PENTECOST LED TO THIS

 

Acts 2:14-41

We left off in the books of Acts with the question from those who observed this powerful, divine act of God. What does this mean? (v12) What an amazing question to receive as a Christian today, because this opens the door to respond with the gospel of eternal life. This is a question that every seasoned pastor, every believer, dreams of getting when they are surrounded by people who do not know the Christ of the gospel. This pivotal moment in Acts marks a complete turnaround for Peter, transforming him from a fearful disciple who denied Christ into a bold, fearless preacher. Peter delivers the first Christian sermon at Pentecost, explaining that the incredible speaking in tongues is the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy regarding the Holy Spirit. What is before us here is a remarkable work of God in one’s life to be bold, gentle, and a loving heart for sinners to know Jesus.

 

As a side note…… we see the importance of preaching as well, in relation to understanding and coming to the knowledge of God. This is why Paul was so clear on the importance of biblical preaching. “while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 

2 Tim 3:13-17

 

In his last chapter of his last letter, Paul would reaffirm this with Timothy. “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” 2 Tim 4:1-5

 

Preaching is foundational to Christian life, vital for church health, it’s essential for spiritual growth by communicating and applying Scripture to daily life. It transforms lives, connects believers to Jesus, and equips them with sound doctrine. Faithful, Christ-centered preaching fost\ers endurance and directs the church according to God's Word. It’s here that Peter speaks boldly and clearly for those in attendance and he does it unashamedly, he does it unapologetically. This is exactly what Paul meant when he wrote, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” Rom 1:16-17. Peter does this by putting emphasis on the importance of preaching as he speaks to those who are confused and thinking they are drunk at 9am. Peter’s sermon begins by revealing that we are living in last days, the last days before Christ returns to declare His Kingship.

Pentecost Means The Last Days Have Dawned. (V17a)

Peter begins by saying “In the last days” where Joel opens with “After this…” which is speaking of a future time. That future time has come, as Peter declares that we are living in last days since Christ has ascended and Pentecost has now arrived. It’s here that Peter explains the events of Pentecost, by defending against the accusations of drunkenness. Let’s put ourselves in the shoes of those who saw from the sidelines. The unbelievers who were there that day did not hear the message of God in their languages, but instead heard disharmony. They heard noise. They heard gibberish and it made no sense to them whatsoever. So, their first guess was that this assembly of people were drunk, intoxicated beyond all measure, and were babbling in their drunken incoherence.

 

When the accusation was made, Peter stepped up and defended the truth of the gospel. (v14-v16) These people are not drunk; but speaking in their native language because the gospel is for the world to hear and to embrace as he explains Joel’s prophecy. We are living in last days, but there are other things that will happen in the end as we read in the prophet Joel that are a mystery to us in the return of Christ. (v19-v20) Pentecost has happened and we are now waiting the final act of the redemptive drama, which is the return of the King. Paul wrote to Titus, “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,” Titus 2:13. We are to believe that Jesus will return, that is our blessed hope. We are to be in a posture of expectation, not knowing when He will come. We are to be ready for Jesus whenever He shall return to judge the earth. This is why Jesus said, “Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Matt 24:42-44

 

This means that…. Stay Awake and be vigilant….. we must be on guard and stay alert. Live Holy Lives…… living holy and godly lives while waiting for the new heaven and new earth. Actively Serve….. working diligently in this kingdom until He returns. Eager Anticipation with joy…… "Come, Lord Jesus" Rev 22:20, shows the heart attitude of eagerness to receive our fully, glorified, redeemed bodies. This also means we don’t obsess our time with timelines, time theories, and conspiracy charts; we are called to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ because He is returning.

Pentecost Means Everyone Can Know God Intimately And Should Make Him Known Faithfully. (V17b-V21)

 

Since is returning, Peter cites Joel 2:28-32 to explain that the Holy Spirit is now poured out on all believers. God has equipped each, and every one of us to be gospel truth tellers to this lost world. “Prophets” here doesn’t mean new revelation from God, because that would mean the Scriptures as we know it today would be totally insufficient. The Scriptures are not insufficient! They are complete, authoritative and sufficient for all of life and godliness. Everything we have and need are in the cannon of Scripture in these 66 letters. What you and I have, is the ability and wisdom to proclaim the gospel to the nations. Moses longed for this day and according to Joel, it has been fulfilled partially here at Pentecost. What do I mean? We read in Numbers, “Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. And as soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied. But they did not continue doing it. Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, “My lord Moses, stop them.” But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD's people were prophets, that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!” Numbers 11:25-30

 

Peter is not saying every believer has the gift of prophecy, rather he means that every believer shares the general privilege and responsibility of Old Testament prophets. Like certain individual we are able to know God intimately, and we are commissioned to speak God’s word faithfully to every generation. In times past people came to know Him through dreams, and visions, but now we know Him through Jesus Christ and we grow in our knowledge through the revealed Word of God. We have everything we need today to know Him through His Word that has been accomplished in the Son. “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.” Heb 1:1-2

 

We have everything we need to know Him, personally…. and despite a person’s disposition, every person has access to the same gospel. Peter quotes the devastating judgement of God on those who are not His, but (v21) is where we see that there is hope for the lost. The Good News! Naturally the crowd would, or should be, concerned about this time of terror and devastation. Peter delivers the climax by quoting Joel, “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ (v21) This verse emphasizes the inclusive promise of salvation available to all people, regardless of background, for those who turn to Jesus as Lord.

 

There is salvation for those

who turn to Christ.

No hoops to jump through. No cultural conditions to accomplish. No birthright to be accredited to you. No special formula to find God’s grace. No hidden agenda or smoking mirrors. Just pure grace and longsuffering by a holy God who extends His hand of forgiveness, to whoever seeks Him through repentance and faith. John revealed this about Jesus, when He dwelt among us, “He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:10-13. See, the evidence of true belief is that the heart is transformed not by signs alone, and wonders alone; but in the fullness of Christ now in the church age through the Written Word. Take Andrew for a moment, what was the first thing he said to his brother when he spent the evening with Jesus?

 

We have found the miracle worker

We have found the one who can do signs and wonders.

 

No, Andrew goes to his brother and very first thing he says is “We have found the Messiah” (which means the Christ).” John 1:42. It’s here that Peter is not concerned about their wrong view of tongues, languages, his concern was for God’s redemptive plan in saving sinners from judgement and Hell. We have to love that everyone is included in God’s worldwide unstoppable mission, young, old, rich, poor, educated and uneducated. William Tyndale once said to a priest. "If God spare my life, ere many years I will cause a boy who drives a plough to know more of the scriptures than you do." For this, he was killed.

Pentecost Means That Christ Has Ascended To The Throne, His Rightful Position. (V22-V36)

Its here Peter explains the gospel more clearly to his hearers, to exactly who that Saviour is and what He requires for salvation. Here we see the fulfillment of the gospel as Christ is seated next to the Father in all His glory. Peter clearly describes the life and ministry of Jesus and reveals that He is the Christ who came to save us from the Father’s wrath. Peter highlights that Jesus is ascended, exalted at God's right hand, and is the one who poured out the Spirit.

 

Jesus had to die for the sinfulness of mankind and this was

ordained before the foundation of the world.

 

(v23) “Definite plan and foreknowledge of God” the death of Jesus was a necessary, certain plan by the Godhead, to redeem fallen men and women. It wasn’t an after thought, or a plan executed out of fear and desperation. It was the, single plan of God, in redemption to send His Son to die for the sins of mankind. “ Paul wrote, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” 

Rom 8:28-30

 

Peter would later affirm this in his first epistle. “According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1-5

 

In these contexts, foreknowledge implies an eternal, sovereign, and intimate choice to set His love upon believers, rather than merely knowing future events beforehand. Praise God for orchestrating this plan to save us from our pending death and judgement for without it we would be eternally doomed. Peter wants them to know even though they crucified Him, God was conducting the outcome of redemption for His glory and our good as they crucified Him. The free-will of mankind was on display revealing their true hearts when they crucified and released Barabbas. Luke 23. Peter wants them to know this Jesus, whom they killed, is seated at the right hand of God as David wrote his Psalm about and hoped for through the promise given to him. (v25-v28) Man, death, or the grave could not hold Him from His rightful position in glory and this what made David joyful, or full of gladness. Peter wants them to know who David spoke about with such great joy that God didn’t abandon His Holy One to Hell and who soul would not suffer corruption. David is still in the grave, but the Christ has risen to His rightful position. (v29-v33). This joy that David had was the same expression the Hebrew writer had when he wrote, “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb 12:2. The fullness of joy to know our Saviour lives and is seated in glory completing the requirement to save sinners, is David’s greatest gift and joy.

Pentecost Reveals The Power Of God Bring Conviction And A Right Response To The Gospel. (V37-V41)

The audience felt convicted because they were guilty, they were pierced because they realized they were the object of God’s wrath. Luke describes it that they were “cut to the heart” (v37) this means to be deeply distressed, stabbed, pierced emotionally, or profoundly convicted of sin/truth. Those who were listening felt severe emotional pain and guilt; it was like a "violent piercing of their emotions" because of their role in Jesus' death. This cutting at their hearts goes beyond simple guilt, or you caught me. No, this cutting represents a deep, often uncomfortable, divine conviction of truth that necessitates change, repentance, they were wounded deeply, feeling heavily distraught. Paul said this about genuine repentance and the power of God’s gospel. “For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” 2 Cor 7:8-10

 

Its hearing the preaching of God’s word, the gospel which convicts the heart to see that they need to be freed from their bondage of sin and death. This is what the gospel produces….faithfulness to the Scriptures, proclaiming when it not popular for the sake of others to be saved by His grace, by drawing you to Him. Peter’s sermon shows us how the Spirit of God takes the gospel and works in people’s hearts. That is the power of God unto salvation. We are His mouths, but He does the work in bringing sinners to Himself. It begins with you opening your mouth to speak biblical truth into the hearts of sinners; despite their love, or hostility, toward you and the message.

 

Peter’s message was full of Christ, full of Scripture, and full of the Holy Spirit. Peter’s sermon was full of Christ, His incarnation, His crucifixion, His resurrection, and His ascension. Peter preached fearlessly. It is easy to be bold when you are preaching to the choir, but to do that with an angry crowd…. bold preaching takes great risk. Peter did not play on emotions of his hearers, be he reasoned with them, showing them the rational character of the truth of the Word of God. This is what you, and I, are called to do every day, as we have air in our lungs. Yes, the church is established with pastor/elders, but we are all called to proclaim the good news of the Gospel because Jesus is returning.

 

What does this mean? Or better yet,

What shall we do? (v37)

 

An even greater question to ask a Christian, because we know what you need to do.

When the crowd is "cut to the heart" and asks what to do, their revealing that their hearts have been softened by God and they are receptive to the gospel message. A big difference here then the antagonistic person or the so-called wise thinking at Areopagus when Paul stood before them. “So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’ Acts 17:22-28

 

And after hearing Paul how did they respond? “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” Acts 17:30-32

 

Not every gospel encounter turns into blessing as we see here, but we proclaim His truth regardless of the reception, we leave all things in His sovereign hands. But know, when the heart is seeking its God drawing them to Himself, and its here Peter receives the greatest question to their problem. Peter tells them to "Repent and be baptized” ... in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins". He tells the audience that Jesus is both "Lord and Christ," leading to a call for repentance, baptism (not believers’ baptism, the act of public confession), but the sealing, receiving of the Holy Spirit. This is the establishment of the church and this is the message we bring in our homes, on the streets, and the breaking down of the text in the church, so we can do this again in our homes, and on the street. The gospel call of God is effectual, and He will save those whose eyes have been enlightened to see the truth of God in the person of Jesus Christ. That is evident in the ones we see here 3000 souls were truly saved that day, not by confession only, but by the transforming work of the Spirit.

The gospel is for everyone and its truly for someone,

we are evidence of that reality.

 

We are called to practical ministry for the sake of sinners to know Christ. Peter exemplifies this, and the result it produces. This is why Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” John 14:12. We take risks for His glory, make moves, depend on God, and pray for clarity as you do gospel ministry with those who are stubbing in darkness. We do this with…. joy, love, urgency, and a passion for Christ to be exalted in the gospel, through our confession and the confession of others. Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension fulfill scripture, declaring Him Lord and Messiah. This sermon reveals the purpose of the gospel, it calls for repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Spirit, which is now available to all people. It shows that God uses empowered, ordinary people to speak boldly, offering salvation and transforming lives.

 

This is what the church is to be towards every generation;

it’s the power of God unto salvation.

 

The door is wide open to receive His grace through faith and repentance; Pentecost reveals that truth to the nations. But what you must do is…..you must receive, acknowledge your desperate need for a saviour to save you from your sins. As Peter said, “This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”  Acts 4:11-12. Repent and believe and be baptised, sealed by the Spirit; so that you can live with the fullness of Christ and the joy it brings as David revealed in the Psalms. Turn to Christ and live and find eternal life! What a promise keeping God we have……May the church continue what Peter started for the glory of God, as the church is sent out to do the work of gospel ministry.