When the Spirit’s message convinces us that Jesus is “Lord and Christ” and He convicts us of our sins (Acts 2:36-7), we are ready to receive the inspired command,
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 (Acts 2:38).
Here, in Acts 2, the Lord shows that He does more than forgive. To be forgiven is to be swept clean. But, if left empty, the final condition will be worse than the first (Luke 11:24-26; 2 Peter 2:20). So, along with cleansing, God gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him (Acts 2:38; 5:32), and He expects them to “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). Forgiveness then has an enduring and fruitful result.
“Be filled with the Spirit.” Acts 2 embodies Ephesians 4.
Here, in Acts 2, the Lord brings together key elements for Christian unity.
- One Spirit – who inspired and confirmed the Gospel to which sinners responded (Acts 2:4, 33; 1 Peter 1:12), and who is God’s gift, poured out on His people (Acts 2:17, 33, 38; Titus 2:5-6).
- One God – who fulfilled prophecies, who confirmed His Son’s identity, who planned His Son’s death, who raised and exalted His Son (Acts 2:17, 22, 23, 24, 30, 32, 36).
- One Lord – who was predicted and accredited, proving Jesus to be “Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36).
- One baptism – which, by the Lord’s authority, was required of all believers. “Be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 2:38 cf. Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:26-27).
- One body – to which all who obeyed the Gospel were added (Acts 2:41, 47; 1 Corinthians 12:13).
- One faith and one hope – which they learned as “they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching” (Acts 2:42).
Here, in Acts 2, were disciples eager to maintain the unity they found in the one body. They shared in learning, in fellowship, in the breaking of bread, in prayers, in meeting needs and in worship (Acts 2:42-47). Here, in Acts 2, is the embodiment, the practical reality, encouraged by Ephesians 4.