Prepared for Action - Peter the Disciple

Key Events Peter Witnesses

Ascension - angels speak to them

Giving of the Holy Spirit - formation of the Church

2 Pet. 1:16 - we were eyewitnesses!

Peter is Successful, Because of Scripture (Knows, Applies, Proclaims)

THIS is how you define success

1) (Peter) Knows Scripture

A) Judas has betrayed Jesus, and is dead. There are now 11, and there are supposed to be 12

Peter knows this, not because JESUS told him, but because he knows...

Psalm 69:25 NASB95

May their camp be desolate; May none dwell in their tents.

AND

Psalm 109:8 NASB95

Let his days be few; Let another take his office.

B) Holy Spirit is given, indwelling the 120 believers

The group evangelizes the crowd, in their languages - OPPOSITION - “these men are drunk”

PETER knows Joel 2:28-32 (giving of the Spirit)

Peter knows Psalm 16:8-11 (The messiah would be resurrected)

Peter knows Psalm 110:1 (Messiah at right hand)

2) (Peter) Applies Scripture

A) Peter stands up in the group of 120 - He says “It is necessary” and he knows the qualifications needed to fill Judas’ place

one with them since Jesus’ baptism until the ascension

Matthias is added

B) Peter confronts the crowd, tens, maybe hundreds of thousands - (It’s Pentecost, another big celebration in Jerusalem) - “but Peter”… (not personally offensive, not angry, but defending truth)

He didn’t have a prepared sermon - no elaborate notes

From his head, what he KNOWS

This lowly fisherman - Knows God’s Word, and now properly applies God’s Word!

3) Proclaims Scripture

A) With Matthias - he pronounces the truth, and the 11 take action

B) With the crowd, he pronounces the truth, and people respond - “WHAT SHALL WE DO?”

Wow, how would you like someone to ask you that after you tell them God’s Word?

Acts 2:38-40

REPENT, and each of you be baptized

You will then receive the gift of the Holy Spirit

Promise is for anyone, future generations included

Straight answer to a straight question - that’s Peter (speaks his mind, and lets you deal with the truth)

CLARITY

Repent, “and” = “on the basis of” your repentance, be baptized

When you repent, THEN you get baptized (Repentance ---> Salvation

V. 41 - Those who responded (3000), having received the Word (now believers) - were then baptized

Baptism BEFORE repentance is just getting wet - you make a decision to trust and follow Jesus, and then baptism is how it is shown.

If there is any confusion, let’s allow Scripture to settle it. Deal? :)

Acts 3:19 NASB95

“Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;

John 3 - with Nicodemus - born physically (water) and then spiritually (spiritual re-birth)

Jesus never commands anyone to be born of water…He commands everyone to be born AGAIN! TO be born of the Spirit, “from above”

Mark 1:15 NASB95

and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Acts 16:31 NASB95

They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

1 Peter 3: 19-21 - the waters of baptism SHOW you are a believer, they do not MAKE you a believer

First step of obedience as a believer should be baptism, thus “believer’s baptism.”

- I was a couple weeks old when a pastor got my head wet. - So what?

- People around here ask me “this person I know is living in sin, but he got baptized, will he be in Heaven?” (this is a fundamental misunderstanding of salvation - and it is alarming)

- People send kids to camps and places where it is taught that you get saved by being baptized - WRONG (are you aware of that?)

- Majority of churches in our area believe this - WRONG

So…we’re the only ones who teach and preach it right? - NO (thankfully), but...

We, believers, are to know, apply, and proclaim Scripture! Know truth, defend truth, speak truth!

TRUTH! —and I know, MY responsibility is right here. This church...

-Saddened knowing that people think they are safe, when they are not

ILLUST - Movie - rope is tearing, ready to break; our job is to warn and proclaim truth, like Peter (Noah, too)

How Should This Affect Us?

Let’s apply this specifically today to the Gospel

1) Know Scripture (so you can present the Gospel)

Roman Road (3:23. 5:8, 6:23, 10:9-13) - 3:23 is the “bad”; the rest is GREAT!

When you SHOW someone where it is written, you take yourself out from the middle, and put someone squarely in front of the LORD and His Word!

Eph. 2:8-9 - not of works

Titus 3:5 - same

John 3:16 - this one you probably know.

2) Apply Scripture

Understand baptism and its role

Explain it, and the Gospel, to others

Discern false teaching

Defy/denounce/speak against “false teaching” - here that’s called “religion”

Be Bible-based!

3) Proclaim Scripture

What I am trying to do now. What we should be doing here.

Many here are un-taught about salvation and baptism

It’s easier to just “feel good” and not be so picky about the truth. Right?

Let’s talk “REPENT”

It’s more than “I’m sorry”

It is the decision of a changed life, a life now lived for Christ - a forgiven disciple

Afraid of hurting feelings, stressing family and friends?

CLOSE

We are not to be personally offensive

But let the Gospel provoke, “pierce to the heart”

So that people say “WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Repent - and then, to be in fellowship with others who believe, be baptized. That’s the Bible truth!

Direct Challenge

Someone asks you, “What does your church teach about salvation?”

What do you say?

Someone asks you, “What does it mean to be “born again?”

Can you explain it?

Or is your answer, “Go ask the pastor.”?

YOU, yes YOU, get the opportunity - YOU need to answer, BIBLICALLY - a soul’s eternal residing place may rest on your answer

God WILL give you the opportunity

Maybe you need to get in the Word and get prepared - Peter’s life was one of preparation for the moments we read of.

CLOSE

Peter: Knows, Applies, and Proclaims Scripture

Replacement of Judas, OT prophecy, Leads the way in applying these, and then proclaims the truth

US: We, likewise, must know, so we can apply and proclaim it.

Peter was no scholar - he simply knew and trust God’s Word

He owned what he knew was truth! Do you?

Peter trusted things others had been told and witnessed (like Joel, David, Psalmists)

He got opportunities to share Christ

And then Peter shared, by writing under inspiration

Peter saw and shared

There are things we should know, so we can respond when things happen

Someone YOU will meet (or know) will need to hear about Jesus and salvation

Someone YOU will meet (or know( will need comforting, Biblically

Someone YOU will meet (or know) will need you to find the right words to say

Jesus already said He, through His Word, will guide you through this.

This is why God saved you, these are ways we obey and serve.

Prophets wrote - Peter sees

Peter wrote - you will see

Do you believe?

Where do you need to grow?

Knowledge, Application, Proclamation? ALL?

James says “ask for wisdom”

It is important enough to us?

Literally thousands of people are counting on us, because they need Jesus

There are thousands in this county who live in a false security - regarding eternity

What can we do? - It’s a big job. It starts with prayer

And Jesus left saying “I am with you.”

Oh yeah, that’s right. That’s good. We have work to do.