Real Talk - Stuff Just Got Real (Acts 2:40-47)

Real Talk with Roderick

Stuff Just Got Real (Acts 2:40-47)

 

Real Faith (Acts 2:40-42; Luke 9:41; 11:29)

40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

The message of Peter did not end with the words of Acts 2:38-39.  He went on at length pressing people for a decision. How did the fisher of men do this? He testified. In the many other words were declarations of what he and the other apostles had seen, had heard, and had handled with their own hands (Matthew 17:1-9; John 20:26-28; 1 John 1:1). In the many other words there were no doubt mentions of the many infallible proofs (Acts 1:3) that had served to convince the apostles that Jesus was risen from the dead with authority and power. Peter pressed the issue of salvation by clearly communicated the facts surrounding the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. In doing this he worked to convince the convicted listeners to do something.

 

How did the fisher of men press? He exhorted them. Merely making the truth known was not enough. The Spirit-led proclamation was also an impassioned call to believe and be baptized: "Be saved from this perverse generation." There was summons in his sermon. It was an in-your-face beseeching and an unapologetic characterization of the those who would not hear and heed the call to repentance. The man had become like his Master and now preached like him; Jesus had already named the people of that time Perverse Generation.

• 41 Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” (Luke 9:41, NKJV)
• 27 And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!” 28 But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” 29 And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say, “This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. 30 For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation. 31 The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. (Luke 11:27-32, NKJV)

 

As hard as it was to hear it was a message of mercy and hope. In it God was extending His hand yet one more time to the very people that had killed his Son.

 

    But there was a way of deliverance from the judgment which such faithlessness must inevitably incur. The deliverance of which Joel (Joel 2:28-32) had spoken was to be enjoyed by a remnant of the whole people; so now Peter urged his hearers to make sure, by a repentant calling on the Lord, that they belonged to this remnant and saved themselves from that perverse generation.

    Bruce, F. F. (1988). The Book of the Acts (p. 72). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

 

Those who accepted the apostolic admonition of Peter responded immediately in the obedience of believer's baptism (Acts 2:41). They knew that it was not enough to agree with Peter or attend prayer meetings.

• Intellectual ascension alone is insufficient as an appropriate response to the calling of God. Saving faith moves us to more than just accepting the facts of the gospel. Beyond the confession of my need for a Savior and the acknowledgement of the salvation that has come in Jesus Christ I must appropriate the provision of God by choosing to trust in Him.
• Inveterate attendance alone is insufficient as an appropriate response to the calling of God. Saving faith motivates a man to more than the keeping of a Christian calendar. If the rebel's response does not come with obedience he has not come at all and his confidence in Christ may be nothing more than the stuff of demons (James 2:19). The first sign of this surrendered life is seen in the act of public baptism.

 

Real Fear and Real Fellowship (Acts 2:43-45)

43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

Signs and wonders had been done by the Spirit through Jesus (Luke 4:14-19) and were now being done by the Spirit through the apostles (Acts 2:43). This is what the prophet Joel had, by the Spirit, predicted (Joel 2:30; Acts 2:19). Seeing the signs and wonders produced a reverent fear among the people.

 

    The former signs said that Jesus is both Savior  and Lord; they were the credentials of Christ. These latter signs say that the apostles are sent by Jesus and that their words should be heeded as His words; respect is due. Godly fear or reverence manifest in respect is the appropriate response when we in the presence of heaven-sent authority.

 

Luke now tells the reader that the fellowship was not characterized by cowering before the apostles and morbid fear of their decisions. He says that it was a community of caring, of sharing possessions, and bearing one another burdens.

 

    Real fellowship is seen not in merely sitting together on Sunday but also in relevant expressions of love Monday through Saturday. It is more than singing songs and saying Amen in the theatrical pauses of self-absorbed preaching. It must meet needs! 

 

Real Favor (Acts 2:46-47) 

46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Do not miss the fact that daily life for the new church involved unity in the fellowship (with one accord), the regular practice of communion (breaking bread from house to house), and worship (praising God). Their unity, solemn meal, and regular worship were enough to make people notice. In fact, though some would not join their growing number, they recognized their fellowship as being good and looked upon it with favor.