Is the Gospel Still Deep? - Acts 2:37-38

Scripture Passage

Acts 2:22–38

22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25 David said about him: “ ‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, 27 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’ 29 “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ’

36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

38 Peter replied, “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.”

What is the gospel message?

Sometimes we forget that the good news is actually good. Sometimes we forget that the good news is actually news.

As Christians who are living out faith our struggle is not to be free but to live in our freedom. Our moment of conversion is so powerful and at the same time reminds us of how the gospel has become dull and surface level.

“What happened to that passion or that fire that I had for God?” “Is this just what being a Christian is?”

What has weakened the impact of the gospel in your life?

Could it be the sin you are still trying to get rid of?

Maybe it’s how stale your alone time with God has been.

Are you surrounded by the wrong kind of people?

Have your ambitions led you to worldly things?

Even with all of the millions of pages written on the things of God’s word, the most crucial part of our walk with God that we overlook the most is our relationship with the Holy Spirit.

I say this because we’ve been through the Bible. We might not know it perfectly but we’ve spent most of our lives listening and reading it, through sermons, Bible studies, and devotions.

Yet the message is not loud, and the words don’t pierce… we are lacking fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

Why did the people in Jerusalem ask “what shall we do”?

the transformation caused by the Holy Spirit leads action. It’s not just at the moment of conversion but every single day.

What is at the center of your life?

If life was a series of multiple choice questions it may seem easier to make the decision.

If you love Jesus and you are tempted should you:

A. Pray about it.

B. Hurt yourself.

C. Lean hard into sin.

D. Do nothing.

At the end of the day the Gospel is still deep, rich in every way and enough to save and sustain you. We are the ones who need to wake up to the amazing truth of Jesus’ love for us by leaning into the Holy Spirit.