What role do signs in Acts 2:19 play in strengthening our faith today? Reading the text together “ ‘And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and clouds of smoke.’ ” (Acts 2:19) Immediate setting • Peter is quoting Joel 2:30 as the Holy Spirit is poured out at Pentecost. • The verse speaks of dramatic, prophetic phenomena that God Himself will display. • These “wonders” (literally “portents”) are part of God’s plan to awaken people before “the great and glorious day of the Lord” (Acts 2:20). Why God gives signs—then and now • Confirmation of His Word – Exodus 7:3; Hebrews 2:3-4 show God attaching signs to validate divine revelation. • Conviction of sin and call to repentance – Joel 2:32; Acts 2:37-38 link the signs with an appeal to “call on the name of the Lord.” • Comfort for believers – Luke 21:28: “When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” • Clarification of God’s timetable – 2 Peter 3:10-13 reminds us that cosmic signs precede the new heavens and earth. Ways these signs strengthen our faith today • They anchor us in God’s sovereignty – Nothing in creation is outside His control (Isaiah 45:7). • They stir holy anticipation – Knowing “the great and glorious day” is coming motivates watchfulness (Matthew 24:42-44). • They validate the gospel’s reliability – Past fulfillments (e.g., the darkened sun at Christ’s crucifixion, Luke 23:44-45) bolster confidence that future promises will also occur. • They fuel perseverance in trials – Present afflictions seem “light and momentary” (2 Corinthians 4:17) when set against sure, cosmic-scale deliverance. • They promote worship and reverence – The majesty of “blood and fire and clouds of smoke” reminds us of God’s unmatched power (Revelation 4:11). Practical responses • Stay rooted in Scripture, expecting God to fulfill every word literally and perfectly. • Share the gospel urgently, knowing the signs signal a limited window for repentance. • Cultivate peace, trusting that the same God who orchestrates the cosmos also cares for each believer (Matthew 10:29-31). • Worship with awe, letting the promised wonders enlarge your view of God’s greatness. Scriptures for further reflection |
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