Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Acts 2:36-39

King James Version (KJV)

36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Imagine with me, if you will, that you were there on the very first "Pentecost Sunday." You were a part of the crowds gathered in Jerusalem on the "feast of first fruits." A time set aside to celebrate God's provision for the needs of his people.

You've been raised following the law of Moses. All your life, you've been told that a deliverer, a messiah, was coming to deliver the people of God from their burdens. At some point during the day we call "Pentecost," called that because it was 50 days after the crucifixion of Jesus. (Penta means 50) 

Suddenly, in the midst of the religious celebrations, something had begun to happen. A disturbance. Something very strange is happening. Everyone is talking about it. When you and your friends hear about it, you all decide to rush over and see what is happening.

The first thing you see is a group of people spilling out of a building. At first look, they are staggering around. They seem to be drunk. Someone in the crowd actually accuses them of being just that. 

These strange people are speaking in foreign languages that only some in the crowd understand, but every language present in the crowd is somehow covered. You wonder how these obviously uneducated and low income people ever learned these languages. They certainly couldn't have afforded the schooling. 

Suddenly, one of the "drunks" stands and speaks loudly- almost unearthly. Somehow, it's loud enough for the thousands that are gathered nearby to hear (a feat that is difficult when you consider that they didn't exactly have amplifiers in those days.) He begins to explain that they are definitely not drunk. Rather, he explains, that what you see going on is a fulfillment of what the prophet Joel says: 

17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come:

21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

"Wait," you say, "this was prophesied by Joel all those centuries ago?"

He goes on to explain that the Messiah and deliverer that you have pined for and longed for all of your life, is a man named Jesus, from a little town called Nazareth. That this man lived a perfect and blameless life. He performed miracles and spoke the words of God. Then, in the ultimate act of love, he allowed himself to be crucified (at the behest of many in the crowd that day). 

Finally, he points out that Jesus is (by decree of God almighty) "both Lord (supreme controller) and Christ (Messiah/deliverer)."

There is a stunned silence that overtakes the crowd, you can see the look of realization of the faces of the gathered throngs. You can almost see them thinking: "All my life I've longed for my deliverer, and when he comes, I shouted for him to be crucified?"

A look of horror crosses all of their faces. Then, a look of desperation as they thought, "I am guilty of the murder of the Messiah! God will have vengeance on me! How can I ever make this right with God? What can I do?"

Finally, the pressure builds and then one by one, more and more begin to ask the same question out loud. And since these strange people seem to know what's going on, they begin to ask them: "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"

You yourself start to wonder and ask the same question. You were consenting of the death of Jesus. You even mocked and said, "He saved others, lets see him save himself." Some of your friends said that if he were to come down off the cross, then they would follow him.

Scriptures you haven't considered in relation to the Messiah, but that you've heard from your youth begin to go through your mind: 

Isaiah 53:4-6

King James Version (KJV)

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

"Oh, my Lord," you think in fear. You remember how you felt about him. How you disdained him. How you said God was against him and this Crucifixion was God's just punishment for this false prophet. 

Yet, he was beaten and wounded, just like the prophet said. You saw him beaten with the cat of nine tails- the many stripes he bore. You even saw him lain on a cross and his hands and feet were pierced...

Oh no. Another scripture said: Zechariah 13:6
And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.

The feeling in the air becomes more oppressive, as if God himself is dealing with you. You think, "Am I guilty of the blood of the Messiah?"

But, he even cried out on the cross, why would the Messiah do that? Then it hits you: Didn't the Psalms use the exact same words that Jesus did? "Psalm 22:1

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?..."

It hits you then, your Messiah did come. And, just as Isaiah prophesied, you are a sheep gone astray. Suddenly your voice joins the voices of others: "What shall we do," you ask aloud- desperate to have this great sin (Indeed, ALL your sins) somehow washed away.

Then, the man who had been speaking answers you all: 

Acts 2:38-39

King James Version (KJV)

"38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."

Finally, a way out! You don't have to carry your sins with you. Your blood guilt can be washed away. You bow your knees and begin to pray in sincere repentance. You then join the multitudes that are being baptized in the very name of the one you had wanted crucified just 50 days ago. When you come up out of those baptismal waters, you find yourself speaking in a language you don't know- just like the crowd you had watched before. Now, however, you're not watching them- you are one of them.

Now, back to our day.

You see, my friend, that the response to the crowds cry on the birthday of the church was simple. When asked how to rid themselves of their sin, they were told- by the Apostles- 3 things: 1) Repent 2) be baptized in Jesus name 3) receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

There was no "repeat the sinners prayer." There was no "just believe." There was no, "shake the preachers hand and join the church." In answer to the dilemma of sin, the Apostles all had the same message: "Repent, be baptized in Jesus name, and be filled with the Holy Ghost."

This same plan of salvation was used in Acts 8, Acts 10, and Acts 19. Jesus himself said we must "repent" (Luke 5:32)and be "born of water AND of the spirit." (John 3:5) John the Baptist taught water and spirit baptism (Matthew 3:11). The Apostles, as we have seen, all taught this same plan of salvation. 

Any "plan of salvation" that says otherwise, is no plan of salvation at all. If a person only repents, but does not do the other 2 steps, they are believers, but NOT born again. 

If a person repents and gets baptized in Jesus name, but fails to allow God to fill them with his spirit? 

Romans 8:9

"But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."

If a person repents and receives the spirit, but doesn't get baptized in Jesus name? 

1 Peter 3:20-22

King James Version (KJV)

"20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:"

No, my friend. There is no middle ground. Either a person is born again, or they're not. 

The Apostles were not born again until the day of Pentecost. How do I know? Luke 22:32

"But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."

At this point, Peter and the Apostles had all repented and been baptized and were baptizing (John 3:22). Yet, they were not born again. They still were incomplete and needed to be converted. So, why do we think we have a different path than they? 

And for those who say that "we only want to follow what Jesus said (the red letters)." Jesus also said of the Apostles: "

John 17:20

King James Version (KJV)

"20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;"

So, in God's eyes, the words of his Apostles are his words. Indeed, we are told, 

2 Timothy 3:15-17

King James Version (KJV)

"15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

So, put yourself back in the shoes of the Jewish person we began this blog with. Like him, we are sinners in need of a savior. Like him, we look for our redeemer. Like him, we have -in times past- scoffed at the ways of God. 

Yet, also like him, we are guilty of the blood of the very savior we seek. He was bruised for OUR iniquities, wounded for OUR transgressions. He took stripes for US. He took the nails in order to redeem us!

We, like the thousands on that first day of Pentecost, should ask the Apostles of our Lord, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" 

And, like that first crowd, we need to obey what they said and be born again: 

Acts 2:38

King James Version (KJV)

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

A true memorial

Philippians 3

King James Version (KJV)

3 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.

2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

I realize that this is a strange scripture to use for a memorial day post, but there's a reason for that. 

I see many posts on Facebook that say, "if you enjoy your freedom, thank a veteran." In principle, I find myself somewhat in agreement with these postings. It is true that we enjoy our freedoms in this country due to the sacrifices of those who were willing to fight and die to gain and keep our God-given rights.

However, freedom won does not equate to freedom lived well. Do we use our freedoms wisely? Do we make godly choices that glorify God, aid our families, and help our fellow man? Or, do we use our freedoms to sew to the flesh and it's every ungodly desire?

Has our national freedom been used to make us better? or worse?

Many veterans shake their heads when they see the way our freedoms have been abused and misused to make society worse, not better. Many will tell you that what our nation has become is NOT what they fought to preserve, but rather it has become something they no longer recognize. Something far less than our founding fathers aspired to.

The best way to honor our veterans (living and dead) is to return to and lift up the ideals of our founders. We should stand firmly on the Constitution and stand against those that would destroy and change it.

Some 2000 years ago, Paul reminds us in the above passage that- due to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ- we have a high calling to attain to. We are not to allow God's grace to become a do as you want, it's covered thing. We are, in light of the battle fought and won on Calvary, to live our lives in such a way as to glorify and honor the one who died to give us the chance for salvation.

Pithy, religious sounding slogans, don't cut it. Going through the motions of religion doesn't cut it. We are to live our lives in the light of the one who called us into his marvelous light. We should honor him daily in everything we do and say. We should strive to let him live through us to touch a lost and dying world- who have no hope except through him.

He didn't call us to build grand cathedrals. He called us to be his hands and feet. He called us to build into the lives of the hurting, the broken, the poor, the widow, the orphan, the unwanted of society. He called us to shine his light of truth into the dark places of humanity- even when those places are occupied by the rich and powerful- in order that they might see themselves as HE sees them and repent before it is too late.

Yes, we must be biblically born again (Acts 2:38), but real Christianity is so much more than that. Paul said that in spite of his well educated and high standing social status of his past, he counted it all as DUNG that he might attain Christ!

We need to stop holding onto yesterdays anointing, yesterdays blessings, and yesterdays revivals. God has promised us revival in these last days, but we won't be a part of it unless we live our lives immersed in him. We must immerse ourselves in his word and spirit and allow him to change us. We must let his holy fire burn away the chaff that we've allowed into our souls so that the world can see him in all we do.

So, on this memorial day, lets rededicate our lives to the cause of the one who truly should be lifted up- Jesus Christ. Let us seek first his righteousness and watch him work. He's not interested in our abilities and education. He's interested in our availability and submission to him as Lord (supreme controller). This truly is the best memorial we can give him.

In closing, let's pray:

Lord Jesus, we repent of our shortsightedness. We repent of being caught up in the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. We repent of getting caught up in the "me generation." We ask that you move deep inside us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness. We ask that you strengthen us to walk in your word and ways- whatever the cost. We ask that you help us to be your hands, feet, heart, and mouths in this backward and broken generation. Lead us to such as would be saved, and save them. Let us look past the pride and see the pain. Give us the wisdom to know when to speak and what to do. Use us to spread you word and your love to this lost and dying world. In Jesus name! 

Fruits of the spirit, part 1: Don't get tripped by "the fruit."

Matthew 21:18-22

King James Version (KJV)

18 Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.
19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
20 And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!
21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

John 15:1-9

King James Version (KJV)

15 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

Today, my friends, we begin a study on "the fruits of the spirit." If the Lord says the same, we will study what the fruits are, fruit by fruit. Today, however, we are going to discuss what they are not. 

See, there's a danger when we, as Christians, combine scriptures together that were never meant to be combined- and then try to make a doctrine out of them. 

Yes, Jesus told us to "go into the highways and byways and compel them to come in." Yes, he told us to "go..into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."

However, many times, in our zeal to obey these scriptures (and in an attempt to motivate others to try and reach the lost), we can misuse scripture. Two of these sections of scripture are listed above. 

Many a Christian has heard these scriptures used in this way: "We are to reach the lost. Jesus commanded it. If we live our whole lives just sitting on a pew and never reach someone for Jesus, then we are not bearing fruit. Didn't God command Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply? Here Jesus says that, if we don't bear fruit, we will be cast into the fires of hell."

Ever heard this taught in Sunday School, church service, or midweek services? 

Yea. I have too. 

It sounds right. It sounds righteous. It sounds reasonable. The people saying it are definitely sincere. I myself used to teach the very same thing. Unfortunately, both I and the others that have taught this, were sincerely wrong.

Where in scripture does it equate new born babes in Christ with being an individuals fruit? 

Some say that 1 Corinthians 16:15 calls new converts a believers fruit. Not so. It does call the household of Stephenas, "the first fruits of Achaia." Yet, this is the first family born again of the church (corporate body) in that area. If new converts were considered as each individual believers spiritual fruit, then the passage would have read, "the first fruits of (whomever won them to the Lord)."

Many others try to use the concept of sewing and reaping to say that we are commanded to bear fruit (new converts, according to them). Yet, Paul said "one plants, one waters, but it is God who gives the increase." 

This ties in directly with Jesus telling us to abide in the vine. Yet, notice where the emphasis is. It is we who are responsible to abide in him. It is we who are responsible also to sew good seed and water. Yet, in both scenarios, it is GOD who is responsible for both the fruit and the new converts, not us.

It doesn't matter how hard we try to win souls. If God doesn't draw them in, we are laboring in vain. Also, if they refuse to be attached to the vine, they will wither and be cast into the fire. It doesn't matter how hard we try to persuade them. 

Further, how can God hold us accountable for someone else's decisions? We could stand on the street corners every day, all day, and preach/teach the scriptures. But, it is still the choice of the hearers responding to the call of God (or not). God would not be righteous to judge us according to others decisions for or against him.

And don't try the parable of the talents on me, either. Those talents are something God gives us from the get go as his children. Those talents are something we, if we work at it, can add to, but still have control over. 

We are not born again and given new converts that we will forever control. Some folks seem to think and act as if this were so. But, the truth is, new converts are in God's hands and his control. Not ours.

So, what are the fruits Jesus is looking for? When Jesus walks up to each of our trees, what does he expect to see there? What, if he doesn't see it, will cause us to be cursed, whether, and (if not repented of) cast into the fire?  

Galatians 5:22-25

King James Version (KJV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.


When we were in the world, our fruits were ungodly: 

Galatians 5:19-21

King James Version (KJV)

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.


These are the fruits we had before being born again and letting Jesus change us. But, after we are in him, he begins to look for different fruits. His fruits. Godly fruits. 

These character traits are what Jesus wants to build into our lives. If we abide in him, our character begins to change, from hate, to love. From evil, to goodness. From impatience, to temperance. That's the fruit he will judge us by. 

It's not about how many converts we gain. It's about how Christlike we can become. In fact, it is God's desire that we are "conformed (molded into) the image of his son." (Romans 8:29) 

Think about one more thing, beloved. In the passage in Matthew 21, Jesus was hungry and went looking for some fruit to partake of. When the fruit wasn't on the tree, he cursed it.

When people are spiritually hungry for the Lord, they begin to inspect the trees that are supposed to be his- US! If we are bearing his fruit (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, etc), then they will be drawn in to want more of what we have (Jesus). 

This is how we win souls to the Lord. Jesus said, "If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me." If our lives are bearing his fruit, he can use us to draw others to partake of his goodness and be born again.

If our lives are not bearing fruit, the hungry will reject Jesus and try to fill their spiritual hunger in other ways. They will curse us and the God we represent. 

While it is true that the world hates the things of God, many times they hate him because we are not bearing the fruit we are supposed to. At some point, the people who curse Jesus, tried to get some fruit from our trees and found it rotten. 

So, friends, be relieved about the new converts. We all have differing gifts of the spirit (a subject for another time) and callings. And, if you strive to abide in him, someone will want him because of the fruit they see in your lives. 

However, let's recommit ourselves to shunning the works of the flesh. Let's strive to abide in Jesus, so that we can bear the fruit he is looking for- and the world so desperately needs.