View Resource Online
The Elevator Pitch
Acts 2:38 (KJV) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
In the business world, there’s a universally accepted term called the ‘elevator pitch.’ This pitch represents everything you want someone to know about your product condensed into the time it takes to ride an elevator. The idea is that you get onto an elevator with someone and they’re trapped with you for 30-60 seconds. This gives you 30-60 seconds to explain what your product does, why it’s better than other products, and what you would like the other person to do. When the elevator gets to its floor, the person you’re speaking to is presented a choice: they can walk out of the elevator and never see you again, or they can invite you out of the elevator with them so you can further inform them about your product.
In Acts 2, Peter spoke to the people of Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.
Acts 2:15-17 (KJV)
15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Peter starts off by explaining why everyone’s ‘acting’ drunk. He informs them that they aren’t drunk, but fulfilling prophecy. The prophet Joel prophesied that God would pour out His spirit, sons and daughters would prophesy, young men would see visions, and the old men would dream dreams.
After explaining their behavior, Peter tells them who Jesus is:
Acts 2:22-24 (KJV)
22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
Peter said that Jesus couldn’t stay in the grave. Why couldn’t Jesus Die? Let’s look at what David prophesied.
Acts 2:25-27 (KJV)
25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: 26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
“Neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” Most people think that David was talking about himself when he said this, but that’s not true.
Acts 2:29 (KJV) Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
If David was dead, or saw corruption, then who was he talking about?
Acts 2:30 (KJV) Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
David was talking about Jesus. You see, after three days of being dead, the physical human body begins to see corruption, or decay. Jesus rose on the third day, so His body never saw corruption and He fulfilled prophesy by raising up and sitting on David’s throne.
Acts 2:31 (KJV) He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
Acts 2:36 (KJV) Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
The Christ, or Messiah, would rise on the 3rd day. Jesus rose on the 3rd day. Therefore, Jesus is the Christ.
So, the first prophesy fulfilled, from their point of view, is that Jesus is the promised Messiah. His first job as Christ is to fulfill the prophesy of Joel.
Acts 2:33 (KJV) Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
This is Peter’s elevator pitch. Peter gave them two short reasons why they should believe. The people of Jerusalem had two choices: to leave and never see his face again or to invite him off that ‘elevator’ to teach them more about Jesus Christ.
Acts 2:37 (KJV) 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?
Peter’s elevator pitch worked. He convinced them of a message they weren’t aware of. They asked him if they could hear more. What happens next is perhaps one of the most important messages In the Bible.
Acts 2:38 (KJV) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
“Repent”
To repent means to turn around and go a different direction; to turn a ‘180.’ It’s a military term, but applies to each of us as we turn our backs on sin. Unfortunately, repenting isn’t simply enough; we need to be walking towards something. Our natural tendency is to walk in our own way, but that’s not God’s way. Just being ‘good’ is not enough.
While the word “repentance” means to turn away from sin, you must also ask God to be forgiven of those sins.
“and be baptized everyone one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,”
Baptism comes from a Greek word meaning “to immerse” or “to place completely under water.” When you’re baptized, you need to be fully immersed; not just in water, but in the blood of Christ. The water in baptism represents Jesus’ blood covering you and by being fully immersed, you’re not only fully covered in that blood, but you’re also buried with Christ. When you come out of the blood, all your sins are completely remised and you’re washed clean. If you’re too young or unaware of what you are doing in the process of baptism, then you’re simply getting in a pool of water; you need to know and accept what is happening in your heart for baptism to matter. However, some argue that baptizing in the name of Jesus is incorrect, because of what Matthew 28:19 says…
Matthew 28:19 (KJV) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Nowhere in the Bible does it say anyone was baptized using this formula. This is the only scripture that comes close to setting that phrase as the formula. The reason the Bible says “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” is because those are all the same God. The reason Jesus was crucified was because He claimed to be God. In Matthew 28:19, He’s reaffirming that He is God by saying the names of His other manifestations and by being there to say it, because He was the one who got crucified and rose on the 3rd day, before His body could see corruption.
“and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
Once true repentance and remission has taken place, you’ll be filled with the Holy Ghost. There’s many signs that show someone has the Holy Ghost.
Mark 16:17-18
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
The initial sign
But the initial sign is always speaking in new tongues. People with the Holy Ghost may have many gifts and many ways that the Holy Ghost manifests itself in a believer’s life. But the initial evidence is always through speaking tongues:
Acts 10:44-47 (KJV)
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
Many people resist the idea that everyone must speak in tongues. They think it’s optional, because they feel it’s hard. Since it’s hard; it’s not possible for some people to do.
This isn’t true. Speaking in tongues is easy. Anyone can do it. Repentance is hard. The reason some fail to speak in tongues is they have not fully repented of their sins. They may be holding onto some small piece of their sinful nature and that keeps them from fulling accepting God.
The Plan of Salvation:
Repent; turn from your sinful nature towards God.
Ask God for forgiveness.
Be baptized in the name of Jesus, by being fully immersed in water and being spoken over while under.
Receive the Holy Ghost with evidence by speaking in foreign tongues.
Watch the additional signs follow.
When you sit in this church, you will hear sermons that use this plan of salvation as its base. You may hear someone preach a sermon and not fully realize that the preacher is explaining a deeper meaning under one of these points. If you stick with this message, you should be able to tell someone what you believe.
