WEBVTT 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:02.319 Turn to Acts chapter 2. 00:00:06.080 --> 00:00:09.119 We're back in our study to the book of Acts. 00:00:09.519 --> 00:00:19.359 A couple of weeks of having others share with us, and I was encouraged by those, was able to hear David right here live, and then listen to the recording of Banu from last week. 00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:22.640 We are back in Acts chapter 2. 00:00:23.519 --> 00:00:31.519 The text for this morning comes from verses 37 through verse 41. 00:00:32.640 --> 00:00:37.039 Acts 2, 37 to 41. 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:40.000 This is what Holy Scripture says. 00:00:42.799 --> 00:00:54.320 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? 00:00:55.280 --> 00:01:06.079 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. 00:01:06.400 --> 00:01:14.159 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. 00:01:14.799 --> 00:01:22.400 With many other words, he testified and strongly urged them, saying, Be saved from this corrupt generation. 00:01:23.840 --> 00:01:27.040 So those who accepted his message were baptized. 00:01:27.359 --> 00:01:32.640 And that day about 3,000 people were added to them. 00:01:34.719 --> 00:01:36.400 Lord, we seek your help again. 00:01:36.560 --> 00:01:38.959 We can't pray often enough. 00:01:39.200 --> 00:01:43.200 We can't express our dependence on you too much. 00:01:43.920 --> 00:01:50.400 And we need the same spirit that was bringing conviction and renewal these thousands of years ago. 00:01:50.560 --> 00:01:52.959 We need that same spirit to work among us today. 00:01:53.040 --> 00:01:56.079 So we're pleading with you, O Spirit of God, to come. 00:01:56.480 --> 00:02:00.000 In the name of Jesus Christ, for the glory of God, we ask these things. 00:02:00.159 --> 00:02:00.799 Amen. 00:02:03.519 --> 00:02:10.000 The Lord Jesus Christ says something incredibly sobering in Matthew chapter 7. 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:12.479 Listen to what he says there. 00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:23.919 Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 00:02:24.080 --> 00:02:35.439 On that day, many will say to me, Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name? 00:02:36.080 --> 00:02:40.159 Then I will announce to them, I never knew you. 00:02:40.639 --> 00:02:42.080 Depart from me. 00:02:43.439 --> 00:02:50.560 According to Jesus, there are many people who say they're Christians. 00:02:51.439 --> 00:02:58.159 They might even to some degree believe that they're Christians, but they're not. 00:02:58.319 --> 00:03:01.360 They don't know the Lord in a personal and saving way. 00:03:03.280 --> 00:03:06.400 And that brings up a very important question. 00:03:07.439 --> 00:03:09.680 What is real Christianity? 00:03:10.400 --> 00:03:11.599 What does it mean? 00:03:11.759 --> 00:03:18.639 What does it look like to be truly converted, to know Jesus in that personal and saving way? 00:03:19.840 --> 00:03:23.120 We must embrace real Christianity. 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:34.000 And our passage today in Acts gives us a picture of what real Christianity looks like, of what true conversion looks like. 00:03:34.319 --> 00:03:42.240 We have clearly the Spirit of God at work in our text and bringing people to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:03:42.479 --> 00:03:49.039 So this passage in Acts is not a complete picture of all that real Christianity is. 00:03:49.280 --> 00:03:54.240 We need the whole Bible for that, but it's an important picture. 00:03:54.960 --> 00:03:59.360 So if we're going to embrace real Christianity, we're going to look at this passage. 00:03:59.439 --> 00:04:02.000 I want to give us three words to think about. 00:04:03.039 --> 00:04:11.759 Conviction, that's the first word, reception, that's the second word, and recognition. 00:04:12.080 --> 00:04:19.839 If we're going to embrace real Christianity, let's think about those three words: conviction, reception, and recognition. 00:04:20.079 --> 00:04:24.240 And we'll look at the text starting with that first word, conviction. 00:04:24.319 --> 00:04:26.639 That's the first thing we see in verse 37. 00:04:26.800 --> 00:04:28.240 Look there in your Bibles. 00:04:28.480 --> 00:04:34.319 When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart. 00:04:35.519 --> 00:04:43.040 Real conviction is a heart piercing that's based on the message of the Bible. 00:04:43.680 --> 00:04:49.920 When they heard this, it says, they were pierced to the heart. 00:04:50.240 --> 00:04:51.600 When they heard what? 00:04:52.240 --> 00:04:58.560 Well, when they heard the message Peter had just been preaching, the Bible message. 00:04:58.959 --> 00:05:04.240 The Bible is the thing God normally uses to bring conviction. 00:05:06.079 --> 00:05:08.720 I'm going to be making some clarifications today. 00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:10.480 Not this, this. 00:05:11.439 --> 00:05:14.000 Here's an initial clarification. 00:05:15.600 --> 00:05:23.360 Merely feeling bad is not necessarily biblical conviction. 00:05:25.279 --> 00:05:30.160 Biblical conviction should include that, but it's not merely feeling bad. 00:05:30.319 --> 00:05:32.079 Let me give you an example. 00:05:33.040 --> 00:05:37.920 In my basement, the laundry room has a low doorframe. 00:05:38.079 --> 00:05:41.040 It's lower than my head, so I have to duck. 00:05:41.360 --> 00:05:42.399 You know where this is going. 00:05:42.480 --> 00:05:43.839 He knows where this is going. 00:05:44.480 --> 00:05:52.800 More than once, with a basket full of laundry, I've either forgotten to duck or I thought I ducked, but I didn't duck enough and I smacked my head on the doorframe. 00:05:53.279 --> 00:05:54.639 I feel bad. 00:05:54.879 --> 00:05:56.560 I think, Micah, you're an idiot. 00:05:56.639 --> 00:05:58.319 You need to change your ways. 00:05:59.279 --> 00:06:05.759 That in and of itself is not necessarily biblical conviction. 00:06:08.079 --> 00:06:11.759 Now that's a silly example, but we can give more serious examples. 00:06:12.240 --> 00:06:21.839 If you go home and find a note from your spouse that they are leaving you, that that should bring some kind of heart piercing. 00:06:23.040 --> 00:06:26.639 But where does that intersect with the message of the Bible? 00:06:28.720 --> 00:06:36.000 Or you might have woken up yesterday morning and hung over again. 00:06:37.120 --> 00:06:38.720 And you felt horrible. 00:06:39.600 --> 00:06:45.360 And you thought, this is messing up my job, and I need to turn over a new leaf. 00:06:46.079 --> 00:06:48.399 We applaud that desire. 00:06:48.560 --> 00:06:50.160 We wish you the best. 00:06:51.439 --> 00:06:56.399 But what Acts 2 is talking about is more than just feeling bad. 00:06:56.639 --> 00:07:02.720 People of all religious persuasions or lack thereof can feel bad. 00:07:05.279 --> 00:07:10.160 Here, they're pierced to the heart from Peter's message. 00:07:10.560 --> 00:07:14.240 So let's take a little time to review Peter's message. 00:07:14.319 --> 00:07:15.360 It's been a few weeks. 00:07:15.519 --> 00:07:18.480 Let's go back, look at verse 15 of chapter 2. 00:07:18.800 --> 00:07:31.279 There, Peter begins his message by explaining what is happening with the outpouring of the Spirit, and then he goes on to quote the prophet Joel and announce the fulfillment of what Joel said. 00:07:31.759 --> 00:07:32.639 Pause right there. 00:07:32.720 --> 00:07:34.240 He's giving a Bible message. 00:07:34.399 --> 00:07:35.759 This is what Scripture says. 00:07:35.920 --> 00:07:37.279 Now it's being fulfilled. 00:07:37.439 --> 00:07:38.160 Look at the Bible. 00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:39.920 It's based on the Bible. 00:07:40.480 --> 00:07:46.720 Then, verse 22, Peter moves on to speak about Jesus. 00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:48.639 Whole Bible's about Jesus. 00:07:48.720 --> 00:07:52.319 So it's hard to give a Bible message without talking about Jesus. 00:07:52.480 --> 00:07:56.800 And Peter says in verse 23, God had a plan for Christ to be crucified. 00:07:57.040 --> 00:08:05.839 And the very people who crucified Jesus were lawbreakers, the very kind of people that Peter's speaking to here in Acts chapter 2. 00:08:06.560 --> 00:08:14.879 Then Peter announces that Jesus is risen, he's the promised Messiah, he's reigned at God's right hand, he's triumphed over his enemies. 00:08:14.959 --> 00:08:23.680 And then in verse 36, Peter brings that Bible message home by telling his audience that the very person they crucified is now Lord of all. 00:08:25.120 --> 00:08:40.559 So Peter does pick up on something wrong that they've done, but he uses the Bible to show them how they've sinned not just by making a mistake, they've sinned against the Lord of all who is at God's right hand. 00:08:42.639 --> 00:08:50.879 The conviction that leads to real Christianity is not just, I've made some mistakes in life. 00:08:51.279 --> 00:08:57.120 It's I've sinned against God Almighty and He stands against me. 00:08:59.360 --> 00:09:00.960 Think about it this way. 00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:04.000 Who's the one bringing the conviction here in Acts 2? 00:09:04.080 --> 00:09:05.600 It's the Holy Spirit. 00:09:06.240 --> 00:09:12.559 When the Holy Spirit falls on these people, they don't erupt in fits of laughter. 00:09:13.200 --> 00:09:16.480 They're pierced to the heart, the text says. 00:09:16.720 --> 00:09:24.080 John 16, 8, Jesus says the Holy Spirit will convict the world about sin and righteousness and judgment. 00:09:24.240 --> 00:09:27.840 And we see that happening right here in Acts chapter 2. 00:09:28.399 --> 00:09:31.519 Now, who wrote the scripture? 00:09:32.159 --> 00:09:35.840 Holy men spoke as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit. 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:39.440 So the Spirit that brings conviction gave us this word. 00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:47.679 It makes perfect sense that he's going to normally want to use this word to bring conviction to our hearts about how we've sinned against the Lord. 00:09:49.919 --> 00:09:52.720 Let me go back to some of those examples I gave. 00:09:53.200 --> 00:09:59.039 God's word says, You should worship and serve the Lord only. 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:07.360 The alcoholic who can say, you know, I've been worshiping this substance. 00:10:08.240 --> 00:10:10.639 I haven't been worshiping the God who made me. 00:10:10.879 --> 00:10:15.759 I see the wrong I've done in substituting something else for God. 00:10:16.639 --> 00:10:22.559 Now we're starting to smell something more like conviction, biblical conviction. 00:10:22.720 --> 00:10:29.440 The man who can say, God says for husbands to love their wives, and I've been neglecting my wife. 00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:34.639 And, you know, I've I've actually been neglecting not just God's plan, I've been neglecting God. 00:10:34.879 --> 00:10:38.080 And I need to have my relationship restored to God. 00:10:38.639 --> 00:10:45.519 Now we have something that sounds and feels a lot more like conviction from scripture. 00:10:48.799 --> 00:10:59.679 Maybe you're here and you say, Micah, if I'm being honest, I don't really have anything in my life to have this heart piercing about. 00:11:00.639 --> 00:11:04.080 Not under the influence of substances, I have a happy marriage. 00:11:04.320 --> 00:11:09.679 Sure, I've got to apologize to people here and there, but I this isn't really for me. 00:11:10.559 --> 00:11:16.080 If that's you, then you haven't yet fully grasped the nature of sin. 00:11:17.279 --> 00:11:22.480 It's about who we are, not just the occasional wrong things that we do. 00:11:22.639 --> 00:11:24.799 And it goes down to the very heart. 00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:28.159 Jesus could say, You've heard it say, Thou shalt not kill. 00:11:28.320 --> 00:11:34.080 I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother in his heart has already committed murder. 00:11:35.679 --> 00:11:37.039 It's a heart issue. 00:11:37.200 --> 00:11:42.320 The Bible says, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:50.799 So listen to messages about the Bible that will expose your sin and not just tell you you're a wonderful person and everything's great. 00:11:51.039 --> 00:11:54.480 Holy Spirit, grant us conviction. 00:11:56.720 --> 00:12:00.720 Real Christianity always involves conviction. 00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:07.200 Real Christianity also must include reception. 00:12:07.600 --> 00:12:09.519 That's the second thing we see right here. 00:12:09.679 --> 00:12:12.000 Verse 41, you can look there in chapter two. 00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:19.279 So those who accepted his message were baptized, accepted Peter's message. 00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:23.759 It's not enough to simply sense the piercing conviction of the Holy Spirit. 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:34.720 We have to respond by accepting that message, agreeing with God and trusting in what he says and who the Lord Jesus Christ is alone. 00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:41.519 In Acts chapter 7, we're going to come there in a few months, Stephen preaches a sermon. 00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:54.559 And at the end of the sermon, he says to the crowd that's listening to him, You are always resisting the Holy Spirit, just like your ancestors. 00:12:55.679 --> 00:13:02.720 The Holy Spirit probed, touched generations, pushed him aside. 00:13:03.759 --> 00:13:09.840 And when the crowd hears Stephen, they don't respond in the way that the crowd here in Acts 2 responds to Peter. 00:13:10.080 --> 00:13:16.320 When they hear Stephen, they become enraged and stone him to death. 00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:20.320 Why such violence? 00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:31.120 If Stephen's just making up a story about who Jesus is in the resurrection, if he's making up a story, they can safely go on their way. 00:13:31.840 --> 00:13:38.720 They are enraged because they're convicted, but they don't receive the message. 00:13:38.960 --> 00:13:45.440 They reject the messenger, but more importantly, they reject the God who was speaking through Stephen. 00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:55.279 When you're pierced in your heart, receive all of what God says. 00:13:55.440 --> 00:13:58.159 And that does begin with a message of condemnation. 00:13:58.799 --> 00:14:03.200 The Lord does stand opposed to all the wicked, and that's all of us. 00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:06.080 But this is where the good news of the gospel comes in. 00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:16.480 The message is not, in the end, one of condemnation, but for those who embrace the free gift of God, it's salvation. 00:14:17.200 --> 00:14:22.159 The Lord God sent his one and only Son to live and die in the place of sinners. 00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:24.480 He lived a perfectly righteous life. 00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:26.080 None of us can ever do that. 00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:28.480 He took the penalty that we deserved. 00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:34.879 He rose again, the payment's been completed, and we have left nothing but to accept the free gift of salvation. 00:14:35.039 --> 00:14:36.799 So receive that message today. 00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:38.960 If you haven't received it before, receive it today. 00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:42.720 If you're trusting in Christ, keep on trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:14:45.919 --> 00:14:50.240 In verse 38, Peter emphasizes repentance. 00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:57.840 Reception must include repentance. 00:14:59.279 --> 00:15:03.600 Repentance is simply turning from sin to Jesus. 00:15:04.559 --> 00:15:05.440 I'll say that again. 00:15:05.600 --> 00:15:11.039 Repentance is turning away from sin to Jesus. 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:22.879 Some people like the idea of adding Jesus into their lives, seeing what that might do, but they don't actually want to turn away from their sin. 00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:26.799 That's not real reception of the Lord Jesus. 00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:34.240 If you're not viewing your sin the way Jesus views it, then it doesn't seem like you actually want to receive him. 00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:41.360 You want Jesus on your terms, but that's not reception in the way that the Bible speaks of it here. 00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:51.919 1 Thessalonians 1, 8 and 9, for the word of the Lord rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has gone out. 00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:55.360 Therefore, we don't need to say anything. 00:15:55.679 --> 00:16:07.919 For they themselves report what kind of reception we had from you, how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God. 00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:13.519 There's Paul writing to the Christians of Thessalonia and saying, This is real. 00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:20.080 And I know it's real because you received it in a way that you turn from idols to trust the true and living God. 00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:23.600 Okay, so another clarification at this point. 00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:31.120 I'm not saying that you have to get your life all cleaned up in order to qualify yourself for salvation. 00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:36.320 We're saved by God's grace through faith, not our own doing. 00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:42.159 We sing that song: if you tarry till you're better, you will never come at all. 00:16:42.399 --> 00:16:47.679 So come to Jesus, come with your sin, come ready to lay down your sin. 00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:54.720 It's not about being qualified enough, it's about a willingness to trust and obey. 00:16:55.440 --> 00:17:05.599 Andrew wonderfully brought out in his scripture reading that truly receiving the Lord is not just acknowledging that that sounds good, that sounds right. 00:17:05.839 --> 00:17:08.400 It's resting and relying on Jesus. 00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:09.759 It's trusting in him. 00:17:10.160 --> 00:17:15.759 And if you're trusting in him, you'll want to turn away from all that displeases him. 00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:22.880 I don't know what each one of you is battling today. 00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:31.839 Maybe there's some of you here, and you feel like I've tried to receive Christ, and it seems like it just never works. 00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:36.559 And maybe you're fearful that I haven't felt enough conviction. 00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:39.440 I haven't turned from my sin enough. 00:17:40.319 --> 00:17:43.119 It's not about the amount. 00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:47.920 It's about the person you're relying on. 00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:50.480 Receive his promise. 00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:52.720 His mercy is there for you. 00:17:53.440 --> 00:17:57.440 You can repent and believe this day because his promises are sure. 00:17:57.599 --> 00:18:05.519 It's not about the perfection of our repentance, but it is about the sincerity of our turning and trusting in Jesus Christ. 00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:11.519 Verse 39 says, the promise is for you. 00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:13.599 It's God's word. 00:18:13.839 --> 00:18:16.319 And notice how generous God is, verse 39. 00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:17.599 The promise is for you. 00:18:17.680 --> 00:18:19.200 It's for your children. 00:18:19.440 --> 00:18:21.680 It's for all who are far off. 00:18:23.440 --> 00:18:25.920 Children here today, listen up. 00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:31.039 It's been great having all of the children with us throughout the whole service over the summer. 00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:34.240 Children, you've got an amazing opportunity from the Lord. 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:40.400 You have the gospel set before you week after week in this church, day after day in your homes. 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:42.799 What are you going to do with that? 00:18:43.440 --> 00:18:46.400 Don't despise God's grace. 00:18:46.960 --> 00:18:49.119 Listen and receive. 00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:54.960 Maybe you're here today and you think, well, I'm not a child, but I am far away from the Lord. 00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:57.200 You're not too far away from his grace. 00:18:57.599 --> 00:18:58.640 Come and receive it. 00:18:58.799 --> 00:19:00.079 Come and trust in him. 00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:02.559 Promise is for you. 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:12.799 But there might also be some of you here today, and your battle is there really is no battle. 00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:29.440 You assume, well, I'm a Christian because, you know, I'm I'm I believe in God and I'm not a Muslim, and I live in America, and Jesus seems like a pretty nice guy, but you've never actually repented. 00:19:29.599 --> 00:19:31.920 You've never turned from your sins. 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:34.400 That's not real Christianity. 00:19:35.200 --> 00:19:39.440 You too can turn and accept the Lord Jesus Christ today. 00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:54.960 There's some churches that they scrutinize the quality of someone's repentance more than they preach the life-giving mercy of Jesus Christ. 00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:57.200 And that's a danger. 00:19:57.920 --> 00:20:05.359 But I think it's a danger, probably in more churches, that they just don't talk about repentance. 00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:13.839 They want to receive people, they don't want to offend people. 00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:20.720 So at best, they talk about sins that are not a problem in our culture. 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:24.960 And sometimes they'll say things like, well, nobody's perfect, we don't judge here. 00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:35.759 And yes, there's a way you can say those things, and it's true, but there's a tell when you never ever speak about repentance, and the Bible does it over and over again. 00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:38.880 Peter's message couldn't be more clear. 00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:40.000 Repent. 00:20:40.559 --> 00:20:43.759 That's part of what real accepting looks like. 00:20:43.920 --> 00:20:47.200 The gospel's free, it's not cheap. 00:20:47.440 --> 00:20:49.039 Jesus paid for your sins. 00:20:49.200 --> 00:20:51.839 So take your sins to Christ and leave them there. 00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:57.440 Last element we'll look at this morning. 00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:03.119 Real Christianity leads to recognition. 00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:05.039 Verse 41. 00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:10.319 So those who accepted his message were baptized. 00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:17.119 And that day, about 3,000 people were added to them. 00:21:18.880 --> 00:21:30.799 People who have this conviction, who receive the message, they publicly showcase that embrace of the Lord Jesus Christ through baptism. 00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:32.640 Baptism is a gift from God. 00:21:32.720 --> 00:21:40.240 It's a wonderful way in which God reminds us that He's promised to cleanse us and purge us and forgive us with the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:47.200 It's also a way for us to testify before others that we are trusting in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. 00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:59.759 Let me again clarify that recognition that I'm trusting in Christ alone, that I'm being received and counted among his people, that doesn't save you. 00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:09.359 There are some traditions that teach that baptism is the thing, the mechanical act, the work that justifies you before God. 00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:10.000 That's wrong. 00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:16.799 We're saved by grace through faith, not from ourselves, not by works that none of us can boast, Ephesians chapter 2. 00:22:17.119 --> 00:22:22.160 So if you think you're a Christian merely because you've been baptized, you're mistaken. 00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:27.680 Don't read verse 38 and think that baptism causes the forgiveness of sins. 00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:31.599 It doesn't cause it, but it is an important picture of it. 00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:39.119 And we get to see and celebrate what God has done as we see people baptized. 00:22:40.559 --> 00:22:58.799 Without personal conviction, without personal reception of the message, it doesn't matter how much water has been sprinkled on you or how much water you've been dunked in, you're not a real Christian. 00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:04.559 But while we're on that note, you did come to a Baptist church this morning. 00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:09.839 Why don't we baptize babies? 00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:17.759 Can babies feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the need to embrace Jesus Christ? 00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:18.640 Maybe. 00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:20.480 I don't want to limit God. 00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:28.240 But I do know that I've never had a baby get up and tell me that they're feeling conviction of the Holy Spirit and that they're receiving. 00:23:28.799 --> 00:23:30.559 I can't verify that. 00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:39.599 The pattern here in Acts is conviction, reception, and then recognition. 00:23:39.839 --> 00:23:41.359 Same pattern in Matthew 28. 00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:43.359 We'll see it again in the book of Acts. 00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:52.720 In verse 38, Peter tells those listeners who are receiving the message to be baptized. 00:23:53.200 --> 00:23:59.519 Verse 41, the passage says, those who accepted the message were baptized. 00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:01.839 You don't baptize yourself. 00:24:02.079 --> 00:24:03.759 Have you ever thought about that? 00:24:05.119 --> 00:24:09.599 Now, we don't baptize people against their will. 00:24:10.079 --> 00:24:11.279 This isn't natural libre. 00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:15.680 We want people to actually want to be baptized. 00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:22.160 But it's one thing for you to say, I'm a follower of the Lord Jesus, and I want to confess him publicly. 00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:32.640 And that's another thing for God's people to say, yes, we want to recognize you as a follower of Christ and baptize you into the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:47.519 And of course, we can't perfectly see the heart, but we've got a solemn obligation and responsibility to recognize and publicly affirm as best we can who are these people marked out as those belonging to God. 00:24:48.400 --> 00:24:52.319 Look at the final part of this recognition at the end of verse 41. 00:24:52.799 --> 00:25:00.160 It says that day about 3,000 people were added to them. 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:03.680 Were added to who? 00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:07.119 There's some kind of existing group there. 00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:12.880 Turn back to chapter one or look back. 00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:26.319 Verse 14 tells us they were all continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brother. 00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:29.039 So there's a group of believers who are there united for prayer. 00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:31.759 Then look at verse 15 of Acts 1. 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:35.680 In those days, Peter stood up among the brothers and sisters. 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:44.400 The number of people who were together was about 120 among the brothers and sisters. 00:25:44.799 --> 00:25:53.279 So they're recognizing themselves as part of the family of God, and they're meeting together to hear teaching and to worship and pray. 00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:55.119 What does that sound like? 00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:57.759 Sounds like a church. 00:25:59.119 --> 00:26:10.000 And then here in Acts chapter 2, the people that hear the gospel message and embrace it and receive it are baptized and added to that group, the church. 00:26:10.079 --> 00:26:12.960 They're publicly numbered among the people of God. 00:26:13.599 --> 00:26:24.880 Where the body of Christ on earth and churches like ours get to be visible displays of the glory of God and of changed lives and of belonging to the Lord Jesus. 00:26:25.119 --> 00:26:27.200 What a privilege that is. 00:27:12.400 --> 00:27:15.599 Once baptized, always baptized. 00:27:16.160 --> 00:27:27.359 But maybe for you, the church where you were baptized, that was years ago, and you're numbered among the people of God there, and then you moved away. 00:27:27.599 --> 00:27:29.920 So you couldn't really be with that church. 00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:33.440 And maybe you've kind of lost that connection. 00:27:33.599 --> 00:27:48.319 You know, you visited this church, uh, you visited that church, you visited Internet Church, you visited NFL pregame church, but you're not really publicly numbered among the people of God. 00:27:48.640 --> 00:27:50.240 Join a church. 00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:53.839 That's a wonderful way to live out the application of this passage. 00:27:53.920 --> 00:27:58.640 And once again, being a member of a church doesn't save you. 00:27:59.039 --> 00:28:00.160 Not at all. 00:28:00.799 --> 00:28:06.960 But it's a wonderful way for other Christians to be able to know you and care about you. 00:28:07.119 --> 00:28:10.640 It's a wonderful way for the watching world to see who represents Jesus. 00:28:10.799 --> 00:28:20.559 It's a wonderful way for you to say, I want my heart commitment to Christ to be reflected in a public commitment to his people and to his body. 00:28:23.920 --> 00:28:25.359 I'm Lil Hesant to say this. 00:28:25.440 --> 00:28:26.799 It sounds like a shameless plug. 00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:30.079 We've got our membership class coming up in a couple of weeks. 00:28:30.319 --> 00:28:32.000 Oh boy, here it is. 00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:35.119 I listened to public radio, I've got to hear the membership drive. 00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:38.000 Now I'm in church, I've got to hear the membership drive. 00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:41.839 We sincerely want to help you follow Jesus. 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:43.359 It's not about our numbers. 00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:46.079 There's many faithful churches in the area. 00:28:46.160 --> 00:28:50.799 Uh, we're not trying to hit 3,000 new members by the end of the year, we're gonna fold. 00:28:51.599 --> 00:28:53.599 We just want to help you follow the Lord Jesus. 00:28:53.680 --> 00:28:59.920 So come with your questions and let us talk with you and pray with you and help you as best as we can. 00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:14.640 Wouldn't it be amazing, though, if all of the gospel proclaiming churches in Metro New York, if by the end of the year there were 3,000 people coming, confessing, that would be incredible. 00:29:14.799 --> 00:29:17.119 And God still saves people, he still does it. 00:29:17.200 --> 00:29:18.880 We know that he can't. 00:29:21.680 --> 00:29:26.960 Real Christianity is a glorious thing because it's God who's at work. 00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:36.000 And uh we need him and we need his spirit, and we see here the spirits surely at work. 00:29:37.039 --> 00:29:42.400 Conviction, receptance, recognition. 00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:55.039 So far on this series in Acts, we've done a fair amount of zooming out, trying to see the big picture, and that's good, that's necessary, that's important. 00:29:55.839 --> 00:30:14.079 What's happening at Pentecost is the fulfillment of God's promises, the inaugurated reign of the Lord, the Old Testament promises coming to pass, the last days beginning, those are big things that take us away from ourselves and our own lives to God's plan and pattern of redemption in the world. 00:30:14.240 --> 00:30:15.759 That's amazingly important. 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:20.640 In this message, I've zoomed in a little more. 00:30:21.680 --> 00:30:28.160 What does the Spirit's work look like in your heart and in your heart? 00:30:28.799 --> 00:30:33.839 What does real Christianity look like in this church, in that church? 00:30:34.960 --> 00:30:39.039 But as we're closing today, I want to I want to step back and zoom out again. 00:30:40.880 --> 00:30:46.559 We don't know how many people will be converted in this church or any church in the next year. 00:30:47.359 --> 00:30:54.640 But it is interesting in verse 41 that Luke tells us about 3,000 were added to the group. 00:30:55.279 --> 00:30:57.519 That's not common in the New Testament. 00:30:58.079 --> 00:31:02.400 Read through Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, all these letters to the churches. 00:31:02.640 --> 00:31:07.039 Do they recount the numbers in those other letters? 00:31:08.079 --> 00:31:08.400 No. 00:31:09.359 --> 00:31:13.839 That's not to say they didn't care or they didn't know who was a part of the church. 00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:20.000 Corinthians speaks of insiders and outsiders, but we don't get the number report here in Acts. 00:31:20.319 --> 00:31:25.359 Luke is inspired to say there was 3,000 people in one day. 00:31:27.359 --> 00:31:32.880 Remember that Pentecost reverses the Tower of Babel. 00:31:33.519 --> 00:31:40.079 And the Old Testament people exalt themselves in pride, and God scatters them and scatters the languages. 00:31:40.240 --> 00:31:47.519 Now at Pentecost, through this miracle of interpretation and understanding, the languages are brought back together. 00:31:49.119 --> 00:31:51.920 3,000 added in one day. 00:31:52.799 --> 00:31:58.799 Remember what happens on Mount Sinai when the old covenant is first given to the people? 00:31:59.920 --> 00:32:04.160 And the very first commands worship the Lord your God. 00:32:05.119 --> 00:32:07.359 Don't make any graven images of them. 00:32:07.599 --> 00:32:10.079 And the people say, Yes. 00:32:10.480 --> 00:32:11.599 Oh, the Lord has spoken. 00:32:12.160 --> 00:32:14.160 Yes, we're real Christians. 00:32:14.799 --> 00:32:17.039 And then immediately, what happens? 00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:19.200 The golden calf. 00:32:21.200 --> 00:32:23.039 And then what happens? 00:32:23.200 --> 00:32:26.240 It's not as familiar to some of us, perhaps. 00:32:26.799 --> 00:32:33.519 Moses tells the priests to go out among the people and bring God's judgment to bear. 00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:41.200 And it says, after the slaughter, three thousand fell dead among the people that day. 00:32:43.599 --> 00:32:46.880 You see what God is doing in history to bring glory to himself? 00:32:47.599 --> 00:32:52.400 Judgment is giving way to salvation. 00:32:53.279 --> 00:33:02.799 The mountain of trembling and fear has become Mount Zion, the place of festal celebration. 00:33:03.680 --> 00:33:10.960 And there are these specific priests that are called to bring God's sword in that day in the old covenant. 00:33:11.519 --> 00:33:24.000 Now, we who know the Lord are a kingdom of priests, and we're called and have the opportunity to go out not with the sword, but with a message of salvation. 00:33:24.559 --> 00:33:29.839 So don't want you to leave today mainly fearful, but mainly encouraged. 00:33:42.880 --> 00:33:44.079 Let's pray. 00:33:45.359 --> 00:33:48.799 Oh Lord, we are so weak. 00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:55.279 We don't receive the movements of the Spirit to the degree that we should. 00:33:55.440 --> 00:34:11.280 We're not sensitive to Him, but we want the Word to so fill our lives more and more that we're walking in lives of repentance, that we're walking in lives of faith, that we're walking lives in love with your people, in love with your church. 00:34:11.920 --> 00:34:16.960 We thank you that the Lord Jesus Christ is the one who rules and reigns. 00:34:17.199 --> 00:34:21.199 And so our hope is not in ourselves, but our hope is in him, and it's a great hope. 00:34:21.280 --> 00:34:23.440 It's a sure hope, it's a confident hope. 00:34:23.679 --> 00:34:26.079 We're so glad for his promises. 00:34:26.400 --> 00:34:46.239 So we pray that even as we sing this morning and leave, that our singing will be a testimony of our desire to receive anew your promises of cleansing, your promises of forgiveness, your promises of life that's meaningful because it's a life found through our identity and union with the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:34:46.400 --> 00:34:48.400 In Jesus' name, amen.