God Has a Plan

By Catie York

God’s simple plan for salvation is the key to overcoming the chaos of our broken world. The Apostle Peter’s example at Pentecost (Acts 2) is relevant in the day and time God has given us to fulfill His work. Through his words, actions, and manner, Peter demonstrated the plan of salvation is both powerful and personal.

The Coming of the Holy Spirit (verses 1-13)

Historically, well-practiced Jews from across the ancient world traveled to Jerusalem at Pentecost to make offerings to God and celebrate the first fruits of harvest by thanking God for His provision. It was also a time to remember and celebrate the Law of Moses.

During the Pentecost celebration in Acts 2, the Holy Spirit descended, and “tongues of fire” rested on each gathered believer. These disciples began to speak in “tongues,” that is, every listener understood the message of the gospel in his or her own language. This event was not just a singular occurrence but only the beginning! Though the miracle of tongues was only temporary, the power manifested that day remains very much alive, and believers today live with the supernatural presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within.

Skeptics among the crowds in Jerusalem mocked these Spirit-filled believers, accusing them of being drunk. That’s when Peter entered the scene and shared a simple sermon revealing God’s powerful plan.

The What (verses 14-21)

Peter assured his listeners the miracle of tongues had nothing to do with drunkenness, referencing a familiar Old Testament prophecy from Joel. Peter explained exactly what was happening. The Holy Spirit had been poured out upon all those who called upon the name of the Lord (verse 21). Peter then moved to the heart of his message: God’s plan.

The How (verses 22-36)

Peter explained to his listeners how God’s plan was executed. He unpacked the events that culminated at Pentecost. He asserted and defended Christ as the promised Messiah, the One through whom God shared eternal salvation through His death, burial, and resurrection. Christ’s saving work gave every person access to the Holy Spirit. Peter made it clear the events Jesus endured were not happenstance or a series of unfortunate events. They were God’s perfect plan from eternity past into eternity future.

Verses 22-24 and 32-35 lay out the gospel practically and simply. Peter concisely verified Jesus as God’s Son who performed supernatural works, signs, and wonders to demonstrate to humanity He was God in the flesh. Peter identified Jesus as the One the unbelieving Jews sentenced to death at the hands of the Romans only a few weeks earlier (verse 23). Both Jews and Gentiles were equally guilty for Jesus’ death, unified in their desperate need for a Savior (still true today).

While Jesus died at the hands of men, His death was known and predestined by God, a sovereign plan of atonement for all who believe in Him for salvation. Only God could work such a perfect paradox. Christ was crucified by men as allowed by God in His sovereignty. What a picture! God, the Ruler and Creator of all, functions as He pleases, yet He anticipates and uses the free will of man as part of His greater purpose and plan.

However, Christ’s crucifixion was not the end of God’s plan, but the beginning. God raised Christ from death! In verse 24, Peter described the resurrection as loosening the “pains of death.” The original Greek word for “pains” describes the pains of childbirth. Note the play on words: the pains of labor bring new life, and God removed the pains of death from Jesus. There is no stopping a baby when it’s time for birth. Likewise, there was no stopping Christ when the time came for Him to rise.

Peter reinforced this truth by referring to the Old Testament again in verses 25-31, quoting David’s Psalm 16:8-11. David rejoiced over the presence of God and prophetically spoke of God’s plan for salvation. In Psalm 16:10 (quoted in verse 27), David spoke confidently in first person, confirming his personal hope beyond the grave while also delivering a Messianic prophecy: “Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.”

To readers today, this Old Testament reference might seem trivial or distracting. To the Jews, this was a powerful picture that closed gaps in the prophecies and confirmed Jesus as Messiah. Peter continued to reference prophets familiar to the Jews. Verses 32-35 recount his own eyewitness of the risen Lord and words of David. Peter also described the prophetic promise of the Holy Spirit and explicitly correlated that promise to the events at Pentecost. He left no shadow of doubt for Jews in his audience but fully explained the truth of God’s plan in the person of Jesus.

The Why and the What’s Next (verses 36-39)

Peter concluded his message by restating with unwavering certainty the prophecies of the Old Testament clearly point to the crucified and resurrected Jesus as Lord and Messiah. Verse 37 describes the crowd’s response. People were “pricked in their heart” and eager to learn what to do next. Peter told them to “repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (verses 38-39).

His response was simple: repent and be baptized. Peter did not recommend baptism as the means to salvation, but rather as a public testimony of obedience, identifying with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. New believers were dipped beneath the water’s surface to display death to their sin (heartfelt repentance); they rose from the water to display Christ’s gift of new life.

Peter made it a point to express the breadth of this simple plan for salvation: available to everyone, in every generation, near or far. The term for those “afar off” describes the Gentiles. Peter again unified Jew and Gentile—this time in the availability of salvation offered in Jesus. Peter shared a powerful sermon with powerful implications.

The Results (verses 40-41)

Peter urged his listeners to turn away from the crooked generation in which they lived (verse 40), and many believed and were baptized. Three thousand new believers were added to the family of God in a single day (verse 41)!

We glean much from Peter’s words today. First, God’s plan has not changed: the sacrifice of His Son Jesus still provides the atonement for anyone who believes in Him. Salvation is still open to anyone willing to repent and follow Him. It’s personal. The salvation God provides through Jesus is intended for me, you, the people we know and love, and strangers we have never met.

Sadly, like the crowd at Pentecost, people often respond to this simple plan of salvation with confusion, speculation, or even hostility. Perhaps they have not experienced that “prick in their heart” like the new converts at Pentecost. Like Peter, we must make it real to them. How do we do that?

Several “Peters” in my life have discipled me, connected the dots, and made God’s ways clear. God used these individuals to make His plan personal to me. With a Catholic background, I learned many rules growing up: how to be good enough and do enough to earn my way to Heaven. We attended holy days of obligation and were always in a pew on big church holidays (mainly to keep my grandma happy). However, I was out of touch with the living Word of God. I didn’t know His plan for me until my “Peter” explained it. Suddenly, it jumped off the pages of the Bible and into real life. I learned what the plan of salvation was, how it came to be, why it mattered, and what my next steps should be.

So, how can we be more like Peter in sharing God’s plan of salvation? Consider three simple lessons from this passage.

• Peter made sense out of the chaos by piecing together the truths of God’s Word in a way his audience could understand. We all recognize the chaos in our culture. To clearly offer God’s plan to this chaotic world, we must know Scripture. Peter inserted Scripture into his message constantly, weaving it together with his personal testimony in an intentional way. Likewise, we must carefully and intentionally articulate truths from Scripture for those who need it, in the way they need it, and at the time they need it. We must be sensitive to the Spirit and allow Him to guide our words.
  

• Peter was bold and direct. Boldness with the gospel does not mean we force it onto someone with whom God may not be working at that time. Peter laid out the facts candidly, simply, and directly. He provided an invitation to the gospel that challenged his audience to think, understand, and decide. God was clearly at work, and Peter obeyed God’s leading by sharing God’s plan without apology. He did not sugarcoat or dilute it but spoke with love.
  

• Peter pointed toward action. Rather than being vague, Peter spoke clearly and then urged those who believed to act. Repentance is a heart decision, turning away from sin and toward God, a new life. Peter urged his listeners to immediate action: repent and be baptized.
  

As you consider this powerful passage, ask God to reveal direction for your own life. Ponder ways to act more like Peter at Pentecost, and maybe God will bring to your mind the people, the place, or even a specific person with whom you must deliver the message of His plan.

About the Writer: Catie (Rogers) York is originally from Buffalo, New York, but now lives in Smyrna, Tennessee, with her husband Andy. She was discipled to Jesus out of Catholicism at Northpoint FWB Church and now serves alongside Andy at The Grove FWB Church in Smyrna. She is a technical support engineer in the water utility industry and loves to make connections with everyone she meets.