WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH HAS COME - PART 30

And the people, upon hearing this reconciliatory inspired message delivered from Peter in unison with the other eleven apostles, were troubled. These same people, whose heart and conscience was being weighed in the balance of their minds as a consequence of  recognizing that, while unknowing, they willingly crucified the Lord of Glory. Of course, these individuals would automatically say that the combined crowd frenzy and consequential rhetoric, along with the religious leaders who were bent in removing this judicially proclaimed innocent man  influenced their decision to crucify Jesus.

Those religious leaders had their feet stuck in the mud. Although they did not experience God firsthand, they certainly heard and saw the works of the Spirit of God.  Still, no one was going to be allowed to rock their comfortable life style. Indeed, at the end of the day, it made little or no difference to them that the lame were made to walk, the blind made to see, and the lepers cleansed.

The bottom line is that they loved darkness. Unfortunately, even today they still hang on to the covenant of death as if it were a covenant of life. These religious folks hang onto their traditions with a closed mind. If the switch is off and the tradition is so entrenched, there is no use trying to pry someone to recognize the truths of the scriptures.

Jesus said that when the Spirit of truth is come, He will convince the world of sin. And of righteousness too. And of the coming judgement. The holy spirit contained message set the example that believers should preach Jesus, and that they should always do so with sincerity and truth,. In this regard, the analogy of setting the table, so to speak, and inviting others to come and dine is a good one.

It is also a good segue into what happened next. The people having listened to Peter and the apostles asked, "Men and brethren what shall we do?" This question is significant for reason dictates that if they had known what to do, then they would never had asked the question. What were they instructed to do? Certainly, it was none of the following: be good; do penance; shake the preacher's hand; give to charity; fill in this card and join the church; or keep the 10 commandments. Of course, this list is not exhaustive but it does indicate that religious expectations differ significantly from the plan of salvation that God delivered.

This is what the administrator and mediator and high priest of our profession delivered to the people. "Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the NAME of JESUS the CHRIST and you shall receive the gift of His holy spirit." For this promise, the promise that if we repent and are baptised into His name, Jesus the Christ, we would receive the gift of His holy spirit. Further, his promise is made both to you and to your children, even to them that are afar off. This promise is to as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Recall that Jesus is the afore spoken seed of promise and in Jesus will all the nations of the earth be blessed. The apostles spoke other words of exhortation to the people, but finally hitting the nail on the head, he exhorts them not to sit like a bump on a log. “Save yourselves from this lost generation," he said. It is recorded in the scriptures that the people gladly responded to the words spoken, were baptised, and in the same day there were about 3000 believers added.

These new birthed believers continued walking in the teachings of the apostles, in fellowship with each other. They visited each other breaking bread and ate their meat with gladness and singleness of heart. We, by the grace of our God, pray that your response will be obedience to the prompting of His holy spirit by repenting and being baptised into the name of Jesus.

He is the Ark of the Covenant. May you receive His holy spirit. I am sure many of you have, by now, already stood in the offering plate. Now arise and be baptised in the name of Jesus so that you too can be washed away all of sin. Call on His name now and be filled with His Spirit of promise. If 3000 people were added to the church that day in Acts chapter 2, may you be number 3001 today. He will fill your life today. God is good! In Jesus name be blessed.