ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Monday February 20, 2017

“He touched me, and made me whole”

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” – Acts 2:37-39

Conviction of Sin (ongo‘i tautea ‘i he angahala)

We have a saying in Tongan after a sermon, “na‘e tau e Malanga” (that message hit home/touched me). Often seen in evangelistic meetings, throngs of people make their way to the altar to receive their salvation after their hearts have been touched by the message of the preacher. This is what happened in our text for today.

The immediate result of this was deeply felt conviction: now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, brothers, what shall we do? (Acts 2:37). These are the words of men who have been convicted of sin. The prophecy of Jesus had been fulfilled.

Evangelical Christianity has generally held that this Pentecostal conviction of sin was not the only fulfillment of Christ promise. In more recent times, however, questions have been raised about the validity of these assumptions. Today, generally speaking, the necessity of conviction as a forerunner of commitment to Christ is rarely emphasized, and may even be denied. There are three questions we must therefore consider.

B.        Questions about Conviction

            1)  is conviction necessary?

Undoubtedly some people become Christians without an agonizing sense of conviction of personal guilt. For example, there are Christians who know nothing of the radical upheaval in which others first experience of Christ and salvation began. They also those who apparently come to Christ in adolescents or maturer years with little of the signs of battle which others know. It is vital that we should recognize this unless we stereotype the operations of God’s Spirit without biblical ward. This is precisely why Paul emphasizes that there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone (1 Corinthians 12:6).

Challenge:

Think of the day you came to Christ? Do you remember? Was is a radical transformation? Or was it a gradual way? Regardless of the “way” it happened, Praise Him that you’re His child through His grace alone.

Memory Verse:

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."

— John 12:32

Pea ko au, kapau ‘e hiki au ki ‘olunga mei he kelekele, te u tohoaki ‘a e kakai kotoa pē kiate au – Sione 12:32

Bible Reading Plan: (52 weeks; 5 days a week)

Week 8 – Leviticus 12-14; Psalm 111; Hebrews 5