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7. Edification through the Ministry of the Apostles (Acts 2:37-41)
ACTS 2:37-38
37 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?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit cannot dwell in a man unless he truly repents and rejects his past. Every sin is a transgression against God and against his Anointed One. This is why before the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in you He breaks the disobedience in your heart, for only then can you become consecrated. This judgment of the Holy Spirit is, at the same time, a great blessing, indeed the greatest of all blessings. He who contritely receives the reproach and judgment of the Holy Spirit does not enter into the last judgment, but has passed into everlasting life.
The Jews, having heard the tempest of the coming Holy Spirit, raced to the disciples’ house. They were affected with anguish and alarm by what Peter had said. They saw themselves as perishable and disobedient murderers standing before the living God. They did not try to justify themselves, nor did they question the truth of their guilt. Instead, they fearfully mumbled: “What shall we do?” This question reveals to us two things:
First, it reflects the inability of man to find a way out of his predicament once he has been convicted by the Spirit of God and is convinced that he is going astray. His self-confidence begins to crumble, exactly as Peter had experienced when the rooster crowed when he denied knowing Christ.
Second, a broken man does not realize all there is to know about God and what He does for us. All he can do is mumble out of his disturbed heart: “What must I do to be saved?” well knowing that he cannot do anything to save himself. All our deeds appear useless and unclean before the Holy One. Every man is devious in his very essence. He wants to do everything by and for himself and does not allow God to save him. The natural man seeks to reform himself by himself. He tries hard to justify himself and bring about self- redemption. He wants to live by his own power to the very end. A wicked and corrupt ego takes firm hold of him even until the last moment of Judgment.
Thank God, Peter did not suggest to the repentant what they had to do. Instead, he demanded of them a change in thinking and personal belief in Jesus. Conversion does not involve a physical change in the tone of muscles or in brain function, but involves a change in attitude and will, changes which takes place deep in the mind. It involves change and renewal of our complete thoughts, feelings, and will. It is not done unwillingly, like brainwashing in dictatorial countries, but willingly, as is revealed in the New Testament, where the repentant open himself to the purifying power of God. He begins to hear and understand the words of Christ and His apostles with gladness and thanksgiving.
Peter said to the brokenhearted ones: “Turn away from your evil deeds, abandon your self-redemption, and confess openly the failures in your lives and your disobedience toward God. Commit yourselves into the hands of the Holy One. Only then will your goals, expectations, and designs find their fulfillment, and only then will the will of God prevail in you. Conversion signifies a complete turning in the course of one´s life, a turning away from earthly designs and egoism and a turning toward God. Only then can one be possessed with His love.
It is obvious that our coming to God signifies redemption, and our turning to the Holy One means release from despair. Repentant man need God´s presence and protection. That is why Peter suggested to his hearers they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. This signifies a spiritual suicide on the part of the old, sinful man, and willful entrance into the Redeemer’s expanses. He who is baptized in Christ is like a dissolute, drowning man who has been regenerated by divine grace. He becomes a new creation and is raised to new heights. He has been endowed with Christ’s righteousness for the glorification of God, the Father. Cleansing from sin in our innermost being is the first fruit of baptism. He who has been united with Christ receives the invisible inscription of the Lord´s name on his forehead. He has been sanctified through the reconciliation of the Son of God.
The second fruit of baptism is the reception of the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist knew exactly that his baptism with the water of repentance was just a symbol, and that nothing would be of help to us except our preparedness for Christ’s baptism. He had openly said: “He who is coming after me is mightier than I. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Now, on the occasion of this first Pentecost, the time had come for this moment of history to be realized in salvation. The Son of God was baptizing with the Holy Spirit His repentant killers, who had been prepared to believe in His name through the symbol of water baptism. They had broken with themselves completely and entered into the wide expanses of faith. The love of God surpassed all their understanding.
Have you been baptized, dear brother? Have you received the Holy Spirit? The external observance of baptism does not automatically provide for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, for baptism does not work like an injection given to the sick. The Holy Spirit blows where He wishes, and baptism without faith is useless. Therefore, confirm your baptism though the drowning of your selfishness, so that Christ may be exalted in you and become visible through your love. One day you will live with Him forever. Do you know the distinguishing features of those who have been baptized with the Holy Spirit? These features are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, righteousness, faith, meekness, and self-control. Have you received these gifts from the Holy Spirit?
PRAYER: O Father, we thank You that You poured out Your promise on men through Your beloved Son. We worship You, praise You, and ask You to fill every believer with Your Spirit. Fill us with Your love and truth, so that we may not argue about the truths of Your Holy Spirit, but stand fast in the name of Your merciful Son.
QUESTION:
- How do we receive the Holy Spirit? What are the conditions for His indwelling believers?