2. Gods Plan of Salvation as Exemplified in Acts 2
by Dave Brown
In the first article of this series we presented Jesus’ commands with regard to the plan of salvation. We want to build on and validate these commands in this and subsequent articles by seeing how they were implemented throughout the book of Acts. Please read over the entire first two chapters of Acts before we get started. You will find that it is very exciting reading with each verse totally packed with interesting teachings. Many have probably already read most of it, but not matter how many times you read it, you will pick up something new by reading it again.
The first conversions to Christ that take place after the cross are in Acts 2. As you recall, Acts is a history that picks up where Luke leaves off, since Luke is also the author of Acts. Acts 1 records a final meeting of Jesus with his apostles after which the see him ascend into heaven. There is a reference to the Holy Spirit baptism to take place shortly (1:5), and Jesus commands them to stay in Jerusalem (1:4) until that happens.
The rest of Chapter 1 is on the replacement of Judas. The last verse of Chapter 1 tells us who are being referred to as Acts 2 begins (the apostles).
Acts 2 is the first recorded gospel sermon after the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. There is clearly a spontaneous outpouring of the Holy Spirit (2:17 – as prophesied by Joel), clearly manifested by something that looked like fire (but was not) and sounded like wind (but was not). The baptism in the Holy Spirit also caused the apostles to speak in languages that they had never learned. (Note that these were existent languages that could clearly be understood by those who spoke them -- this proved the miracle to all who were present.)
Peter preached an elegant sermon establishing that Jesus through his resurrection had fulfilled the prophesy of David, and that Jesus had taken David's throne (2:30-31). All of this convinced the Jews who were listening, some of whom had cried for the crucifixion of Jesus, that Jesus was the Christ, the very Son of God (2:36).
Acts 2:37 says: “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? 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 Spirit. 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. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added [unto them] about three thousand souls.”
Please note that these people were asking the same questions as we are asking: what is God’s plan of salvation? what must I do to be saved? God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34) – he does not require different things from different people who are all under the same laws. We will see the commonality of the answer to this question as we go through the rest of the book of Acts. And, we will see that all of those who were saved obeyed the commands of Jesus and met the conditions that he gave -- those conditions already presented in our first article of this series.
Let’s go over these commands once again and notice that the 3000 converts in Acts 2 all heard the truth preached, they believed, and they were commanded to repent and be baptized. “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized."
Prior to the conversions on this day we have no record of the church – just disciples gathering together. But now it is much more formal ... see Acts 2:42-47: “And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. And everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together, and had all things in common; and they {began} selling their property and possessions, and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. And day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to the church day by day those who were being saved."
The book of Acts shows us what commands were given by the apostles under this inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This is called the "apostles doctrine" in Acts 2:42, but from Acts 1 we know that the apostles were not creating this doctrine with their own opinions, but they were obtaining this teaching from the Holy Spirit, which had been sent by Jesus Christ. The book of Acts is as authoritative and useful for obtaining God's truth as any book of the bible. It is the truth of God.
In the next article (#3) we will take up the next detailed cases of conversion, which occur in Acts 8. Please Contact Us if you have any questions.
Go on to Article 3