Repent and Believe: Embracing God’s Holiness in the Spirit of Acts 2
Acts 2:14
But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words..."
Peter’s sermon, (Acts 2:14-41), is a pivotal moment, delivered on Pentecost after the Holy Spirit’s descent. Peter boldly addresses the crowd in Jerusalem, explaining the miraculous events they’re witnessing. He centers his message on Jesus, presenting Him as the Messiah foretold by David.
Acts 2:23-24
"This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it."
Peter underscores the divine paradox: Jesus’ crucifixion was both a human act of injustice and part of God’s sovereign plan. He recounts Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, emphasizing that God raised Him from out of time and death, fulfilling Psalms 16 and 110.
Acts 2:25-28
For David says concerning him,
"‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore, my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’"
Peter reveals the duality of God’s redemptive purpose woven through human actions. Peter emphasizes the triumph of the resurrection, God raised Jesus, because death could not hold Him.
Continuing on this trajectory Peter ties in the resurrection as the key principle of all faith. And he's building on that foundational truth and explaining God's timeless plan of redemption.
Acts 2:32-33
"This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing."
Peter establishes the apostles as eyewitnesses to Jesus’ resurrection, grounding the gospel we teach today in historical reality. And he emphasizes Jesus’ exaltation "at the right hand of God," a position of divine authority.
Acts 2:36
"Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."
This bold statement confronts their guilt while affirming Jesus’ divine identity and authority, fulfilling God’s plan despite human rejection.
Acts 2:37-41
Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself." And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation." So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
The crowd’s response reveals the sermon’s impact. "Cut to the heart," they ask, "What shall we do?" Peter’s answer; repent, be baptized in Jesus’ name, receive forgiveness and the Holy Spirit, offers a clear path to salvation.
Baptism in Jesus’ name was a bold, countercultural act. It publicly aligned believers with a crucified Messiah, risking social and religious ostracism. "In Jesus' name", it’s a public declaration of faith in Jesus as the Savior, marking entry into the new covenant community. Peter links it to forgiveness of sins, suggesting that baptism is a divinely ordained step where believers experience God’s grace and cleansing through faith in Christ. Peter connects baptism in Jesus’ name to receiving "the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). For the 3,000 who responded (Acts 2:41), it was a decisive break from their former ways, heeding Peter’s call to "save yourselves from this crooked generation."
It’s not a mere ritual but a response to the resurrection, it reflects trust in Jesus’ victory over death and His authority to forgive sins and bestow the Spirit.
And so, here we have the mass conversion of the first church community, following the Holy Spirit’s outpouring and Peter’s bold proclamation of Jesus’ resurrection and lordship. The call to baptism in Jesus’ name tied converts directly to this victory, fostering a bold faith that fueled evangelism. The Spirit’s outpouring at Pentecost enabled miraculous signs, like speaking in tongues, and empowered their preaching. The promise of the Spirit to all who believed equipped believers for witness and community life, driving rapid growth.
Acts 2:42-47
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
This early Christian community was marked by devotion, unity, and a radical commitment to Christ. The believers were devoted to the apostles’ instruction, which centered on Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection as the fulfillment of God’s plan. They shared a deep sense of community [Koinonia], expressed through mutual support and shared life. They commenmorated Jesus’ death and resurrection in both communal meals and the Lord’s Supper in the breaking of bread, which reinforced their bond and dependence on Christ’s sacrifice. And their prayers echoed the hope of the resurrection and God’s ongoing work. Corporate prayer, often in the temple, was central, aligning them with God’s purposes and seeking the Spirit’s guidance.
This communal lifestyle wasn’t forced but voluntary, driven by love and the Spirit’s prompting. They met daily in the temple and in homes, blending Jewish worship practices with their new faith in Christ. Their worship was marked by "glad and generous hearts," reflecting joy in salvation through Jesus’ resurrection and the Spirit’s presence.
The church’s birth was inseparable from the Holy Spirit’s outpouring. He was and is the driving force behind all true worship and faith. The Spirit’s presence, promised to all who repented (Acts 2:38), defines the identity and mission of the Church. In a Jerusalem steeped in religious tradition and Roman influence, this Church stood out. Their devotion to a crucified and risen Messiah, expressed through baptism and communal living, challenged societal norms. Their commitment to the apostles’ teaching, communal love, and a joyful witness grew from their trust in the risen Christ and the Spirit’s power.
How can you embody these values in your own community?
Regularly engage with the Bible. Deepen your understanding of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Seek out sermons, podcasts, or books from trusted Christian leaders that emphasize Christ-centered doctrine. Share insights with your community to encourage growth. Invest in authentic connections within your church or community. Show up for others in times of need; offer to pray, listen, or help with practical tasks. Give financially to your church, charities, or individuals in need. Offer your skills or time to community projects. Set aside daily time for prayer and praise, thanking God for Jesus’ victory over death and the Spirit’s presence. Participate in church services, singing, and prayer. Let your actions; kindness, integrity, forgiveness, point to Christ. Ask the Spirit to guide you in witnessing, trusting Him to open doors and empower your words. And finally, here's the ultimate point of it all, like Peter, boldly share how Jesus’ resurrection has changed your life. Start with simple conversations with friends, coworkers, or neighbors. As relationships grow, share how the resurrection gives you hope in tough times. This evangelism is the will of God.
So this is how the New Testament describes "The Church".
But what about today?
How does our culture today that doesn't understand sermons, hymns, corporate prayers and sacrificial giving receive the Holy Spitit? How does a community today that hates the idea of repentance and faith in Jesus Christ receive the Holy Spirit? How can The Church interpret scripture without repentance and forgiveness in Christ's name?
Sermons and Scripture today are viewed with suspicion in a post-Christian, pluralistic world that prioritizes individual relativistic truths over divine revelation. Discomforting religious practices and beliefs feel formal and irrelevent to a generation accustomed to personalized spirituality or secular entertainment. Sacrificial giving clashes with consumerist values that prioritize personal wealth and autonomy. The call to repent and trust in Jesus is seen as judgmental or exclusionary in a culture that celebrates self-acceptance and relativism. And so, because the modern preachers and teachers have neutered the gospel attempting to fit into this modern culture, many lack a basic knowledge of the gospel, making terms like "Holy Spirit," "repentance," or "forgiveness in Christ’s name" foreign or off-putting.
The future of "The Church" is going to depend upon discerning leadership focused upon rightly dividing scripture. Preaching the word accurately with diligence is the solution to these modern problems with contemporary transactional Church communities.
A diluted gospel has obscured the truth that Peter preached that first time. Diluted preaching today has confused these truths, but accurate exposition of Scripture, like Peter’s use of Joel and Psalms grounds the Church in God’s redemptive plan. Trappings don't do that. Human attributes don't do that. Contemporary music and productions don't do that. The Word of God does it, the rightly divided Word of God.
Remember, Jesus was a teacher. Follow him. Listen to him. Commit to memory the things he taught. And teach them to one another. Clear teaching restores gospel literacy. Peter’s sermon was bold, confronting sin while offering hope. Modern preaching and teaching must avoid transactional appeasement.
The Bible teaches us a lot about God full of; mercy, grace, forgiveness, and majesty, but what is most important is to know that God is, "Holy holy holy". Preaching and teaching must get back to this understanding. This holiness is the foundation of His mercy, grace, forgiveness, and majesty. Which is why repentance MUST be the focus for the Church community, because nothing else matters until the people repent and believe the gospel.
"Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).
Prayer:
Holy God, You are "Holy, holy, holy," full of mercy and grace. Revive Your modern Church, lost in a culture that rejects repentance and Your truth. Forgive our diluted gospel and raise discerning leaders to preach Your Word boldly, as Peter did in Acts 2. Empower us with Your Spirit to proclaim Jesus’ resurrection, call all to repent and be baptized, and live with devotion, unity, and generosity. Soften resistant hearts, draw them to Your forgiveness, and make Your Church a beacon of hope.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.