Purified by the Truth

Acts 2:14, 36-41; I Peter 1:17-23

Our Acts passage is a continuation of last weeks where Peter preached the good news of Jesus being the Messiah, crucified for our sins, and raised to life again. The third part of his sermon here focuses on the resurrection and its implications. Peter tells about God’s purpose in the crucifixion of the perfect Jesus for our sins- the only sacrifice needed now. He contrasts God’s loving action with those who crucified Jesus.

The Jewish listeners response was they were cut to the heart. This phrase in the Greek means to be severely pierced, stung, or severely troubled in spirit. These listeners recognized their guilt in crucifying Jesus and asked, “What can we do?” To this Peter tells them to repent and be baptized so that their sins can be forgiven. He verifies that this promise is for all their children and even those who are far away. The result of this piercing sermon is that 3,000 people are baptized and saved.

Peter speaks to us again in I Peter telling us that they have been ransomed with the precious blood of Christ. In this way they have been purified by their obedience to the truth. They have been born anew – not of perishable seed of their Jewish ancestors but of the imperishable seed through the living and enduring word of God.

Jesus’ death was a liberating ransom which sets us free to obey. The power of God’s word that gives us new life, cleanses us internally so we can have a genuine mutual love which is loving one deeply from the heart.

This power of God’s word when spoken in Acts by Peter brought 3,000 people to salvation. This truth cut through the hearts of these people. We have been purified by this truth.

As we study God’s word let our souls be purified and become more mature reflecting more closely the image of God seen in the life of Christ and God’s word in which we come to trust and hope in God’s plan which has forgiven our sins, relieved our guilt, and empowers us to live. Amen.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

God’s Love Poured into our Hearts

  John 16:12-15, Romans 5:1-5 In John 16 Jesus tells his disciples about the Holy Spirit who is to come. The Spirit is referred here as the Spirit of Truth since it will guide them into all truth. The Spirit will glorify Jesus since it will take what Jesus is and declare it to them. Where did Jesus get this truth? He got it from the Father. So, in a roundabout way Jesus receives it from the Father, the Holy Spirit receives it from Jesus, and we receive it from the Holy Spirit. Romans 5 goes on to tell us another wonderous thing the Holy Spirit does. The Spirit will pour God’s love into our hearts. It tells us also what we have received through Christ. We have peace with God due to Christ’s work on the cross and our faith which has justified us. We have also obtained access to grace. This is what Paul stood firm in so he could boast in his afflictions. He has been guided into this truth by the Holy Spirit. He basically reframes the sufferings he is enduring by telling of the b...
Read more

Disquieted Souls

  I Kings 19:1-15, Psalm 42 Elijah has had his life threatened, so he runs for his life. He feels like a failure as a prophet. The Israelites have forsaken God’s covenant, thrown down the altars, and has killed God’s prophets. This failure is felt so deep that he asks the Lord to take his life. The Lord’s answer? God sends an angel to feed the fatigued Elijah. Talk about super food! After he eats and rests two times he has enough energy to last a forty-day journey to Horeb where he comes to a cave to rest. It is then the word of the Lord comes to him asking him, “What are you doing here?” To which Elijah voices his complaint, basically: “I’m the only faithful one left and they are seeking my life.” In response God tells him to stand on the mountain before the Lord since God will pass by. Then comes the wonderful passage of where Elijah finds God. It is not in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire, but in the sheer silence. In this silence God directs him to return to the wild...
Read more

Healing of Flesh and Heart

II Kings 5:1-14, Psalm 30 The great man and commander of Aram’s army, Naaman, could conquer anything except his skin disease. When he hears from a young girl captive that the prophet in Israel could heal him he sends money to the king of Israel with the message that he might cure him. But alas the king tears his clothes knowing he can’t do it, scared this might cause a quarrel between the countries. But when Elisha hears of this he sends a message to the king saying, “Let him come to me so that he can learn there is a prophet in Israel.” So, he goes to him with great fanfare – horses and chariots but Elisha doesn’t bother to greet him but sends a messenger with directions of what he must do to be healed. Naaman becomes angry at Elisha for not greeting him and performing what he was expecting. Instead, he gives strange but simple instructions. Naaman goes away in a rage but the servants again come to his rescue. If he was asked to do something difficult wouldn’t he have done it, how...
Read more