The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 2:36-41, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ– this Jesus whom you crucified.”
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?”
38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”
40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!”
41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.”

The Nation of Israel is the geographic central of the known world. It was designated so by the LORD Himself. Thus, it is highly appropriate for Simon Peter, himself a Jew and a believer, to cry out accusingly to his fellow countrymen that God the Father had made His Son, Jesus, both LORD and Christ.

This announcement on the heels, as it were, of the message of salvation spoken by those amazing “tongues of fire.” Yet, for the people who heard the message, it was not sufficient. Those who heard the message, cried out “What shall we do?” They were required to act with truthfulness upon the message itself.

Peter identified Jesus Christ as the One who died on the Cross –the Father’s atonement for the sins of all humanity, Jews and Gentiles alike. Yet, for that atonement to apply, mankind must act in faith, believing that Jesus died for them.
The baptism of which Peter spoke was not for salvation. It was intended then (as of now) as a public demonstration of one who has repented of his sin and, in full immersion, is identifying with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Salvation is not awarded for any “works,” regardless of how meaningful and sincere one might be.

“Jesus paid it all;
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.”

Have you turned from your sins and put your faith in Him? He died on the Cross for you! All He requires is that you repent (confess and turn from your sins) and yield your life to Him. He always does better for us than we can do for ourselves. May God help you to trust Him!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom