So be it!

In our focal text this week, we read some major news being reported by Peter to the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. The news was that a gentile audience had come to saving faith in Christ Jesus. Peter testified that this amazing grace event had been affirmed by a manifestation of God’s Spirit baptizing those first gentile believers. What a pivotal moment in the life of the church – how would these Jewish Christians react?

As a member of the body of Christ, I’ve had many opportunities to observe and participate in believer’s baptisms. A question that I’ve often heard asked in those moments is for each bystander to remember the moment when they were first baptized. That question forces us to consider the similarities we have with each other as sinners who’ve been granted the eternal gift of salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Often in moments of a believer’s baptism, you’ll hear an enthusiastic “Amen!” coming from several in the crowd. Amen is a term that signifies agreement with what God is doing. The term “amen” is a verbal affirmation that means “so be it”. When those Jerusalem Christians heard the news of the gentile salvation experience and Peter’s report that this was the work of God, they, like Peter, had no other conclusion but to stand in awe and cooperation with what God was doing among the gentiles. While they didn’t understand everything to come from this, they did agree that if God was doing it then they would stand in unity with it. The Christians in Jerusalem react in a way that glorifies God and reveals the work of His Spirit in their lives.

The Holy Spirit moved in the early church to bring unity and fellowship among a diverse group of people. Today, the Spirit of God continues to work in the same way within the body of Christ. Jesus promised a baptism by God’s Spirit for His followers that would lead us to live for Him in unity and fellowship with His body – the church.

How do you respond to the work of the Holy Spirit in the church today? In your life? In others? May we be people that agree with what God is doing in His church. May we glorify God together as we remember His glorious work revealed through Jesus Christ. Let us be a people that say “Amen!” anytime we recognize the Spirit of God moving in our midst. And let us say “Amen!” when we hear of any person being granted repentance that leads to life in Christ to the praise of His glory!

Grateful and hopeful in Christ,

Jon