SUPERNATURAL WONDERS IN A SPIRIT-BAPTIZED CHURCH Acts 2:41-47 The purpose of Pentecost immediately became visible for all to see. The promise of the baptism was given so that we receive power to be effective and fruitbearing witnesses of Christ. The best proof of a Holy Spirit ministry is the conversion of souls. At the beginning of Christ’s ministry, the Lord had promised, “I will make you fishers of men” and this first evangelistic event after Pentecost proved the promise fulfilled. The response of about 3000 souls who became stedfast disciples of Christ after hearing a single message preached by Spirit baptized Peter must have reminded them of Christ’s promise. The 3000 souls were genuine converts. The proof of genuine repentance and conversion was that they continued stedfastly in the teaching of Christ as expounded by the Apostles; they were all separated from the world and in fellowship with the believers. They also expressed complete, unwavering dependence on the Lord as they continued in breaking of bread, and in prayers, trusting in the Lord without any reservation or vacillation. All the Apostles, disciples and new converts became a witnessing community “and the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47). Such as were saved, truly saved; and “such as should be saved”, finally saved. The addition happened DAILY because the believers were all preaching the saving gospel, the life-changing gospel, the heart-transforming gospel DAILY. “And DAILY in the temple, and IN EVERY HOUSE, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ” (Acts 5:42). May the whole Church be committed to doing the same thing today. SUPERNATURAL CONVERSION IN AN UNSPOTTED CHURCH Acts 2:37-42; 3:19,26; Matthew 18:3; 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10; John 17:6-8, 14-16; James 1:27; John 8:31,32; Acts 11:23-26; 14:21-23; 1 Timothy 4:15,16; 2 Timothy 3:14; Hebrews 10:25,38,39. In response to the question of convicted sinners, the Apostle emphasized, “Repent”. Repentance implies sorrow for sin as committed against God, with a purpose to forsake it. The sinner sees sin to be evil and hates it. He trembles at the thought of future unending punishment and flees from the wrath to come. True repentance is the work of God in the sinner’s heart, and it leads to definite and lasting conversion (Acts 5:31). Such repentance will enable the sinner to turn and to return to the path of righteousness. The whole heart turns unto God, he forsakes sin and follows Christ wholeheartedly. Turning from all past sins, he receives forgiveness; all the sins are blotted out and washed away and a new life begins in the grace and power of God. These converts gladly and joyfully received the Word; they rejoiced in the privilege of becoming reconciled with God through Jesus Christ. They so yielded themselves to God with all readiness of mind and submitted to water baptism as commanded by Christ. Immersed in water and raised up, they identified with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. By the public observance of water baptism, they separated themselves from the world that crucified Christ and would henceforth live and keep themselves unspotted from the world. From that time on, each one knew that “the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:14).
Posted on: Fri, 07 Nov 2014 04:15:24 +0000
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