The Holy Spirit cannot dwell in a man unless he truly repents and rejects his past. Every sin is a transgression against God and against his Anointed One. This is why the Holy Spirit before dwelling in you breaks your disobedience in your heart that you may be consecrated. This judgment of the Holy Spirit is, at the same time, the great blessing, the blessing of blessings. He who receives brokenly the reproach and judgment of the Holy Spirit does not enter into the Last Judgment, but has today passed into everlasting life.
The Jews, who raced to the disciples’ house, having heard the tempest of the coming Holy Spirit, were deeply affected with anguish and alarm at what Peter had said. They saw themselves standing before the living God, and recognized themselves as perishable, disobedient murderers. They did not try to justify themselves, nor did they search for the truth of their guilt, but mumbled fearfully: “What shall we do?” This question shows us two things:
First, the inability of a man affected by the Spirit of God, going astray and finding no way out or solution. His self-confidence becomes shaky, exactly as Peter had experienced when the rooster crowed.
Second, a broken man does not recognize who God is, and what he does for us, but mumbles out of his disturbed heart: “What must I do to be saved?” in spite of his feeling that he cannot do anything to save himself, for our deeds appear useless and unclean before the Holy One. Every man is devious from his foundation. He wants to do everything by himself, and does not allow God to save him. A natural man seeks to reform himself by himself, justify himself, and redeem his person. He wants to bring out his own power to the end. The wicked, corrupt ego takes firm hold of itself even at the last moment of the Judgment.
Thank God! Peter did not suggest to the repentant what they had to do, but demanded of them thinking, new knowledge, and belief in Jesus. Conversion does not involve a change in muscles, or in brain, but a change in attitude and will which takes place deep in the mind. It involves change and renewal of our complete thought, feeling, and will, not unwillingly like brainwashing in dictatorial countries, but willingly as it is in the New Testament where the repentant open themselves to the purifying power of God, and hear the word of Christ’s apostles with longing and thanking.
Peter said to the brokenhearted: “Turn away from your evil deeds, leave your self-redemption, and confess openly your failure in your life and your disobedience before God. Commit yourselves into the hands of the Holy One, then your aims, expectations, and designs will end, and the will of God will prevail in you. Conversion signifies complete turning in the course of our life from earthly designs and egoism toward God that we may become possessed by his love.
It is obvious that our coming to God signifies judgment, and our turning to the Holy One means despair. The repentant need protection before God. This is why Peter suggested to his hearers baptism in the name of Jesus Christ. This signifies a spiritual suicide of the old, sinful man, and intentional entrance into the Redeemer’s expanses. He who is baptized in Christ is like a dissolute, drowned man who was regenerated by the divine grace, newly-created, picked up by God’s grace, and raised to a greater one that is Christ’s righteousness for glorification of God the Father. Cleansing from sin in our innermost consciences is the first fruit of baptism. He who becomes united with Christ in faith through baptism, and receives the invisible inscription of his name on his front becomes sanctified through the reconciliation of the Son of God.
The second result of the baptism of faith is the reception of the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist knew exactly that his baptism with the water of repentance was just a symbol and that nothing was helpful but our preparedness for Christ’s baptism. He said openly: “He who is coming after me is mightier than I. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” The time had come on the first Pentecost that this moment be realized in the history of salvation: that the Son of God had baptized with the Holy Spirit his repentant killers who believed in his name through the symbol of baptism of water, for they had already broken themselves completely and entered into the wide expanses of faith. The love of God surpasses all understanding.
Are you baptized? Have you received the Holy Spirit? The external observance of repentance does not provide the dwelling of the Holy Spirit in him who was baptized, for baptism does not work like an injection given to the sick. The Holy Spirit blows where he wishes. Baptism without faith is useless. So confirm your baptism though drowning your selfishness in Christ that he may raise in you, apparent in your love, and you may live with him forever. Do you know the distinguishing features of those that are baptized with the Holy Spirit? They are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, righteousness, faith, meekness, and abstinence. Did you receive these gifts from he Holy Spirit?