Sermon
WE
Remember the key purpose of Luke in the gospel of Luke was to tell all that Jesus had “begun.” To be specific, he had begun to inspire his disciples who were to carry the work forward, and he had instructed them to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Holy Spirit.
The risen and reigning Jesus pours out the Spirit, forms a learning-loving-lauding church, and continues His work through ordinary people—calling all to repent and receive “times of refreshing.”
Today we look at the second half of Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost, and we see a man who we mostly know by his shortcomings enter into a moment where he is clearly not only functioning in the power of the Holy Spirit, but his giftings.
We go from the man whom Jesus said, “Get behind me, Satan,” to the man who preaches the first sermon empowered by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
The truth is for all of us; we are only limited by whether or not we continue to follow Jesus.
The question for each of us to answer is, no matter our failures, would we continue to follow Jesus?
Let’s pray.
GOD
We enter into the sermon on Pentecost with Peter’s declaration of Jesus as the Risen Savior.
“God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. 33 Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today. 34 For David himself never ascended into heaven, yet he said, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand 35 until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.”’ 36 “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”” (Acts 2:32-36 NLT)
It had become common knowledge that Jesus had been raised from the dead. In fact, for 40 days he had proved his resurrection before his ascension.
Really, everyone is asking about what is going on with these people who some describe as being drunk in the morning. Peter elaborates that what they see is the Holy Spirit Jesus had promised and that was promised by the prophets.
But he quotes a psalm that Jesus has also quoted. You might recall this was the last thing Jesus really said to the group of Pharisees and Sadducees who kept trying to catch him in their questions and traps.
Jesus and Peter quote Psalm 110:1 for the same reason.
To point out that the Messiah would be of the line of David, but that he would be divine. We express this as being fully God and fully man.
There’s something different about Peter here. The last time we saw Peter before a crowd, he denies Jesus and runs away; this time is different.
As Peter continues to preach today, we notice three distinct invitations:
Points
Repentance
“Peter replied, ‘Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.’ 40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, ‘Save yourselves from this crooked generation!’ 41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.” (Acts 2:38-41 NLT)
Notice the order here. Repentance comes first, then baptism.
There is an idea in some circles that baptism is where salvation actually occurs. They will use these verses as their proof text.
It says, in short, repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins.
But if you look into the word “for,” we find that it doesn’t mean so that; it translates to because of.
As an example, I could say, “He got a ticket for speeding.”
He didn’t get a ticket to speed; he got one because of speeding.
“She was praised for her kindness.”
She wasn’t praised in order to be kind, but because she was kind.
We have baptism because we are forgiven, not to be forgiven. No work we do could warrant forgiveness. Only belief in Jesus can do that.
The last quote from Peter in this sermon is notable, and it was notable enough to be recorded. “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
This is not the first time we read something similar in the Bible. Moses says it in Deuteronomy 32:5, Jesus says it in different ways in Matthew 12, 17, and Luke 9.
Here’s the thought: Don’t let the world around you set the standard; let the truth be your standard.
If the whole world said blue was red, but God says it’s blue, then who do you side with?
Just because it’s taught by someone, or someone wrote a book, or a law was passed doesn’t mean it’s right in God’s eyes.
From this, we see 3,000 people baptized. Now, how long did that take?!
It’s an interesting comparison to think about how on the day the law was given, 3,000 people died.
On the day the Spirit was outpoured, 3,000 people entered into eternal life.
Paul himself writes that the law brought death, but the Spirit brings life.
The Holy Spirit, through Peter, brings repentance; we then see…
Renewal
“All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. 43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:42-47 NLT)
The form of renewal that happened occurs in the blueprint of the first new covenant church.
Learning
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teachings.
Have you ever heard someone say they're not into church or preaching; they’re just into loving Jesus? “I don’t need a church; I just need Jesus.”
A believer does need fellowship, and they need a community that is going to teach them about Jesus and His word.
Loving
This mostly took the form of fellowship, or the Greek word koinónia.
They gave up what they loved for what they loved more.
I’ve heard people compare these scriptures to communism, but it is not communism. It is in no way an endorsement of government-run states where all resources are shared and owned by the people.
It is, however, common-ism. They voluntarily sold their things and distributed them.
Notice that some people kept their homes, but they made them available for meetings. Even common-ism would develop some issues that have to be dealt with later on in Chapter 5.
Lauding
Because I’m a pastor, I need that to be another word starting with an L. They spent time in worship together.
This should look reflective of what we do on Sunday morning. We worship, we give, we learn. Look at what it led to.
“And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”
Why? Do you think people wandered in from the street into their homes and raised their hands? No, I believe for more reasons than one this was an evangelistic church.
It was a lasting church because they were reproducing the discipleship relationship in others.
The Holy Spirit, through Peter, called the church to repentance and renewal. But I believe it was a lasting church because of their…
Bold Witness
We enter into another scene at the start of Chapter 3, but the same Peter.
“Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. 2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money. 4 Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, ‘Look at us!’ 5 The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. 6 But Peter said, ‘I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!’ 7 Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. 8 He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them. 9 All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. 10 When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! 11 They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John.” (Acts 3:1-11 NLT)
It’s never explicitly stated that Jesus walked through this gate, but we know from His ministry he was within eyesight of it. Most likely, he did walk through it.
For years, specifically since Jesus was a child, he had been at the Temple on many occasions. Had he ever passed this man? If he passed him, maybe he thought, we can imagine, your day is coming.
This man at the gate has been there for years. He had been lame since birth. I think about this from the perspective of the person or persons carrying him. This is the best they can do.
The man can’t work a trade. He can’t engage in business. By law, he can’t even actually enter the temple as a lame man. And every day some faithful person would carry him, thinking about this man. I bet he was sick of going.
Day after day, he wakes up to beg. He would have witnessed Herod’s reconstruction of the temple, trying to find a place to beg among the scaffolding.
He would have witnessed the time Pilate took money from the temple treasury to build an aqueduct and the subsequent riots and blood spilled on the streets, trying to find a place to beg among the blood.
He would have witnessed Jesus clearing the money changers and having to find a place to beg among the running crowds.
I can’t imagine he wants to continue doing this, but there’s no other option, and so daily he’s carried, placed, and he begs. He asks for money, and he holds out a hand or a cup. We read that he’s not even looking up at Peter.
To him, Peter is another wealthy temple-goer who must be carrying the money required to make his offering.
But he doesn’t know that Peter will never carry money again to go to the temple to have his sins forgiven. Peter is no longer in the business of temple offerings; he’s in the business of worship. He’s continuing the business of Jesus, which is to seek and save the lost.
Peter says, “Look at us!” Get rid of your shame, man.
Peter continues, “I don’t have silver or gold, but I'll give you what I have. In the NAME OF JESUS, get up and walk.”
The lame man is never carried to the gate called Beautiful again.
This is the empowerment of the Holy Spirit that makes Jesus followers His witnesses!
The question for us is, how could we live out this pattern of ministry and life today? I want to give you one word I think captures the lessons of this section of text.
YOU
Devotion
Devotion is the doorway to daily additions.
The church must have three things to be in alignment with the first-generation church:
- Weekly Worship
- Small groups that meet, eat, and pray together
- Daily Word & Prayer
By the end of Acts, we will add Missions to this list.
Devotion kept Peter on his path with Jesus. If you will stay devoted to Jesus even when you fail, you will always fail forward.
Not to rehash the life of Peter, but if he got one thing right, it was his dogged devotion to following Jesus.
His devotion often took the form of humility when he had made mistakes.
Devotion to People
Who sits in the places we travel every day that no one else is helping and who, up to this point, maybe we’ve done nothing to help?
The man at the gate Beautiful wasn’t healed because a follower of Christ walked by him; he was healed because a follower of Christ stopped to continue the ministry of Jesus.
Conclusion
If we will stay devoted, there is no end to what the Holy Spirit can do through us to continue the works that Jesus has already begun.