Who is the Cortez Church of Christ? We are men and women who have come to a faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God.
In our faith we believe that Jesus came to earth to die on a cross, carrying the sins of man with him to the grave (John 3.16-21; Romans 3.21-26).
In our faith we believe that Jesus rose from death to new life, inviting men to share in his resurrection (Acts 2.22-36; Ephesians 2.1-10; 1 Peter 1.3-5).
In our faith we have responded to Christ's invitation by joining him in his death, burial, and resurrection. We have been immersed in water as Scripture demands and have received the forgiveness of our sins and have entered a new life in Christ (John 3.3-8; Acts 2.37-41; Romans 6.1-4; Galatians 3.27-29).
It is our faith that brings us together as one church, one community, one family. As a church we worship together, study God's Word together, fellowship together, serve together, share life together, and play together (Acts 2.42-47; 1 Corinthians 12.12-13; 1 Peter 2.4-10).
We are Christians, the Church of Christ (Acts 11.26; Romans 16.13). These two names suggest so much about who we are called to be as a people brought together by the grace of God in Christ.
We bear the name of Christ because it is in him and through him that we have our being. We have found salvation in him, through the blood that he shed on the cross and through the power of his resurrection (Colossians 3.10-11). We are Christ's disciples; he, and he alone, is the model for our living and being (Ephesians 4.17-24). We are his church, his people, his body; we belong to no other, and so it is by his name that we are known (Matthew 13.16-20; 1 Corinthians 1.10-17).
In Acts 2, the Apostle Peter preached a sermon. He stood on the day of Pentecost and preached to thousands of people who had gathered in Jerusalem. The crowd was a literal cross-section of the world, there were people from every nook-and-cranny, men of every nationality and race (Acts 2.5-11).
On that day, Peter spoke about Jesus Christ and his death on a cross. He told of how Jesus was put to death at the hands of sinful men. This was done "according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God" (Acts 2.23).
On that day, Peter spoke about Jesus Christ and his resurrection from the dead. The grave could not hold him, for "God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it is impossible for him to be held in its power" (Acts 2.24).
Peter's sermon had an effect on those who heard him preach. The people, a cross-section of the world, "were cut to the heart" (Acts 2.37). They understood Peter's sermon as an indictment of their guilt, of their complicity in the death of Jesus. Not a one of them had taken Jesus as driven the nails into his wrists, but because of their sins and alienation from God, his death was necessary (Hebrews 9.23-10.18).
"Cut to the heart," the hearers of Peter's sermon asked, "What then should we do?" (Acts 2.37). In other words, they asked, "What should our response to this message about Jesus be?"
Peter answered with a statement that provides two imperatives and implies a third. Peter told them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2.38).
First, in his response, Peter implies the need for faith. It is obvious that since they were "cut to the heart," the people believed Peter's message about Jesus. They had faith; not a superficial belief, but faith that the message was unparalleled in importance. This message was a matter of life and death.
Second, in his response, Peter states the need for repentance. Repentance is a change of life, a turning in midstream, the complete reorientation and renewal of one's life. Peter, inspired of God's Spirit, was demanding that his hearers leave their sinful lives behind.
Third, in his response, Peter states the need for baptism. What is baptism? Simply put, baptism is the physical expression of faith and repentance. The Apostle Paul says that baptism represents the union of the believer with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 6.1-4). In other words, it is the public identification that one is now a child of God and a disciple of Christ. Baptism represents the new birth awarded to the Christian by the power and grace of God (John 3.3-10; 1 Peter 1.3-5).
Those who heard Peter's demands and welcomed his message "were baptized" (Acts 2.41). Those who were baptized on that day numbered about 3,000 persons. These were men and women who were convicted by the Gospel proclaimed and responded to it as directed. These men and women "were added" to he church; by the power and grace of God and by nature of their response to the Gospel, these men and women because a part of the community of faith.
Did you know you were there on that day? Though you were not physically present, Peter was preaching to you, just as he was preaching to me. Jesus died because of your sin and mine. Not one of us took Jesus and drove the nails into his wrists, but because of our sins and alienation from God, his death was necessary.
How should you respond to Peter's message about Jesus Christ? Peter said that faith, repentance, and baptism were demanded. Are you listening? Have you been cut to the heart?
As the Church of Christ, we have heard Peter's inspired words, and we have obeyed. Come, be with us, and we will show you the way.