(2 of 8) Aspects of Christian fellowship in the church

Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:44-47

Consider the second of eight aspects of Christian fellowship in the church from Acts 2:44-47:

2. Church members get together often (v.46). They continued daily with one accord. Being of “one accord” tells us about the importance of corporate worship, in contrast with everyone simply doing his or her own thing independently. They met together.

“In the temple” reminds us that the first church in Jerusalem was basically a Jewish sect, so they continued to meet weekly at the temple for corporate worship. As the church grew and began to have its own identity separate from being Jewish, and as the church experienced persecution from the Jewish religious leaders, the church no longer met at the temple, but in homes.

That they met “from house to house” speaks of two aspects of the church’s fellowship. First, even when they were meeting in the temple weekly, they also met daily in homes. Secondly, as the church pulled away from meeting in the temple altogether, they continued to meet for worship in homes. This of course, instructs us about how “together” they were. They met in each other’s homes, and they met often.

As churches in local communities grew, meeting in homes became problematic due to crowding. For that reason, churches eventually began to develop their own facilities for corporate worship.

How shall we in 2020 meet based on how they met two millennia ago? First, having church facilities that can accommodate more people than will fit in a home for worship is a practical reality. So we meet, not “in the temple,” but in church buildings, at least for worship services on the Lord’s Day, as well as at other times. Second, we do not want meeting in a church building to erase the beauty of also meeting in smaller groups in homes where our fellowship is more intimate.

At Grace Bible Church, we place a premium on both corporate worship services in the facilities God has graciously provided for us. We place no less of a premium on meeting in homes for our Home Fellowships, where we can eat, sing, learn, and pray together. We don’t meet “daily” but we meet often and endeavor to remain in contact between our meetings.

If there’s nothing to hinder you to be a part of a Home Fellowship, yet don’t participate, you are missing out on an aspect of body life that is not only wonderful, but biblical.

Next Time: Church members “break bread from house to house” (v.46).

(1 of 8) Aspects of Christian fellowship in the church

Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:44-47

Consider the first of eight aspects of Christian fellowship in the church from Acts 2:44-47:

1. Church members meet one another’s needs (v.45). The church is to care for one another to meet one another’s needs. As mentioned in a previous post, however, that is not a call to socialism. There is a list of who is responsible to meet one’s needs, and the church is not at the top.

(1) The first layer of responsibility to meet one’s needs rests on the shoulder of the individual. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians: “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” (Read all of 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12.)

(2) The second layer of responsibility is the family. Paul warned Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:1-16 that families are to care for their own. He even says that if a man will not provide for his household, he has “denied the faith and is worse than a nonbeliever!” (v.8). The tenor of this passage is that the family is responsible so as not to be a burden on the church (v.16).

(3) The third layer of responsibility belongs to the church (Acts 2:45 & 1 Timothy 5:1-16). This does not mean “the church” as though it is a welfare institution. Rather the church means the people who make up the church. We are to look after one another. We can and do pool our resources by maintaining a benevolence fund that people contribute to (above and beyond their tithes). These funds are given to people in the church who are in need.

As a footnote, the key word is “needs.” When persons are legitimately doing all they can, if legitimate needs arise, we are all here to help one another “as anyone has need.”

Next Time: Church members get together often (v.46).

Yep. Nope. Nope.

Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
Acts 2:43-45

Please consider the following:

1. The importance of godly fear (v.43). Believers no longer fear death or condemnation by God (1 Corinthians 15:54-57, & Romans 8:1). Why? Our sins are forgiven! Hallelujah! But believers do have a new and wonderful sense of the fear of God. Ours is: (1) a new respectful veneration of the Holy One! And (2) a holy fear of sinning against the One who loves us with an undeserved and infinite love.

2. Signs and wonders are not the new norm for all believers (v.43). After all, if they were the norm, they wouldn’t be miraculous! In addition, note that the text says signs and wonders “were done through the apostles.” The Apostles were a group of men unique in history, and we are not in that group. That is not to say God cannot, or does not, ever perform miracles. He does, but those who claim the power to do such things because they are Christians and because we should expect miracles, are simply wrong.

3. Socialism is not an aspect of Christianity (v.44-45). Those who think it is, understand neither. Christians are to be charitable—meaning we are to give freely. If it is demanded, especially by government taxation, it is not charity. In Acts 5, Ananias and Sapphira learned this lesson moments before the Lord took their lives. They gave some money, claiming that they had sold a piece of property and that they were giving the entire proceeds, which was untrue. They secretly kept back a portion for themselves. They did not die because they didn’t give all the money. They died because they lied about their giving. Ananias was specifically told that the property, and subsequently the proceeds of the sale, were theirs to do with as they pleased (Acts 5:3-4). This unequivocally proves that Christian charity is freely given, not demanded.

Words have meaning. And matter.

I know, the 4th of July is not about the Constitution.  It’s about the Declaration of Independence.  The Constitution wasn’t signed until September 17, 1787.  Incidentally, the Declaration of Independence wasn’t signed on July 4th either.  It was signed on August 2, 1776.  Be that as it may…

The Constitution has been under attack for many years, not from foreign powers, but from Americans who think it should mean something other than what was written.  This modern technique of interpreting literature is called, deconstructionism.  Deconstructionism insists that no text (or word) can have a fixed meaning.  Instead, everyone has the right to interpret anything one reads according what it means to the reader.  In other words, what we read is not about what the author intended, but what the reader wants it to mean.  In a nutshell, deconstructionism is all about me, the reader.  (By the way, try that with architectural specifications.  You wouldn’t trust a building or a bridge built by someone who built what he or she thought the specs should mean!) 

Deconstructionism wreaks havoc with the Constitution.  We are not a Constitutional Republic if the words of the Constitution are open to interpretation (or have no meaning at all) instead of meaning nothing more and nothing less than the writers meant—when they were written.

There is another even more important document that must not be subjected to the self-importance of deconstructionism.  I am referring to the Bible.  Bible believing Christians must either interpret the Bible based on what it says (understanding that the Bible includes a number of literary styles), not on what each reader wants it to mean.

I understand that some don’t care what the Bible says, and discard it out of hand.  While I think that is an unwise choice, at least that person is honest.  Those, however, who claim to believe the Bible, but who feel the liberty to reinterpret it according to their personal preferences, are making a monumental error.  The Bible claims to be the inspired Word of Almighty God.  Either it is, or it isn’t.  It can’t be if we are free to ignore its plain meaning in favor of our own.

Jesus said the Bible is all about Him (John 5:39-40, Luke 24:27).  What does the Bible say about Him?  God is Holy, and demands holiness of us 1.  We are not holy and are therefore subject to God’s righteous judgment and eternal condemnation 2.  Because God loves us, His only begotten Son, Jesus, became a man so that He could die and rise from the dead to pay the penalty for the sins of all who would trust in Him and repent 3.

That is what he Bible says.  You may be one who rejects the Bible.  That is your prerogative.  But if you believe that the Bible is the Word of God, for the sake of your soul, please do not deconstruct God’s words.  Please.

Footnotes:
1. Matthew 5:48
2. Romans 3:23, 6:23
3. John 3:16, Luke 24:6

The Church is a place of prayer

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts 2:42

This verse contains the most complete, yet succinct description of what a New Testament church is about. The verse can be divided into six descriptions of what kind of place the Church is to be. Let’s consider the sixth of of six.

6. The Church is a place of prayer. When He was driving out the merchants out of the temple, Jesus said the house of the Lord is to be a “house of prayer” (Matthew 21:13). I wonder what the Lord would say if He were to show up physically to the average evangelical church. Our churches (and I include ours) are often houses of musical worship. Houses of preaching. Houses of fellowship. None of those are bad. These are, in fact, all very good and necessary.

But (all too often) where is the prayer?

There is an adage that says, “If you want a low turn out, announce a gathering either for evangelism or for prayer.” Why is that? We could say a lack of commitment, or maybe an abundance of commitment—to things other than prayer. But might the root of the problem (and it is a problem) be the fact that none of us understands how important prayer is? I think I understand it as well as most, and yet when I am too busy to pray, or am tempted to abbreviate my prayer time, am I not failing to understand how essentially important prayer really is?

The same is true regarding group, or corporate prayer. Prayer meetings (along with evangelistic events) are almost always poorly, if not pathetically, attended. I do not think the answer is to rally the prayer troops by begging or challenging people to commit to being there. I think it is to suggest that we all pray that God would work into our hearts a deeper understanding of how much we need to pray.

John 15:5 & 7  5  “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing...  7  If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”

James 4:2  “…you do not have because you do not ask.”

The Church is a place of the sacraments

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts 2:42

This verse contains the most complete, yet succinct description of what a New Testament church is about. The verse can be divided into six descriptions of what kind of place the Church is to be. Let’s consider the fifth of six.

5. The Church is a place of the sacraments. God primarily communicates with His people through words. The Old Testament prophets said, “Thus says the Lord…” When Jesus came, He said, “You have heard that it was said, but I say…” We not only call the Bible the Word, scripture calls Jesus the Word (John 1:1-3).

Because humans are so easily distracted by, and drawn to what we can see, God warns us continually about the dangers of idols. We are told (in the Word) “No one can see God and live” (Exodus 33:20).

The only two exceptions in the New Testament are the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. In these two observances, we have pictures to see. They are very simple: water, wine, and bread. Baptism is a picture that illustrates our association with Christ. The Lord’s Supper is a picture that begs us to “remember Him” (as well as nourishing our souls spiritually).

Baptism is generally a one-time event, preferably early in one’s walk with the Lord. The Lord’s Supper is a regular and ongoing observance throughout our lives in the Lord. May I encourage you to receive both, and not either without the other.

These two sacraments are for believers—all believers and only believers. These two sacraments are commanded and therefore to be administered in the Church for believers—all believers and only believers.

If you are a believer, have you been baptized? If not, you need to be. If you are a baptized believer, are you receiving the Supper as often as it is administered?

Two booklets about the sacraments will be up on the website soon. Watch for them.

Next Time: The Church is a place of prayer.

The Church is a place of fellowship

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts 2:42

This verse contains the most complete, yet succinct description of what a New Testament church is about. The verse can be divided into six descriptions of what kind of place the Church is to be. Let’s consider the fourth of six.

4. The Church is a place of fellowship. There is a saying: “Next to the Lord Himself, we need each other most.” I believe that is true, not merely because we are socially inclined, but because that is how God created us. When God said, “It is not good that man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18), He was, of course, speaking primarily of marriage between one man and one woman. But it is no less true that human beings are created to be interdependently together—even as the three members of the Godhead are to One God, while being three distinct Persons.(1) Remember how Jesus prayed that believers would be unified as “one” even as He and the Father are one? (John 17:20-21). This takes nothing away from personal responsibility, but it underscores how we are all our brothers’ keepers as well (Genesis 4:9-ff).

When the Church was born at Pentecost, and as 3,000 believers were added to the church (Acts 2:41), we read in the very next verse that they “continued steadfastly in fellowship” (Acts 2:42).

We’ll write more about what that fellowship looked like when we consider Acts 2:44-47. But for now just think of the words of those verses:

Acts 2:44-47 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

(1) The doctrine of the Trinity, simply stated, is that God is one in essence/being; while three in Person. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are co-equal and co-eternal. They are distinct, but never separated.

Next time: The Church is a place of the sacraments…

The Church is a place of God’s Word

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts 2:42

This verse contains the most complete, yet succinct description of what a New Testament church is about. The verse can be divided into six descriptions of what kind of place the Church is to be. Let’s consider the third of of six.

3. The Church is a place of God’s Word. The believers in Jerusalem “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine.” They could because the Apostles were right there, bodily. The Apostles are no longer alive, and even if they were, how many places could they be at once? But we do have the Apostles’ doctrine with us in the form of God’s written Word, the Bible.

The Holy spirit inspired the written Word so that it is the very words of God (2 Timothy 3:16). The Holy Spirit also preserved the written Word so that what we have today is not only the Apostles’ doctrine, but the very words of God Himself.

The Church must look to and follow the written Word of God as the sole authority for all matters of faith and practice. The answers to all of life’s important questions are in the Bible, either by precept or principle. Times change. Cultures change, but the Word of our God unchangingly stands forever (Isaiah 40:8). Believers must “continue steadfastly” (remember from the previous post what those two words mean) in the Apostles’ doctrine, which is the Word of God.

The Word of God must be preached (Matthew 24:14, & 1 Corinthians 1:18-23). The Word of God must be read and studied (2 Timothy 2:15). The Word of God must be memorized (Colossians 3:16). And in all these, the Word of God must be loved (Psalms 119:97).

When the Word of God is not central, the Church is, to state it technically, “out of whack.”

Next time: The Church is a place of fellowship.

The Church is a place of commitment

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts 2:42

This verse contains the most complete, yet succinct description of what a New Testament church is about. The verse can be divided into six descriptions of what kind of place the Church is to be. Let’s consider the second of six.

2. The Church is a place of commitment. The text says they [believers] “continued steadfastly” in several more marks of a New Testament church. What does it mean to “continue steadfastly”? The two words together point out two complimentary aspects of commitment.

To “continue” is to carry on. It is to remain faithful over the long haul. It is the opposite of doing something for a while before quitting. To continue is to persevere even when stopping may seem more attractive—say when there are hardships, trials, tribulations, persecutions, or any other form of opposition. Continuing means persisting when it is in the moment no longer fun or exciting. Continuing is what followers of Christ do no matter who else may fade out, or outright quit.

To continue “steadfastly” is to be all-out rather than halfhearted. It is to be continuously “all in.” It is to be unwavering along the way. It is to be earnest, resolute, and tenaciously adamant. Steadfastness is demonstrated by being staunchly committed. Steadfast believers are not this way because of any special character trait in them. They are this way because the indwelling Holy Spirit who carries them forward, because of the steadfast love of Christ that compels and empowers them.

It is one thing to be in favor of Jesus. It is quite another to “continue steadfastly” in Christ—all in, forever.

Next time: The Church is a place of God’s Word…

The Church is a place for believers

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts 2:42

This verse contains the most complete, yet succinct description of what a New Testament church is about. The verse can be divided into six descriptions of what kind of place the church is to be. Let’s consider the first of six.

1. The Church is a place for believers. In the previous verse (v.41) we read that “those who gladly received his [Peter’s] word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.” Those who gladly received Peter’s word received Christ and the Gospel, for that was what Peter preached. (v.42) begins, “and they,” followed by what “they” did. Who are the “they”? They were those who received Christ and the Gospel. They were believers.

The church is a place for believers. The Church welcomes non-believers (who will hear the message of Christ and the Gospel and hopefully be saved), but the Church is for believers. The membership of the Church must be made up, as best as can be determined, of believers. This informs and directs what the Church does, as will be seen in the subsequent five descriptions of a New Testament church. This is important so the Church doesn’t get sidetracked away, from what God’s Word says the Church is to be, into being what non-believers want it to be.

The Church is to be about the Word, fellowship, sacraments, and prayer—not entertainment, and/or secondary social endeavors.

What about evangelism? Christ’s command was for believers to go out into the world for evangelism (Matthew 28:18-20), not for non-believers to come into the church for evangelism. Individual believers sometimes like the idea of the Church being a place for evangelism so they don’t have to evangelize.

When the Church begins to cater to non-believers instead of to believers, or when believers leave evangelism up to the Church instead of sharing the Gospel with family and friends, the Church is missing the importance of the first of six marks of the Church.

Next time: The Church is a place of commitment…

Holy Spirit continues to save His people

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.

Every generation is blighted with perverse worldviews

And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation."
Acts 2:40

Peter’s follow up comments to his Pentecost sermon included these words, "Be saved from this perverse generation."  Let’s think through these words.

First, salvation as we normally think of it is salvation from sin (Matthew 1:21). From sin’s penalty (justification), power (sanctification), and one day its presence (glorification) (Romans 8:30). Peter was not ignoring this ultimate salvation, but he appears to be speaking of breaking away from the world his hearers were otherwise “lost in.” The people standing there were Jewish who were in Jerusalem for Pentecost (one of the three major feasts of the Jewish religion). Their hearts and minds were held captive by the religious and sociological worldview they knew. And note that the problem was not the generation, meaning race or age group. The issue was the perversity of that generation’s worldview.

That worldview included, but was not limited to, the idea of Jewish exclusivism. Because they were God’s chosen people, they believed they were God’s only people. The Jewish religious leaders were predominately self-righteous, and hated Jesus, their Messiah. They not only twisted the scriptures to fit their biases (Matthew 22:29), they used the scriptures to manipulate the very people they were called to spiritually shepherd (Matthew 13:15). These (and others) were a part of the people’s worldview. Peter exhorted them to break away from the false worldview that held sway over them.

Every generation is blighted with perverse worldviews, and ours is no exception.

It is important that when we are born again and become followers of Jesus, that we breakaway from every worldview that is not in sync with Christ, the Gospel, and the Word of God. Most of us do not realize just how “worldly” our thinking is because it is all we know. But as we grow in grace and in our knowledge of Christ, the Gospel, and the Word, we must weigh every thought against God’s truth, and be willing to jettison every thought that exalts itself against the mind of the Lord (2 Corinthians 10:5).

The Apostle John wrote of this in 1 John 2:15-17: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

Let us “be saved from this perverse generation.”

How long should sermons be?

And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation."
Acts 2:40

What is recorded in Acts 2:14-39 is not the entire sermon Peter preached on that most famous of all Pentecosts. It is, rather, a summary of the high points of the sermon. Besides the fact that the 27 verses before (v.40) were not everything Peter said, Luke records in (v.40) that Peter continued after the sermon “with many other words.”

Someone once quipped that “the mind can only absorb what the seat can endure.” Yes, sermons can be too long. How long should sermons be?

Spurgeon is quoted as saying, “Some preachers can speak for an hour and it seems like fifteen minutes; and some can speak for fifteen minutes and it seems like an hour.” True enough. So one factor that should suggest how long a sermon should be is the preacher’s skill as a speaker. Each preacher needs to know how long he should preach and be cautious not to exceed that limit.

One goal for the wise preacher is to “give the people enough that they want more, but not so much that they can’t wait for the preaching to end.”

Less experienced preachers (especially those who do not get to preach every week), may preach too long because they want to tell everything they know in each of their sermons. Hopefully, as they gain valuable experience, they will learn that they do not have tell all they know in every message.

Many texts contain so much about many truths that there is too much for any one message. When this is the case, the preacher has the following options: (a) Stick to a summary overview rather than mining all the truth out of the text. (b) Turn the message into several messages. (c) Limit the message to the main point of the text and say ‘no’ to the urge to “tell all that can be told.”

All that seems to be an argument for short sermons, but while some preachers may be long-winded, it is arguably more common in our day for sermons to be too short! This happens because too many people in too many churches simply do not have the appetite for more of God’s Word. As a result, there are many preachers, who, according to John MacArthur, “preach sermonettes to Christianettes!”

So the length of sermons can be governed both by the skill of the preachers, and by spiritual maturity and appetite for God’s Word in the hearts of the congregants. I thank God every time I preach at GBC that I am so privileged to preach in a church where the people have such a hearty appetite for God’s Word. Because of that, I need only to concern myself with my ability to preach, and not your appetite for the Word. Bless you!

(How’ ya like the long blog post about short sermons?)

Who receives this greatest of all promises?

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation."
Acts 2:37-40

Remission of sin and the gift of the Holy Spirit is a promise.

Who receives will this promised gift? All who believe and repent—demonstrated by obeying the command to be baptized—will receive remission of sin and the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Who receives will this promised gift? “The promise is to you.” It was for those standing there hearing the promise, and who believed and repented—demonstrated by obeying the command to be baptized.

Who receives the promise? “The promise is to you and your children.” Not merely to those who are the biological offspring of believers, but of the children of believers if they too believe and repent—demonstrated by obeying the command to be baptized.

Who receives the promise? “The promises is to… all who are afar off.” It was not limited to the people standing there that day and their children, but also to all people everywhere who believe and repent—demonstrated by obeying the command to be baptized.

Who receives the promise? “The promises is to… as many as the Lord our God will call.” The bottom line is that the promise is to all who are called by God to hear the gospel and obey the gospel by believing and repenting—demonstrated by obeying the command to be baptized.

The promise is for you and for your children—if you and they will believe and repent—demonstrated by obeying the command to be baptized. Have you? Have they?

There are two fatal flaws with this position.

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation."
Acts 2:37-40

It was popular in the 1980s among some Christians—even among some theologians to say that repentance is not necessary for salvation. They insisted that one could receive Christ as Savior, but not acknowledge His Lordship. They believed that repentance was a matter of human effort. Many of those who took this position did so in an attempt to exalt salvation by grace alone through faith alone. There are two fatal flaws with this position.

The first was a lack of understanding that, while salvation is by God’s grace alone, both faith and repentance are components of that saving grace. In other words, the only reason anyone believes or repents is that they are given the gifts of faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), and repentance (Acts 11:18,
2 Timothy 2:25).

And how does one receive these gifts? If we understand that lost people are dead in sin and unable to do anything to save themselves (including believe and repent), then we also understand that both faith and repentance are not human efforts but the work of God’s grace in the lives of those who are born again by His sovereign grace. We are not born again because we believe or because we repent. We believe and repent because, by God’s grace, we have been born again.

The second fatal flaw was that in their desire to exalt the grace of God, they had to ignore clear and compelling teaching in the Word of God on the subject of repentance. Note the following persons who insisted on repentance for salvation:

John the Baptist called people to repentance in Matthew 3:1-2, Jesus called people to repentance in Matthew 4:17. The twelve disciples were sent by Jesus to call people to repentance in Mark 6:7, 12. The Apostle Peter called people to repentance in Acts 2:37-39. God calls all men everywhere to repent in Acts 17:30. The Apostle Paul called people to repentance in Acts 26:19-20. Were these (including God) wrong? The Word of God is clear on the necessity of repentance.

Both faith and repentance are essential for salvation, and they are gifts God gives when we are born again.

Are sins “remitted” by baptism?

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation."
Acts 2:37-40

When the believers in the crowd asked Peter “what shall we do?” his reply was “repent…and be baptized.” Why did he say “let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.”? Here are a few answers found in good commentaries:

There is nothing in baptism itself that can wash away sin. That can be done only by the pardoning mercy of God through the atonement of Christ. But baptism is expressive of a willingness to be pardoned in that way, and is a solemn declaration of our conviction that there is no other way of remission. He who comes to be baptized, comes with a professed conviction that he is a sinner; that there is no other way of mercy but in the gospel, and with a professed willingness to comply with the terms of salvation, and to receive it as it is offered through Jesus Christ.

…not that forgiveness of sin could be procured either by repentance, or by baptism; for this is only obtained by the blood of Christ; but the apostle advises these awakened, sensible, repenting, and believing souls, to submit to baptism, that by it their faith might be led to Christ, who suffered and died for their sins, who left them buried in his grave, and who rose again for their justification from them; all which is, in a most lively manner, represented in the ordinance of baptism by immersion.

As the cup in the Lord's Supper is the New Testament in the blood of Christ for the remission of sins, so baptism is in the name of Christ for the remission of sins. (I might add, “Why do so many neglect both sacraments that are commanded of believers—usually because they are not obeying the command to be in a church where the sacraments are administered?” And again, “Why do so many receive the Lord’s Supper while refusing baptism?”)

Baptism is the visible sign and seal of remission of sins that is in Christ alone. Let us receive both baptism and the Lord’s Supper, rejoicing in Who they point us to.

But did they believe?

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation."
Acts 2:37-40

When the believers in the crowd asked Peter “what shall we do?” his reply was “repent…and be baptized.” He did not mention believe. Why not, if believing is the means by which we receive saving grace based on the person and work of Christ? The simple answer is found in verse thirty-seven.

They had “heard” the gospel preached. They were “cut to the heart.” They asked what they were to “do.”

They had “heard” the gospel preached. The gospel is the power of God to salvation. It is the power to convert and cause a person to “believe” with or without a specific instruction to believe. These people hard the gospel and believed.

They were “cut to the heart.” The power of God to salvation cuts people to the heart. They are convicted of their sin and convinced that Jesus is the only means of salvation. That these people were “cut to the heart” means they were both convicted and convinced.

They asked what they were to “do.” Having heard the gospel, these people believed, and were “cut to the heart,” as evidenced by the fact that they asked, “what shall we do?”

These three are evidence that they did believe.

We must look for biblical evidence of salvation (as was evident in these people), not for insisting in formulas that may or may not lead to or give evidence of true conversion.

No one is saved by being baptized

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation."
Acts 2:37-40

When the believers in the crowd asked Peter “what shall we do?” his reply was “repent…and be baptized.” He didn’t mention believe. Why not, and is baptism necessary for salvation?

First, narratives are not the basis of doctrine. While they accurately record what was said and done, they do not explain everything, nor are they a source of doctrine unless passages that are clearly doctrinal, affirm as doctrine what a narrative passage appears to say. Remember that.

Second, the clear teaching of the New Testament is that faith is not only essential for salvation, it is the singular main event (John 6:28-29, Ephesians 2:4-9, Romans 3:28, 5:1—and many more!)

Third, baptism is a command, making it necessary to obey. But baptism is not necessary in order to be saved (any more than any other command in Scripture that must be obeyed), Rather it is a command that must be obeyed by those who are saved—by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, for the glory of God alone.

That brings up a fourth point. What about the many who are born again by the grace of God who have not been, and who have no particular plan to be, baptized? These may indeed be saved. But unless there is a biblically defensible reason why they have not been, or are not planning to be baptized, they must be or they remain in disobedience to a most fundamental command given to all believers. (There is one argument that not all accept, which may be legitimate for “delaying,” not for “refusing” baptism. Some may contend that due to a youthful lack of understanding, a person could be counseled to wait until he/she learns a bit more and can therefore give a clearer profession of faith.)

No one is saved by being baptized, but saved people must be baptized.

The need for "Gospel preaching"

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.
Acts 2:14

What were Peter’s words that needed to be heeded above speaking in tongues? Peter preached the Gospel. Peter likely preached more than is recorded; what is recorded is likely a condensed summary of his actual sermon. How might we summarize the summary?

(v.14-21) Peter answered the crowd’s accusation that the disciples were drunk, informing them that what they witnessed, rather, was a move of the Holy Spirit. He demonstrated from Old Testament prophecy (Joel 2:28-32) that this indicated that the time of the Messiah had come.

(v.22-36) Peter explained that Jesus is indeed the Messiah. Peter used Old Testament scripture, quoting King David, to validate that claim. In this section Peter also pointed out that the nation of Israel had rejected and unlawfully crucified their Messiah, Jesus, and that God had raised Jesus from the dead (v.23-24 & 36).

This is Gospel preaching. Gospel preaching must first be Christ-centered (His death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins). It must be anchored in scripture. And it must inform people of their guilt—else why would they sense any need for the Savior?

As the Holy Spirit convicted the people, they cried out “What must we do?” Note that there was no “altar call,” artificially orchestrating repentance. The people cried out because of a work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts, rather than because of the work of a man aimed at their emotions.

Peter answered their question by pointing them to Christ for salvation (v.38-40). Unless a person is receiving Christ for forgiveness of sins, that person isn’t receiving Christ in a saving manner. Let us be sure that we have understood the gospel and that our conversion is legitimate. And let us see that our evangelism is the Gospel and not merely an invitation to become a better person.

(Is baptism necessary for salvation? Next time…)

For a more detailed summary of Peter’s sermon, see:
https://www.reformation21.org/blogs/peters-powerful-preaching-on-t.php

Let us long for clear & compelling preaching of God’s Word

So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?" Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine." But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.
Acts 2:12-14

When the Holy Spirit uniquely fell on the brand new Church in Jerusalem on that first Pentecost, two things took place immediately.

First, note the reaction of the crowds in (v.12-13). As they heard the believers speaking in tongues, they each heard what was being said in their own languages. This was indeed a miracle, since the disciples did not speak the languages represented by the crowds (v.8-11). The crowds’ reaction? Verse 12 says they were amazed and perplexed, and did not understand what was happening. Verse 13 says others mocked the believers for being drunk (which they were not). The phenomena of speaking in tongues did not cause the mass conversion recorded in (v.37-41) It caused confusion and mocking.

Second, note Peter’s words in (v.14). Peter directed the people to listen to his words—his words in contrast with the words spoken in tongues. And what were Peter’s words that he bid the people to heed? Peter proceeded to preach the Gospel from verse 16 through verse 40.

What takeaways are there in this? While speaking in tongues was a special miracle, what the people then and now need to hear is the preaching of the Gospel. It is the Gospel (not the miracle of tongues) that is “the power of God to salvation” (Romans 1:16). This is why Paul made it clear that preaching and teaching is far superior to speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:6); and that he would rather speak five words of preaching or teaching than ten thousand words in tongues (v.19).

Let us long for clear, compelling preaching and teaching of God’s Word above speaking in tongues, or any other miracle.