The First Christian Sermon – Part 3 The Appeal and Results Acts 2: 37 – 41 When the people heard this they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” (Acts 2: 37-38a)

Introduction “Brothers, what shall we do?” (v. 37b) What must I do to be saved? Many groups give different answers – Legalist – salvation comes through works – Moralist – good deeds should outweigh bad ones – Some Jews – salvation is based on racial heritage – Universalist – all men are saved because Jesus’ death justified life to all men – Ritualist – salvation comes through rituals such as baptism; baptism saves Peter provides the correct answer as he wraps up his sermon

The Appeal (vv ) Peter charged his listeners with rejecting and executing their Messiah When the people heard this they were cut to the heart – They realized they had executed their Messiah – They themselves had done it – They feared Messiah’s wrath – They understood that what they had done could not be undone When the people heard this they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 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. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.” With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” (Acts 2:37-40)

The Appeal (vv ) They were overwhelmed with remorse and grief They said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” – Strong desire to be saved from the wrath of Messiah – Willing to submit to God’s will Such conviction of sin is a part of genuine conversion – Zechariah 12:10 – Conviction is the key used by the Holy Spirit to open the heart to salvation

The Appeal (vv ) “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized... in the name of Jesus Christ” “Repent” – A change of purpose, or turning from sin to God “Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ” – Marks a public break with Judaism and identification with Jesus

The Appeal (vv ) “Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins” Is baptism necessary for salvation? – Baptismal regeneration John MacArthur says, “No” – Ignores the context of the verse Prove your repentance by submitting to public baptism – Violates the principle of “the analogy of scripture” No passage, when correctly interpreted, will be contradictory to the rest of Scripture – Jesus had condemned the ritualistic religion of the scribes and Pharisees He could not now institute one of His own – Not true to the facts of Scripture Throughout Acts, forgiveness is linked to repentance, not baptism

The Appeal (vv ) “And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” – Jews were waiting for this – The coming of the Holy Spirit would mark the beginning of messianic times (Joel 2:28-29) – “Gift” – Dorea (Greek) that which is free and unmerited “The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off” – Nation of Israel – Also the Gentiles – “who are far off” “The promise is... for all whom the Lord our God will call” – Describes God’s sovereignty at work in salvation

The Appeal (vv ) With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them – Peter entered into a dialogue with his listeners “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation” – Repeats the Lord’s condemnation of this generation – Matt. 12:39 & 16:4 – “wicked and adulterous generation” – Matt. 12:45 & Luke 11:29 – “this wicked generation” – Mark 8:38 – “adulterous and sinful generation”

The Results (v. 41) The results of Peter’s sermon were astonishing About 3,000 people – Accepted Peter’s message – Repented of their sins – Were baptized – Became followers of Jesus of Nazareth Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. (Acts 2:41)

Conclusion The church was born with the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the believers gathered in the upper room The work of the Holy Spirit – In the believers gathered in the upper room – In Peter to give his sermon – Through Peter’s sermon to convict the listeners of their sin The result – about 3,000 converts