Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
Acts 2:41
When the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples, Peter preached the gospel, pointing people to believe, repent, and to be baptized. He told them they had to break away from the unbiblical worldview that they knew and embraced. And the people’s response?
Some, but not all, responded. The fact that the text says “those who received his word,” implies that not all did. As it was for Peter, so it is for us. Our duty is to declare the truth. Salvation is the work of the Holy Spirit. He saves some, but not all.
Those who responded gladly received the message. The word “gladly” means “freely, cheerfully, joyfully, and without compulsion.” Conversion cannot be forced by human measures, but neither is it forced by the Holy Spirit. Rather, it happens as a person is born again, and given a new heart and affections for Christ. Those who are born again come “gladly” and eagerly. If a person must be hounded by people, it is not a work of the Spirit.
Those who responded gladly received the message. People are not saved because religion seems like a good idea, or because they like the church, the music, or the preacher. People are saved because they receive the message—and the message is Christ and the gospel—nothing more and certainly nothing less!
Those who responded were baptized. As covered in a previous blog post, baptism is not a means of salvation. It is, rather, an obedient response by those who have been saved by God’s grace alone, through faith alone (which faith is always accompanied by repentance), in Christ alone.
Those who responded were added to the Church. Only those who possess a credible profession of faith, validated by a heart to follow the Lord, as demonstrated by being baptized, should be admitted into membership in the Church. At Pentecost three thousand were saved and added to the Church in one day—a grand response in deed! More normally, the Church grows gradually by smaller numbers, but praise God, the Holy Spirit continues to save His people.