Acts 37. Now when they heard this, they were acutely distressed and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “What should we do, brothers?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.” 40 With many other words he testified and exhorted them saying, “Save yourselves from this perverse generation!” 41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added.
Act 16:27-32 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.
What drives or convinces a person to a point in their thinking where they say, “What must I do to be saved?”
What brings a person to the knowledge of sin and the need for a savior, repentance, confession, belief, trust, and reliance?
The Word of God through the power of the Holy Spirit. The word of God pierces the heart, mind, and soul and somehow through the power of the Holy Spirit, the darkness that a person has been living in is illuminated with the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Sharing the Gospel is a command from Jesus, “Go and spread the Good News”.
People are living in shame, guilt, worry, fear, anger, hate, joylessness, pride, ignorance, greed, arrogance, boastfulness, worldly pleasure, and without hope. To grasp a bit of hope for their purpose in life they chase after everything the world has to offer. For some, it is a job, position, recognition, wealth, health fitness, or the accumulation of possessions. For others, it is education, raising a family, being active in the community, helping others in need, and having a hobby that is satisfying. For all, there is something missing. Something that fills a longing in their heart. Something that brings meaning and purpose to their lives.
God created us for His purpose and plans. Only through Him can we find purpose and meaning for our lives. People can deny the existence of God and chase after temporary things in this world to fill the void in their souls, but it never satisfies their hearts and minds. The void can only be filled by reconciliation with God.
The Word of God through the power of the Holy Spirit exposes the sin and sinfulness of each individual person. Some will respond with denial and rejection. Others will respond with, “What must I do to be saved?”
We see in Acts how people were cut deep in their hearts and asked, “What must I do to be saved?” They were pierced deep within their heart by the need for redemption and a savior. There was no invitation, no heads bowed, no eyes closed, no embarrassment, and no raise your hand if you want to be saved. The Word of God pierced their heart and through the power of the Holy Spirit, they received the knowledge of their need.
Sometimes I wonder if the invitations that are given with heads bowed and eyes closed are given so that a person will not be embarrassed by the need for salvation. There is nothing to be embarrassed about. Are our invitations doing anything but pandering to the pride of a person afraid and embarrassed by the need for salvation? No doubt people can and are being saved, but what commitment is there in their first steps being taken if it is embarrassing for them? Are we just searching for adding another check in the column, “Souls saved by raising their hand”?
Close your eyes and bow your head and pray after me…….. If you have prayed this you are saved, born again, and a new creation. Now what? Do we expect them to come running to us and ask what bible study to go to? Do we expect them to grow on their own? How do we help them not become seeds that are scorched by the world, or choked out by weeds? When Jesus said, “Go make disciples” doesn’t it mean that there is intentional time given to teach and grow the new creation in things of God?
Think about how it is when you have had discussions with a person who is seeking and you are present when they are moved to say they want to be saved. There is nothing embarrassing. You can lead them in prayer and proclaim them born-again. You don’t leave that person alone to grow and mature. You spend time with them and disciple them in the Word of God and things of God.
When it is said to close your eyes, bow your head, and we don’t want to “embarrass you”, raise your hand if you prayed to be saved I want to pray for you, what is truly taking place? We can say that this prayer is between God and them, they have said they said the prayer, they raised their hand, and they are saved. Are we not also saying that this could be embarrassing? What is embarrassing about it? Can it be confusing for a person to hear that coming to a commitment to repent, confess, and trust in Jesus Christ could be embarrassing? There is nothing embarrassing about it. Surely and most importantly it is a private matter between each person and God. However, it is also a public commitment as well. We can say this is displayed at baptism but a person who is told it might be embarrassing to commit to repentance. and trust in Jesus Christ while in the presence of other believers seems a very shallow approach. Shallow may be a strong word and there might be another word for shallow, but the depth of public commitment could have compromise.
You don’t have to look very hard to see that neglect, complacency, and lukewarmness is rampant among Christians. There is a closeness to worldly things that is unhealthy for their hearts and minds. The ease at which a person lives day after day without a thought about God, how the busyness of life consumes them, and absolutely no thoughts about growing in the knowledge and understanding of the grace and mercy of God so that they grow and mature in how they honor and glorify Jesus Christ in thoughts, words, and actions every moment of every day. Granted, I do not think the immaturity in Christians today is fully tied to “bow your head, close your eyes, I do not want to “embarrass you”, raise your hand, invitation”. No, I think it has much more to do with the lack of teaching and preaching on the sinfulness of sin and the Holiness of God.
How are we to grow in knowledge and understanding of the grace and mercy of God if it is not in the light of our sinfulness and His Holiness? How are we to discern and recognize the need for the Holy Spirit’s power in our lives? How are we going to discern the quiet whispers of the Holy Spirit directing us away from sinfulness and toward lives that honor and glorify Jesus Christ?
Oh, that our hearts and minds were in awe of the grace and mercy of God so much that the first thoughts of our day would be, thank you God for Your grace and mercy and how can I honor and glorify your holiness today?
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
