Acts 5:29-32 New International Version (NIV)
29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
Thursday - April 23 - Read Acts 5:29-32
Martin Luther was quick to point out that the Gospel is not simply what
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John wrote. The Gospel (which means “good
news”) is given here in very succinct and clear language: God raised Jesus,
whom we killed, from the dead, to lead people to repentance and
forgiveness of sins! That’s it! God has acted. He has saved us. Our salvation
does not depend on what we do. It is completely dependent upon what
Jesus has done FOR US! So what does it mean to obey Jesus? In another
sermon that Peter gave in Acts 2:37-38 he says that all we need to “do” is
repent and be baptized and then we will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
That’s it! Repent, or change our mind of thinking that we can live without
Jesus and believing that we can save ourselves. Instead, receive the gift of
baptism where Jesus gives us his death and resurrection and “anoints” us as
a newly adopted child of God. Obedience is faith in the promise of baptism!