The day was long awaited; the coming of the Holy Spirit!  Pentecost!

That wonderful day was evidenced by divine signs of wind and fire, as well as miraculous speaking in other languages.  These signs were wonderful in their own right, but you know what they were for?  They were there to support the message!

We were told in John's gospel that the Spirit comes to guide God's people into the truth (Jn 16:7-15).  And what happened on the day the Holy Spirit came?  He made that truth to go out, by enabling people to hear it in their own language.

Peter proclaimed that truth clearly in a sermon, so that those listeners might hear the Good News (gospel), and put their faith in Jesus.  The Spirit was at work confirming the truth proclaimed!  The people were convicted of their sin (this is part of the Spirit’s job too!).

But, what does Peter tell them to do in response?

Should they beat themselves up?

Should they live their lives in shame?

Should they get to work earning God’s favour?

No!

“Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptised 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. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptised, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” (Ac 2:37–41).

How beautiful!  How wonderful to see Salvation delivered to God’s people.

But this didn’t stop on that first day.  This is a pattern down through history!  This is a pattern that we expect to see wherever God’s Church is.  Sure, the miraculous signs aren’t part of that expectation, but the promised work of the Spirit is continuing: As people hear the Gospel and are convicted of their sin, they turn away from their sin and toward God, receiving the Spirit.

Repent and be baptised!

Baptism signifies the cleansing from sin, it is washed away, you are forgiven, and you are joined to God, you are given the Holy Spirit as a gift.  Yes, the Spirit needs to be at work in your life to bring you faith, but baptism demonstrates in a special way how in Christ you are now sanctified by God and his own special possession.  Like squatter’s rights, if God dwells in you, it’s clear that He owns you.  With the cleansing, the way is made clear for the Spirit to take up residence.

Baptism is an outward sign of the inward work of God. We received the Word, we were convicted, we repented, we trusted in God, we received the Holy Spirit, all outwardly signified in our Baptism.

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? … And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Co 6:9–11).

As a church we’re looking forward to seeing some baptisms this Sunday. It is a beautiful thing to behold.  In its simplest terms it will be some people going into water and some words being said.  But the beauty is not in physical elements, rather the beauty is in what God will do to cleanse and save sinners like us.

Jesus is a great saviour, and he will give this beautiful salvation to all who turn and trust in him. Save yourself from this crooked generation, trust in Jesus! Repent and be baptised! Receive the Holy Spirit!