ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

In Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost was ACTS.2:38 the main message or the altar call ?

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

If it weren't for John 3:16, there would be no need for Acts 2:38.

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

Acts 2:38 and 39 was an answer to a question. An altar call, if you will. Peters sermon began with verse 14 and ends with verse 36.

I've always found it interesting that the Bible says And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Act 2:42 The Apostles Doctrine, as far as we know, consisted of two sermons. (Acts, 1:16-23 and Acts 2:14-36, 38-39). I'm sure there was other teaching and preaching going on during that period. Wouldn't it have been nice if someone would have written those messages down?

Question: Can we extropolate, from these two sermons, all the teachings we often refer to as the Apostoles Doctrine? (Oneness, Baptism, Holiness, etc.) In other words, can we base Apostolic teachings in their entirety on these two sermons?

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

Can we or do we?
:)

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

I don't consider Acts 1:16-23 to be a sermon or teaching but something spoken by the Apostle Peter in a business meeting.

I believe Acts 2:38-39 is a call to salvation and also to post salvation experiences for Christians such as baptism in water and baptism in the Spirit.

Peter told the crowd on that Pentecost Sunday back in AD 30 how to get saved in Acts 2:21 when he said that whoseover calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. The "plan of salvation" preached by Peter and Paul is the same i.e. call on the name of the Lord.

As Peter brought his sermon to a close, many were convicted and cried out, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (not what shall we do to be saved as it is often misquoted). That is recorded in verse 37.

Peter then said:
1. turn to the Lord in repentance, call on Him for mercy and be saved
2. Follow up that salvation experience with the mikveh/baptism ceremony because of the forgiveness/remission of your sins
3. And you too can receive the Promise of the Father, this great Holy Ghost Baptism experience which Jesus has poured out on us.

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

Luke is writing much later - most likely around 30 years after Peter had preached that sermon. When he says, "Apostle's doctrine" in chapter 2, he has the whole 30 year time span in mind. We can "fill in the blanks" as it were, by reading what Paul and the others had written during that 30 year time period (and even after, as in the case of the "Prison Epistles").

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

The Book of Acts ends up with Paul in Rome. It was probably around the end of AD 61. During the time in prison there he had written Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. There are differences of opinion, but it is generally held that Paul was released and traveled for a few more years, was imprisoned again, and wrote 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus. The Gospel of Luke was written some time before the Book of Acts --possibly while Paul was under arrest in Jerusalem. Here Luke would have had ample time to interview people who had interacted with Jesus, maybe even His family members for material for what became the Book of Luke.

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

The kids being run over by chariots might have been included in "and with many other words did he testify and exhort saying Save yourselves from this untoward generation" (verse 40) along with the bifurcated garments, hair touching the ears, etc.

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

"For the time shall come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts they shall heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears." II Timothy 4:3

^These are those who are seeking teachers who teach an esier way..a partial birth salvation!

"Beware of false prophets, which come in to you sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves" Matthew 7:15

"But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption." II Peter 2:1

These are those who are constantly raising their voice against the New Birth message and a message of holiness and separation. The Word of God is not bashful concerning the nature or the end of those who contest truth. Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection was the message. Acts 2:38 was bringing it home, dropping it in our laps, and giving us the oppurtunity to respond and be saved. And yes! Continuing in the Apostles doctrine involved some teachings on holiness, outward apparel and according to I Cor. 11 hair fit in there too! not sure about the ears tho..

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

That was not the question asked in Acts 2:38

That question was actually asked in Acts 16:30-31 and here is the answer:
Acts 16
30And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

31And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

I am glad you posted this because I was going to correct our brother in Christ too.

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

Note, the above response is similar to those I have received from “religious authority” when their identifiers have been challenged or debated. It is the identity of a religion rather than one rooted in the Gospel of Christ, hence the tone of condemnation and fear.

This post sounds like, “you are saved by correct doctrine rather than the work of Christ!” If the fact is that we ARE instead, saved by the work of Christ, it might be worth considering that we stand on equal ground (looking up to Him with whom we have to do). From my experience, it is usually our attitude about some set of correct formulae, superior religious teaching, or some other correctness which carries the tendency to elevate one group above another, or outright exclude others to boost their own self-worth.

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

"shalt be saved"!
didnt say that by believing on Jesus one is automatically saved. Rather that if the jailor would believe on the Lord he "shalt be saved". In other words believing was the foundation of his salvation and would lead him to the rest. It's impossible to obey the gospel without first believing.

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

Okay, I don't why you posted the emboldened part. All I did was correct was El Predicador. He quoted Acts 2:38 wrong and I said what he quoted was actually in Acts 16:31. Moreover, the emboldened is your interpretation of that scripture. As for me, I'd rather just take the scripture without trying to add any "in other words..."

Also, you said believing on the Lord Jesus does not automatically you.

The jailer asked "What MUST I do to be saved"

Simple answer was "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." It really simple. Let's not make it complicated.

If I may ask you, what is the gospel?

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

Note, the above post is indicative of similar claims made by religious zealots who have not yet fully grasped the force of God’s grace. In other words, “it is not good enough to rely on the work and record of Jesus Christ, but you must perform certain rituals to seal the deal.”

The concept of grace however, causes one to understand that we cannot leverage salvation through performance (obedience if you want to call it that). Salvation is given freely to those who believe and endure. To believe the Gospel is to accept His record as enough. To obey is to reciprocate love towards the Savior, not earn salvation. Think love relationship, not religious initiation (John 14:23).

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

The Gopsel?
I Corinthians 15:2-4
By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

Repentance-Death
Baptism-Burial
Resurrection-Holy Ghost infilling

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

You did not answer the question. What is the gospel?

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

I think you meant to have:
Repentance-Death
Baptism-Burial
Holy Ghost infilling-Resurrection

So according to you in Acts 10, this is what happened:
Cornelius died
Cornelius resurrected after he died
Cornelius was buried after he resurrected ??

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

Sure...in a spiritual sense. God didnt seem to have a problem with it that way.

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

Read the verse...the Gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection.

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

Acts.2:38 is important and I started this thread not to minimalize the importance of it.
But before Peter got to verse 38,he preached on the death,burial ,resurrection of Christ.
Preaching Jesus and Him crucified is the emphasis,and Acts.2:38 should the response given to those who have become convicted and drawn by The Holy Ghost.

Many preach Acts.2:38 without about preaching about the Man that is in the plan.

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

Very Good! Keeping his words = loving him. Did you notice that it is then that he makes his abode with us? If any man hath not the Spirit of Christ he is none of His. Not yet anyway..

The blood must be applied for grace to be received. I obeyed the Gospel because I loved him. Not to escape Hell. If i didnt love Him i would not have obeyed, would not have received the grace that was freely offered on the cross...and would not have escaped Hell.

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

Right, Peter preached Jesus. A plan of action (Acts 2:38) would have been pointless and vain if they had not first accepted the person of Jesus.

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

(1 Corinthians 15:13-18)

"But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished."

The good news is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the truth that He became our Savior. A Savior to believe in, not just to imitate. And if Christ’s sacrifice was that of some great prophet or teacher, it would not be enough. If “Christ be not raised, your faith is vain;” as would be your obedience.

The Gospel is the “good news” and the “glad tidings” of what He did (1 Corinthians 15:10). The credibility of our faith is dependent on His work, not our own per se.

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

Death, burial, and Resurrection of who?

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

Jesus Christ...with which we identiry. Ya know, we are buried with him by baptism...

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

How can you obey the gospel? How is that possible? Did you mean believe the gospel?

The gospel is not something to be obeyed. It is something to believed.

Mark 16
15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

Ok, How about your analogy of:

Repentance - Death
Baptism - Burial
Holy Ghost infilling - Resurrection

How does your analogy fit in the case of Cornelius in Acts 10. Why was Cornelius buried since he had already resurrected?

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

Still...agreed completely. To act out this plan would be pointless if he hadn't already done it. But since he did..he provided a way for us to identify with Him and receive His grace. Faith requires action...according to James anyway

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

Chronological order is irrelevant. If we were speaking of a physical death, burial, and resurrection that would be different.

I received the Holy Ghost 4 years before i was baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ. If i had not received the Holy Ghost i would have never been led to truth concerning baptism. It was His Spirit that led me.

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

Believing and obeying ties hand in hand. Great verse by the way...not sure how you could use that to say baptism is not neccessary tho..

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

The blood for atonement was offered at the Cross. Our sins were remitted there.

Do you mean "believed" the Gospel? To believe is to obey.

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

I never said Baptism is not necessary...

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

Praise God for you...

I see Baptism however as the point where we publicly demonstrate our death to our old man and newness of life in Christ Jesus.

Rom 6
3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Re: ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?
 

Agreed on the first portion. If of course, you mean that we are accepted first of Christ who has given His grace freely to "whosoever will." We do not earn it. We can identify with it! :)

James, however, is not referring to the gift of eternal life through salvation when he gives a discourse on faith/works.