Study

I’m Guilty

August 13, 2023 by in Study

Text:

Acts 2:36-38:

36: Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

37: 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?

38: Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

 

Theme:

I’m Guilty

 

Introduction:

  • Our text is found in Acts of the Apostles
    • Acts of the Apostles is the 5th book of the New Testament and the final book of history of the New Testament.
    • Acts was written by Doctor Luke, that “Beloved Physician” mostly during his time in Rome.
    • Although it is entitled Acts of the Apostles, the book actually focuses primarily on the activity of Peter and Paul.
    • The key to the contents of the book is in Acts 1:8, “Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
    • It is only a book of beginnings, a history of the founding of churches, the initial steps in the formation of the Christian society in the different places.
      • Chapters 1-12 – First 12 years of the Christian church – ministry of Peter – From Jerusalem to Antioch
      • Chapters 13-21 – Paul’s missionary years – planting of the church among the Gentiles
      • Chapters 21-28 – Paul at Rome – From Antioch to Rome
    • We find our text right in the middle of Peter’s first sermon.
      • Some try to say that it is his trial sermon…NO
        • Jesus had already ascended into Heaven. Peter’s “pastor” was not present so it couldn’t be his “trial sermon”.
      • Others say that it is Peter’s first sermon as pastor…NO
        • This was inauguration of the first church. The people did not assemble under Peter, but under the power of the Holy Spirit.
      • 36-38, our text gives the synoptical core of Peter’s sermon in two parts:
        1. Being brought to conviction
        2. Next Steps…What shall we do?

 

Body:

  • Verse 37 presents a pivotal point in the life of people when it says

“they were pricked in their heart”

  • What does it mean to say that they were PRICKED?
    • Webster defines pricked as “to affect with anguish, grief or remorse; to feel discomfort”
  • Where were the people pricked…IN THEIR HEART
    • The heart is the anthropomorphic crux of a person’s existence.
      • The heart houses the desire of the individual.
      • Matthew 22:37, “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”
      • John 12:40, “He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.”
    • Not in their MIND…the world influences and contaminates the mind
      • Isaiah 55:8, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.”
    • Not in their SOUL…our soul belongs to God
      • Genesis 2:7, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
    • Not in their BODY…there’s no telling what the body will doJ It is flesh!!!
      • Job 2:4, “And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.”
    • Can we identify with being pricked in the heart by something or someone?
      • If you can’t, go to the hospital to the pediatric ICU and see the babies struggling to hold on to a life that they have never experienced before and one that we don’t even appreciate.
      • If you can’t, think about that child who looks up and clings to you for their very life when you can’t even hold your own life in one piece.
      • If you can’t, think of the feeling that you felt when you were at the end of your rope and SOMETHING or SOMEONE came along to bring you out of the problem that you didn’t think that you were gonna make it out of.
      • If you can’t, come to church and listen to that one song or prayer that says everything that you have been struggling with AND gives you an answer to your questions in Jesus.
        • The old folks called it CONVICTION! …the realization that I AM GUILTY!
    • We must all realize and understand that WE ARE GUILTY!
      • Romans 3:23 says, “For we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”
    • Jesus came to save only those who were GUILTY!
      • Luke 19:10: “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
      • Only through conviction or the realization that “I’m Guilty” can one get to God through Jesus Christ!
    • People (the flesh) do not want to fall under conviction
      • Romans 10:2-3, “For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God”
    • For the Jews in our text, we can’t say exactly what part of v.36 did the damage. Maybe…
  1. When they simply heard the words of Peter… they were pricked in their heart
  2. When they heard that all the house of Israel was being addressed… they were pricked in their heart
  3. When they heard the clarity of Peter of an assured knowledge… they were pricked in their heart
  4. When they heard that it was God at work in Jesus… they were pricked in their heart
  5. When they heard that they had crucified Jesus… they were pricked in their heart
  6. When they heard that Jesus was made Lord AND Christ… they were pricked in their heart
  • The Holy Spirit is the power that brings us under conviction!
    • 1Timothy 4:1, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;”

 

Conclusion:

  • Then the men said in verse 37, “What shall we do?”
    • You must have a desire!
      • Matthew 7:7-8, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”
  • “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
    • Conviction is mandatory but it is not enough!
      • Too many of us have an experience but don’t have a CHANGE
    • Must have access to the right information
      • 2Timothy 4:3, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;”
      • Be
        1. Bible Based
        2. Christ Centered
        3. Holy Spirit Filled
      • We can be freed from the guilt
        • “Lord, I come to Thee a sinner all defiled. Please take the stain of guilt away and own me as Thy child.  For I cannot live in sin and feel my Savior’s Love, but that Thy blood can make my spirit clean and write my name above.”
      • We can be acquitted of our conviction!
        1. Repent
        2. Be Baptized
        3. Be Filled with the Holy Ghost
    • FILLED!!!!!

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