3rd Sunday of Easter
Scripture: Acts
2:14a, 36–41
While we are still celebrating Easter, this reading is part
of Peter’s sermon on Pentecost. The Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles in a
special way that day, and they were enabled to speak so that they were
understood in different languages. They used that gift to proclaim Jesus as the
crucified and risen Lord. This reading is the conclusion of the message in
which Peter convicts his hearers of crucifying Jesus, the promised
Christ/Messiah. The people responded by asking what they should do. Peter tells
them to repent and be baptized. This reading shows us that the early church proclaimed
the risen Jesus as the Savior. They also fulfilled Jesus’ commission as his
witnesses by baptizing and teaching, just as we are called to do today.
Teaching
Salvation is the heart of the matter in God’s Word. While
some think that the idea of needing God to save us is ridiculous, Peter and the
Apostles present it as no laughing matter. They told the people to repent and
exhorted them to save themselves from this crooked generation. Sin is no joking
matter, and our guilt must be dealt with. The means of our salvation is God’s
promise of forgiveness for Jesus’ sake which is delivered to us by the Holy
Spirit in Baptism.
The Holy Spirit’s work is to create and sustain faith in us.
He does that work through the proclamation of Jesus the crucified and risen
Lord, and by delivering Jesus’ salvation through the Word and Sacraments. In
essence he takes the forgiveness and salvation Jesus won and gives it to us. We
receive those gifts through faith, which is also a gift of the Holy Spirit. Our
faith receives the salvation and forgiveness Jesus won by his death and
resurrection.
Life
The call to repent and be baptized is just as relevant to us
today as it was to Peter’s hearers then. To repent is to turn away from sin. It
is to change the way we think and act in response to the forgiveness of sins we
have received from Jesus.[1]
Repentance does not cause God to forgive us, he does that freely out of his
mercy and grace. Instead repentance is an act of faith and gratitude responding
to the incredible forgiveness Jesus gave us. Try to think of it that way as you
seek to repent of your sins.
The second part, be baptized, applies as well. If you have
not been baptized, and you believe in Jesus, you should get baptized. Talk to
your pastor and he will be glad to help you.[2]
If you have been baptized – even as an infant years ago – the saying still
stands. Be baptized. This does not mean be re-baptized, but live in the gifts
the Spirit gives in baptism. Be forgiven. Be alive in Christ. Be faithful. Be
God’s child. Because you are all these things through baptism.
Prayer
Father, you call us to repent and be baptized, and you give
your Holy Spirit to create and sustain faith in people. Thank you for the
testimony of the Apostles who preached that Jesus was crucified and raised, and
that he is the promised Savior. Please forgive us for our sins, and fill us
with your Spirit so we may rightly repent and be your baptized children. Amen.
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