Acts 2:40

DISCOURSE: 1740
SEPARATION FROM THE UNGODLY RECOMMENDED

Acts 2:40. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

IT is in many respects a great advantage to us that we have the Holy Scriptures comprised in so small a space: for if they had been very voluminous, they would have been far less accessible to the poor, and few even of the rich would have found leisure or inclination to peruse them. One cannot however but feel a kind of regret that some particular parts have not been more copiously transmitted to us. What an inestimable treasure, for instance, should we have possessed, if the whole of our Lord’s discourse with the two Disciples in their way to Emmaus had been preserved [Note: Luke 24:27.]! So it would, doubtless, have been a rich feast to our souls, if every part of Peter’s first sermon, whereby three thousand sinners were converted to God, had been recorded. But we must be contented to gather up the fragments which are left us in the inspired volume, and study with the more diligence those records which God has deemed sufficient for us. The substance of the Apostle’s sermon we have in the foregoing context; and the application of it, in the words of our text. It is with the latter that we are at present concerned: and for a just improvement of it, we shall consider,

I. His testimony—

We cannot doubt but that “he testified” of Christ as the true Messiah, and shewed from the Scriptures that his death and resurrection were the means which God had appointed for the salvation of a ruined world. But it is evident, that, as he testified for Christ, so he testified against that generation, whom he reproved as an “untoward generation.” But what ground was there for ascribing to them this character? Surely there was abundant reason fur the appellation, even though it had been still more severe: for they were,

1. An impenitent generation—

[John the Baptist, our Lord himself, and all his Apostles, had, for the space of four years, preached among them, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand [Note: Matthew 3:2.Mark 1:15; Mark 6:12.].” Yet, like their forefathers, they would not hear [Note: Jeremiah 7:23.Zechariah 7:11.]. They were even more obdurate than the heathen: for the Ninevites had repented at the preaching of Jonas; and even the Sodomites themselves would have repented, had they heard such preaching as our Lord’s; but the people of that generation would “not regard the voice of the charmer, though he charmed them never so wisely [Note: Matthew 11:20; Matthew 12:41 and Psalms 58:5.].” They were satisfied with their descent from Abraham, and thought that their relation to him was a certain pledge of their acceptance with God [Note: Matthew 3:8; John 8:33.]. These things were subjects of complaint against them, and strongly characterized the people at large [Note: Matthew 21:31.].

And do we see here no resemblance to the present generation? The people of this land have thousands of monitors, who call them to repentance: yet whom do we see smiting on their breasts and imploring mercy? Who calls himself to account, “saying, What have I done?” “Who asks, Where is God, my Maker?” Because we are called Christians, we imagine ourselves to be Christians, even though we could not mention one single particular wherein we resemble Christ. All that die are, as a matter of course, supposed to go to heaven, even though they never took one step in the way that leads thither. Say then, whether the appellation given to them, be not suitable to us also?]

2. An unbelieving generation—

[The Scriptures were publicly read and expounded in their synagogues every Sabbath-day. To them also our blessed Lord appealed as testifying of him [Note: John 5:39.]: and he confirmed his word with miracles unnumbered. Yet did the whole nation, except a few individuals, reject him: so that the complaint which had many hundred years before been uttered against them by the prophet, was abundantly verified [Note: Isaiah 53:1. with John 12:38 and Romans 10:16.]—

Would to God there were less occasion to involve the present generation also in the same condemnation! We have the Scriptures, which are appealed to by every faithful minister of Christ. But who believes what we say? Who believes the necessity of conversion to God? Who believes, that, “unless he be born again he can never enter into the kingdom of God?” and that “without real, universal holiness, no man can see the Lord?” That men profess to believe these things, we acknowledge: but who follows after the attainment of them, and evinces the sincerity of his faith by the earnestness of his exertions? A little gleaning of believers may be found; but the harvest is borne away by unbelief.]

3. A persecuting generation—

[In every age the Jews had persecuted their prophets unto death: and that generation filled up the measure of their fathers’ iniquities, by “crucifying the Lord of Glory.” Against the Apostles also they raged with insatiable fury, and against all that called upon the name of Christ.
It is true, we do not, in this age, see crosses erected, and fires kindled, for the destruction of the Lord’s people: but has persecution ceased? Is not a life of real godliness still hated by the world? Does it not invariably become an object of reproach; and do not the opprobrious names given to religious people lower them in the estimation of others, insomuch that all their good qualities are lost sight of, and they are deemed worthy only of pity and contempt? No thanks to the world, then, that fires are not kindled as much as ever: it is to our laws, and to the providence of our God, we owe it, that bounds are prescribed, beyond which the enmity of men is no longer suffered to exert itself. But it is still as true as ever, that “all who will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution [Note: 2 Timothy 3:12.].”]

But let us pass on to,

II.

His exhortation—

St. Peter well knew, that all who retained their enmity against God and his Christ, must soon perish: he therefore exhorted his hearers to save themselves from the impending ruin. The same exhortation befits us also. Is it asked, How are we to save ourselves from this untoward generation?

We answer,
1.

Renounce their ways—

[Judge ye, Whither such ways must lead. Need you be told, that, “except ye repent, ye must all perish:” or. that, “if ye believe not, ye cannot see life, but the wrath of God abideth on you;” or, that all who make Christ “a stumbling-stone, will be broken in pieces?” Deceive not yourselves: think not that the number of your associates will afford you any security: numbers did not protect the inhabitants of the plain, or the antediluvian world; nor shall you find the termination of the broad road any other than you have been forewarned concerning it. Of this you may rest assured, that “whatsoever you sow, you shall also reap: if you sow to the flesh, you shall, of the flesh, reap corruption: you must sow to the Spirit, if you would, of the Spirit, reap life everlasting.”]

2. Forsake their company—

[We know that you cannot entirely separate from the ungodly; for then, as the Apostle says, “you must needs go out of the world.” But you are not to choose them as your companions; for, “what communion hath light with darkness, and Christ with Belial?” It is not sufficient that you “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness; you must also reprove them [Note: Ephesians 5:11.].” Need you be told what even a heathen writer could declare, that “evil communications corrupt good manners [Note: 1 Corinthians 15:33. This is a quotation from Menander.]?” Do you not know, that men insensibly imbibe the spirit of their associates; and that you must “come out from Babylon, if you would not be partakers of her sins and of her plagues [Note: Revelation 18:4.]?” Know assuredly, that “a companion of fools will be destroyed [Note: Proverbs 13:20.];” and that, if you belong to Christ, “you will not be of the world, even as he was not of the world [Note: John 17:16.].” I say to you, therefore, in the words of the great Apostle, “Come out from among them, and be separate; and touch not the unclean thing; and I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty [Note: 2 Corinthians 6:17.].”]

3. Devote yourselves entirely to the Lord—

[The conduct of those whom the Apostle addressed, will form the best comment on his exhortation. His converts instantly applied to Christ for the forgiveness of their sins, and devoted themselves unreservedly to his service: and from that day “continued in the Apostles’ fellowship,” (not the fellowship of their former companions,) and in the unremitted exercise of piety and love [Note: ver. 41–47.]. We say not that you are to neglect your worldly callings; (nothing can be further from our wishes, or from your duty than this:) but you must begin from this time to “live no longer to yourselves, but unto him who died for you, and rose again.” “Instead of being any longer conformed to this world, you must be transformed in the renewing of your minds, proving what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” To all of you then I say, Save yourselves in this manner: escape thus from the contagion and ruin of this untoward generation. Give yourselves up to God, as your reconciled God in Christ Jesus: do it without fear — — — do it without reserve — — — do it without delay — — — Then, when the impenitent and unbelieving part of this generation shall eat the bitter fruit of their doings, you shall be numbered with “the generation of the righteous,” even of them that sought and served their God [Note: Psalms 14:5; Psalms 24:6; Psalms 112:2.]