WHAT IS THE PROMISE?
Written by: Peter Denby, Jr.

"The promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are a far off,
even as many as the Lord our God shall call." Acts 2:39

LET US BREAK DOWN THE AREAS OF STUDY:
What is the promise? - Who made the promise? - Who was the promise made to?

WHAT IS THE PROMISE?     (Acts 2:36-38) The promise is of the Gift of the Holy Spirit (Ghost). We need to remember that the sermon Peter preached was to the men of Judea and all that dwelt in Jerusalem. (Acts 2:14)God worked a miracle in that they all heard the preaching in their own language. (Acts 2:7-11) Then Peter preached the first message that had the power of Jesus blood applied to it. Peter taught that Jesus was approved of God (Acts 2:22) that those present had seen the miracles and wonders and signs. Peter went on to tell them that they had killed the one that they were waiting for, the Messiah. The people that were present heard him convict them of the crime of ultimate blasphemy - killing the human form of God - Jesus. "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell" (Matthew 10:28) What those people who killed Jesus were looking for was to shut Him up. However because they could not kill the Spirit, they were unable to succeed. Peter's message comes to the conviction stage in verse 36 when Peter says "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ." What a powerful message! He did not have to call them names or tell them how dumb they were for not seeing in the Word what had happened. No just a simple plain message. Verse 37 tells us "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?"
    Many today would say that the Holy Spirit worked to soften their hearts. I would agree and also say that this function of the Holy Spirit still works today. Our job is to teach (Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 24:47) No where in God's Word have I found where we are to save the people. We teach and God will grant the increase. Peter brought forth God's Word and the application (Historical facts; the death of Jesus) and allowed the Holy Spirit to grant the increase (3000, verse 41).
    Peter told them (verse 38) "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Everything is very clear here until you get to the gift of the Holy Ghost. What is that? I believe the best way to find out is look at other places where baptism is taught to see what result is there. Mark 16:16 says "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." Romans 6:4-11 says "Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in a newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall also in the likeness of His resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we are dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over Him. For in that He died, He died unto sin once: but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. For sin shall have no dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace." These verses show us that with baptism comes a newness of life and a freedom from sin. It also show us that we no longer have to follow the law (which no man could totally follow) and are under grace (mercy). It also tells us that we will live with Him (Jesus and God). We will have eternal life! The above verses show how we can have eternal life with God instead of in the lake of fire with the devil.

WHO MADE THE PROMISE?     The promise was said by Peter but carried out by God through the blood of Jesus. 2 Peter 3:9 tells us "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

WHO WAS THE PROMISE MADE TO?     We need to remember that the sermon Peter preached was to the men of Judea and all that dwelt in Jerusalem. (Acts 2:14) So first of all it was to them and I believe to theirgreater family the Jews. And then to theirchildren, and then to the Gentile (all that are a far off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.)
    You are in one of these categories. If you have not gotten the gift of the Holy Spirit, then follow through with what you need to do. (For more information read the article called "BASICS" which is accessable from the NEWS Menu or from our home page.) Don't wait.
    "But The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with a fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all Holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for a new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." 2 Peter 3:10-13
    After we know what we need to do then we need to make sure that other people get the same message. This is not a all inclusive list of the scriptures that tell us what we need to do to be saved. The first step is for you to put these things into practice in your own life. Then go forth and tell everyone you know about the salvation offered through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.