Acts 5:29-32
"But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: 'We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and for forgiveness of sins. And we His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him."
Just as you and I are called to be witnesses of Jesus Christ, so is the Spirit of God by his very nature. So powerful is this witness of the Lord, that without his testimony in the world today, our feeble attempts to draw others to Jesus Christ would always be rejected. It is only in response to the witness of the Spirit that belief is made unto salvation. We are simply a tool used by the Spirit as he draws people to salvation.
Peter's defense to the Pharisees as to boldly preaching Christ includes the same witness of Christ as is given to the world by the Spirit. First, Peter and the Spirit both claim that Jesus is with the Father and has been crowned both Prince and Savior. In essence, Jesus has become the heir of all that previously belonged to the Father. He is the crowned prince of life and those who obey him make up his kingdom.
Peter also testifies along with the Spirit that Jesus is the one who offers a chance to repent. This is a turning around from going the wrong way and making a decision to come back to God. Like the religions leaders of Christ's day, many today still don't believe they have need of turning back to God. After all, they've declared that God is not real, and for them the only moral standard for life is what they wish to say is right or wrong, depending on how it benefits their adopted lifestyles.
Finally, Peter is a witness with the Spirit that Christ grants forgiveness of sins. The only way to a right relationship with the Father is through a right relationship with Christ. There is no other way by which men may be saved. It is faith in Christ, and him alone! In that faith, Jesus grants forgiveness of sins and our relationship with God is made whole.
LORD JESUS
Lord, I thank you for the Spirit's witness in the world today. May I join you in boldly proclaiming life in Christ. Amen.
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