Receiving the promise

“Immanuel Spirit” – Part 7

(Acts 2:37-40, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, February 6, 2011)

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.”

Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart... (37)

Thousands of people heard the words of Peter on the day of Pentecost so long ago. They heard a very unflattering message. Peter was insistent that they were guilty of the blood of an innocent Man. He said, “God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Peter said that a correct understanding of the Bible and their lives proved three facts. 1.They needed to call on the name of the Lord. 2. Jesus is the Lord. 3. This Jesus, they crucified.

What now? It would seem like it was too late. The people had crucified the Lord. We also have come to see that we have crucified the Lord. Don't we say that He died for our sins? What hope can there be for us? But that is our hope. In His death, our sins have been atoned for. Do you feel the guilt of the cross? That is a good sign. In that death is both our guilt and our atonement.

Yet we will run away from both the guilt of our sin and the forgiveness that comes through the death of the Lord. We will run away from Jesus, unless we are cut to the heart by the Holy Spirit. This spiritual surgery is necessary if we are to be healed by the Lord of love.

This is the greatest miracle of Pentecost: Thousands were cut to the heart, and thousands wanted to know what they should do. They did not try to kill Peter and the apostles that day. They humbly turned to them as the Lord's ambassadors, and they said, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized...” (38)

The answer was mercifully clear, direct, and hopeful. He said, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” To “repent” is to “surrender” to Jesus as Lord. This surrender says to the Lord, “You are right, God. I was wrong.” I want to be with You. I want to be found in Your name together with all Your people. Let me be baptized into that unity with You that is found only in the Name of Jesus. Christ.

This is something that everyone needs to hear and to respond to. This is not just for some small group of people that have a particularly religious bent, or who come from a particular background. It is not just for people who are powerful, or alternatively, just for people who are weak. Peter does not know the specific stories of the thousands who are listening to him that day. He cannot hear all their personal objections based on who they are or what they have been through in their lives. He says, “This is something for every one of you.” Every. One. Of. You.

The important thing for people to come to grips with at this decisive moment of time is that this true association with Jesus Christ will mean the forgiveness of their sins. This is extremely exciting for people who had just heard that they had crucified the Lord. They were supposed to call upon the Name of the Lord. Instead they crucified the Lord. But this Lord is still alive. They can still call upon the Name of the Lord. How can they do that? They can repent and be baptized. What will this mean for them? Their sins will be forever forgiven. That means peace with God and eternal life in heaven for people who deserved the fullness of God's wrath that Jesus took for them. This is the best news for sinners that could ever be imagined. I know of no better news, unless you refuse to repent and be baptized.

And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit... (38-39)

But for the person who will repent and be baptized, this good news of forgiveness, of peace with God, of eternal life in heaven, comes with a present way of life. The God who gave amazing utterance to the apostles will be with them too. They have witnessed the pouring out of the heavenly gift of the Holy Spirit on others. But now Peter insists that if they will repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins, then they will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. God will be with them, and in them. God will have gifts for them. He will produce fruit in them. He will give them peace, joy, and heaven, leading them, even through suffering, in the walk of faith that God has for all who call upon the Name of the Lord.

Then Peter expands Joel 2. “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.” The sign of union with God, and the Immanuel Spirit, will be for you, and for your children, for all those who are truly called by God.

It all comes back to the call of God. God is changing the times from the era of preparation to the age of fulfillment. Jesus has come. It is time for everyone to be named with the Name of the Lord of heaven and earth. Jesus is risen. Now is not the time to by squeamish about Him. Now is the time to receive Him and the Holy Spirit as those who have been called by God.

And with many other words he bore witness... (40)

Peter had more to say. I always have more to say. I am a desperate man. I don't even know if you are hearing this message today. I want to say to everyone, everywhere, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” Will you do this? “Save yourself!” I am speaking like a fool.

There is a world all around you that is not hearing the call of God, and that world is picking off people from the church who decide that they will no longer hear and will not be saved. There is an adversary who prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone he may devour. See 1 Peter 5:7. Are you at risk? There is no need to be that person who walks too far away from a vital relationship with Jesus Christ. Save yourselves by a fresh consideration of the blood that saves.

Ask the Lord for the promise. The promise is for you and for your children. This is the season of new rain from heaven. “Ask rain from the Lord in the season of the spring rain, from the Lord who makes the storm clouds, and he will give ... showers of rain, to everyone the vegetation in the field.” (See Zechariah 10 for these and following quotes.)

There are many other spiritualities out there, but this one comes from the Lord who shed His blood for you. This is the one that satisfies every demand of God. “The household gods utter nonsense, and the diviners see lies; they tell false dreams and give empty consolation.” Do not “wander like sheep” who suffer from “lack of a shepherd.” You have the solid Cornerstone.

Jesus can make you “like a mighty warrior.” Your “hearts shall be glad as with wine.” Your “children shall see it and be glad; their hearts shall rejoice in the Lord.” God “will make them strong in the Lord, and they shall walk in his name,” declares the Lord. Repent. Receive.

1. How did the crowd respond to the preaching of Peter?

2. What did Peter ask them to do?

3. In what sense is the promise of the Holy Spirit to the called and to their children?

4. In what sense can people save themselves?

OT Passage: Zechariah 10