SUNDAY'S SACRED SCRIPTURES: LIFE IN THE COMM'UNITY' OF CHRIST...

Happy Sunday, with LOVE! Today is the first day of a new week, thanks be to THE LORD, whose patience, and LOVE has brought forth this time, that HIS own are brought into the fold, sanctified, and consecrated, all for HIS GLORY, and for the fulfillment of HIS WILL! Let us PRAISE, EXALT, and EXTOL HIM with WORSHIP, and REJOICING, for HIS undying, unfaltering LOVE, then, let us be grateful, and HONOUR HIM with the best we can bring forth, based upon HIS WILL, HIS WAY, HIS WORD!!!

ACTS 2:38-47...
38/ Peter (said) to them, "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/ For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call."
40/ He testified with many other arguments, and was exhorting them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation."
41/ Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day.
42/ They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers.
43/ Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
44/ All who believed were together and had all things in common;
45/ they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one's need.
46/ Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart,
47/ praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Repent and be baptized: repentance is a positive concept, a change of mind and heart toward God reflected in the actual goodness of one's life. It is in accord with the apostolic teaching derived from Jesus (Acts 2:42) and ultimately recorded in the four gospels. Luke presents baptism in Acts as the expected response to the apostolic preaching about Jesus and associates it with the conferring of the Spirit.

From the first delivery of that Divine message, it appeared that there was Divine power going with it; and thousands were brought to the obedience of faith. But neither Peter's words, nor the miracle they witnessed, could have produced such effects, had not the Holy Spirit been given.

Sinners, when their eyes are opened, cannot but be pricked to the heart for sin, cannot but feel an inward uneasiness. The apostle exhorted them to repent of their sins, and openly to avow their belief in Jesus as the Messiah, by being baptized in his name. Thus professing their faith in Him, they would receive remission of their sins, and partake of the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit.

To separate from wicked people, is the only way to save ourselves from them. Those who repent of their sins, and give up themselves to Jesus Christ, must prove their sincerity by breaking off from the wicked. We must save ourselves from them; which denotes avoiding them with dread and holy fear.

By God's grace three thousand persons accepted the gospel invitation. There can be no doubt that the gift of the Holy Ghost, which they all received, and from which no true believer has ever been shut out, was that Spirit of adoption, that converting, guiding, sanctifying grace, which is bestowed upon all the members of the family of our heavenly Father.

Repentance and remission of sins are still preached to the chief of sinners, in the Redeemer's name; still the Holy Spirit seals the blessing on the believer's heart; still the encouraging promises are to us and our children; and still the blessings are offered to all that are afar off.