“And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.’ And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, ‘Save yourselves from this crooked generation.’” (Acts 2:38-40)
Saint Peter spoke a great message on the day of Pentecost to people who had heard about Jesus, had even seen Him or at least knew what had happened to Him, as well as those who had heard of the reports of His resurrection from the dead. Peter accused all them of complicity in His crucifixion, and told them they were all sinners. He called on them to repent and turn away from the corruption of this world. He was primarily referring the formal legalism of the Pharisees, but also meant the idolatry of paganism as well since many of those in the crowd were from areas of the Roman Empire where they had much contact with pagan society.
Instead of being offended by this accusation and proclaiming their innocence, as many today would when confronted by their sinfulness, his hearers were convicted. They acknowledged their sinfulness and that they merited God’s just punishment. Peter responded by bringing them the message of grace through faith in Jesus as the only way to escape God’s just wrath.
Saint Peter was not calling only the Jews in first century Jerusalem to repent and renounce the corrupt and evil ways of the world, but all who were afar off, meaning all people who have ever lived, including we who live in the 21st Century. “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” He told them and us. These words with which Peter exhorted his hearers on the day of Pentecost, speak to all the people of the world today with great force and urgency. They serve primarily as a warning to all those who do not believe in Jesus, all who are frustrated by the chaos and unkindness which we live in, all those uncertain and fearful of death, that now is the time to get right with God. The words also exhort we who have faith in Jesus. They warn us to reject the words and dictates of the world and to avoid compromise with the ungodly message they espouse.
The Church continues to preach that same message today but, unfortunately, many do not see their guilt because they do not admit to or even see their sin. Many times, even those who admit to sin do not see how it affects others or even God. Most people believe in self-determination, preferring to hold fast to the concept of individual autonomy. What they do is nobody’s business but their own. They will not allow Almighty God any input in their lives (even if they believe He exists. Each each of them is his or her own god, each of them determines what is right and wrong. Consequently, they are dead in their sins. The Lord has called us for this time to witness to the truth to such so these too may be raised from the dead.