PLAN OF SALVATION – 2 (Acts 2)

In Lesson 1 we presented Jesus’ commands with regard to the plan of salvation.  We want to build on these commands by seeing how they were implemented throughout the book of Acts.  Please read the passages and perhaps the entire first two chapters of Acts before we get started.  You will find that it is very exciting reading.  I am sure that you already have read most of it.

The first conversions that take place are in Acts 2.  As you recall, Acts is a history that picks up where Luke leaves off (same author).  Acts 1 records a final meeting of Jesus with his apostles after which he ascends into heaven.  There is a reference to the Holy Spirit baptism to take place shortly (1:5), and Jesus commands them to stay in Jerusalem (1:4) until this happens.

The rest of Chapter 1 is on the replacement of Judas.

Acts 2 is the first recorded gospel sermon after the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.  There is clearly a spontaneous outpouring of the Holy Spirit (2:17 – as prophesied by Joel), clearly manifested by something that looked like fire (but was not) and sounded like wind (but was not).  The baptism in the Holy Spirit also caused the apostles to speak in languages that they had never learned.  (Note that these were existent languages could be clearly be understood by those who spoke them).

Peter preached an elegant sermon establishing that Jesus through his resurrection had fulfilled the prophesy of David, and that Jesus had taken his throne (2:30-31).  All of this convinced those Jews, some of whom had cried for the crucifixion of Jesus, that Jesus was the Christ, the very Son of God (2:36).

Acts 2:37 says: “Now when they heard [this], they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men [and] brethren, what shall we do?  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, [even] as many as the Lord our God shall call.  And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added [unto them] about three thousand souls.”

Please note that these people were asking the same question as we are asking: what is God’s plan of salvation? what must I do to be saved?  God is no respecter of persons – he does not require different things from different people.  We will see the commonality of the answer to this question as we go through the book of Acts.  And, we will see that all of those who were saved obeyed the commands of Jesus and met the conditions that he gave and that we have reviewed in Lesson 1.

Let’s go over these commands once again and notice that the 3000 converts in Acts 2 all heard the truth preached, they believed, and they were commanded to repent and be baptized.  “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized."

Also, prior to this we have no record of the church – just disciples gathering together.  But now it is much more formal ... Acts 2:42-47: “And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  And everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.  And all those who had believed were together, and had all things in common; and they {began} selling their property and possessions, and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.  And day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to the church day by day those who were being saved.

In Lesson 3 we will take up the next detailed cases of conversion, which occur in Acts 8.  Please e-mail us if you have any questions: dbrown@cs.ua.edu