Acts of Conversion

In the book of Acts, Luke chronicles the beginnings of the Church being birthed at Pentecost (Acts 2).  Because of the immense significance that is the moment in history that deals with the gifting of the Holy Spirit, the preaching that immediately follows offers the truest evangelism ever preached.  At this point, Peter stood up among the disciples and preached a rousing and convicting sermon, the apex being Acts 2:38-39, "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."


In lieu of the historical importance of this moment, Peter offers the first post-resurrection Gospel presentation in all of salvation history.  In essence, Peter diagramed conversion, understood as repentance and baptism in the name of  Jesus for the forgiveness of sin, resulting in the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The reality of this picture of conversion and belief still rings true today.  


Salvation still demands repentance, literally meaning turning away from self and to God.  Repentance is thus the first step of belief and conversion.  When we turn away from self and towards the Lord, we are able to see truthfully how pitiful our righteousness is in the light of His holiness.  Additionally, repentance is a personal action of humility which allows for the Holy Spirit to indwell us.  Think of it in physical terms: if we are full of the junk of ourselves, then there is no room within for the Holy Spirit to fill our lives.


Following repentance is the baptism into the name of Jesus.  Names represent the essence of the person whom the name refers.  When we are baptized into the name of Jesus, we are actively recognizing that
we no longer belong to ourselves but we belong to Him.  In this way, the name of Jesus rests upon us.  Just after Pentecost, Peter sharpens this point to a razor's edge: " And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).”


The Last part of the conversion equation is the gifting of the Holy Spirit.  The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the evidence of true repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus.  Repentance and transformational faith is the soil by which the Holy Spirit takes root in our hearts.  In reality, these necessary conditions refer not to a once-for-all-time requisite, but rather are to be understood as a constant posture, a way of life.  Let us then strive to live lives of repentance, baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus and filled with the Holy Spirit!