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Aug 24, 2025

Preach it, Peter | Spirit, Power & The Church

Preach it, Peter | Spirit, Power & The Church

Passage: Acts 2:4-41

Speaker: Matt Petty

Series: Spirit, Power & The Church

Category: Sunday Sermons

Keywords: how peter preached the gospel in acts 2, what pentecost means for believers today, how to live filled with the holy spirit, understanding salvation through peter’s sermon, what it means to repent and be baptized, how the spirit empowers us to share jesus, learning boldness from the early church

What happens when the Spirit shows up and the gospel is preached clearly? Lives change. This message walks through Acts 2 and how the Holy Spirit gave Peter boldness, clarity, and purpose. It explains what it really means to be saved, why repentance matters, and how every believer is called to respond. Whether you're exploring faith or wondering what’s next in your walk with Jesus, this message brings clarity to the invitation and the response.

Well, good morning, church. Thank you for being here today and I hope, I hope, I hope you are ready for that first false fall of the season. It's coming tomorrow. So don't get your hopes up. It will be blazing before you know it. I want you to look at your neighbor beside you this morning and just say, it is good to see you. It is good to see you. You're getting closer and closer to each other. Amen. Some of you guys that love having that seat in between you, it ain't happening no more, is it? You are greatly giving that up. We still got some down here in the spray zone if you need that, there are a few down here. Hey, before I jump in the message, let me say this. If you're new here, I know we've already said it. If you're a first, second, third time visitor, maybe new season for you, man from the bottom of our heart, thank you number one, and secondly, we would love to walk beside you and help you connect to this place.

We'd love for you to make this place called home. We got over 55 right now on our Discover Burnt Hickory class that are listening to who we are and we'd love to connect you in just like they are. All right. Well, listen, if you've got a copy of scripture, I want you to turn with me this morning to Acts 2. Acts 2 is where we're going to be going from today. We're actually going to launch from the 13th verse of that chapter, and if you've been around here over the last couple of weeks, you know that in this series we're walking through the Book of Acts. We're about a chapter and a half in so far. We're on track to finish in February, I think. All right. We're on track to get there, and so far we have seen the promise of the Holy Spirit.

We have seen the disciples wait on the Holy Spirit. We've seen in their overwhelming moments of Jesus after He is ascended to the Father that they have called on the name of Jesus. Last week we saw them in the upper room and we actually from a 50,000-foot view last week studied the first of chapter two, which is called the Day of Pentecost. Now, the day of Pentecost was that day that they had been looking for for centuries and centuries. Then it was the day that Jesus being back with the Father has now sent the Spirit. In fact, I want to show you something in Acts 2:4. It says this about that day. It says, "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and they began to speak in other tongues as the spirit enabled them." This moment we talked about last week was the moment that changed everything.

You say, well, why is that? Well, we go in that moment, we went from a time that the spirit fell on a place to now the Spirit has fallen into his people. And this changed everything for you and me because now, we don't worship at a spot to worship at a spot. We worship because the Spirit is in us and has given us as followers of Jesus life. Now, last week we left off right when that happened, all right? We left off this booming presence of God hits the place, the disciples move out into the courtyards and the surrounding areas to the thousands of Jews that were visiting that place. They began to speak the gospel into all of these other languages and people began to hear the love of God. The message of the gospel; and many, many, many, many of the people were dialed in and hearing this, but just like it always is, there were some that actually had a little bit of a problem.

There's always some. Can I get an amen to that? There's always some out there that were actually accusing them. Verse 13 says this in Acts 2, it says this, "After all that happened." It says, "Somehow ever made fun of them and said they have had too much wine." Now, look, I want to remind you of a truth here. I mean, it's a giggling verse. We laugh at it a little bit. We're like, okay, I get it, but I want to remind you of a truth here that especially comes to mind about you and me as we share the gospel with other people. I put it in your notes so you can remember it this week. Here's the principle. There's always going to be people who are opposed to the salvation offer of Jesus.

You do realize this. There's always going to be people. Always. If you read the Bible, there were people all through the Old Testament that were opposed to the gift that God was trying to give them. If you watch Jesus's walk on this earth, there were people that were even opposed to Jesus. They walked away from the offer of Jesus that He was giving of himself. You look at the disciples in their ministries, there's always been people. If you read the end of the book, in Revelation, there will be people who at the end of times, no matter all the signs, all the wonders, all the miracles that just will not surrender to Jesus. Now, for you and me, man, that is a heavy, heavy statement, but I want to encourage you just by saying this morning, this is not a new thing and I don't want you to feel like the rejection or the fear of being rejected should be something that should stop you from sharing who Jesus is.

You see, it's been happening from the beginning. It's going to happen to the end. So listen, always look at it as an opportunity when you speak the gospel for God to move. Always. There's always going to be people that push back, but always look at the opportunity. You know what I'm talking about in this. You've got that one friend that you for years have wanted them to experience Jesus. They don't know Jesus, but for some reason in your heart, every time before you pull up to talk about Jesus and your faith, something in you says, no, no, no, I don't. It's not worth it. They're not going to receive it. They're too far. They might even mock you or it might even go as far as you and the disciples here, they might just call you drunk. That's what it says.

Never let Satan close the conversation before the Holy Spirit has a time to move. Never let that happen. Aren't you glad the person that shared you, the story of Jesus didn't give into the awkwardness? Man, I love this in this story, because people are going to shut you down, but the point is our role as followers of Jesus is to share it. All right? Now, what we're going to get to do today is we're actually going to get to see Peter step up in this moment. Now, this text today, and I feel like I say this a lot of weeks, this text today is an amazing text because it has so many implications, so many principles, and it actually falls 100% in line with every single person that is in this room. No matter how far you are in your faith journey, no matter if you're on this side and you don't know anything about Jesus or on this side and you're like Jesus University valedictorian, all right?

This message today will have something for you. For those of you that you've given your heart to Jesus today, Peter is going to show you how to walk in the spirit and tell people who Jesus is, all right? He's going to give you that example. For those of you that are not sure what your relationship with Jesus looks like, I need you to listen close today because Acts 2 is the first Christian post-Jesus holy and spirit-inspired message. Boy, that was hard. I had practice that all week. All right? This is what it is and it shows us how you and how I can be sure about where I am in my relationship with Jesus. All right? That's what we're going to do today, all right? I'm going to give you an example for those of you who know him, how to share them and then I'm going to give you those of you that are not sure how you can be sure.

All right. So what happens in the text, Peter, at this moment, there's thousands of people, some theologians believe there was a hundred thousand people in Jerusalem. There was probably over 10,000 in the courtyard surrounding this moment. Peter steps up in this moment. This is the same Peter that denied Jesus three times. Same Peter that had that crisis of belief moment, same Peter that went back to fishing after the crucifixion. Same Peter that Jesus restores on the shore. Peter steps up in this moment. Now, if I'm one of the other disciples, I'm like, oh no, Pete, don't do it. Why? Because it never ends well, prior to this when Peter speaks, but I need you to think about this. This is a new Peter. This is a Peter that has now received the Holy Spirit and is underneath power of God. So watch what Peter does in Acts 2:14, after the boom, after the crowd draws, after there was this assumption that you guys are just crazy.

Watch what Peter says. Says this in verse 14, "Then Peter stood up with the 11 and he raised his voice and he addressed the crowd. Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you. Listen carefully to what I say." Now, I'm sure he's already done the church announcements and now he's getting into the message. It's exactly what is happening here. And Christians, I want you to notice Peter hear a couple of things that he does. The first thing that Peter does right here is Peter doesn't shy away and he doesn't back down when the gospel is challenged. Oh man, culture, haven't we fallen trapped to this a little bit? He doesn't back down. He doesn't shy away. What does Peter do? Actually, Peter stands up, which is a little bit weird in this time because teachers are the rabbis of this time. They would actually teach from a seated position.

The students or the pupils would stand up, but Peter in this moment actually stands with the authority of God, not Peter's authority, okay? He doesn't do that. It's with the authority of Jesus. He stands, listen to me believer, when you know Jesus, when you're operating in the spirit of Jesus and in the power of Jesus, you can now speak with the authority of Jesus. You have that authority. Don't let Satan drag that away from you. You have it. When you have a relationship with Jesus, you speak with authority and you, here it is, you are the king's representative in that moment. There's a little swagger in that, is there not? Don't let Satan take that from you. So he stands up. What else does Peter do? He is one of my favorite preacher moments. He raises his voice.

He raises... Peter has some pipes. He ain't got no microphone. There's 10,000 people there. He raises his voice. In other words, he's now speaking with authority, but now he's speaking with confidence. He's got some confidence in him. Why? Because he's just followed the best bumper video in worship moment that has ever been created. I mean, good grief, the spirit has fallen, the boom has happened. They're now speaking in language. They're just as surprised as everybody else is that this is happening and now Peter goes back to Greek. The [inaudible 00:11:33] are Greek. And he stands in confidence, raises his mouth for God operating in the Holy Spirit. Listen, believers, there's no need to hold back when you're speaking on behalf of God. He'll take care of his business. He'll take care of you and He will give you the words to say. That's what we're seeing in the message right here.

Don't hold back. Why? We don't hold back at anything else. I mean, good. Now, if I hear one more time that college football starts next week, I'm going to go crazy, but when it comes to the gospel, are we that excited? Are we that excited? What else does Peter do? He takes the initiative in the moment. The disciples aren't standing around going, no, no, no, I did it last time. You do it, Pete. Go for it. No, it's almost like Peter knows that he was built for this moment. You are too. When the spirit comes on you, when you have the spirit, when you have a relationship with Jesus, you are built for that moment. In fact, put all this in a little phrase so you can remember it this week. Here's the Peter principle here. When the spirit empowers us, he empowers us to proclaim Christ boldly, to speak passionately and act decisively when gospel opportunities arrive.

You can take that to the bank. He will not leave you dry. That's what we're seeing here. Even in a mixed crowd. Realize this isn't just talking to good church people here. These are people that might be out to get them. You'll see that in just a minute. Everybody was amazed of what was happening. Some were skeptics, but keep reading what Peter says in verse 15 says this, Peter says, "These people are not drunk as you suppose. It is only 9:00 in the morning." In other words, my old great uncle said, "If you don't get started in the morning, you can't drink all day." That's it. No, I'm just kidding. That's probably not a great thing to say. Just kidding, just kidding. Probably shouldn't have said that. I'll take it back. All right, there it is. All right.

That's okay. That's okay.

Peter says, "It's only 9:00 in the morning." Verse 16. And my uncle didn't really say that. I don't know why I said that. All right, here it is. He says, "No, no. This was spoken by the prophet Joel." Now to us, we're like, that's a weird spot to start, Pete. I mean, you could have said anything and this is what you come up with, but I want you to notice here what Peter does. I want you to write it down there and we're going to talk about it. Peter doesn't start with some weird phrase. Here's the principle. It's always beneficial to lead with scripture and not our opinion.

True, sir.

You see, that's what he does right here. Now to us, we're like, why Joel? Joel was a prophet from the Old Testament. Joel was one of the heroes of all of the people that were out to get the disciples and actually were out to get Jesus. Joel was one of the guys that was a mouthpiece for God in the Old Testament, and Peter draws out the Old Testament words and looks at you and looks at me and says this, "No matter what conversation you're in, you can be a powerful witness for the kingdom if you will start with scripture and not your opinion."

How many times have you noticed that we really get into trouble more often when we speak on our own behalf instead of God's behalf? How many troubles could we have gotten out of if our MO was scripture first and opinion second? Peter throws out the scriptures. He doesn't shy away from the moment. What does he do? He deals with the moment. He knows that he's in the spirit. He knows. Actually, he gives us a little tidbit of what he knows in 2 Peter 1:3 later on where Peter challenges us, he says this about it. He says, God's divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness." You see, Peter looks back at the word of God, the scripture that was in him that he had studied, that he had received from Jesus, and Peter looks at the crowd and he's like, "Hey, these guys aren't drunk. These guys aren't crazy. These guys have fallen off the rocker. In fact, these guys are living out what your prophet Joel has already said."

Now, this was a big statement to them. In fact, I want to read you what Peter says about it because Peter reiterates Joel 2, if you want to write this down to read it later, watch what he says. Oh, it's a message for them and us. Peter says in the last days, this is not Peter. He's referring to Joel. He says, "In the last days God says, I will pour out my spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my spirit in those days and they will prophesy." This blew their mind because until this point, it was only kings, it was only prophets and it was only special people that got the spirit of God, but he said, "Hey, Joel already told us this is going to happen."

Keep going in verse 19, it says, "I will show you wonders in the heavens above and in signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke, the sun will be turned to darkness and the moon and blood to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord." Now, go back to the first statement in verse 17 because Peter actually starts with a phrase that throws them off and it actually throws us off sometimes. He starts with this phrase in the last days. Now, there's a little bit of a struggle here because there is a already and a not yet when he says in the last days. Now, I know that's a huge theological statement, but here's what it means. When Peter says in the last days right here, he is referring to the fact that they, and we, hear this church, we are now living in the last days.

We're living in them for 2,000 years, church, we have been walking in the last days from the moment Jesus came as a baby, died, the death we deserve, rose from the grave. When He rose from the grave, He started the last days. When He ascended to the Father, He started the last days. But there's already, we are now in the last days. Now look, we don't talk about it much, but we're also moving towards the last days. Are you feeling that?

Yes, sir.

There's another last days. We're in the last days. We're moving to the last days and here's what this means though. That means that there is nothing else because of what Jesus has already done that needs to take place for Jesus to now initiate the next last days. You realize that there are no signs that need to happen. There's no activities that need to go on. The gospel has gone around the earth a few times and if you are now waiting on some sign that the first last days are going to start, you're going to be too late if you're waiting on verse 19 and 20 last days, because those last days are going to come after he receives his church.

Well, Matt, that's an insensitive statement to say that we're in the last days, isn't it? No. No, I don't think so. I think it's actually a flag post and a warning for all of us to say, it is time for us to turn to Jesus because we don't know when he's going to return. We don't know this. I think it's a great statement to know that Jesus is looking at us right here going, "Hey, in the last days the Spirit's going to come." Church, we're in the last days, but there's still an offer for you and there's still an offer for me to turn to Jesus.

Why? Because the Holy Spirit is still drawing people and Jesus is still tarrying right now, and that means we still have a chance to give our hearts to Jesus. In fact, keep reading the sermon, because I love how Peter just puts this out there for them and he actually puts it out there for us. Watch the clarification that Peter gives right here. He leans in and he says, "Hey, this is a gift. The Holy Spirit is a gift. The relationship with Jesus is a gift that's not just for the disciples, it's not just for the elite." He says, "Jesus has made a way for all who turn to him." In fact, watch one of my favorite verses in all the Bible. Acts 2:21. It says this, Peter says, "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Amen.

Listen, this is the good news of the gospel, is it not? This is the finished work of the gospel. This is what the Spirit wants to do in you, wants to do in them. It's the message that we weren't good enough, we weren't strong enough, we can't make it on our own, but now because of what Jesus has done in these last days, we can turn to him. If what? If, if, if, if. What do we do? If we call on his name. Now, let me settle a little debate here because calling on the name of Jesus in many of our minds can take a lot of different angles, but let me give you the biblical angle of this. What does it mean to call on the name of Jesus? This is important because for some of us, we think calling on the name of Jesus is just knowing the name of Jesus. We think calling on the name of Jesus is like, we're calling out the mama or we're calling out to a friend. That's not calling on the name of Jesus.

Let me tell you what calling on the name of Jesus is. Let me give you four things. Number one, calling on the name of Jesus means that I confess my sin and my need for Christ alone. That's the first step of calling on the name of Jesus. What does that look like? That means, it looks like me coming to a point in my life where I realize that I am a sinner in need of a Savior, and Christ alone can be my Savior. Christ alone can be my king. That means I recognize my sinfulness, that I've lived the life, that I have let him down, and I have a need for forgiveness in my soul and I'm a sinner and I can't do it on my own. That's what it means. Secondly, not only do I confess my sin and my need for Christ alone, I acknowledge that his finished work is my only hope, is my only hope.

What does that mean? That means I realize that I can't do it on my own and I also realize that I can't work my way there. I can't be good enough to get there. I can't come to church enough to get there. I can't sign enough VBS cards to get there. That trusting in Christ's finished work for salvation is the only way to know that I have a relationship with him and I've been given the Holy Spirit. I have to acknowledge it's his finished work. Third, I have to lay down my life for his Lordship. I have to lay down my life for his Lordship. What does that look like? That looks like I know that I'm a sinner. I know that I deserve death. I know that I can't bring anything of any substance to the king without him exchanging my heart of flesh for his heart and giving me his Lordship.

That means I come to a point in my life where I realize and I surrender my heart to his and I give him the control of my life. You see, some of us, when we hear the words call on the name of Jesus, we think that I can just flippantly say something, "Hey God, I need you. Hey God, you're great. Hey, God, let me fill out this little VBS form." That is not what it means to call on the name of God. Calling on the name of God is me realizing I'm a sinner, need of a Savior. That Christ and Christ alone has given His life, His death, His resurrection for me, and it's only by me surrendering to His leadership, me repenting." We're going to see this in a minute. "From my sins that he will redeem me." And then last, just so I can spell the word call, here's the third one or the fourth one.

Here it is. Let others know who you belong to. Matt, are you saying that I'm not saved if I don't tell anybody that? No, that's not what I'm saying, but I've never been anybody who's really saved that couldn't help tell others what Jesus has done for them. Listen, I'm going to say this as sensitively as possible. If this is not you, you might know the name of Jesus. You might even say the name of Jesus, but I'm not sure that Jesus has radically transformed your life and given you the spirit of Jesus. I want you to hold onto that thought though because what do you need to do if that's you, watch what Peter does next because he keeps leaning. In verse 22, he says this, "Fellow Israelites, listen to this. Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, by wonders and signs, which God did among you through Him, and as you yourselves know."

In other words, you were around, you saw it, you've heard about it, and God has shown you himself. But watch this in verse 23, he says, "This man was handed over to you by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge." Now, I know that throws some of you off because you're like, wait a minute. It wasn't a surprise to God what mankind did to Jesus? No, it was not a surprise. In fact, it was the plan. It was the plan. It wasn't just the plan. It was the only plan. It was the only way. What does that mean? That means that Jesus is the only one with the credentials. Jesus is the only one that was all good and never a sinner. Jesus is the only one that could be the spotless sacrifice. Jesus is the only one that could carry the weight of sin of the world on himself. It was only Jesus and God knew it and God did it and God set it all up. There's the sovereignty of God right there.

But watch this in verse 23 again, it says, "This man was handed over to you by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge and you." Oh, baby, there's the responsibility of man. They're both there. All camps are meeting right here. And you, with the help of wicked men put them to death by nailing them to the cross. Verse 24 though, "But God." I want you to say that with me on 1, 2, 3, "But God." Whoo, here it is. "Raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death." Oh, here it is. "Because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him." Man, can I get an amen even from those of you that don't say amen? That's worth it right there. Look, here's what Peter knows. Here's what Peter knows. Peter knows that he was fully God and fully man. He knows that Jesus has proved it. He knows that Jesus did what nobody else could do.

He knew in this moment from the miracles and the words and the cross, taking my sin, the resurrection, killing my sin and rising Him back up to His authority and His seat proving emphatically who he was. Peter looked at these people that are like, wait a minute, and he's looking at him eyeball to eyeball and the 11 are going, don't do it, Peter. Don't do it, Peter. And Peter looks at him and says, "You killed Him, but God rose Him because you can't keep Him down."

Come on, sir.

Man, I love that statement. I love that statement. The grave couldn't hold Jesus. No. The eternal maker of the universe rose so that you can have the spirit of God living in your life. That's what he says. Man, this is a whole lot different than Jesus just being your good teacher. This is a whole lot different than Jesus just being a good moral person or a sage or even a miracle worker, but for many of us that's where it ends, but according to scripture, the problem with that is that's not going to bring salvation.

What brings salvation is when you call on the name of the resurrected Jesus to radically save you. That's what he says. There's a massive difference here, but I want to keep walking with Peter because he doesn't just stop at Joel. I want to give you one more example and then we're going to keep moving. He actually says, "Hey, you've seen the miracles. You've seen the power. You've seen him do these things. You know that I believe this, these 11 others believe this. You know that Joel believe this." But then Peter does something that he probably knew was about to happen. He brings this guy named King David into the conversation. Now, King David was the guy that was close to God's heart. A man after God's own heart, and Peter knew that David was like the ultimate wild card in preaching. So in verse 25 through 28, Peter has already dropped one bomb on them about their experience, one drama bomb about Joel.

And now Peter looks at him and says, "Hey, you all love David. Everybody loves David. Everybody agrees about the power and the closeness of God, of David, and even David talked about how good and how right this Messiah is." Look at this in verse 29, he says, "Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried and his tomb is here to this day, they're in the city of David." He's like, "There's this tomb. He's dead. It's in there." Verse 30 though, "But he was a prophet and he knew that God had promised him on oath that He would place one of his descendants on His throne seeing what was to come." Listen to what David said. "He spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay."

He's like, "Hey, if you don't believe the witnesses, if you don't believe your own eyes, if you don't believe your own experience, if you don't even care what this guy named Joel says, you got to know that even King David looked for this day. He knew it was coming." Keep reading verse 32 and watch what he says. He says, "God raised this Jesus to life." Somebody needs to hear this this morning and we are all witnesses of it exalted to the right hand of God, Jesus, that's He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, and He has poured out on what you now see in here. Not that He just sprinkle a little bit on you, not that He just give you a little bit of the spirit. He has poured it. He has lavished. It is what that word means. Jesus has done what He said He was going to do.

He has now sent the spirit for them. He has sent the spirit for any of us that have given our hearts to Jesus and they now have the spirit and here's what He's telling us, we can too. In fact, watch the closing of the message. He says this, "Therefore." That's a fake therefore, because he ain't closing. "Therefore." He says, "Let all of Israel." And I would add to that West Cobb and Paulding counties. Amen?

Amen.

"Be assured of this, that God has made this Jesus who you crucified both Lord and Messiah."

Amen.

Listen, it's so clear here. Never let anybody look at you and go, Jesus was never claimed to be Messiah. Oh, yeah, He was. He claimed it multiple times. Now, under the power of the spirit, Peter is claiming it again and he's looking to these people going, "Hey, yeah, the Romans may have had a little bit of a part to do with this crucifixion thing, but you and me and we and all of us this day and in their day, we are the ones who crucified him, but he is Lord and Savior and he wants to do a radical work in you." But there's only a couple ways you can respond to this. First, you can deny it. Second, you can just be numb about it and walk away, which is really denying it. Third, you could be angry, which is what they could do and just revolt and kill the disciples or fourth, and this is what he wants you to do, you can submit and you can continue to say, "Lord Jesus, here I am."

Keep reading the text in verse 37 and watch what happens. "When the people heard this." Oh, this is my prayer for all of us. "They were cut to the heart." Now, we don't use that language, but it literally means pierced or stabbed or drawn. It's not an emotional decision here. It's the only time this is used in the New Testament. It means that something inside of them told them if they did not act, they would lose. They were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other disciples, and here's the prayer I hope that you're praying. "Brothers, what shall we do?" What shall we do? Can I give you another question that goes right with that? Who is Jesus to you? That's the question. At the end of the day, that's what they're having to decide right here, and that's what you need to decide right here.

This is not just a message for Pentecost. This is a message for every believer from every moment, from this point until the next last days. What will you do with Jesus? Who is Jesus to you? Where am I in Jesus? You can either be, A, like the disciples who are now following the Holy Spirit. They're a little bit clumsy in it, but that's okay. He's a forgiving God. He'll forgive us too. They're just trying to figure out how to walk in this spirit. Or B, you can be like the crowd. You can be like the crowd in this moment that you haven't trusted, you haven't given your life to Jesus. But here's the deal about being in the crowd, you can't stay in the crowd forever because that way is the way to being from Jesus. That's what we're seeing here, but here's the deal about being in the crowd. You can't undo what you've already done, but Jesus can.

He can, but what about you? How do you get there? How do you go from the crowd to being a follower of Jesus? Look at these next couple verses. This is where we'll close. Here's how you know you can have forgiveness. Peter replied, here it is. You need to hear this. "Repent and be baptized."

Yes, sir.

Every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and watch what happens when you repent and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. You say, well, not me Matt. There's no way that can happen for me. Oh, well, here's verse 39. The promise is for you and your children. Oh, but Matt, you don't know how far I am. You don't know what I've done. You don't matter. You don't know my past. Watch this for you and your children and for all who are far off and for all whom the Lord our God will call.

Amen.

And who remember that because I love verse 40 as a preacher because some of you're like, "Matt, his message was like four minutes long and three people get saved." No, it wasn't. Look at verse 40 and with many other words, he warned them and he pleaded with them, save yourself from this corrupt generation. So what do we do if we're in the crowd? What if we do when we're not sure? What do we do when we pull up to the moment and I just have to go? I don't know if I know, if I know, if I know that Christ is my King.

What do we do? Number one, there's two words here I want to look at. Number one, we should repent. What does repent mean? Repent means that I've come to a place in my life where I realize that I'm not the Savior, but He is. That I'm not the King, but He is. And I realize what He has done for me, and now I'm turning from the leadership that I give in my life and I'm turning that over to Him. Repentance means change of direction and submitting my Lordship to Jesus. Is that where you are this morning?

Yes, sir.

I'm not talking about if you're a good church person. I'm not talking about if you know the Bible. I'm not talking about if you give a little cash when you feel guilty or something went down during the week. Has there been a moment in your life where you have repented from your sins, where you have recognized that you are a sinner, trusted Jesus in His finished work, invited Him to be your Savior and Lord and committed by laying your life down to Him? Has there been that moment in your life? If not, today can be that moment. The first word is repent. The second word in the text though equally right there with it is just the word baptize. Now, listen, sometimes we get a little bit of a bad rap around here about pushing baptism, pushing baptism.

Matt, what's the big deal about baptism? Hey, it ain't me that's making it up. The Bible says, you want to know that you're walking in the spirit? Repent, become a follower of Jesus, and then your first act of that obedience, which sets you free for every other obedience, is to be baptized as a believer in Jesus Christ. Why? Because it shows what has happened in here. It shows the world what's happening here. It shows the forgiveness that has happened in here. Some of you, you've been walking this path for a long time. And I am going to say this, for some of you have never felt the spirit move in your life even though you really, really, really, really know that you've given your heart to Jesus. Can I tell you why? Because you haven't walked in that first step of obedience that Peter is teaching us right here and been baptized.

It's bigger than just dunking you under some water. It is a biblical symbol that we see from scripture on every time [inaudible 00:36:49] you see somebody be saved, you see them immediately be baptized. Every time you see somebody give their heart to Jesus, you see them immediately be baptized. Listen to this, baptism is not an emotional decision. Stay with me. It's not something you need to feel. It's something you need to be obedient in. I can't tell you how many baptism appointments I've ever had and I'm like, "Man, I just don't know if I feel that I'm ready to be baptized." My next question to them every single time is, "Well, I'm not sure you feel like you know if you're saved or not." Because it's the immediate response in every biblical text.

Peter says, "Repent and be baptized." But watch this last verse. Watch this last verse. Watch it. Oh, this is so good. Everything led up to this moment right here. It says, "Those who accepted His message." What does that mean? That means the sovereignty of God has called, the sovereignty of God has pushed into their heart, the sovereignty of God has moved in their life, but like any single gift that has ever been given, you have to receive the gift. You have to receive the gift. For those who did what? Accepted his message. Is that you today? Do you need to accept this gift of salvation? Watch this. "For those that accepted his message were baptized and about 3,000 were added to their number that day." This whole message wasn't about a language. It wasn't about an upper room moment.

It wasn't about a single message being preached. It was about this right here, this right in this moment, 3,000 people saying, "Yes, Lord, we forsake our past. We walk into you. Give us your spirit." And here's my prayer for these next couple of minutes because that is the moment we're about to have too. What about you? Have you given your life to Jesus? Has there been a moment in time that you can go back to where you know that you know that you know, that you called out to Jesus, to redeem you, to save you, to forgive you, and you submitted control of your life over to Him? If there hasn't been that moment, what's holding you back? What's holding you back? What's wrong with right now? What's wrong with you? Just like in the Bible going, "Hey, Lord, I am yours. I can't do it on my own. I know that I'm a sinner. Come into my life. Forgive me and be my Lord."

Listen to me. If you prayed that this morning, if that is your heart this moment, if that is your confection this moment and you mean it, this is what I want you to do in just a minute. As soon as I get into the invitation in just a minute, I just want you to stand up from wherever you're at. You may want to look at somebody beside you and go, "Hey, come with me." I want you to walk to the front of this room over to this next step banner, and I want you to look at myself or one of these counselors today and say, "Hey, I need Jesus." And we're going to pray with you and pray over you and rejoice with you today because the Spirit has entered your life.

Maybe today you are a Christian, but you have never been obedient in believers baptism. I'm not talking about when you were a baby. I mean, that was great. I'm really, really glad that your parents did that. I'm glad that they baptized you as a child, as a projection of what they hoped you live one day, but in scripture it says, "Follow Jesus. Be baptized." If you've never done that, and I want to invite you today just to leave your seat in just a minute, come up to the step, look at me and say, "Hey, Matt, I know Jesus, but I need to be baptized." And we'll walk with you in that.

 

Follow Along with the Message

Preach It, Peter

August 24, 2025

Acts 2:4

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Acts 2:13
Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

PRINCIPLE: There will always be people that will be to the salvation offer of Jesus.

Acts 2:14

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 

PRINCIPLE: The Spirit us to proclaim Christ boldly, speak passionately, and act decisively when gospel opportunities arise.

Acts 2:15–16

15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!

16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel.

PRINCIPLE: Its always beneficial to with Scripture and not our opinion.

2 Peter 1:3

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Acts 2:17–20

17 In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.

Acts 2:21

And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

What does it Mean To CALL on
the Name of the LORD?

your sin and need for Christ alone.

His finished work as your only hope.

down your life for His Lordship.

others know who you belong to.

Acts 2:22–24

22 Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

Acts 2:29–31

29 “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay."

Acts 2:32–33

32  God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. 33  Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.

Acts 2:36

“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

Acts 2:37

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

Acts 2:38–40 

38 Peter replied, “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. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”

 

Acts 2:41

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

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