April 8th Daily Devotion

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON ACTS 

THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL      

Acts 2:37-39, 41 “When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 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. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call. . . Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” 

Romans 1:16 says that the “gospel is the power of God for those who believe.” Luke, in today’s devotional verses, wrote that the impact of the gospel Peter preached on the first Pentecost, 3,000 who heard it were baptized and became part of the early Christian church.   

Peter had said in His message, “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. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off . . .” His message remains the message of the gospel to this very day. And, it will not change!   

Through Peters preaching the gospel, the Holy Spirit brought about a heart transplant in the hearers by means of the Good News of forgiveness of sin through faith in Christ Jesus. Though the total number who received the gift of faith that brought about this change in their hearts was 3,000, it occurred to each listener individually. No one can believe for another. Faith comes through an individual hearing the word of God through which the Holy Spirit causes it to flood into the heart of the hearer.   

To think, through the power of your baptism, your sins were sent away from you as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12.) Your sins were cast into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:19) 

Prayer: Holy Spirit, keep me ever a believer in Jesus through the power of the Gospel, even to life everlasting. Amen. 

Once in the blest baptismal waters   
I put on Christ and made Him mine;  
Now numbered with God’s sons and daughters,  
I share His peace and love divine.  

Refrain: O God, for Jesus’ sake I pray    
Your peace may bless my dying day. 

His body and His blood I’ve taken   
In His blest Supper, feast divine;  
Now I shall never be forsaken,  
For I am His, and He is mine. Refrain: 

And thus I live in God contented  
And die without a thought of fear;  
My soul has to God’s plans consented,  
For through His Son my faith is clear. Refrain:  

Once in the Blest Baptismal Waters // LSB 598