Acts 2 is commonly mistaken as the beginning of the Church, the Body of Christ, and the first preaching of the gospel of grace. However, the message Peter preaches at Pentecost is not the gospel that saves today ( 1 Cor. 15:1-4), but rather a prophetic, kingdom-focused indictment against the nation of Israel for rejecting and crucifying their Messiah.
Peter addresses "ye men of Israel" ( Acts 2:22) and later, "all the house of Israel" ( Acts 2:36). His sermon is national in scope, not personal. He declares that Jesus was approved of God through miracles and wonders, yet Israel crucified Him. He says, "Ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain" (v. 23), placing direct responsibility on the nation. Peter does not present Christ's death as a substitutionary atonement for sins, but as a crime committed against God's chosen One.
Peter appeals to prophecy, quoting Joel and David, showing that what they were witnessing (the Spirit poured out) was foretold and proves Jesus is the Christ. He emphasizes Jesus' resurrection as proof that He is the promised King to sit on David's throne ( Acts 2:30). This is the gospel of the kingdom, not the revelation of the mystery gospel given to Paul.
When the crowd is pricked in their hearts, Peter tells them to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins ( Acts 2:38). This is a continuation of John the Baptist's and Jesus' kingdom message to Israel. Water baptism here is a required act of obedience and identification with the Messiah-not a symbol of salvation already received by grace through faith. There is no mention of the cross as good news, nor of salvation by grace alone through faith alone.
Therefore, Acts 2 is not the beginning of the Body of Christ or the message of grace. It is a call to Israel to repent for crucifying their King. The gospel of grace, the message of Christ dying for our sins and offering salvation apart from works, was later revealed to the Apostle Paul ( Gal. 1:11-12; Eph. 3:1-9).
' is not the gospel that saves today' yiu say then how was it 3000 souls were saved?
The gospel is life to them that believe but death to them that do not.To the Jews first then the gentiles .
The same messengers that brought light and 'salvation' to Lot also brought blindness and destruction to the city.
The same message that Moses brought to the children of Isreal brought destruction and judgement upon Egypt and Pharoah .
The Lord Himself was spoken of as one who would be " the rising and falling if many" So it was then so it is now .
We stand between the living and the dead when we go out to preach the gospel .
I fear however the gospel has been so watered down if it was poison it wouod not kill anyone and if it was medicine it would not heal anyone . For what is often preached as grace is a disgrace .
God is a Holy God indeed, thrice holy . And we are to be reconciled to a Holy God and thus be also holy .
The gospel is a sword that will divide those who reject it from those who embrace it with thankful hearts .
The cross which seems so rarely preached is a place of death to sin as much as it is a place of life to all who believe .
" As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness so must thecSon of Man be lifted up ( on the cross) and if I be lifted up I will draw all men unto Me" in that He said " ALL " none then are omitted all are included .
The message preached by Peter was to them ALL and had the potential to save ALL.
Those being convicted and responding got saved .
God so loved the world who then is excluded? But who is the promise given to?
The world is in the mess it is in because Nan did not believe God and disobeyed God .
God has not changed .He is the same yesterday today and forever .
Those who are saved are those who believe God " shall not perish" and " obey the gospel" .
And Mankind ( not humans) still shall not LIVE by bread alone but by the Word of God that proceeds from the Father .
Peter addresses "ye men of Israel" ( Acts 2:22) and later, "all the house of Israel" ( Acts 2:36). His sermon is national in scope, not personal. He declares that Jesus was approved of God through miracles and wonders, yet Israel crucified Him. He says, "Ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain" (v. 23), placing direct responsibility on the nation. Peter does not present Christ's death as a substitutionary atonement for sins, but as a crime committed against God's chosen One.
Peter appeals to prophecy, quoting Joel and David, showing that what they were witnessing (the Spirit poured out) was foretold and proves Jesus is the Christ. He emphasizes Jesus' resurrection as proof that He is the promised King to sit on David's throne ( Acts 2:30). This is the gospel of the kingdom, not the revelation of the mystery gospel given to Paul.
When the crowd is pricked in their hearts, Peter tells them to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins ( Acts 2:38). This is a continuation of John the Baptist's and Jesus' kingdom message to Israel. Water baptism here is a required act of obedience and identification with the Messiah-not a symbol of salvation already received by grace through faith. There is no mention of the cross as good news, nor of salvation by grace alone through faith alone.
Therefore, Acts 2 is not the beginning of the Body of Christ or the message of grace. It is a call to Israel to repent for crucifying their King. The gospel of grace, the message of Christ dying for our sins and offering salvation apart from works, was later revealed to the Apostle Paul ( Gal. 1:11-12; Eph. 3:1-9).
The gospel is life to them that believe but death to them that do not.To the Jews first then the gentiles .
The same messengers that brought light and 'salvation' to Lot also brought blindness and destruction to the city.
The same message that Moses brought to the children of Isreal brought destruction and judgement upon Egypt and Pharoah .
The Lord Himself was spoken of as one who would be " the rising and falling if many" So it was then so it is now .
We stand between the living and the dead when we go out to preach the gospel .
I fear however the gospel has been so watered down if it was poison it wouod not kill anyone and if it was medicine it would not heal anyone . For what is often preached as grace is a disgrace .
God is a Holy God indeed, thrice holy . And we are to be reconciled to a Holy God and thus be also holy .
The gospel is a sword that will divide those who reject it from those who embrace it with thankful hearts .
The cross which seems so rarely preached is a place of death to sin as much as it is a place of life to all who believe .
" As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness so must thecSon of Man be lifted up ( on the cross) and if I be lifted up I will draw all men unto Me" in that He said " ALL " none then are omitted all are included .
The message preached by Peter was to them ALL and had the potential to save ALL.
Those being convicted and responding got saved .
God so loved the world who then is excluded? But who is the promise given to?
The world is in the mess it is in because Nan did not believe God and disobeyed God .
God has not changed .He is the same yesterday today and forever .
Those who are saved are those who believe God " shall not perish" and " obey the gospel" .
And Mankind ( not humans) still shall not LIVE by bread alone but by the Word of God that proceeds from the Father .
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