How to Become a Christian
A Sermon on Acts 2:37-38
Originally preached Jan. 31, 1965
Scripture
37¶ Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of …
Sermon Description
Is Christianity simply a lifestyle choice or something to which one can adapt? If behavior is changed, will the heart follow? In this sermon on Acts 2:37–38, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones teaches that Christianity is not a hobby to learn or a simple religion of temporary changes but rather Christianity “picks us up.” More than a simple choice one makes, it is an adoption into an eternal family. Dr. Lloyd-Jones combats the idea that Christianity is for simpletons or the weak. He argues that the Spirit leads to think, and therefore, Christianity is for thinkers. It is a great tragedy to go through life without thinking, as much of the world does, and rejecting salvation in favor of intellectual arrogance. This sermon teaches that the only correct response when learning of the sinful nature is to repent. As these 3,000 men and women heard Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost and their hearts were pricked, they repented of their sins and were welcomed into the kingdom of God. This reaction exemplifies the repentant heart necessary for salvation.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon begins by introducing the passage from Acts 2:37-38 which describes people asking what they must do to be saved after hearing the gospel preached.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones then explains that the sermon series is focused on discovering the true nature of the Christian church and message by examining its origins in Acts.
- He argues that Christianity is not vague or indefinite but rather concrete and clear. One passes into Christianity at a specific point in time.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that becoming a Christian is not something one chooses to do but rather something that happens to someone through the power of the Holy Spirit.
- The first thing the Holy Spirit does is make people think. The crowd in Acts 2 was previously thoughtless but began to think deeply after hearing the gospel.
- The Holy Spirit makes people think specifically about Jesus Christ and the facts concerning him. Christianity is focused on the person of Christ, not on ourselves.
- The Holy Spirit next makes people realize how the facts about Christ relate to them personally. The crowd in Acts 2 realized they were responsible for Christ's death.
- This realization of personal responsibility leads to conviction, fear, and asking what one must do. The crowd asked Peter and the apostles what they must do.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that most people today do not think about Christ or see their need for him because of ignorance about God, themselves, death, and judgment.
- This ignorance, combined with spiritual deadness, leads to a lack of concern for Christ. Dr. Lloyd-Jones illustrates this with examples of great Christians who were willing to die for Christ.
- Those convicted by the Spirit realize they are guilty before God for rejecting Christ and fighting against him. They realize they can do nothing to remedy their guilt.
- The only solution is to obey the message given, as the crowd in Acts 2 did. They were told to repent and be baptized in Jesus's name.
- Repentance means confessing one's sins and foolishness to God, acknowledging one deserves punishment, and casting oneself on God's mercy. This is how one becomes a Christian.
Sermon Q&A
MLJ Sermons: How Does One Become a Christian?
What is the key distinction Dr. Lloyd-Jones makes between true Christianity and popular perceptions of religion?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, there is a stark contrast between true Christianity and popular religious perceptions. He emphasizes that true Christianity is "not something vague and indefinite" but rather "something concrete and clear." Most people view Christianity as an institution for ceremonial occasions like christenings, weddings, and funerals. However, the biblical view presented in Acts shows Christianity as a transformative spiritual experience where one moves decisively from one position to another, as demonstrated by the 3,000 people who were "added unto the church" after Peter's sermon. A true Christian knows "exactly where he is and what he believes" and can "give a reason for the hope" within them, unlike the vague notion of occasionally thinking about God and trying to live a good life.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones teach about the Holy Spirit's role in conversion?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that the Holy Spirit is essential in conversion, as "there would never have been a Christian church but for this." He explains that conversion is not something we do, but something done to us: "You cannot take up Christianity... Christianity is something that takes you up." The Holy Spirit uses Scripture to convict people, as happened when Peter's listeners "were pricked in their heart." He quotes Paul's words to the Corinthians that his preaching was "not with enticing words of men's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power." Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that this spiritual work "baffles our understanding" - we can't analyze or dissect it, but we know when it happens to us. This divine action explains all Christian conversion, church growth, and revivals throughout history.
How does the Holy Spirit make people think, according to the sermon?
Contrary to the notion that Christianity promotes intellectual suicide, Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that the first thing the Holy Spirit does is "to make a man think." He points to the crowd who had earlier shouted "away with him, crucify him," but who now, under conviction, asked "what shall we do?" The Spirit makes people think specifically about Jesus Christ - not primarily about themselves. Lloyd-Jones contrasts this thoughtful response with the "unthinking, heedless, ignorant mob" mentality that is "always wrong." He states that "the greatest trouble in life is that men and women don't think," but instead avoid painful reflection through distractions. The Spirit breaks through this avoidance and makes people consider the historical facts about Jesus and their personal relationship to Him. This thinking leads to conviction when people realize they have been "rejecting God" by being unconcerned about Christ.
What questions does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say people begin to ask themselves when they are under conviction?
When under spiritual conviction, Dr. Lloyd-Jones says people begin asking questions like: 1. "Why have I been so unconcerned about Jesus Christ?" 2. "Why have I never seen my need of him?" 3. "Why have I never even considered the consequences of rejecting him?"
These questions lead to painful realizations about one's ignorance of God, ignorance of human nature, ignorance of life's meaning, and ignorance of death's reality. People recognize their spiritual deadness - "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him." They realize they've been fighting against God, rejecting His Son, and ridiculing Christ's death, leading to a sense of helplessness expressed in the question: "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"
What is the appropriate response to this conviction, according to the sermon?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the appropriate response to conviction is simply to obey the message given by Peter: "Repent and be baptized." Repentance means to "think again" and "change your mind." This involves:
- Telling God about your sin and acknowledging it openly
- Confessing that your "cleverness is rubbish"
- Acknowledging your arrogance and ignorance
- Confessing that you've sinned against God without any reservations
- Casting yourself entirely upon God's mercy and love
- Admitting you deserve punishment and have no excuse
Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that "the moment you and I do that before God, He will look upon you and He'll smile upon you and He'll say, 'It's all right. I've sent my only Son into the world for you.'" This sincere repentance and calling upon the Lord leads to salvation, as Joel prophesied: "Whosoever calleth on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
The Book of Acts
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.