Our reading today is an account of the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, upon the disciples and those believers who prayerfully waited for it. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke in different languages declaring the wonderful work of God. As the people who witnessed it were trying to make sense of all that was happening, Peter stood up and boldly proclaimed the gospel to all gathered there. He put things in perspective- the events which led up to the present and gave a call to repent and believe in Christ Jesus: “…Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (vs.38)

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Our key verse speaks of Christ’s resurrection, one of the basic tenets of the Christian faith. God gave Him over to death as a substitute for sinful man who deserved to die (“For the wages of sin is death…” Rom.6:23). Jesus who had no sin became the Lamb of God on whom God put the sin of all mankind. He took our sin on Himself on the cross and the blood He shed paid the price for our sin (“…without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Heb.9:22). He was crucified, died and buried but God raised Him up on the third day thus proving all He spoke. Hebrews 2: 14 says, “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—” and as it was his purpose to gain this victory, he could not be defeated in it by being confined to the grave.

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Jesus was the “Prince of life”(Acts 3:15) he had life in himself (John 1:4; John 5:26) he had power to lay down his life and to take it again (John 10:18) but it was indispensable that he should rise. After He rose again, He ascended to heaven where He is seated at the right hand of God and He will come again to judge the world—“For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17:31)

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If a person believes and repents his sin and confesses his sin he is saved from the power of sin by the grace of God. Romans 10:9,10 says, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Our new life in Christ is no more under condemnation. The righteous requirement of God having been met in our life through Christ, we are no longer under the sway of the sinful nature.  But by yielding to the directing and empowering ministry of the Holy Spirit which is obedience out of love for God, we are able to live victoriously. “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor.15:57)

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Let Us Pray: “Almighty God our Father thank You for loving us first; may we live for You and serve You by the power of the Holy Spirit because we love You. In Jesus Christ's name we pray, Amen”