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Imagine yourself waiting; for hero that has been prophesied about your nations deliverance to appear for centuries.
I think today it is like a political party appearing out of nowhere to swoop us the elections and everybody wants to vote for them. After the party has won the election, everything started coming right and you can say you live in the best country in the world!
We would all say; dream on man!!!
Think back on the Jewish nation in 33 AD. They were oppressed by the Romans, who they had to pay taxes to. That money will not benefit their country, but by an oppressor of nations sitting in another small country.
It is like America being invaded by Russia with a total different culture, political system and enforced rules that nobody likes. They have a serious police force and army that crushes any revolts and publicly excecute revolutionaries.
That must have been intense in Jesus’ time!!! I would also look forward to the hero that would come, but God has a diffrent hero in mind for His people.
Let’s have a look.
36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off — for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved – Acts 2:36-47
This was the formation of the worldwide new band of brothers.
But how did they become Christians / Disciples?
1. They were cut to the heart realizing that they personally have contributed to Jeses’ grusome death by their sin that they committed.
2. They repented of their sin. They had a change of heart to trust God and His will for their lives to live selfless; helping other people to restore their relationship with God.
3. They got baptized for the forgiveness of their sin. Not as a sign that they were already saved by accepting Jesus into their hearts. This is where God wiped all their sin and pardoned them to go to heaven.
4. They received the indwelling Holy Spirit! The Spirit that draw us closer to God, wanting us to have communion with Him. This is where the new life in Christ starts. Amazing, a piece of God living in us!
This promise was for everybody: to repent and get baptized for the forgiveness of your sin then reveiving the Holy Spirit!
Peter even warned and pleaded with them, to “Get Saved”. Clearer I think he could not put it, and those who accepted God’s message through Peter got baptized and added to God’s family.
Did you become part of God’s family in this way?
Prayer for Today:
Lord wow! The first 3000 christians! What I would give to have been part of that! They also had their challenges Lord but they trusted You. Help me to follow your plan and not my cheap knockoff. God you had your plan and if I follow your plan I will be saved for eternity to spend time with you. Help me to have faith in your plan because I know the parg to destruction is wide and those who follow it are many. But the narrow road is for your people with the strong characters that wants to make a difference in the world for eternity! Amen.
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