37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, 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. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. (Acts 2)
1) Do you admit that you are a sinner in need of God’s mercy? Do you renounce all evil and powers in the world that defy God’s righteousness and love, and do you renounce the ways of sin?
Thoughts: When people asked "what shall we do?" Peter's words of hope were words that also "added to their number." In other words- the basic requirement for membership took three forms.
First there was belief. Those who heard believed the message- and believed in God.
Second there was repentance. They were not just sorry for their sins- but they were willing to submit to God's way and leave their own. They humbled themselves and turned around. They died to self and lived for God.
Third was baptism. Baptism is the initiation ritual into the church. It symbolizes that we are His and He is ours. It means our sins are washed clean, and we are sealed as his own. Once we are baptized it is indelible- we cannot be unbaptized.
The first question someone is asked (above) assumes that people believe and are already baptized. But it is a confession of sin and a public repentance of sin. The first question really is an admission that no one is worthy of joining the church. It is not, as the world often assumes, that church people have to be so good- or reach a level of goodness in order to join the church. It is admitting our sin, renouncing evil's power over us, and turning to God. But it is also renouncing sin. Joining the church and following Christ means to no longer follow the ways of sin.
Without repentance, there is no definition of what we are joining. Repentance, in effect, means there are boundaries that we must not cross- standards that we must keep. When we eliminate sin or repentance, we may feel better about ourselves, but the idea of holiness, righteousness, truth, and goodness flee out the window. The church is not just a feel good club. It is a believing fellowship united by a desire to not go every path, but a desire to follow Christ's path. To walk on the narrow way, we must give up the other ways. If all roads lead to God- there is no need to travel at all. If holiness is everything- holiness is nothing. Similarly, in a Christian marriage ceremony- the covenant of marriage involves the vow "forsaking all others." In the parallel covenant of joining the church- we make the covenant of renouncing evil ways- forsaking all other paths but God's.
Prayer: Lord, give me the grace to want you above all else and to forsake all other gods and all other ways in order to serve and honor you.
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