'The Lord Added to the Church'

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 Ghost. 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. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, from...: Or, at home Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. - Acts 2:37-47

    As we noted earlier, Peter's sermon was exceedingly simple. There were no illustrations, no stirring stories, no marvellous points of logic, no soaring heights of oratory. The apostle simply declared the truth of God, boldly exposing the sin of his hearers and explaining the meaning of Christ's death and resurrection. But every word he spoke was carried to the hearts of chosen sinners by the effectual power and grace of God the Holy Spirit. When the day was over three thousand men and women had been converted by the power of God, saved and added to the church. Here two lessons are clearly taught and illustrated that every preacher, teacher, church leader and church member should learn and lay to heart.

    1. Salvation is the work of God alone (2:37-41)

    When Peter had finished preaching, those whose hearts had been pricked by the Word of God cried, 'What shall we do?' Like all men, once they were awakened to a sense of their sin and of God's just wrath against them, these men hoped to do something by which they could be saved. We are all legalists by nature! These men wanted to know what they could do to atone for their sins, to set things right with God, to appease his wrath and win his favour. 'What shall we do?' What a foolish question! Salvation does not come by something man does. Salvation is the result of what God does (Rom. 3:28; 11:6; Eph. 2:8-9; 2 Tim. 1:9; Titus 3:5). Inverses 37-41 the Holy Spirit gives us a beautiful, clear picture of God's method of grace.

    When God intends to save a sinner, he causes that sinner to hear the gospel preached in the power of the Holy Spirit (2:37). 'When they heard this,' the gospel of God's sovereign purpose of grace in the redemptive work of Christ (2:23) and the exaltation and glory of Christ as Lord (2:32-36), 'they were pricked in their heart.' God saves sinners through the preaching of the gospel (Rom. 10:13-17; 1Cor.1:21; James 1:18; 1Peter 1:23-25). In his wise and sovereign providence God brings the sinner to whom he will be gracious under the sound of a gospel preacher's voice. As he brought Philip to the Ethiopian eunuch, brought Peter to Cornelius, brought Paul to Lydia, the Philippian jailor and 'the barbarous people' of Malta, and brought Onesimus to Paul, so God always finds a way to bring chosen sinners under the sound of the gospel. Blessed indeed are those men and women to whom God sends his messengers of grace (Jer. 3:15; Eph. 4:8-16).

    When God has purposed to save a sinner, he sends his Spirit into that sinner' s heart and produces in him a real, heart conviction of sin (2:37). 'They were pricked in their heart.' Holy Spirit conviction is a painful, but necessary work of grace. Without it no sinner can be saved (John 16:7-8). He strips that he may clothe, empties that he may fill, wounds that he may heal and kills that he may make alive. Conviction of sin, righteousness and judgement is the work of God the Holy Spirit upon the heart, by which our pride and self righteousness are made to wither (Isa. 6:1-8). It arises from the revelation of Christ's substitutionary sacrifice (Zech. 12:10). It acknowledges the justice of God in punishing sin. And true Holy Spirit conviction always results in repentance and faith in Christ (John 6:44-45).

    When God comes to a sinner in saving grace he commands the sinner to repent (2:38). Peter, speaking by the Spirit, gave a command from God. They must obey or perish (Matt. 10:11-15,40). Repentance is more than sorrow for sin. It is a change, a change of mind, a change of motives, a change of masters! It is a change of heart and a change of life that is continual.

    The word 'for' in verse 38 has caused much confusion. It would be better translated 'because of'. Baptism is not the cause of, or the means of, the remission of sins. Baptism is a symbolic confession of faith in the sacrificial death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Being immersed in the watery grave, the believer professes his faith in the substitutionary work of Christ by which his sins have been purged away. Coming up out of the grave, he professes his allegiance to Christ, to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4-6). 'The gift of the Holy Ghost' here promised to those who obey God's command in the gospel is everlasting salvation in Christ.

    When God comes to sinners in saving grace, he calls them by the irresistible grace and power of his Spirit (2:39). The promise of God is, 'Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved' (Rom. 10:13). It is given to 'as many as the Lord our God shall call'. Not all men are called. God sends the gospel to some and hides it from others (Matt. 11:20-26). There is a general call issued to all who hear the gospel, which all who hear are responsible to obey (Prov. 1:25-33; Rom. 10:18-21). But there is an effectual, irresistible call by God the Holy Spirit which is given to God's elect alone and graciously causes them to come to Christ (1 Thess. 1:4-5; Ps. 65:4). 'He calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out' (John 10:3).

    When God comes to sinners in saving power he causes them to obey his voice in the gospel (2:40-41). These people, whose hands were yet dripping with the blood of Christ, were now made willing in the day of his power to trust him and surrender to him as their Lord and Saviour (Ps. 110:3). Grace made them willing!

    2. The building of the church is the work of God alone (2:41-47)

    The church of God cannot be built by human ingenuity. It is built by the power of God alone through the preaching of the gospel of Christ. Every effort of men to build the church, other than the preaching of the gospel, is wood, hay and stubble. God will never honour it (1 Cor. 3:11-15). 'The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved,' and he still does!

    In these last verses of chapter 2 Luke gives us an example of what every local church should be. It is a blessed fellowship of believers in Christ, a fellowship created and maintained by the Spirit of God (Eph. 2: 19-22).

    1. It is a doctrinal fellowship. 'They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine.' All true Christian fellow ship is built upon the doctrines of the gospel of Christ.

    2. It is a fraternal fellowship. Believers are men and women united in Christ. They truly have 'all things common'. Each uses what he has for the good of all. They are of 'one accord', built up in love, with 'singleness of heart', seeking the glory of God.

    3. It is a spiritual fellowship of worship. When the local church is what it ought to be the people gladly receive the Word of God, obey the ordinances of Christ and assemble together with one accord in the worship of God.