Repentance is Required for Salvation

Transcript

GR 1193
2/11/2001
Repentance is Required for Salvation
Acts 2:37-38
Gil Rugh
Turn in your bibles if you would to the book of Acts and the second chapter. Acts chapter 2. There indeed is no more important message. No more important issue to be settled then the issue of our relationship with God and our eternal destiny. And indeed in Acts chapter 2 following the establishing of the church on the day of Pentecost Peter stands in proclaims the first message following the beginning of the church and is the message that involves the unfolding of the Old Testament scriptures. To show that they indeed prophesied of the coming of Jesus of Nazareth as the message of Israel and his life, his death, and his resurrection all testify to the reality of the fact that he indeed is the message of Israel. The most significant event of all is the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. And Peter devotes the majority of his sermon to that fact. The sermon began in verse 22. But from verse 24-36 the focus is on the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. He is demonstrating that Jesus of Nazareth was not just a man that came to be the messiah but failed because of the sin of Israel. What he is demonstrating that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah of Israel. He is alive. And God has made him both Lord and Christ. As Peter concludes in verse 36. That being the fact, he reminds them again that Jewish audience in Jerusalem this is the Jesus whom you crucified. What overwhelming guilt. That Peter is standing and addressing the very people that were directly responsible for the crucifixion of the Son of God, the messiah of Israel. He had referred to this fact in verse 23. You nailed him to a cross by the hands of Godless man and put Him to death, you used the Romans, but you did it. And used the Romans to carry out your desires. We thing that if there is any people who could not be forgiven, as merciful, and gracious, as God is. You would think that the people who are directly responsible for the execution of His son. Of all people did not deserve forgiveness. Did not deserve mercy. They of all people had committed the sin for which they deserved to suffer the greatest penalty. But it is these very people that Peter is now going to offer God’s gracious salvation and in this we are reminded there is no one to great a sinner to be forgiven. The death of Christ is that powerful and that effective. That is can cleanse from the blackest, deepest, darkest sins that are so defiling and polluting and that includes even those who were personally, directly responsible for the death of his son. The impact of the message of Peter has been felt by these people and they overcome with grief and remorse and guilt over what they have done, so verse 37, shares there response, now when they heard this they were pierced to the heart. Turn back a few pages to John’s gospel chapter 16. John’s gospel chapter16. Verse 7, Jesus on this last night with his disciples told them, I tell you the truth it is to your advantage that I go away. For if I do not go away the helper shall not come to you. But if I go I will send him to you. Peter referred to that promise, the very giving of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, with a testimony to the fact that Jesus was alive and he had sent the Holy Spirit has been promised and not verse 8. And he, when he comes, referring to the Holy Spirit, will convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgement. Concerning sin because they do not believe in me. Here we see on the very day the Holy Spirit was sent from heaven. He begins this work of convicting the unbelieving world. That explains why this rather simple message of peter has such a dramatic impact on these people. They are pierced to the heart. Cut to the heart. Stabbed in the heart. We still use that kind of expression. Sometimes we visualize it when someone will say something that really cuts home what do we do? We go, “Aw that hurt.” Reminding that you got me right in the heart. That is what they are saying with the upmost gravity. They’re pierced in the heart. Look over in Hebrews chapter 4. It is very important that we understand how God works in salvation today, because we do not want to be lead astray. We as a church do not want to get turned aside from the work that God is doing in the world today. In Hebrews chapter 4 verse 12. We are told, for the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two edged sword and piercing. That is a different word for piercing then we have in Acts chapter 2 verse 37, they were pierced in the heart, but the same idea. Piercing as far as the division of soul and spirt. Of both joints and mere and is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Here you see something of thee effective power of the Word of God. It cuts down into the very inner resources of a person’s soul and mind. It’s able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. This is what has happened to peters audiences. The Holy Spirit of God has taken the Word of God and driven it into the innermost resources of their soul. That they are brought under what we would call the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the word of God. That is always the pattern were genuine conversion will take place. The beginning of salvation is a conviction of sin and guilt before God. No one is ever saved who does not hear the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ and have the truth convey to his heart by the spirit. And when that happens the first thing that will take place is a person will be brought under an awareness of their guilt and sin before God. This is important because much of what is presented as gospel today is a general bland, but upbeat message of come to Christ and have happiness. As though you could take drugs, you can have Christ, you could drink alcohol, I mean there are a variety of things, we do Christ. We would have t-shirts that make such a comparison. I’m on Jesus. Well the bible doesn’t approach it that way. It’s much more serious issue, much more gravity to the matter. A word of God was presented in clarity and the spirit of God has carried it to the hearts of these people. The result is back in Acts Chapter 2 verse 37. They said to Peter and the rest of the apostles. They recognized that Peter is the spokesmen here, but it is a message from the apostles. God’s spokesmen. Brethren what shall we do. There’s some pathos here. Them feeling. An emotion. A sense of despair. Literally it says men, brethren what shall we do. They’re over whelmed with the horror of what they have done. What escape can there be? They know that when the messiah does come to establish his kingdom, he will bring judgement on the unbelievers. What an awful position to be in. To be those who are guilty of the execution of the Son of God. What shall we do? Later in the book of Acts the jailer at Philippi, had fear and trembling will come to the apostilles and say sirs, what must I do to be saved? That is the question here. What shall we do? How can we be saved? What is the hope if there is any? And better said to them repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Isn’t it interesting here we have the first sermon preached after the establishing of the church and it has many things in it that if we were saying what ought to be written and preached, we wouldn’t have included. Now listening to a tap by a man this week and he teaches in a very good seminary, but he was saying you should never preach about the sovereignty of God and election. And I have topics like that were they may be unbelievers present. You know Peter has done that. Up in chapter 2 verse 23 he said that crucifixion of Christ was according to the predetermined plan of God. In a moment he was going to tell him at the end of verse 39 as many as the Lord our God shall call to himself will experience this salvation. They hesitate to bring in the matter of absolute sovereignty of God in all of this. I dare say that if we were writing this today we would have said in light of what is going to happen down through church history, the confusion that was going to develop would be better if Peter just said this. You must believe and only believe for that is how you are saved, but you know what Peter said? Repent and be baptized for remission of sins and say oh no how many times have I been in a discussion and I say Lord you know my job would have been easier if you hadn’t said it that way and we can’t credit that Peters bumbling approach because it’s the Holy Spirit who is guiding and directing in this message. Let’s look at these words and the issues involved. There are two commands given here the first is repent the second is to be baptized. They are both given as rather forceful commands. Ares imparities commands in the airiest tense in Greek. That’s a way to give sharp command, a firm command. What shall we do? Repent. The word repent is a compound word. Composed of do words in Greek. Meta, basically means to be of another and noeto means mind, to be of another mind, to change your mind. That’s the root meaning of the word and some try to limit that and say all repentances are a change of mind, had nothing to do with behavior action. Or that is just not the way it is used in the Old Testament. Repentance involves a change of heart and mind which results in a change of life and action. Let me stop and think about it Romans chapter 12 verses 1 and 2 were we are told not to be conformed of this world but be transformed. How? By the making new of your mind. When we talk about repentance being a change of mind that doesn’t limit it to what goes on in our mind, but it is a change of mind that is a result periapts our whole being and changed our lives. It’s a message that was used by John the Baptized it’s a message that was used by Christ. Turn back to Marks gospel chapter 1. John the Baptized comes preaching in the wilderness of Judea.
Verse 4. John the baptized appeared in the wilderness preaching about baptism of repentance. For the forgiveness of sins. So the kind of connection we have with Peter’s message. But it’s a message of repent. Matthew’s gospels says John come and said repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Calling the Jews to repent look in Luke’s gospel chapter 5 verse 32. Jesus is speaking regarding the Pharisees and Scribes. Very difficult to reach moral religious people. They already take enough with their own goodness their own self-righteousness. So they are criticizing Christ for eating with sinners. Jesus answers in verse 31. Said to them it is not those who are well that need a physician but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. In other words if you were taken up with your own righteousness I can’t help you I have come to call sinners to repentance. To turn from their sin. To change their mind about God and their sin. And thus trust in the living God. Luke chapter 13 Jesus puts it very directly and bluntly. Verse 3 I tell you no but unless you repent you will all likewise perish, Verse5 I tell you no but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. The issue has always been repentance. Through the book of Acts this is going to be the repeated message. Repent, repent, repent. We saying we have added something to faith, I thought salvation was by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Now you tell me it’s by grace through faith and repentance. You added something to faith. No. In Ephesians chapter 2 verse 8 and 9 we are told we have been saved by grace through faith. And that not of yourselves it is a gift of God. That word that doesn’t just refer to the faith it refers to the salvation that he has been talking about. Salvation is a gift of God that included the faith. That includes the repentance that includes the conviction of sin. That precedes the repentance and faith. Why did you sit there and hear the message of the gospel and it pierced to your heart as it did these Jews and they were overwhelmed with a sense of guilt. And you turn to God for salvation and the person sitting next to you heard the same message. And all the can think of is wow it’s almost lunch time. Can’t wait to get out of here. You say well I had a more tender heart to the things of the Lord. No you had the same heart as the person next to you, a heart that’s deceitful and desperately wicked above all things. The difference was God brought the conviction of sin to your heart. As part of the package of his salvation. So under that conviction of sin you might repent. Turning from your sin to the Savior. Placing your faith in Him. That was all the work of God in your life. It’s all by grace. Faith is the focal point in that as we relied totally upon Him, but you can’t turn from your sin, trusting in yourself rejecting God without repenting. Oh look I want to believe but I’m not going to repent. Well I’m sorry. If you don’t change your mind. The way of thinking you can’t be saved. You must stop trusting yourself, your church. Turn to Christ. So you see repentance is part of that. Sometimes issues are made theology which are not real and genuine. Turn over to 1 Thessalonians chapter1 there are a whole series of verses in the book of Acts and we’ll be looking at those as we move through Acts. I won’t take the time to take you there now. In 1 Thessalonians chapter 1 verse9. For they themselves report about us. Now note the context here verse 8. I should put this in the context. For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you. Not only in Macedonia and Akaka, but also it everyplace your faith towards God has gone forth. So the testimony of the faith of the Thessalonians has been broadcast everywhere. Then verse 9, they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you. Note this, how you turn to God from idols to serve a living and true God. In verse 8 He called it your faith towards God in verse 9 he refers to it as you turn to God from idols to serve a living and true God. Talking about the same thing. What happens when you trusted in the Savior, you turn form your idols and began to serve the living God. You are saying the same thing. You repented. You changed your mind about your idols. You decided they weren’t the true gods. You changed your mind about God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. You decided they were the only hope of salvation. And you placed your faith in the living God that was a repentance. Now with that there is a turn from sin. I understand here what salvation is. Let’s us be offered a counter fit and place our souls in jeopardy. If I say to you. I’m going to leave my wife and marry another women. You say oh that’s terrible that’s sin. I say oh I’m going to leave my wife and marry another women. Then I come back to you a little bit later and say you know I have repented, you say wonderful you are going to stay together, I say oh no. I am leaving my wife and marrying another women but I just repented. You say wait a minute you didn’t repent. You haven’t changed anything. We understand repentances in that sense there would be no repentance. You didn’t change your mind about anything if I came back and said, you know I realized that was wrong that would have been sin. I am committed to my wife. A lifetime of, you say you have truly repented. That’s the way it is in salvation, you cannot come to the living God and say I’ve brought all my favorite sins. I will not turn from any of them I even have some of my best idols here. I would not give any of them up, but I just come to trust Christ. No there is no salvation in that kind of setting. Much of what is presented in the gospel today as though it was just something you added to the baggage of your life to assure you of heaven at the end of the road. That’s not biblical salvation and no one has ever been saved on those bases. Isaiah said come no and let us reason together says the Lord though your sins be as scarlet they shall be white as snow. God’s offer is to cleanse us and make us new. To set us free. To cause us to become His children. There must be true repentance and that is a work of God on the heart. That is not our work that we add to faith that is the work of God in bringing conviction to our heart. And opening our blinded mind to see and believe. That s biblical repentance. One more thing about repentance. Turn to 2 Corinthians 7. One of the difficulties in moving through certain sections of the word of God is there are so much theology tied up and eve none word like repent. We need to be sure we understand the concept. 2 Corinthians 7:9. Paul is talking about a letter. The first letter to the Corinthians and he wrote. He caused them sorrow but it caused them Godly kind of sorrow. It produced repentance. Verse 9. I know rejoice not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrow to the point of repentance. For you were made sorrowful according to the will of God. Verse 10. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret leading to salvation. The sorrow of the world produces death. Now understand everyone has sorrow in their life and anyone when they are caught in sin as a sense of remorse and sorrow. We had some public figures the last few years who have bee exposed as being guilty of sin, immorality and so on. Some other countries like Japan. Major figures, leaders of major companies and so on. Exposed that they were imbessiling or cheating. They commit suicide because of the shame. That is not biblical repentance. All of us have a sense of remorse and sorrow when our sin finds us out as the scripture says be sure your sin will find you out. And when it does and it becomes known I think oh why did I do that, oh I wish I hadn’t done it and their often tears and sadness. That is not biblical repentance. Biblical repentance is a genuine change of heart and mind regarding sin. Results in a turning from that sin and a trusting in God there may be sorrow. Paul said that the Corinthians had sorrow. He is not happy that they were made sorrowful, He happy they were made sorrowful to repentance. The sorrow of verse 10 that is according to God produces repentance without regret. God can use that sin. The sorrow, the remorse the guilt in His grace to bring us to genuine repentance. How many people under the weight of sin that have been over whelmed with the agony, its impact on their family they are going to clean up their life, they’re going to change, the y come to church, they’re in the word, that last about a week and a half. They get over the remorse. They get over the sorrow and they want to get on with their own life. That’s the sorrow of the world. We want to be careful there is nothing wrong with sorrow, but we cannot accept the substitute. I have to be careful in that in my preaching of the word. I don’t want to play upon emotions in the wrong sense. There is nothing wrong with emotion, tears sorrow, remorse, but it only has value. Causes us to see the awfulness of our sin, the terribleness of it before a Holy God and causes us to repent of our sin before Him and place our faith in His son. That produces genuine salvation. Come back to Acts chapter 2. So really when he calls them to repent, He is calling them to faith. Repentance is not the same thing as faith, but it is part of the package of salvation. That we usually focus with the word faith, but you can call people to repent. I dare say that I stood up and preached the gospel message this morning and I concluded it by saying repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins there would be people who would think, I think Gil’s become a hieratic. He is abounding grace. But Peter goes on and gives a second command. Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. For the forgiveness of sins. What he’s doing here is demanding and requiring under the inspiration of the Spirit, that repentance be demonstrated by action. Baptism would only identify them with Christ and mark them out as a follower of Christ. This would be a life changing action for these Jews. Would mean the end of family relationships for many would cost them their jobs and the result is going to be great poverty among the believers in Jerusalem. Optimize from the community. Now wait a minute I’ll repent but no I will not step forth and be baptized. For Peter they go together, if you are not willing to step forward and be identified with Jesus Christ then you are not ready to trust Him for salvation. Repent and be baptized. There’s no question here when he tells the Jews to be baptized the Jews never did think you needed to be baptized to be saved. They did understand something of the context of repentance for salvation. John the baptized had preached it. Jesus Christ had preached it. There baptism was practiced in a variety of settings. Some of the mystery religions of the day practiced water baptism when you become an initiated into that mystery religion. Identifying us as an inherited of that particular group. Jews practiced Gentile profile baptism. Indicated they were being washed from their sins and identified now with the Jewish community. If Peter brings this concept up and well attached some baggage to it. What about the statement, be baptized in the name of Jesus there is no conflict with baptized into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, because when you are baptized in the name Jesus you are being baptized in the name of the living God. Jesus made clear your attitude toward Him is your attitude toward His Father. And the role of the Holy Spirit will be to exult Jesus Christ. So again to be baptized in the name of Jesus is really the same thing as being baptized in the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You are being identified with this person and all that He is and all that He has done, that is what His name stands for. For the forgiveness of sins. That’s where the problem comes. People were saying be baptized for the forgiveness of sins and if you have ever talked to people in the different cults who hold to baptismal regeneration the necessity of baptism for salvation you invariable end up at Acts chapter 2 verse38. Let me just say grammatically. That is not even a necessary translation that is a possible translation, let me give you a simple explanation of some of the different Greek prepositions. There are at three Greek prepositions used in this kind of context to be baptized for the forgiveness of sins or to repent for the forgiveness of sins. All the Greek grammar and grammatical commentary that I could examine all agreed that these prepositions are used interchangeably. So rather than me walking through the different prepositions and using examples since most of you haven’t studied Greek all you have to know is when somebody says well this is the preposition ace and that always means this, so that assures you that means baptism for salvation you should, all you have to know is well you know there are least three Greek prepositions they are used interchangeably so this preposition doesn’t determine that and so you know as much Greek as they do. And that will help with that. This preposition can be translated as prepositions often do is that they have a flexibility of meaning on the ground of or on the basis of. It could be repent and be baptized on the grounds are bases of the forgiveness of your sins. So even grammatically that’s a valid translation of that. I think though in the context here the simplest meaning is repentance is consistently connected through the book of Acts with forgiveness of sins and he is commanding them to repent for the forgiveness of sins. He is also commanding them to be baptized and he also tells them that they will receive forgiveness and they will receive the Holy Spirit. But the repentance leads to the forgiveness of sins. Look back to the book of Luke chapter 24. Luke is the same author as we have of the book of Acts. And the end of Luke’s gospel chapter 24. Jesus is speaking following His resurrection from the dead. Verse 45 of Luke 24. He opened their minds to understand the scriptures. And he said to them thus it is written that the Christ should suffer and rise again from the dead on the third day and that repentances for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all the nations beginning form Jerusalem. You see the connection. Repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name in all Jerusalem and all the nations. Look over in Acts chapter 3 verse 19. Peter second sermon. Repent therefore and return that your sins may be wiped away. You see again the issue is repent and thus return and your sins will be wiped away. No mention of baptism. Chapter 5 verse 31. Referring to Christ He is the one whom God exhausted to His right hand as a prince and a Savior. To grant repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins and when it’s not connected with repentance in the book of Acts its connected to faith we won’t take the time to look at the different verse that connect forgiveness of sins to faith in the book of Acts. So we have this one verse. It needs to be put in the proper context. In fact he is going to go on to say you shall receive the gift o the Holy Spirit. Turn to Acts chapter 10. Peter is preaching again. First part of the book of Acts, Peter is the prime preacher and He’s preached in verse 43 of Him all the prophet’s bear witness that to His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins. You see their forgiveness of sins connected to Faith, connected to repentance, connected to faith. While Peter was still speaking these words the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. They began to speak with tongues these are gentiles, the Jews are bug eyed. The Gentiles got the Holy Spirit. Like we did. That’s a shock to them that God is going to save Gentiles and give Gentiles the Holy Spirit. Note with Peter says in verse 47 surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did can he? So here what happens they receive the Holy Spirit and that qualifies them to be baptized? If they can’t be saved until they’re baptized we have a problem here. We have another problem, and we have to go to the book of Romans chapter4. Some of you are well familiar with this, but I want you to all be clear. There has always only been one way of salvation. It has been by grace through faith. Circumcision never brought salvation. Baptism never brought salvation. Repentance was always required for salvation. Because it is part of saving faith. You can’t believe if you have not repented. In Romans chapter 3, the end of chapter 3 verse 30. Some of you will have some different ordering in the words here, but basically it says since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one. Key thing you want to note there is since indeed God is one. You have a New American Standard has some variation in the word order here. Since indeed God has won. There is only one God. He will save the Jew and the Gentile. Circumcised and uncircumcised through faith. Then he comes into chapter 4 and he uses Abraham as the example. We are going to soon find out how did God save someone in the past, since there is only one God and He is going to save everyone in the same way how did he save Abraham. Many Jews were saying you have to be circumcised plus believe to be saved. Paul says not so. Verse 5. The one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly His faith is reckoned as righteousness. He’s quoted in verse 3 from Genesis 15:6. Abraham believed God and was reckoned to Him as righteousness. Verse 10. How then was it reckoned? While he was circumcised or uncircumcised. In other words in Genesis 15:6 when God declared Abraham righteous. Was Abraham circumcised or not? Stop and think bible question. Genesis 15:6. Abraham believed God, God credited it to him as righteousness. You know what? Abraham is years away from being circumcised. He won’t be circumcised until over in Genesis 17. But God declared him righteous in Genesis 15 when he believed. So it was not while He was circumcised at the end of verse 10 but while uncircumcised. He received a sign of circumcision. A seal of the righteousness of the faith in which He had while uncircumcised. So the argument is conclusive Paul says. Circumcision cannot be required or salvation because Abraham was saved by faith without circumcision. When I have talked to people who believe in Baptismal regeneration I always take them to Romans 4 and I ask them. When was Abraham baptized? As far as we know he never was. The Jews didn’t practice it in the Old Testament. Then how can tell me that baptism is necessary for salvation. When Paul’s whole argument in Romans is. We are saved as the same way Abraham was. Because there is only one God. So there is only one way of salvation. It has always been by faith and circumcision was added as a sign of the righteousness to indicate that these were people who had their faith in God for righteousness, but the sign does not become necessary for the righteous. Babiism is a sign. It is a testimony that we are being identified with Christ, but physical rights never were apart of salvation. Were never necessary for salvation. Baptismal regeneration its, those who believe that baptism is necessary for salvation are the modern day Jewdeisers. Go back to 15. Who agreed that Jesus is the messiah, Jesus is the Savior. You must believe in Jesus to and you also must be circumcised. Paul says anybody who preaches such a gospel is cured. Infima. Doomed to hell. And anyone who would teach, that you must believe in Christ plus be baptized would be doing the same thing. We’ve replaced one physical action with another. But there is no difference. So salvation is by faith. So when He declares in Acts 2:38 come back there. Repent. Be baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins. All he has done really is called them to repentance and demanded that they manifest this repentance by stepping forward to be identified with Christ. Basically the same message that comes from Romans 10. We are going to talk to you about this tonight. With the heart man believes for righteousness with the mouth confession is made. You are not saved be the confession of your mouth but the confession of your mouth is the expression of the faith in your heart. Without the confession of the mouth we assume there is no salvation in the heart and a number of commentators noted there is no consideration of such a thing of an unbaptized believer in the New Testament. Because it is demanded that those who truly believe in Christ step forward and be counted, be identified as followers of Christ. Say look I can be saved I can believe and I don’t have to make an issue of my family. I don’t have to make an issue in my community. God doesn’t bargain. If you’re assumed to be identified with Christ you really haven’t come to the point under the conviction of sin that you are ready to repent and trust in Him for salvation. It seems though we are making it harder. We’ve tried to widen thing take all the edges off, all the difficulties, don’t talk about sovereignty, don’t talk about election, don’t talk about things. I was listening to a man being interviewed on a Christian television station. Religious television station a couple of nights ago. Well-known figure, you would know him if I told him who he was. Was a program from a few months ago being rebroadcasted I think it was from December from the way that they were talking but He had been over preaching in Damascus. How could he do that? Since they don’t believe the same way we do. He says well you know I’ve learned that there are certain things in the bible that are offensive to some people. So I always try to be careful not to say those things that would be offensive to the people I’m preaching to. I can preach to Muslims because they believe in Jesus, but the cross would be offensive to them so I don’t preach about the cross. Then He made a telling statement, you know what he wanted to say? I never preach about the cross. Well he says I did preach about it two weeks ago. I never preach about the cross because it will be offensive. Well of course the preaching of the cross is what? Foolishness to those who are perishing. You know Peter has not preached that kind of message. He is message has included the sovereignty of God in all that is taking place. His message is included the personal guilt of those that He is talking to. His message is included a demand for repentance. And for all who genuinely repent. Each one to personally step forward and be baptized and identification with Jesus Christ. Declaring their allegiance to Him. We want to make it as easy as possible, as broad as possible, as though we were helping God out. But you understand these parts of a message which are so offensive to the non-elect are used of the Spirit to draw the elect to salvation. Now how will we give an account that we help thee unregenerate person be more comfortable in his lostness because we kept the message of Jesus Christ general. I could go and preach to the Muslims and talk about Jesus being a wonderful profit and a great miracle worker and the would all agree. But I won’t tell them that He is the Son of God and He died on a cross for their sins because that would offend them. Not the message Peter preached. This was offensive to the Jews, but is the message that God brings salvation to the heart of the ones that He calls. Also one other note on baptism and then we have to tie this up. In Matthew chapter 3, we don’t have time to go back there. John the Baptist is preaching repentance and baptizing at the Jordan. The religious leaders of Israel come out and want Him to baptize Him you know what He says? You brood of vipers. So much for secret services I guess. You brood of vipers you poisonous snakes what are you doing here? Who warned you to flee of the wrath to come, and he tells them you bring forth fruits of repentance don’t come out here and expect me to baptize you with a poisonous snake. I want to see the evidence of repentance. That you have truly turned from your sin and your pride and your arrogance to believe in the living God. Again, a baptism isn’t necessary for salvation, he who should have been trilled, he should have been like the Roman Catholics get out there and baptize everyone you can. No. It’s only through genuine faith in Christ. So the result you get the forgiveness of sins and you get the gift of the Holy Spirit. But the Holy we have already seen is not dependent of being baptized because in Acts chapter 10 verses 43 a following we saw that they received the Holy Spirit when they believe the message of Peter and because they have received the Spirit He baptized them. The one essential ingredient is you must believe to be saved. Let me say something you must be obedient to the word. I always wonder if I meet somebody who claims to be a believer but then never has been baptized. You want to note do you understand the bible commands you if you’re a true believer in Christ to step forward and be put oh well you know I give a testimony with my mouth then I really wonder if they’re saved. The arrogance God said be baptized but I’ve got my own plan. Then I wonder if you really understand God’s plan of salvation when you’re telling me Him. That you don’t have to obey Him. Like people who pile around that haven’t been in a bible believing bible teaching church, but oh yes I am a Christian. Oh yes I belong to the body of Christ I just don’t like to part of the body of Christ. Now tell which is it? We ought to take these things seriously. Baptism is not necessary for salvation, but I wonder are you saved if you are not baptized. Not because you can’t be saved without being baptized, but if you won’t step forward and be identified with Christ I wonder if you really understood the message of the gospel. You receive forgiveness of sins and you receive the gift of the Holy Spirt, the Holy Spirit is the gift. There are gifts plural of the Holy Spirit. That He gives when He comes and takes up residence in the lives of God’s people. But here we are talking about the coming of the Spirit and the gift of the Holy Spirit. In Ezekiel chapter 36 verse 27. In chapter 37 verse 14, God has promised I will put my Spirit within you, referring to Israel. We say that promise in verse 17 of Peter’s sermon from Joel 2, I will pour out my spirit. What He’s telling these Jews you can have complete forgiveness of sins and you can have the gift of the Holy Spirit. It’s a promise for you and your children and for all who are far off, it’s for Jews and Gentiles alike. For all as many, the end of verse 39, as our Lord our God shall call to Himself. Who so ever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. And those that the Lord. Calls to Himself will call upon His name. Interesting then the command to repent and the human responsibility there is the reminder of the sovereign call of God. We have to stop here. Its two and a half pages before my conclusion. So be thankful, but we’ll do it next week, that’s why I like preaching at the same place week after week. Simply responsibility. Eternally important issue. You must hear the message of the word of God. You must hear the message of the word of God. The spirit of God must bring conviction to your heart till you recognize you are a guilt sinner. And that awareness is so clear that you do repent, turn form your sin, trust in yourself, your works, your church, and place your faith in Jesus Christ. And a marvelous miraculous way at that point in time you are forgiven all your sins. No matter how dark, how ugly, how open, how secret. They’re forgiven and you receive the Holy Spirit as a gift from God and take up resentence in your life to make your body a temple of the Holy Spirit. Now this faith and repentance might now be exhibited in a new way that you live. That’s the salvation that God has given in His Son. And that is the only salvation, for there is no other name give among men under heaven were by we must be saved, so God is commanding all, everywhere to repent. Where He has appointed a day which He will judge the world in Righteousness through a man who He has appointed having given our furnished proof to all by His resurrection from the dead. Let’s pray together. Thank you Lord for your abounding grace. The grace that has brought us here today to hear again your word. The grace that has brought salvation to many of our hearts. The grace that even now brings conviction to some who have never trusted the Savior. Lord may we personally and as a church be faithful to the ministry of this message. Thank you for your grace that calls men and women and young people irresistible to this salvation through faith in your Son. In His name we pray. Amen.