Our text is simple –
easy to understand, and I aim to make the same appeal which our text issues, to you!
“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.” (Acts 2:38).
This statement was made by Peter the apostle.
It was made to a great crowd gathered in Jerusalem, after the promised Holy Spirit – that mighty rushing wind, had descended on a gathering of disciples. This event issued in a mighty filling with the Holy Spirit, enabling those present to speak in other languages, so that Jews that had come from far away nations (cf 2:8-11) for the feast (Shavuot) would hear about the mighty works of God (2:11) in their OWN language.
This happened 50 days after Resurrection Sunday, on the weekend of the Jewish Passover. Hence it is called Pentecost
(fiftieth in Greek). Jews had been celebrating the Feast of weeks
(Shavuot) for at least 1500 years by
the time this event in Acts 2 happened.
Word got around very
quickly. Some were amazed and perplexed:
What does this mean? (2:12). Others mocked and said – they are
drunk (2:13).
Peter, the spokesman of
the 11 apostles had some explaining to do. He had to explain what had
happened on that marvelous and amazing day. He did this by way of an impromptu sermon:
(ii) Acts 2:22-28 He tells the crowd that this event follows the coming of Jesus of Nazareth (Jesus born in Nazareth). Jesus is the Gospel. He worked in Israel with mighty works and wonders and signs. Then He was delivered up to the purposes of an evil humanity – BUT according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God. We learn that in God's economy nothing is out of control. Peter tells them that God allowed His Son to be crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. But again, since this is the Divine Son of God, death could not keep Him in the grave. God raised Him up. Peter explains this with the help of Psalm 16:8-11.
(iii) Acts 2:29 -35 Peter tells the crowd that this Jesus is the Greater Son of David- the expected Messiah, who though He died, He was not abandoned to Hades. God the Father raised Him up, and not only raised Him up, but took Him up to where He is now seated at the right hand of God (This we call the Ascension). This is the One of whom David spoke in Psalm 16. David did not speak here of himself. He could not have referred to himself here. Peter says that David died, and his tomb is there for all to see. And moreover, David did not ascend to heaven (cf. Psalm 110:1àActs 2:34,35). No! David is speaking here prophetically about His greater Son!
(iv) Acts 2:36 And to crown it all, Peter now reminds the crowd … so THIS is the ONE whom you crucified!
“When they heard this, the crowd was cut to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Peter’s hearers were stunned at what they saw and heard.
They were deeply convicted by Peter’s message. And they profoundly understood their corporate guilt in crucifying the Messiah! The dread of God and all the consequences of their sin fell upon them. You hear it in their collective voice: Brothers, what shall we do?
This is true conviction.
This is the work of the Holy Spirit (cf. John 16:8-11)
"Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for who are far off, for all whom the Lord our God will call."
2. He calls them to signify that repentance in baptism i.e. by immersion in water – that is its plainest meaning.
NOTICE THE ORDER! REPENT and then BE BAPTISED
For this reason, baptism ought not to be applied to infants
or babies. The reason for that is
twofold:
(i)
Infants are not yet capable of expressing
repentance
(ii) The idea of infant baptism by virtue of being born into a Christian family, and to be presented for baptism through the faith of a Christian parent is not taught at all in the New Testament. Rather this is inferred from the OT practice of infant circumcision. Those who defend the practice of infant baptism maintain that, just as in Israel circumcision was applied to eight-day-old infants, so in the church baptism should be applied to the infants of Christian parents.
But is this analogy credible?
We cannot disagree that there is a relationship between circumcision as a sign of belonging to the Old covenant community and baptism as a sign of belonging to the new covenant community.
However,
there is also a great difference between these two signs
a. Circumcision was
administered to all the physical
sons of Abraham, who made up the physical Israel.
b. However, the baptism of the New Covenant is only administered to the spiritual sons and daughters of Abraham, those who repent and are baptized by immersion.
Paul
makes it clear that this baptism does not automatically apply to every Jewish
infant born into a Jewish household. No! He considers Abraham’s offspring as
those who are “in Christ” ( see Gal.
3:29; see vv. 23-29 for context). These who are baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:27) are the true sons and daughters of Abraham – and as such accordingly
they make up the Church. Galatians 3:7 says: "Know then
that it is those of faith, who are the sons of Abraham (see context in Gal. 3:7-9)
Baptism is identification with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection.
The picture is plain. Paul puts it like this in Romans 6:3,4: "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life
4. He calls them to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit i.e. SALVATION.
The same Holy Spirit who convicts us of sin also directs us to the Saviour - He is Jesus Christ our Lord. PLEASE NOTE - This is not a series of steps – receiving the Holy Spirit is not another step in receiving the gift of salvation. This is ONE work of SALVATION and these are the VITAL ingredients included in the 'package' of salvation
5. Peter urges
not only them, but entire families to
believe – even those who are “far off “ -
everyone, far or near, who hears and responds to the call
of God.
· Have you ever come to a point in your life
where you have repented of your sin, following which you have declared this by being
baptized by immersion into Christ?
· Some of you are not making any spiritual progress,
because you have not yet obeyed these plain words.
· AND THEN
THIS: To become a church member is by
repentance and faith in Jesus Christ ALONE. The sign of that entry should
only be administered to those who believe ALONE.
· Those that are being baptised in accordance with this conviction are therefore saying to you:
o
I have believed in Jesus as my Saviour. I
celebrate in baptism today the mighty work of God in my life.
o
I have repented and I have laid my sin burden
at the foot of the cross.
o
I want to tell you (i.e. these witnesses here
before me) that Jesus has died for me ... that I have been buried with Him…
that I have been raised to newness of life in Christ.
o
I am saying to you that I am a son/ daughter of Abraham.
o I belong to the new covenant community. Therefore, I must receive the sign of the new covenant community. This is not the old mark of the Jews, which was circumcision. This is the new mark administered to all who profess true repentance from sin and faith in Jesus. This is my confession issued in water baptism - a pictorial statement proclaiming, “I have died with Christ, I have been buried with Christ; I have been raised with Christ”. Jesus' disciples continued in this practice and baptized those who believed. To that end Jesus clearly commissioned His church at the end of his earthly ministry to "make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit" (Mt. 28:19).
This is the meaning of of biblical covenantal baptism.
Amen.
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