When the apostle Peter said, “this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel” (Acts 2:16), followed by a quotation from that prophet (Acts 2:17-21), Peter was announcing the beginning of the church. Prophecies concerning the establishment of the kingdom or church and the salvation offered inside that spiritual institution began to be fulfilled on the Pentecost following the Ascension of Jesus Christ (Acts Chapter Two).
The first recorded Gospel sermon is found in this chapter. In that sermon the apostle Peter referred to many prophecies about the Savior, all of which were fulfilled by Jesus Christ; thereby Peter proved that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the Son of God. The miracles that were performed by Peter and the other apostles also confirmed this truth.
Further, through Peter’s preaching, the audience learned that they were guilty of sins, including the murder of God’s Son on the cross. About 3,000 persons demonstrated belief in Jesus as the Christ and repentance by asking what they should do. Peter answered, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). They were obedient to Peter’s preaching and were baptized and the Lord added them to the church. “And the Lord added to the church daily those that were saved” (Acts 2:47).
Before Acts Two, the church was still future; the church first appears in Acts Two. Before Acts Two, there was no available cure for sin; in Acts Two, at the time of the establishment of the church, baptism for the remission of sins was taught and practiced. The saved were added to the church by the Lord. Therefore, the church is comprised of the saved–baptized believers.
Peter also taught that others besides those present on that Pentecost can enjoy the blessings of salvation. You, too, can become a baptized believer and be added to the New Testament church by Jesus Christ. By doing what Peter’s audience did in response to his Gospel preaching, you also can become a member of the church that began in Acts Two. “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.”
