Acts 2: 14a,36-41 - What it Means to be Christian

If we want to make disciples of Jesus Christ, then we have to know what it means to be Christian. What we believe. Who we follow. Far too many people, when asked what Christian’s believe fumble around for answers. They miss an opportunity to minister to someone about Christ.

Perhaps one of the reasons Christianity and being a Christian is so hard to define, so hard to put a finger on, is that our walk with Christ is a process. Christians are expected to grow in their faith, grow in living out their beliefs, continually. Another reason is that so much of our life with Christ is dependent upon being lead by the Holy Spirit. 

Finally, its hard to define what it means to be Christian because there are both overarching principles for all Christians, and some that are specific for each denomination. For example, United Methodists believe that being Christian demands following Christ with our heart and life. Its not just about what we believe in our heads but about how we live out each and every day. Being Christian isn’t just a name or a title that we are ascribed, it a complete way of life that effects how we think, speak, and live. 

Today’s scripture passage comes after the end of Peter’s first sermon. The sermon didn’t have a delightful or cheery ending - but yet, the message lead to more than 3,000 people asking what they should do? How should we respond to this message that we’ve just heard? How can we come to know about this Jesus whom you speak of?

Peter’s response was one that has resounded through the ages of Christianity - “repent and be baptized so that your sins may be forgiven.” Through baptism we are born anew into a life with Christ and connected to his body, the Church. Baptism, for many, marks a significant point in their Christian journey. For some it is the beginning of their faith walk. For others, it comes at a turning point, when they accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. But no matter when a person is baptized, there is always an affirmation that we cannot earn God’s grace. We cannot earn the promises that are made at our baptism. We cannot earn salvation.

For some this is perplexing - especially as the crowds are asking in today’s scripture, what can we do, for so much of the work of baptism is God’s. Its not necessarily about what we do, but what God does for us - and that’s grace. In fact, we have been offered this grace time and time again before we ever make the decision to be baptized. Because God loves us each so deeply, and wants us to return to him, grace is working in our lives before we even come to know him. Baptism is simply us publicly saying “yes” in response to God’s offer of love and forgiveness.

Pastor Timothy Hare tells the story of a pastor gathering children around for their time during the worship service. As the pastor sat there he asked the children the question ‘what does forgiveness feel like?’ A question I would guess many adults would find hard to answer. But one little boy looked like he was thinking very hard about the question and responded, “It feels like your birthday. Like you are starting over.” What a beautiful image for baptism - its like a birthday - into new life. A celebration. A confirmation. Something that we cannot earn, but defines who we are. 

Peter goes on to say, “you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”. Another thing that is hard to wrestle with about what Christians believe is that it isn’t always orderly and systematic. Peter seems to be saying that after you are baptized that you receive the Holy Spirit. But for some, the Holy Spirit is alive, present, and active in their life well before the sacrament of baptism. For others it seems to be a long time afterwards before they can pinpoint the movement of the Spirit in their lives. Just as we cannot earn salvation, we cannot force the Holy Spirit to show up at a certain time or act the way that demand. 

Yet, we will receive the Holy Spirit as Christians and the Spirit acts in us to respond to the grace that Christ started for us on the cross. The Holy Spirit helps us respond to God’s grace in a personal way, as well as allows us to carry the message and promise of God’s love to others. It is the Holy Spirit, not our own belief, that makes us Christians who can live out our faith. It is the Holy Spirit that transforms us, bit by bit, over time to be more conformed to the ways of Christ.

It may seem odd that the Holy Spirit plays such a vital role in our life with Christ. Being a Christian isn’t simply believing in Jesus; its having a relationship with the God who we believe is three in one and one in three, God the Father, Son and Spirit. Peter understood this even before the doctrine of the Trinity was stated. In his exhortation, he is speaking to the crowds about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Sometimes in our Christian walk, doctrines like this one trip us up. We get tangled up in the things that we do not understand instead of looking to see how God - Father, Spirit, Son - is present in and effects our lives. 

For God and God’s message do effect our lives. I don’t think 3,000 people responded that day because Peter was the most eloquent of speakers. They responded because the gospel effected their lives, spoke to their concerns, and they saw how it was part of their story. 

I recently received a message from a friend asking how to address concerns that the Bible is not relevant to today’s society. Her question gave me pause and I had to think a while before I answered her. I struggled with the question because I so deeply see the Bible as being relevant to today’s society. Because God is relevant. And it is the Story of God relentlessly pursuing a relationship with us, giving everything to redeem and forgive us. Perhaps there is no story more relevant in a society with so many people thinking they can earn everything on their own, even forgiveness.

Peter didn’t have to make the gospel message flashy, but he did present it in a way that directly spoke to the people’s needs. We forget that at the core of what Christians believe is forgiveness. We get caught up in side issues instead of focusing on the cross and the empty tomb. We get sucked into trendy debates instead of asking how the Holy Spirit is leading us to reach out to this culture, at this time. And we get distracted from the fact that at its very core, Christianity is a religion of invitation. An invitation from Christ to come and hear the good news. An invitation echoing through the ages from John the Baptist, to the cross, to Peter that fateful day, to even us, here, now, to repent. For nothing that we do can separate us from the God who loves us so dearly, as long as we confess and say that we are sorry. An invitation to be baptized, clothed in new life and welcomed into the family of God. 

Brothers and sisters, some day someone is going to ask you to account for what you believe as a Christian - how are you going to answer them? Are you going to fumble for an answer? Or are you going to rattle off a long list of shalls and shall nots? Or are you going to give a thesis on complicated doctrines, that honestly no one throughout the ages really fully understood? Or... Or are you going to speak of the grace that set you free? Speak of being welcomed into the family of God through the symbol of baptism and what it means to you each time we welcome someone new into the faith? Are you going to tell of a God who relentlessly pursues you with his love, even to the point of going to the cross before you knew him? Are you going to speak of having a living faith, lead by the Holy Spirit each day? Speak of a Savior who invites you to come and be made whole? Some day you will be asked. What will your answer be? Amen.