2 Samuel 22:1-46; Acts 2:22-47; Psalms 121:5-8; Proverbs 27:3
NT: ““Fellow Israelites, listen to these words: This Jesus of Nazareth was a man attested to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through him, just as you yourselves know. Though he was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail him to a cross and kill him… God has raised this Jesus; we are all witnesses of this. Therefore, since he has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, he has poured out what you both see and hear… Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” With many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!” So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them… Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:22-23, 32-33, 36-41, 46-47 CSB)
How do you get saved from this corrupt generation? Repent and be baptized. Repent (metanoia in Greek) means a change of mind. It involves turning away from one thing in order to look at another. Repenting of your sin involves turning away from your sin, your inner drives and compulsions, the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life; and then turning your attention, your faith, and your allegiance to Jesus. Baptism is a complete submersion under water to symbolize both your death and your complete cleansing. There is nothing magical about baptism, but it is an outward identification with Jesus’ death and resurrection and an outward declaration of your inward faith. To be saved, you must turn away from your sin, die to your old self, and be raised to new life by faith in Jesus Christ. Peter went on to say that all who repent and are baptized would be eligible to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. As a side note, there is nothing in Peter’s message about a cessation of fullness of the Holy Spirit. He said the promise is to everyone… even those who are far off… as many as the Lord calls. In Peter’s understanding, the fullness of the Holy Spirit was for then and forever. It is amazing how effective Peter’s message was. He didn’t pull any punches… he didn’t minimize the people’s sin… he didn’t try to avoid offending with the truth by being “seeker sensitive.’ He simply stated the facts, then he explained the good news… and 3,000 people placed their faith in Jesus… and then more and more were added each day after that as the people of the church lived out their genuine faith for all to see. It all starts with repentance and baptism.
Jamie Hicks 