Call to Commitment

The eleven apostles of the Lamb stand with Peter, as he delivers the first apostolic sermon. They stand with one common purpose, which is to see the gospel come into the ears of their brethren, the Jewish people, to fulfill the task, which God had put before them. It is, in some ways, a model evangelical message. We have already determined that, when the 120 spoke in tongues, they were not preaching. Their purpose was not to preach, but to praise God, with the great multitude from many nations, mystified and amazed, listening to this supernatural manifestation. It was that miracle that prepared them for the message, which Peter now preaches in Hebrew, and the entire crowd understands (v.14).

A Christian must think rationally, as things are revealed by the Holy Spirit. Peter shows that it is irrational to think that the disciples were drunk at the third hour of the morning (v.15), just as it was not rational to suppose that Christ’s linen burial clothes were found folded in orderly fashion, the head cloth lying apart in its own place. It would be highly improbable that thieves, had they stolen the Lord’s corpse, would pause to leave everything in order. John saw the character of Christ Himself in His resurrection and therefore believed (Jn.20:6-8).

Everything that happens to a Christian individually or to the church corporately, must be able to be explained through the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit always works in accordance with His word. Every witness for Christ must be able to point at the event that is taking place, and then point to the Scriptures, declaring “this is what was spoken” by an inspired writer. The listener is under no obligation to believe anything outside the Bible. The preacher must know the Word (v.16).

When God gave His word to Joel, He had in mind, exactly what is now occurring before Jewish eyes and you might want to study the words, as they are directly spoken by the prophet in Joel 2:28-32. It is the essential unfolding of the plan of God, signaling what the Jews, and later the Gentiles, would experience in the last days, which were the days that marked the entire gospel era. The former days were those of the Old Testament and the last days were those of the New. These days have not yet come to completion, but are still ongoing. Joel was speaking of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all people.

Briefly, God promised, in these last days, that young men and women would prophecy, that is, that both male and female offspring would speak as the oracles of God. Prophecy is a word, given spontaneously by the Holy Spirit. Although preaching may contain prophecy, Joel did not say that sons and daughters would preach. Peter wrote in his first letter: “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:10-11). The Bible does not say that preaching is a gift of the Spirit, but prophecy is a supernatural gift, given both to young men and women. Philip had four daughters who prophesied and Paul specifically mentioned that women would prophesy: “Every woman who prays or prophecies…” (1 Cor.11:5). Joel added that the young would see visions and the old would dream dreams (v. 17).

Verse 18 affirms the fact that God would pour out of His Spirit upon men and women and they would prophesy. In the following portion, the Lord shows through Joel, how the last days would end. There will be unique signs on earth and in the heavens through blood, fire and vapor. The sun will be darkened and the moon appear bloody, “BEFORE THE COMING OF THE GREAT AND AWESOME DAY OF THE LORD.” These awesome signs in nature will particularly take place through the Great Tribulation and just before the millennial, literal reign of Christ (vs.19-20).

Peter’s final quote from Joel uncovers the mercy of the Lord in the worst of times, even using judgment as an incentive to bring about repentance. The prophet Micah expresses a prayer that the Lord would show His mercy in judgment. “O LORD, revive Your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy” (Mic.3:2). The commentators Jamieson-Faucett-Brown bring up Daniel 9:27, as a strikingly similar statement, to the one in Micah: “He shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.”  Daniel warns the reader of the evil deed of the antichrist, breaking his deceitful pact with Israel. However, it is a fact in the book of Revelation that the Lord is working to call people to repentance during the judgments of the Great Tribulation. An angel signals the preaching of the gospel during that time (Rev.14:6). and there is evidence that many do repent (v.21).

 Peter opens the Scripture and quotes them, before beginning his comments to the multitude. The apostolic model teaches us that all preaching must be Scriptural. He applies it to what is taking place that very day. Beginning his comments, his very first words are “Jesus of Nazareth”, and he continues, preaching Christ to them. He sets the example for all Christian preaching to follow, and that is that our message must be Christ-centered. I will call you to observe how he presented Him as Jesus of Nazareth. The presentations could be multiple, naming Him the Son of God, God incarnate, the Son of Abraham and David, the promised Messiah. Instead, Peter points to His native village of Nazareth in Galilee., and that is how He was generally introduced throughout the book of Acts. He identified with the Galileans throughout His ministry and was Himself a Galilean. This is how the world is to hear of the Champion of the gospel and every hearer, humbling himself, must believe in the Man from Galilee, and Him crucified.  He is sent by God and the signs of His heavenly approval, widely publicized throughout the whole world, is that He was a miracle-worker (v.22). The writer of Hebrews will proclaim that He “is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb.13:8).

 As Peter continues, we will remember Joseph’s fore type in the book of Genesis, saying to his brothers, “You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive” (Gen.50:20). Peter similarly declares that the violent death of the Messiah, occasioned by the Jews, was “the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God,” but places the blame for His death at the doorstep of everyone of his listeners. Once again, it is the accusation that is to be followed in gospel preaching, so that man will acknowledge his guilt of taking part in the death of Christ, caused by his sin. He must see the gravity of his offenses against God (v.23).

 The apostle’s next point is the resurrection, first declaring the enormity of the fact that the God/Man should taste death, but then shows the impossibility that the Life Giver should remain in the grave. Charles Wesley in his great hymn, sung by all true Christendom, shows that the death of Divinity is one of the mysteries of the cross:

I think it expedient to expose a very well-known Presbyterian pastor, who not too long ago passed into eternity, denying the truth of Wesley’s hymn. When I learned that fact, I immediately eliminated his material from my personal studies.  I think many young theologians, especially, should see the seriousness of his errors and withdraw their loyalty to him.   

I would make the important doctrinal point, that God died the death of man. Upon death, man does not enter an unconscious state, nor cease to exist, but his soul leaves his body and lives on consciously. So, the Scriptures state that Christ’s soul left His body and continued actively to function, but we must insist that, if God Himself did not make the infinite sacrifice for our redemption, then we continue in our sins. Our sin was infinite, because it was against an infinite God and demanded an infinite punishment. We could only be redeemed through an infinite sacrifice, which only the God/Man could provide, giving us infinite salvation. He arose triumphantly over the grave, fulfilling the unmatched message of the gospel (v.24).

 None of the other religions of the world, promise a living redeemer. All their heroes are dead, but the famous, old hymn of Alfred H. Ackley (1887-1960) “I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today” declares the glorious truth of the resurrection. Again, Peter points to Scripture and this time, in verses 25-28, to the prophetic words of the king/prophet, David, from Psalms 16:8-11. Peter teaches in his first epistle that the Spirit of Christ was in the prophets (1 P. 1:11) and therefore He, at times, spoke through them in the first person. This is the case with David.  Although Isaiah spoke of the Christ in the third person, in Isaiah 53, his understanding of future events was so clear, that the Ethiopian eunuch, reading the account, wondered if he could be speaking of himself. This nobleman, however, was illuminated by the Holy Spirit and understood the prophetic office and knew that Isaiah was a prophet.

 It didn’t take a great argument from Peter to convince the people that day that Israel’s great King David was dead; it was a fact that the Jews did not doubt. At that time, the site of his sepulcher was well known, so there was no belief, in all of Israel, that David ever experienced resurrection (v. 29). No one had ever suggested such a thing, but the memories of the Jews certainly went back to the familiar passage in 2 Samuel 7, when the Lord promised David, by the prophet Nathan, an everlasting kingdom through the fruit of his own body. The Psalms echo the sure word of the Lord: “The LORD has sworn in truth to David; He will not turn from it: "I will set upon your throne the fruit of your body” (Ps. 132:11) It began with Solomon, then continued for generations and went on to eternity: “Your seed I will establish forever, And build up your throne to all generations. Selah" (Ps. 89:4) The prophetic word lived in David and he came to know the Promised One, intimately and personally (v. 30).

 The angel Gabriel gave to Daniel the year of Christ death, but David spoke of His resurrection. In verse 31, Peter reiterates verse 27. Christ’s body would not see corruption and would leave the grave behind. In 1874, Robert Lowry wrote one of the most powerful Easter hymns ever:

 The beloved King David did not resurrect and he did not ascend, but he heard the Father promise the Son, “Sit at my right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool!” (from Ps. 110:1). The Son was David’s Lord, to Whom he had submitted and Whom he had come to know intimately. He ruled his life and kingdom. Jesus asked the Pharisees, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” (Mt.22:42). In all their theological studies, they had only learned that the Messiah was the Son of David. It was true, but it was only a fleshly, physical, earthly point of view. Jesus was David’s Lord, engendered in eternity and glorified throughout eternity, as Lord of heaven and earth. Their theology needed a massive overhaul and an overwhelming truth fell upon the ears of the thousands listening to the apostle Peter.

 Peter picks up Jeremiah’s hammer to strike a second blow upon every heart… "Is not My word like a fire?" says the LORD, "And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?” (Jer. 23:29). Peter brings the burning hammer down hard: “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (v. 36). The reaction could not have been more dramatically devastating. The Scripture says “They were cut to the heart,” and it was not the only time that this happened. Down through the ages, preachers, baptized in the Holy Spirit, smashed the hearts of men with the flaming word of God. They caused a similar deep penetration into men’s hearts, although in this 21st Century, it is a rare occurrence.

 Here is the Greek definition to the English translation, cut to the heart. It means to pierce thoroughly, that is (figuratively) to agitate violently (“sting to the quick”). Is that enough to convince us that we have a weak evangelism in our time? What happened on Pentecost, was common in the days of John Wesley, George Whitefield and Charles Finney, and through many others, who loved the sinners enough to cut to the heart.

 The fact that the Jews had crucified their long-awaited Messiah, must have sounded like an irredeemable crime to the multitude… and it was, far worse than anyone could imagine. It was the greatest atrocity of the ages; only the amazing mercy of God could have offered a remedy, when they asked, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?’ It must have been a desperate, almost hopeless, cry (v.37).

 The condition to any plea for salvation is always the same on God’s part… repent! Repentance means a 180 degree about face. There is no bargaining and no reservation; it’s all or nothing. Baptism does not save, but it is an immediate step of obedience and public testimony of inward faith, that is, trust in Christ’s person and work on the cross. Then, on top of the gift of salvation, God will add the unspeakable gift of the Holy Spirit. It is unbelievable, first, that God is so willing to receive hopeless sinners, who have deeply offended Him, but then, it just as astounding to see Him pour heavenly blessing upon them (v. 38). 

God demands the sinners repentance and trust and then, He responds with a free salvation and the gift of the Holy Spirit. He adds a promise for everyone present on the day of Pentecost, for those who were left at home, and spreads the promise everywhere, to every people, at any time. It is for every reader today, we who are afar off in time and space. It is for the English and the Spanish-speaking world, in this 21st Century (v. 39), to whom God has called, through the preaching of the gospel (v.39).

Let us then look at the model outline from the first apostolic, evangelistic message: