The prerequisite for the gospel is conviction of sins leading to a transformed life. No change is no transformation. Worldly goodness and drifting with the crowd, whether in a religious organization or secular movement, makes one blind to the unbridgable chasm between God’s Holiness and man self-righteousness.
There is only one way to God though there are many ways that promise “Heaven”. Jesus spoke plainly about the “Narrow Gate” versus the “Wide Path” that leads to destruction, though it too is marked with a sign post that says heaven. The broad path is full of counterfeit ways, lies masquerading as truth, yet there can only be one truth. Therefore, why Jesus Christ?
In the following passage, the Apostle Peter spoke not only to an audience of sinners, but sinners who had been eye-witness to the person of Jesus Christ. They took part in His suffering and death, doing nothing to prevent not only the injustice to an innocent man, but the Son of God Himself, despite all that He had done and proclaimed.
Then the Resurrection. Through Jesus’s victory over death is everyone offered a path of grace to the true path to salvation.
ACTS 2
Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost
14 But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. 15 For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is the third hour of the day; 16 but this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says,
‘That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind;
And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
And your young men shall see visions,
And your old men shall dream dreams;
18 Even on My male slaves and female slaves,
I will in those days pour out My Spirit
And they shall prophesy.
19 And I will put wonders in the sky above
And signs on the earth below,
Blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned into darkness
And the moon into blood,
Before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.
21 And it will be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
22 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with [r]miracles and wonders and signs which God did through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— 23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of lawless men and put Him to death. 24 But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. 25 For David says of Him,
‘I saw the Lord continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, so that I will not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue exulted;
Moreover my flesh also will live in hope;
27 Because You will not forsake my soul to Hades,
Nor give Your Holy One over to see corruption.
28 You have made known to me the ways of life;
You will make me full of gladness with Your presence.’
29 “Men, brothers, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 And so, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to set one of the fruit of his body on his throne, 31 he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither forsaken to Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured out this which you both see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says:
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
35 Until I put Your enemies as a footstool for Your feet.”’
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”
2 And when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them tongues like fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
5 Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 So they were astounded and marveling, saying, “Behold, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we each hear them in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the district of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and ]proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.” 12 And they all continued in astonishment and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others, mocking, were saying, “They are full of new wine.”
37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men, brothers, what should we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” 40 And with many other words he solemnly bore witness and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this crooked generation!” 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.42 And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were dividing them up with all, as anyone might have need.46 And daily devoting themselves with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number daily those who were being saved. – ACTS 2
My key takeaways, this time around
You can read a passage over and over and get a message that speaks to you in your current circumstances.
At first I wanted to draw from the passage the verses I have in bold type. But the glory in God’s word is better when the whole passage is used. Furthermore, it’s a testament to how God’s glory shone through the Apostle Peter who not long before was shamed by his cowardice the night the before the Lord crucifixion. Not only Peter stood before the crowds, but all the disciples, who had fled into hiding, fearing for their lives, after Jesus’ execution.
God works through the weakness or people who are surrendered to His will. God is a God of second chances for those who are genuinely saved by faith in Christ.
Convicted by the overwhelming supernatural evidence of the power of God through the glory of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, thousands of people, mainly Jews who were knowledgable of the Scriptures and the Prophets, surrendered their lives to the God of Grace. Each person’s sin and guilt transformed into Salvation and a willingness to turn away from a life dominated by worldly lies to become a beacon of truth and a disciple of the Way of Lord Jesus Christ.
How does God through Peter’s powerful and convicting sermon speak to you?
For a one minute explanation of the Gospel from the late Pastor John MacArthur, watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCP9UcC7BzE
For a review of the Ten Commandments: https://www.challenyee.com/the-ten-commandments/
All quoted excerpts have footnotes removed, usually from Legacy Standard Bible (LSB), sometimes from New International Version (NIV), on rare occasion the Amplified Bible (AMP).
Copyright © 2026 ChallenYee.com Some Rights Reserved
May 26,2024