Third Sunday in Easter Scripture Readings:
Acts 2:14a, 36-41, Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19, I Peter 1:17-23, Luke 24:13-35
Acts 2:14a, 36-41, Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19, I Peter 1:17-23, Luke 24:13-35
Acts 14a, 36-37 (NRSV)
But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say.... Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified." Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?"
Faith can become something that we just accept mentally but rarely works its way out into our lives. True faith in the crucified and risen Lord continually begs a question. It is not just, "What should I believe?" But also it is, "What should I do?" True belief always makes its demand in terms action. It isn't just mental acceptance. True belief is renewal of the mind. Renewal of the mind transforms the heart. Transformation of the heart finds its way to the surface in the way that we speak and act. This all begins with the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead. New life is available to us through the Holy Spirit through the action of repentance.
Acts 2:38
Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Repentance is more than the mental act of being sorry. It is a "What should I DO?" Repentance comes from the true belief and recognition that I am out of step with God and going the wrong way. Repentance is a conscious act of turning around. At the point we become aware that we are out of step with God, true faith makes a demand. We can simply regret the fact that we are out of step or we can choose to turn and get our lives back in step.
One of the main reasons for God centered corporate worship is that, on a regular basis, it puts us into this place of, "What should I do?" We are confronted with Who God is and what He is about. We encounter the risen Lord in scripture and at the table. The question comes down to, "Do I really believe?" And "If I truly believe, then what should I do?" Worship challenges and activates our faith.
But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say.... Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified." Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?"
Faith can become something that we just accept mentally but rarely works its way out into our lives. True faith in the crucified and risen Lord continually begs a question. It is not just, "What should I believe?" But also it is, "What should I do?" True belief always makes its demand in terms action. It isn't just mental acceptance. True belief is renewal of the mind. Renewal of the mind transforms the heart. Transformation of the heart finds its way to the surface in the way that we speak and act. This all begins with the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead. New life is available to us through the Holy Spirit through the action of repentance.
Acts 2:38
Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Repentance is more than the mental act of being sorry. It is a "What should I DO?" Repentance comes from the true belief and recognition that I am out of step with God and going the wrong way. Repentance is a conscious act of turning around. At the point we become aware that we are out of step with God, true faith makes a demand. We can simply regret the fact that we are out of step or we can choose to turn and get our lives back in step.
One of the main reasons for God centered corporate worship is that, on a regular basis, it puts us into this place of, "What should I do?" We are confronted with Who God is and what He is about. We encounter the risen Lord in scripture and at the table. The question comes down to, "Do I really believe?" And "If I truly believe, then what should I do?" Worship challenges and activates our faith.
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