For Whom Is the Promise and the Call? (Acts 2:39)

For Whom Is the Promise and the Call? (Acts 2:39) Acts 2:38-39 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." 39 ὑμῖν γάρ ἐστιν ἡ ἐπαγγελία καὶ τοῖς τέκνοις ὑμῶν καὶ πᾶσιν τοῖς εἰς μακράν, ὅσους ἂν προσκαλέσηται κύριος ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν. For to you is the promise and to the children of you and to all the ones unto far away, as many as might call to Lord the God of us. 1. Peter Reviews the Promise: The ____________ _______________ Acts 1:4-5 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 “for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Acts 2:33 “Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.” 2. Peter Reveals the Potential Recipients: a. To You: The Jewish __________________ (& All Jews) Acts 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. Acts 2:22 "Men of Israel, hear these words…” Acts 2:29 “Men and brethren…” Acts 2:36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first… b. To Your Children: Their ___________________________ c. To Those “At a Distance”: The _____________________ Acts 22:21 "Then He said to me, `Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.'" Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Eph 2:17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. Rom. 1:16 … and also for the Greek. Northridge Baptist Church – Pastor Kevin Subra – August 9, 2020 3. The Difficult Portion: “as many as the Lord our God will call.” This portion of the text is difficult to understand, as it does not give enough information to be clear. Some understand it as evidence of God’s sovereign choice or election of those that He brings to belief (“the elect”). Other details seem to indicate that it could be understood in almost the opposite way. a. Pertains to the ________________ (God’s Sovereign Call to Salvation) • “as many as”  From the recipients listed, “only those that…” • “as Lord our God might call to”  an irresistible summons (Jn 6:44) b. Pertains to ________________ (Any & All Who Will Listen and Believe) • “as many as”  As in, you, your children, all afar off – everyone • “as Lord our God might call to”  an invitation that can be rejected 4. Summary Thoughts – Whatever This Means, It... a. Does not ____________________ proclamation (v.38) b. Does not produce a ____________________ audience (v. 39) c. Does not impede explanation and ________________ to convert (v.40) d. __________________ preaching the Gospel to everyone, everywhere… Luke 24:47 "and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (cf. Matt 28:19; Acts 1:8) Jn 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. Jn 4:14 "but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." Jn 12:32 "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." Act 26:20 "but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. 1 Tim 2:3-6 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 1 Tim 4:10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. 2 Pet 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. Acts 17:30 "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, (cf. 31-34)