The first sermon in our series on the sermons of Acts. As Peter stands up to preach on Pentecost he displays how Jesus' rejection and vindicaton was the fulfillment of God's promises.
When the Spirit falls upon the apostles on Pentecost, it does not come to merely create signs and wonders. The Spirit is poured out to unite the people of God under the proclamation of the Gospel for the sake of the world.
God promises the power of the Spirit who dwells in those who believe and are baptized. The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead empowers us to overcome temptation, love others, and serve Jesus in our vocations.
Christ's death and resurrection promises God's pardon from the shame and embarrassment of sin. We are not rejected from the wrongs we have done, and we are healed from the wrongs done to us.
We all mess up and commit wrongs against others and against God. The difficult part is admitting it. God's pardon of our guilt in Jesus frees of from pretense or trying to offer anything to make up for our wrongs.