“For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:39)
In today’s reading from Acts 2, we see what happened at the conclusion of Peter’s sermon in which he included prophecies from Joel 2, and quoting Psalm 16 and 110, convincing all those who were gathered that Jesus is both Lord and Christ. Like every sermon that is preached, Peter called the audience to respond. The people were moved by his words and they wanted to know how to respond.
As Peter explained to them that they needed to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins, and then they would receive the Holy Spirit. Then, in verse 39, Peter gave the people hope that exists and extends even to us, some 2000 years later. The people in the audience just witnessed the Holy Spirit coming down on the day of Pentecost. It was something that they had never experienced before. Now, Peter was saying that by repenting and turning to Jesus, they would also receive the Holy Spirit. And to add to this, the Holy Spirit would be available for their descendants, those who were far off, even to this present time.
What should our response be? Our response to God should be gratefulness for calling us to Jesus. Our hope in Christ is secure because of Christ taking our place on the cross, dying for our sins, and then raising Himself from the grave three days later. When we know and live in this hope in Christ every day, we will never doubt or be unsure of what will happen to us when we die. When we live in this hope in Christ, it will free us, it will change us, and it will give us boldness to share Christ abundantly with our family and friends. It will cause us to pray and plead with God to bring more people to Jesus. We know that God is still in the business of drawing people to Himself. Let’s be used by God to help many more in our community and in our world to find hope, grace, and love in Jesus.