“The Life-changing Invitation and the Response”

“The Life-changing Invitation and the Response”

 

Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 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.   Acts 2:37-39

 

This LIFE-CHANGING EVENT took place right after the anointing of the PROMISED HOLY SPIRIT up on the Apostles.  The One who took the place of the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Only Son.  Jesus promised the apostles that He would NOT leave them ALONE, but that He would send them a TEACHER, COUNSELOR, COMFORTER, COMPANION, and SO much more and He did, in the PERSON of the HOLY SPIRIT of the HOLY GOD.    

 

The Holy Spirit gave the Apostles the ability to speak in different languages. And Peter, PREACHED a rousing sermon, to ALL who were in Jerusalem for The Festival of Pentecost. And those who were there came from many different lands, yet they were able to HEAR Peter preaching in their OWN language.  And in his sermon, Peter offered a LIFE-CHANGING INVITATION to those who BELIEVED what he had told them concerning the FORGIVENESS of their SINS.  And those who witnessed and took part in the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ and became CONVICTED of their SINS.  So, they asked Peter what they SHOULD do to have this FORGIVENESS.  Peter instructed them to REPENT of their SINS and TURN TO GOD and be BAPTIZED in the Name of JESUS CHRIST.  Then they will RECEIVE the Gift of the HOLY SPIRIT.

 

The RESPONSE was AMAZING, those who BELIEVED what Peter said were BAPTIZED and added to the church that day it was about 3,000 in all.  Now, remember what the Apostle Paul told the Ephesians: “For you are SAVED by GRACE through FAITH, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s Gift not from WORKS, so that no one can boast.”  (Eph. 2:8-9). So, it is NOT BAPTISM that SAVES, it is GOD’S GRACE through our FAITH, not from what we do.   REPENTANCE and BAPTISM goes along with our FAITH.  Baptism is an OUTWARD act of an INWARD change.  It is also an act of OBEDIENCE. 

 

All of the BELIEVERS devoted themselves to the Apostles’ teaching and to FELLOWSHIP, and in SHARING meals (including the Lord’s Supper) and also to PRAYER.  They met together in ONE place and SHARED everything they had.  They WORSHIPED together at the Temple each day, they met in homes and shared their meals with GREAT JOY and GENEROSITY, PRAISING GOD and ENJOYING the GOODWILL of ALL the people.  And EACH DAY the LORD added to their FELLOWSHIP those who were being saved.  This is UNITY!!  

 

What a GLORIOUS RESPONSE to a LIFE-CHANGING INVITATION, have YOU ACCEPTED this LIFE-CHANGING INVITATION?  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God through the ULTIMATE SACRIFICE of His ONE and ONLY SON, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, you are at GREAT RISK of spending ALL of your ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there.  God keeps OFFERING you His Gift of SALVATION, don’t KEEP REJECTING it.  In order to receive this LIFE-CHANGING INVITATION, this is what you MUST DO.  You MUST ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER, in NEED of the SAVIOR, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who GAVE His LIFE to SAVE YOUR SOUL from an ETERNITY in Hell.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST BE WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s LIFE-CHANGING INVITATION, and His Gift of SALVATION, and experience a very POSITIVE RESPONSE.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!   Don’t be LEFT BEHIND!!!