Love goes both ways, Pt 20: Repent and be baptized
Acts 2:36-40 36“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” 37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38Peter replied, “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. 39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”
Lord and Messiah
Peter's sermon at Pentecost is one of the most powerful moments in the book of Acts—and in the entire New Testament. After explaining the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:14–35), he brings his message to a dramatic conclusion in verse 36: “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
This one sentence hits like a thunderclap. Peter doesn’t soften the blow. He tells the crowd—devout Jews gathered from all over the world for the Feast of Shavuot (Pentecost)—that they are responsible for killing the very one whom God has exalted. The crucified Jesus is now both Lord and Messiah.
Let’s break that down. “Lord” is the title often used in the Greek Old Testament to translate the divine name Yahweh. To say that Jesus is “Lord” is to place Him on the throne of God Himself. This is no small claim. Peter is saying that Jesus not only rose from the dead—He now shares in the divine identity. He rules.
And “Messiah” (or “Christ”) means anointed one—the promised king from David’s line, foretold in the Scriptures. The long-awaited redeemer of Israel isn’t coming—He’s already come. And they missed Him. Worse, they killed Him.
Jesus’ status as Lord and Messiah is not merely a human judgment—it’s the verdict of God. And let’s make something clear: The resurrection didn’t make Jesus divine; it revealed what was always true.² We can’t treat Jesus as just a teacher, healer, or spiritual influencer. It wasn’t until the Cross was close that the disciples finally realized that Jesus was the Son of Man. He is Lord—which means He has authority over every part of life. The question is not whether we accept Him as Lord but whether we live like He is. Peter’s words invite us to reckon with Jesus in personal terms. It wasn’t just “those people” who crucified Him. It was our sin that led Him to the cross. But even then, God’s grace triumphs: the One we rejected is the very One who saves.
Repent and be baptized
Peter’s bold sermon cuts straight to the heart. Verse 37 says, “When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’” Today, we might say, “OMG, What do we do now?” This is the Spirit at work—convicting, not shaming. They don’t try to justify themselves or argue. They’re pierced. They want to respond.
Peter’s reply is direct and urgent: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (v. 38). There’s no ten-step program. There’s no complex theological entry exam. Just two things: Repent and be baptized.
Let’s talk about repentance first. In Greek, the word means a change of mind, heart, and direction. It’s not just regret. It’s a decisive turning—from sin and self toward God. Peter isn’t calling them to feel bad; he’s calling them to turn back to the God they had misjudged. Next comes baptism—an outward sign of an inward change. In first-century Jewish practice, water rituals weren’t new, but baptism “in the name of Jesus Christ” was. To be baptized this way meant publicly identifying with the crucified Messiah. It was bold, especially in a context where doing so might cost you your reputation, your family ties, or your safety. It is much the same today in many parts of the world where identification as a believer in Jesus is justification for death by stoning.
The Gift of the Holy Spirit
Peter goes on to promise something astonishing: “And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (v. 38b). That’s right—the same Holy Spirit who just empowered the apostles to preach, who fell like fire and filled the upper room, is now promised to all who repent and believe. This is a game-changer. In the Old Testament, the Spirit came upon specific individuals at specific times—prophets, kings, judges. But now, in the wake of Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, the Spirit is poured out on all believers.
28“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. 30I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 31The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. 32And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, even among the survivors whom the LORD calls. (Joel 2:28-32)
Young and old, men and women, rich and poor—no status barriers, no spiritual elite. Just ordinary people, filled with extraordinary power, because of Jesus. And this Spirit is not just for speaking in tongues or doing miracles. The Holy Spirit regenerates, indwells, seals, and empowers.⁴ The Spirit brings new life, equips us with gifts, convicts us of sin, and assures us of our adoption as God’s children.
For all whom the Lord will call
Peter concludes with one more sweeping declaration in verse 39: “The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” What promise? The promise of forgiveness, the gift of the Spirit, and the inclusion in the people of God. And who’s it for? Everyone. This is no longer a message confined to Israel. Peter is echoing Isaiah 57:19 and Joel 2:32, where the “far off” are the exiled nations.⁵
This is huge. The early church didn’t yet realize how far this would go (remember, Peter still needed a vision in Acts 10 to fully embrace the Gentiles!). But the seeds of the global gospel are already here. What began in Jerusalem is destined for Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. Even Denver, or wherever you live!
And notice the phrase: “All whom the Lord our God will call.” Conversion isn’t just a human decision—it’s a divine summons. God is the one calling people to Himself, breaking through hard hearts, drawing people into His family. Salvation is a gift, not an achievement.
Peter wraps up with a pastoral appeal: “With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation’” (v. 40). He’s not saying you can save yourself by effort. He’s saying: Respond now. Turn from the way the world lives and embrace the way of Jesus.
What about me?
This passage is a profound declaration that there is a God and there is a Messiah. But that statement must be made personal and public at the same time. A ‘mental assent’ isn’t enough. One must repent of their sins; one must acknowledge that he or she has been on the wrong path and turn away from those practices and turn to God. God forgives every time a person comes to Him in true sorrow and repentance. This isn’t forgiveness as an abstract idea. This is covenant forgiveness—God wiping away the guilt of rejecting His Son and welcoming sinners into His family. But repentance isn’t just for “getting saved.” It’s a daily practice for followers of Jesus. Is there an area of your life where the Spirit is nudging you to turn? Are you clinging to a pattern that grieves the Lord?
Following repentance and salvation is the public declaration that you are a changed person. Baptism is not a private decision—it’s a public declaration that Jesus is Lord and that we now belong to His people. It symbolizes death to the old life and resurrection into new life (cf. Rom 6:3–4). And baptism is not just a symbol—it’s a witness. Have you made your faith public? Have you helped others in your community take that step?
This isn’t a passive message. It demands a response. You can’t hear that the crucified Jesus is now Lord of all and walk away indifferent. You either bow the knee or resist the call. But the promise is sure: Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Three thousand people responded that day (Acts 2:41). The church was born in power, not because of clever preaching, but because the Spirit moved and people responded, and God’s Kingdom began to spread.