Acts 2:21

Let us help each other learn.

When the Holy Spirit came upon the believers on the day of the Pentecost, there was a huge commotion. Some of those watching in the crowd said, “What can this mean?” Acts 2:12. Others watching thought the believers were drunk. Just when it seemed things might get out of control, Peter stepped forward with the 11 other disciples next to him and preached the most powerful message of his life. The sermon Peter preached wasn’t just any sermon. It was the first sermon proclaiming the Good News message.

Acts 2:21
Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Yes, Peter, who denied Jesus three times. And in Mark 8:33, Jesus rebuked Peter. Yet Jesus saw Peter’s heart. When Jesus asked His disciples, ‘who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” (Matthew 16:16) This prompted Jesus to bless Peter and to declare that he was the rock upon which He would build his church. (Matthew 16:18) Peter became the first leader of the new church and its most powerful preacher.

At the conclusion of his sermon, Peter had an “altar call”. In other words, he invited the people listening to receive Jesus unto their lives.

Peter replied, “each of you must turn from your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)

The Holy Spirit was a very real presence in that meeting. The bible says that about three thousand in all were added to the church because they “believed what Peter said” (Acts 2:41)
They joined with other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord’s Supper and in prayer. (Acts 2:42)

The church was born on the day of Pentecost and its membership grew from a few people to more than 3,000 in a single day.

I encourage each of you to also read 1 and 2 Peter.

1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.

2 Peter 1:20-21 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For the prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Because He lives…

Tammy