Notes
“People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip. King David said this about him: ‘I see that the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts his praises! My body rests in hope. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave. You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.’ “Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn’t referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us. But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on his throne. David was looking into the future and speaking of the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that God would not leave him among the dead or allow his body to rot in the grave.
“God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today. For David himself never ascended into heaven, yet he said, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.”’ “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!” Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:22-38
This passage takes place during Pentecost, where Peter clearly declares who Jesus is so that everyone listening can respond. His message is clear: Jesus is both Lord and Messiah–Leader and Liberator–and understanding this truth changes everything. We, too, can experience the same joy David spoke about, knowing that Jesus’ presence brings life. But to fully embrace Jesus as Lord, we must recognize what He has set us free from and what He is leading us into.
But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.
1 John 3:8
Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil—the adversary who seeks to keep us trapped in sin, the one who operates by isolating us, making us believe we are alone in our struggles, that no one else understands, or that no one truly cares. He speaks to our pain and problems, keeping us inwardly focused until we are drawn further into the "sin pen." The devil tells lies, trying to make us believe that sin is harmless, keeping us comfortable in the sin pen. But over time, hope drains away, and we might believe there is no way out. However, Jesus came to open the door of the sin pen. Through His sacrifice, He made a way for us to step into true freedom.
For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
Colossians 1:13-14
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me.
John 16:13-14
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
Romans 8:14
So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.
Galatians 5:16
Faith is more than acknowledging Jesus as our Savior—it’s following Him as Lord. The Holy Spirit is our guide, leading us into truth and transforming our lives. When we submit to Christ’s leadership, we don’t just leave behind the sin pen; we step into a life filled with the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.” Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
Acts 2:37-40
When Peter spoke, the people were convicted and asked, “What should we do?” The answer is the same today: repent by turning from your sin and stepping into freedom; be baptized by making a public declaration of your faith decision; and follow Jesus by walking in obedience to His leadership. We live in a world full of deception, but the truth is this: Jesus opened the door. The question is—have we walked through it?
Group Questions
- What does it mean to see Jesus as both Lord (leader) and Messiah (liberator)?
- What are some ways we are kept trapped in sin?
- How do repentance and baptism reflect our decision to follow Jesus?
- What step of faith is God calling you to take right now?
Prayer
Thank you for sending Jesus to set us free from sin and to lead us into new life. We recognize that He is both our Savior and our Lord. Help us to trust Him fully, and fill us with the Holy Spirit.