Whosoever Shall Call

Acts 2:16-21

We treat the Old Testament as though it is a harsh and useless segment of the Bible. Many people actually believe that we do not need the Old Testament today. This is a terrible idea and completely unbiblical. Much of what we read in the New Testament is either alluded to or directly quoted from the Old Testament. Therefore, if we throw it out, we are throwing out much of what we claim to believe.

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But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: 21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Acts 2:16-21

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In the text today, Peter begins his message by quoting a passage from the Old Testament. This was the scripture that he used to preach the first message recorded from one of the disciples. The text he quoted was Joel 2:28-32. On a side note, it is interesting that the "Prosperity Preachers" also love Joel 2, but not the section that Peter used. They like to take some of the previous verses out of context. Peter tells the people that the speaking in tongues and the other miracles that they were doing (and would do) were a fulfilment of what Joel wrote. The purpose of the gifts was to reveal that salvation had come. Peter then preached Jesus and that he was the salvation from God. Those same people had been a part of the crucifixion of Jesus and Peter plainly placed the blood of Jesus on them. He preached a very strong message. Just as Joel said, Peter told them that "whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (v. 21).

The reading of the scripture, the preaching of Jesus, and the call to repentance led to 3,000 people accepting Christ as their Savior (v. 41). The scripture was the evidence that they were working under the authority of God. They were not preaching a new Gospel. Paul said, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ" (Galatians 1:6-7). The Gospel of Jesus was not "another Gospel" than that which had been preached in the Old Testament, it was the same Gospel. This is why Peter quoted the scripture!

Read the scriptures! Preach Jesus! Call people to repentance! This is the message of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Until we are called home, this is the model we are to follow. If it is a new gospel, if it is "another gospel", it is a false gospel and we need to shun it.

Father, help me to teach people Your word. Help me to proclaim Jesus. May I call people to repentance and may the receive you as their Savior. Bless Your Word and may it not return unto You void!