In this passage, Simon Peter preaches the first Gospel message. He explains in detail how a person can be saved. He tells us in very clear terms how anyone can come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. He tells us How Salvation Works. That is the thought that I want to magnify today.

1. CONVICTION v.37

2. CONVERSION v.38-40

3. CONFESSION v.38b-41

John Calvin in his famous book ‘Institutes of the Christian Religion’ defines repentance as “the true turning of our life to God, a turning that arises from a pure and earnest fear of him; and it consists in the mortification of our flesh and of the old man, and in the vivification of the Spirit “

This is something that God grants at the moment of salvation, but the believer must also practice it throughout his entire Christian life.

Louis Berkhof (Systematic Theology) defines repentance as “that change wrought in the conscious life of the sinner, by which he turns away from sin.”

Genuine repentance is an absolute essential ingredient in salvation. For when you repent of your sins, you will forsake your sinful ways. You will think like God thinks, feel like God feels, will God’s way and work for Him with zeal and delight. You see, repentance is more than just feeling sorry for your sins. It is more than sorrow over being “found out” in your sins. Repentance is an absolute changing of the life! It is a renunciation of the old life in sin and the embracing of the new life in Christ, 2 Cor 5:17.

Have you repented of your sins and trusted in Christ alone for salvation? If you have, you will still be repenting of your sins and trusting in Christ, following Him as Lord. Have you confessed your repentance and faith through baptism? If so, then you can know that God has met your greatest need by forgiving all your sins.

Discussion Questions

1. How would you answer a person who used Acts 2:38 to argue that baptism is essential for salvation?
2. Why is calling sinners to repent not adding works to salvation by grace through faith alone?
3. Does persistent disobedience necessarily mean that a person is not saved? How would you counsel such a person?
4. Biblically, does assurance of salvation depend on the believer’s obedience? Are there other biblical means of assurance?