Cross Creek Community Church, Pastor Dave Martin April 11, 2010

“Beyond Conversion”

Part 1 of 4  Acts 2:37-41 and Selected

• It’s been said: “the older you get the wiser you get”… we learning lesson as we go through life.
• This is a short 4 week series exploring what’s beyond conversion, my new life in Christ…
• We may ask ourselves: Am I satisfied with my Christian experience?  Do I want more or less of God?
• Am I finding myself more victorious or more defeated spiritually?  Am I happy?
• In this series we’ll explore the early NT church in the book of Acts seeking to uncover golden nuggets…
• Comparing the “normal” Christian life in the N.T. with the “normal” Christian life in 2010…
• I believe it will be a fascinating journey… try not to miss… What can only God do in my life?

To begin unpacking this… we must start at the beginning of the Christian life: MY SALVATION

There are many terms that describe MY SALVATION… MY Conversion:  It is called Salvation, regeneration, redemption, saved, born again, new life, living hope, repentance, new birth, believe, faith, born of God… Last week we learned about Crossing over from spiritual death to spiritual life…

• This is the single most important decision anyone can make… affecting all eternity, we must get it right
• Jesus says, “What good is it if you gain the whole world yet lose your soul…” You are of great value! 
• Many souls have been born into God’s family over Cross Creek’s 10 yr history!
• In fact last Sunday with 600 people here for Resurrection Sunday, we saw about 15 decisions for Christ!
• Saved, now what?  What now?  What follows a decision for Christ?  Am I doing what God commands?

“The conversion of a soul is the miracle of a moment, but the making of a saint is a task of a lifetime”

 ~ Chuck Swindoll

• Discipleship which is spiritual growth is an ongoing continual process until we meet Jesus…

• Let’s begin with a brief background… Jesus was crucified… buried… and rose again as we saw last week
• He was seen by over 500 eyewitnesses for a period of 40 days… just before he ascended into heaven He told His disciples (120 present) to wait in Jerusalem for the promised Holy Spirit… they waited for an additional 10 days, until Pentecost.  The Day of Pentecost was one of three annual feasts the Jews celebrated (Passover, Pentecost, Feast of Tabernacles)… Pentecost celebrated the beginning of the harvest season, bringing many “God-fearing” Jews from “every nation under heaven” v5…
• At the precise moment in time, as Jesus promised… The Holy Spirit was poured out upon the 120… who began to speak in different languages… the crowds heard in their own native language… (Acts 2:1-13)  
• Amazed and perplexed… some mocking… the multitude asked the question, “What does this mean?”

Peter preaches the first sermon… Acts 2:14-36

• Peter stands up and preaches about Jesus’ life/miracles, death, burial, resurrection, exaltation…
• “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” 2:36

Acts 2:37-41 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.

3000 people saved/converted…

• God’s Word is Heard   When the people heard this,

Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

1. God plan… All Scripture is by inspiration of God… God breathe the very Words of Truth
2. Word is “rehema” in Greek, the spoken word… preaching, teaching, proclaiming God’s TRUTH
3. In a world of lies, deception and allurements… the people heard God’s Truth proclaimed
4. That is the reason so many Pastors/churches are powerless… they fail to speak God’s Word…

• Holy Spirit Produces Conviction   “they were cut to the heart”

John 16:7-11 ⁷ Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. ⁸ And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: ⁹ of sin, because they do not believe in Me; ¹⁰ of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; ¹¹ of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

1. God the Holy Spirit convicts and convinces people of their guilt of sin, of God’s Righteousness and of future coming judgment… Hearing Peter’s proclamation of God’s Word…
2. Those God fearing Pentecost Jews were “cut” to the heart… this is the only place the Greek word is found in the N.T… it means to “strike or prick violently, to stun, to pierce thoroughly…
3. No one is truly saved without the Holy Spirit’s ministry of conviction… “cut” drawing us to Christ
4. Holy Spirit continues to minister in every believers life… sealing, leading, teaching, praying, etc…

• Conviction Demands a Choice to be made… ⁴¹ “Those who accepted his message”

Hebrews 4:7 “… Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts."

1. When the Lord knocks on the heart of a person… a decision is made one way or the other
2. Produces an expression of sorrow over disappointing God with our sin… degree of brokenness
3. We read here they repented… we also see they accepted his message… they believed (heart)
4. Let’s clearly try to lay this out in order to help us understand this foundational truth…
5. When the Lord speaks to us He clearly lays a choice before us…

OR       

1. Unsaved and even believers can have their hearts grow cold and hard toward God…
2. Praise God 3000 souls were saved that day and added to their number! 
3. The “church” was birthed!  Jesus is still building it, continues in the same manner today…
4. We hear truth of God’s Word – Holy Spirit convicts us – we repent/turn and believe in faith

Christ’s Great Commission… (Given just before Jesus ascended into heaven)

Matthew 28:18-20 ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Believers Must Understand…

1. 1.      Christ’s Sovereign Authority…

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me”.

Philippians 2:9-11 ⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

1. Jesus is exalted far above all principalities and powers… above every name…
2. Every knee in heaven, on earth, or in hell will bow to His Sovereign Majesty and authority…
3. Every tongue ever created with confess Jesus is Lord!  Get weight of the Great Commission!
4. All “Authority”, exousia – liberty to do whatever He pleases, with power to accomplish… judicial
5. Be bold in our witness and profession before others as we stand in His authority!

1. Carefully notice the order of His commission to every believer and the church… “Beyond…”

1. 2.      Christ’s Divine Order…

• Be Saved from your sins through Faith “go make disciples”

Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

1. “As you are going” make disciples, reaching/evangelizing the world for Christ, proclaiming truth
2. It’s also an ongoing process of making dedicated, sold out learners and followers of Jesus Christ
3. Without Christ in our lives we would be lost and on our way to hell… Be reaching the lost/dead!
4. The first part of the great commission is Go make disciples… BE SAVED – THEN…

• Be Baptized in Identification with Christ  “baptizing them” (in name of the trinity)

V41 “Those who accepted the message (saved) were baptized”

Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

1. The second part of the great commission is to baptize these new believers…
2. Get baptism on the right side of salvation… not as an infant/child/non-believer… after salvation
3. 3000 people heard the truth, repented… now ready to be baptized (ALL BELIEVERS /thief only)
4. There are no secret believers in scripture… everyone God calls, He calls publically.

Luke 9:26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

1. Baptism is an outward act of OBEDIENCE demonstrating an inward change of heart (salvation)
2. You are identifying yourself with Christ… death/burial/resurrection…
3. Baptism doesn’t save you, it confers no grace… but it does show the unseen faith in your heart
4. It is NOT optional… but a command… Signup sheet in the back… if you are saved, then be baptized… this is the Lord’s divine order of “Beyond Conversion”…

• Be Growing Spiritually the rest of your life  “teaching them to obey everything I commanded you”

2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

1. God’s order: get saved, get baptized, and then get growing in God’s grace till you meet Jesus!
2. That is why we do Bible studies (Creation & Truth Project May 21^st), SS classes, small groups…
3. I began the message asking you, are you happy in your spiritual life?  Are you growing?
4. Let me leave you with this key truth… OBEDIENCE (from the great commission)

1. 3.      My Personal Responsibility… “obey everything I have commanded you”

Faith in obedience OR Unbelief in disobedience

John 14:21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

1. Jesus asked Peter three times… Peter, do you love me?  Let me ask you… Do you love Jesus?
2. Love Jesus = Obedience to His Word… saved and live by faith, being obedient to God’s Word
3. We that are saved have the capacity to walk in unbelief… where we find ourselves disobedient
4. Because “we only obey that what we believe”…  How can I begin again to please God?
5. I believe we must start, where we began our new life… a new burst of trusting, believing faith!

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

1. Remember this is ONLY part 1 of 4… (please try not to future weeks messages)
2. Allow God to clear out some areas in your life that has been taken over by the enemy…
3. “Beyond Conversion”… What does God expect from me now that I’m saved?  Obey

Let’s Pray…

• If you aren’t saved this morning, that is the starting gate… Just as the 3000 souls heard God’s Word… the Holy Spirit convicted their hearts… they repented/believed… you may need to do the same thing this morning and be born into God’s spiritual family… Most important decision ever!

• Maybe you’ve put off being baptized since you’ve been saved… don’t put it off any longer… as we obey God in baptism, He will be pleased and grant grace in other areas of your life… Obedience

If you’re saved his morning let the glory of the Lord rise among us!  Let’s sing out in praise!