The Close
Acts Chapter 2
The sermon in Acts chapter 2 is one of the best sermons in the entire Bible. It is full of Old Testament scriptures to help the audience recognize the plan of God. That plan is being fulfilled in Christ.
The Holy Spirit and Salvation is available to all who appeal to the name of God. God’s identity is defined by grace, mercy, love, forgiveness, and patience (Exodus 34). Only in God can salvation be found. It is important to understand how Peter is using Joel 2.
First, is that the signs and wonders are evidence of the Spirit’s outpouring. This is how signs and wonders function, they validate the word. Well, Jesus’ resurrection was validation that He was the Holy One of God. Psalm 16 not only proves this point, but also, conveniently brings David into the discussion. David is dead and buried. David was not significant because He was David, He was significant because He would produce the Christ. David was aware of this. Therefore, Jesus’ resurrection is evidence that this is the one of whom David spoke.
Second, the Spirit’s outpouring is evidence that Jesus is now seated on the throne. Psalm 110 is evidence that David knew that he was not the one to ascend into the heavens to be king. The Lord would do this. Therefore, God made Christ, not David, Lord.
Third, since Christ is Lord, whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. He is Christ because He is descended from David, and Lord because He is seated on the throne. The people rejected Jesus, but God has exalted Him.
Peter now “closes” the sale, by issuing our appropriate response. In other words, how does one call on the name of the Lord from Joel 2? The answer is, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Repent because Jesus is the Christ on the throne and sin doesn’t belong in His kingdom. This is heart change. In God’s identity, forgiveness is found. Baptism is in the name of Jesus Christ because He is the Lord, the identity of God. Thus, baptism is in His name because it is here that we appeal to His name. Once you are forgiven, God takes up residence in your life. You now have a new Spirit, a new heart, and a new life (Ezekiel 36:26-27; 37:12-14).
