this point home by saying that we will receive the gift of the Holy Spirt (39). This is the gift that Jesus referenced in John 14.

John 14:15–17 ESV

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Repenting of our sin, being transformed so that we identify with Christ regardless of the consequences… a gift from God and accomplished through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

This is what Peter preached from Joel’s prophecy (Acts 2:18), that there would come a day when God would pour out His Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes to reside in those who repent of their sins.

And be clear on this: the gift of the Holy Spirit (end of v. 38) is the Holy Spirit. It is that He will come to reside in His people. This is what Joel prophesied, it’s what Jesus promised and it’s what Peter preached.

And when we get to verse 39, the promise that is mentioned is the Holy Spirit. He is promised to all those who repent of their sins. Will their children repent of their sins… will our children repent of their sins? That is our prayer, and we long for it to happen, and this promise if for all who will.

Those who are far off is a reference to the Gentiles. The idea that Gentiles could be counted among the children of God… as part of the covenant community was preposterous to many Jews. I don’t think I’m stretching the application here too much to encourage us that those who we may think are so far away from Christ. Who are rejecting Him and rebelling against Him which makes it difficult for us to imagine them ever repenting of their sins, keep praying! They may be far off, but God draws such near to Himself.

Peter preaching that people need forgiveness, they need faithfulness, and they also need to

Flee to God (40)

Like most preachers, Peter is not content to say something in two minutes. Notice in verse 40: and with many other words… What did he preach with these many words?

Peter bore witness, that is he solemnly testified or even warned his audience. He then issues a passive command: save yourselves or be saved from this crooked generation. The generation in which they were living was crooked or corrupt.

Peter is proclaiming the need for salvation. The corruption that is in us and in the world is in the crosshairs of the judgement of God. Peter’s audience needed to be saved from the corrupting and damning influence of their society. This reminded me of how Jesus described the generation in Luke’s gospel:

Luke 9:41 ESV

41 Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.”

A word of caution regarding our responsibility to evangelize the lost. Don’t soften the reality of sin and judgement in an attempt to make the gospel more palatable. Certainly, we should exercise discretion and wisdom as we interact with various people who have various experiences, but what everyone has in common is a need to repent of their sins out of a recognition that they are violaters of God’s law and need to be forgiven by God.

Our evangelism is a call to flee the corruption, but also to declare that the only refuge that anyone has in this world is in the loving care our Savior.

And we see the results:

Acts 2:41 ESV

41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

This movement of the Spirt was captures the hope of anyone who has ever prayed for revival. But are we ready for revival? Is our church ready for revival. The next section of our text will help us answer this question.

So we have the

response of the people: desperation

the reconciling promise: salvation

and finally

The refuge of partnership: Devotion (42-47)

Persistent Practices

You may have heard described as both a lighthouse and a hospital. It’s a lighthouse in that it shows people the way. It does this by proclaiming the gospel and declaring that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. It is a hospital in that it is a place for the sick. It is a community in which spiritual healing can take place in those who are burdened and broken by sin. Where the word of God is applied to injured souls and ongoing care is provided.

The care the church is able to provide is centered around certain devotions. These devotions are the sustenance we need to persist in our devotion to Christ as we contend with sin within and without. In fact, notice the word devoted in verse 42: They devoted themselves. This means they continued in, persisted in. The way of life that is described here sustains those who practice them by faith.

Verse 42 lists the four practices the people devoted themselves to, and they are unpacked more in verses 43-47. What are these practices?

Ministry of the Word

Meeting with the Saints

Mutual Meals

Meaningful Meetings

Ministry of the Word: The Apostles Teaching

Remember what is described in verse 37: the people cried out, what shall we do?. What led to this display of desperation. The ministry of the Word. Peter preached the Word, and the Spirit moved among people to bring about repentance. But it did not stop there. The people devoted themselves to, that is they persisted in the word of God. They wanted to hear the teaching of the apostles. They wanted it because they knew they needed it.

Verse 43 tells us that awe or fear came upon every soul. The apostles did many wonders and signs among them, but it seems to me that this fear was not just in response to the miracles, but came and developed in a context where the Scriptures were proclaimed. The teaching of the apostles was nothing to be trifled with. When they spoke, God worked in and among them.

This is the expectation and prayer you and I should have for the ministry of the Word here. That God would empower the teaching and preaching of the Word and apply His word to the hearts of those who hear. Bringing about conversion, bringing about transformation and maturity.

Meeting with the saints: fellowship

Some of us are meeting once a month in a marriage small group. We’re using a curriculum called, What Did You Expect. Great title for a marriage curriculum, right? Any way, just last night the teacher (Paul Tripp) said this about relationships: I believe the ministry of the church is blunted and aborted because too many in the church are content with shallow relationships. In other words, too many prefer safe relationships and safe conversations. But when people of the church get together and talk about sports, weather, politics and food, that is often called fellowship.

The author of Hebrews provided an important purpose of fellowship or meeting together with the church:

Hebrews 3:13 ESV

13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

This kind of exchange between people… this kind of care is not provided in the context of casual relationships. This does not happen in safe relationships and safe conversations. But the fellowship of the church aims at the soul. We care for one another, and care about what is most important about people. To be concerned that someone is not hardened by the deceitfulness of sin cannot occur in superficiality.

Now you may have heard the Greek word koinonia before. It the word that is translated fellowship in verse 42. It means common, having things in common, sharing.

I suggest that verses 44-45 unpack fellowship. Notice verse 44:

Acts 2:44 ESV

44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.

The word common is the same word translated fellowship in verse 42. And the people who believed, were together and had all things in common sacrificed of themselves for one another. Notice, that they believed which I think is a reference to their common profession in Christ, is not irrelevant to their fellowship. Their belief in the gospel is foundational to their connection and devotion to one another. But do you see how intertwined their lives are. Nothing casual about what is described here.

Mutual Meals: the breaking of bread

I am inclined to think the breaking of bread in verse 42 is a reference to the Lord’s Supper, but what is said in verse 46 must be considered as well: breaking bread in their homes. But something we should take note of is how precious it was to the early church to meet together. To worship together in the temple. The communion service is an expression of the grace of God in the lives of believers, but that is meant to be experienced among the gathered church. Worshipping together, meeting together, eating together… love for God and one another on display.

Meaningful Meetings: prayers

They devoted themselves to prayer in verse 42. Verse 47 tells us that when they got together they praised God. When they got in touch with one another, they got in touch with God. They sought God together. The prayed together.

Pastor Josh emphasized the importance of the Wednesday night prayer meeting last week. I will again today. Praying with and hearing your brothers and sisters petition God in prayer is nourishment to the soul.

So devoting ourselves to these practices is how we be the church. Centering ourselves on the teaching of God’s Word, fellowship, worshipping together (partaking of communion) and prayer. This is the refuge those who have repented of their sins and devoted themselves to Christ amidst a world that hates Him.

Conclusion

God rescues the helpless.

The response of the people: which is one of desperation

The reconciling promise: which is the promise of salvation

The refuge of partnership: which can be seen the the people new devotions.

Notice how verses 41 & 47 end:

the Lord added to their number. As much as it is clear that the world hates Jesus and all those who follow Him, by God’s grace people see the beauty of Jesus through the display of His love through the church. The picture of real love and real relationships that is painted in verses 42-47 possess an appeal to a world that us hungry for this. We know that people pursue love and relationship with futility because they reject Jesus, but the church can display what they need. How is this possible?

Because the church is comprised people who have repented of their sin, and have gone from a posture of hostility towards Jesus to loving followers. And those who love Christ love those who love Christ. The world yearns for this and yet, there is only one way. Pray that God will use us to bring about the pricking of their hearts, so they cry out to God, what shall we do?