On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit fell on the disciples, causing them to speak in other tongues. This caused some people to state that the disciples were drunk. How alcohol can cause someone to instaneously speak in another language is beyond me, but people will come up with any excuse to deny God. Peter stands up (along with the other apostles) and gives a fantastic sermon. Let's have a look at what he has to say:
1) This fulfills prophecy - Joel 2:28-32. This is the beginning of the prophecy, the first stage. The remainder of the prophecy will be fulfilled at the Second Coming.
2) Jesus is accredited by His words, His works, & prophecy. King David himself prophesied about the coming Messiah in Psalm 16:8-11
Notice that Peter's sermon opened some eyes & softened some hearts, but it was the people who had to make the choice to repent & be baptized. Peter spoke the truth, whether the people heard or not was up to them. Those that heard, those that believed & accepted, repented, were baptized, & received the Holy Spirit.
What does it mean to repent? My concordance states, "to change one's mind or disposition toward God. More specifically, to repent is to undergo a moral reorientation of the soul in which one acknowledges the error of his ways and turns toward the divinely prescribed way of truth and righteousness." It means not only giving up your way to follow God's way, but acknowledging that your way is flawed and God's way is perfect and true. Repentance is between the individual & God. It doesn't involve anyone else.
What does it mean to be baptized? Baptism is an external acknowledgement of the decision to follow God. It is a testimony to others that you believe that God is the truth and the way.
What is the gift of the Holy Spirit? In the Old Testament, the presence of God dwelled in the Most Holy of Holies, a sectioned-off portion of the temple. No one entered, except for once a year. However, when Jesus died on the cross, the separation between the presence of God and man was torn asunder. There is no longer a separation. When we believe, God dwells directly in our heart. This is the Holy Spirit, our teacher, guide, mentor.
So, what does it mean to be a believer? It means you know that you can't live this life successfully on your own. It means that you trust God, you follow His Word, you live the life He has for you. It means you tell others about your choice to follow God.
3,000 people listened to God on the day of Pentecost. They recognized their need. Have you recognized yours?
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