First Sermon....First Church

We've talked here a bit about the speech, or sermon, that Peter preached in Acts 2.  It was an important time in that Jesus has just left the earth and the apostles are on their own....except that the Holy Spirit has come back to give them some special powers.  Peter explains all of this in his speech.  Let's examine this a little closer:

The first thing that Peter does is to quote the prophet Joel from the OT.  This is a good example for us; we should go back to scripture when we want to provide an answer.  Joel said, "And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh..."  This is exactly what is happening here in this context; the Spirit has been poured out on these guys, where now they can heal, speak in tongues, etc. 

Peter concludes his quoting of Joel by saying, "And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."  Being "saved," salvation, is precisely what these people needed. 

The primary focus of this speech is JESUS.  Note Acts 2:22,23: "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know--Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God has raised up..."  And he concludes in verse 36, "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, who you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

The result of this speech is shown in Acts 2:37:  "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.' "  And in verse 40, "Be saved from this perverse generation."

Following this, they stuck together, they "were together and had all things in common;" they took care of each other.  This is what we need to do.  Let's do it!

Have a great week!