It is Pentecost and I want to take a look at how Pentecost affects us today and the times we’re living in – uncertain times – almost 2000 years after that first great Pentecost day. Is it still relevant? Does it still affect us? After preaching his sermon on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2, Peter ends as follows:

Acts 2:36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ – this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Peter is very blunt with the people. He says, “You have crucified Jesus.” The audience, moved with conviction, responds:

2:37 “Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brethren, what shall we do?’”

What shall we do? This has happened, but what now? What should we do? Peter answers them with a definite, positive word and says,

Acts 2:38 “… Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgivenness of your sins …”

Repentance and baptism are both mentioned in the same sentence, therefore they go hand in hand; they are in actual fact one concept. Repentance is a turning away from sin. Baptism is a very deep, spiritual symbol in which I declare that I have died to the old sinful life.