And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers…And all who believed were together and had all things in common…And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved (Acts 2:42, 47b–emphasis added).
Pastor Pauley is currently expositing chapters 13 through 28 from the book of Acts. In his first sermon he provided a brief overview of the first 12 chapters. During that overview, I was significantly awe-struck as I read chapter 2, particularly where the Apostle Peter gallantly declared God’s Word to the people (Acts 2:38-47). In verse 42, it says, they (the people)…devoted themselves to the apostles teaching… This verse illustrates the incredible power God’s Word has upon the hearer. Declaring God’s truth — and nothing else — captivated the eyes, ears and hearts of the people. The apostles of the early church proclaimed a bold, straightforward and unadulterated Gospel message; this was the catalyst God used to prompt belief. The apostles did not have to rely on special “methods” to win souls to Christ.
It strikes me that never in the book of Acts or the entire New Testament, is human philosophy used in conjunction with the Gospel, In fact, nowhere in the Bible do we read that God’s prophets or apostles wheedled and cajoled people into believing the Word of God, especially in regards to salvation. The Word of God ALONE was effectual, and still is today! The Apostle Paul wrote: How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news! (Romans 10:15b).
It is erroneous to act as if theatrical skits, humorous entertainment, emotional music, etc., will lure people to Christ. Such things are ineffective toward legitimate conversions. In fact, any attempt other than declaring God’s Word cannot bring faith toward anyone’s salvation. Someone may exhibit a temporal response to spiritual things because of certain attractive methods, and for a while may even appear to be “saved”. But, eventually, he or she will denounce the things of God and forsake Christ (1 John 2:19). Pastor used the illustration of Simon in Acts 8 to illustrate this.
In essence, it is only through the means of the bold, clear heralding of the Gospel message, that God, through the Holy Spirit, effectually calls sinners unto salvation — nothing else. The Holy Spirit miraculously transforms a person from spiritually dead into a spiritually alive and eternally saved child of God. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved (Acts 2:47b). God still uses this same principle today. Furthermore, the spread of the Gospel message was Jesus Christ’s final command, declared this to His disciples just before His ascension, so following generations would obediently proclaim His truth for salvation (Acts 1:8-11).
Also, I found it interesting that the apostles preached the Gospel message boldly. Throughout the book of Acts, we repetitively read that bold, reverent and holy preaching was the only means the apostles used when proclaiming the Gospel (Acts 9:27, 28; 13:46; 14:3; 18:26; 19:8; Ephesians 6:19-20). In Acts 13:46-48, we read that by being exposed to the apostle’s dauntless proclamation of the Gospel, the Gentiles who were appointed for salvation believed. We can take comfort in knowing that salvation is a divine act which only God can implement. He mercilessly relieves us from the self-pressure and agony of having to be eloquent speakers, expressive with actions, humorous, or create the ideal method, when offering the Gospel.
I close by quoting Pastor John MacArthur, as he delineates how God, through the Holy Spirit, regenerates a soul; he states:
“…turning from sin toward God (repentance), under the hearing of the gospel message…He (God) then regenerates the heart…that is why, if I may be so bold, it is of little consequence what ‘method’ you use in the presentation of the gospel…It is not the method that can convince a depraved heart…it is only God who can turn the heart and since God uses the truth energized by the Spirit to turn the heart, we are bound then to proclaim the truth. It is a supernatural work.”
So, as we are learning, it’s only God’s sovereign grace, through a bold proclamation of the Gospel message that can supernaturally regenerate the soul of an individual, not human methods. Amen!
Posted on May 19th, 2010 by Robert
Filed under: From the Pew