Sermons
What Does It Mean to Be Perverse?
Be Saved from This Perverse Generation
(Popular Title: “What Does It Mean to be Perverse?”
Acts 2:37-40
Introduction:
1. We are familiar with Peter’s sermon on Pentecost recorded in Acts 2.
2. He preached Jesus as accomplishing the purpose of God when He was nailed to the cross by the hands of godless men.
3. He indicated that God had performed miracles and signs and wonders through Him.
4. He called his hearers out, “You nailed Him to a cross. But God raised Him up.” That is, God raised Him from the dead.
5. He connected Jesus to O.T. prophecies in Psa. 116:8-11; 2 Sam. 7:12ff; Psa. 110:1.
6. He concluded, “Let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you have crucified.”
7. Wounded in their conscience, they said, “What shall we do?”
8. We have read what Peter said.
9. In this study I want to consider His words spoken in verse 40 in the statement; “Be saved from this perverse generation!”
Discussion:
I. “Be saved.”
A. First, I would observe that this is in the imperative mood.
1. The imperative mood demands action. Ex. When my mother said, “Get out of
that refrigerator!” she was demanding action. We use imperatives all the
time. “Stop it!” Ella said to Cohen when he was pestering her. “Don’t touch
that! It’s hot.” The cook says to the kitchen guest.
2. “Be saved!” demands action and it does so with some immediacy. You could
put an exclamation mark after it.
3. The idea is expressed in Peter’s strongly urging them and exhorting them with
many words.
B. Second, I would observe that this is in the passive voice.
1. When a statement is in the passive voice it means that the subject is acted
upon.
2. It stands in contrast to the active voice.
a. The active voice says, “I fed the cat.” The passive voice says, “The cat was
fed.”
b. The active voice says, “Joel played the guitar.” The passive voice says,
“The guitar was played.” The guitar did not play itself.
c. “Hens lay eggs.” “Eggs are laid by hens.”
d. The active voice says, “I saved myself.” The passive voice says, “I was
saved.”
C. The KJV and NIV reflect the imperative when they translate, “Save yourselves,”
but they do not reflect the passive. However, the NASB and CSB reflect both
the passive voice and the imperative mood when they translate, “Be saved.”
D. God is going to do the saving, but it is imperative that Peter’s hearers actively
respond. They are not to sit idly as God acts on them against their will.
1. They already know what God has done.
2. They have asked what they should do. Peter did NOT say, “There’s nothing
that you can do.” He said, “Repent, and be baptized for the forgiveness of
your sins.”
3. It was imperative that they do something, but it was God that would do the
saving. He would forgive them through what He had done in Jesus Christ.
Thus, they are to repent and be baptized “in the name of Jesus Christ.” By
the authority of His name they could be forgiven. And so, about 3,000 were
baptized.
II. “A crooked and perverse generation.”
A. Objection: “It doesn’t say anything about them being crooked. It only says they
are a perverse generation” (NASB), “untoward generation.”
B. But Peter’s statement reflects Deut. 32:5 in the Song of Moses.
1. It says that God is faithful, righteous and upright (4).
2. But they have acted corruptly toward Him. They are “not His children,
because of their defect but are a perverse and crooked generation.”
3. Israel was crooked and perverse because they did not respond faithfully to
God’s faithfulness.
C. So, the idea of “perverse” in Acts 2:40 encompasses their being crooked.
1. In the original it is “skolios” (4646). From the adj. to dry and means crooked,
bent, or warped because of dryness (WSNTDICT).
2. It is used figuratively to mean crooked, perverse, wicked (Acts 2:40; Phil. 2:15;
cf. Psa. 78:8; Prov. 22:5).
3. Note particularly Phil. 2:15. Here two terms are used “skolios” and
“diastrepho” meaning to turn, twist, distort, pervert (WSNTDICT). They turned
to receive the word of Peter in Acts 2:41. Meaning that they were twisted
before and now they are making corrections to straighten out. In Phil. 2:16 this
straightening out is referred to as “holding fast the word of life.”
III. What does all this mean for us?
A. Without the message of God, we are dead, dried up, twisted and perverse. It is
the message of God that brings life, that straightens things out.
B. He acts upon us and thus there is some sense in which we are passive. We are
saved. We do not save ourselves.
C. But it is imperative that we be saved. Meaning that we must respond
appropriately to what God has done and act upon it with a faithful response.
1. If we refuse what God has done we remain in our crooked, dried up, perverse
state.
2. However, if we place our trust in what He has done, He will give us life, save
us, straighten us out.
3. What will it take to persuade you? Recognition of what you have done?
Peter’s hearers believed that they had crucified the Messiah. They believed
what the prophets said of Him. They believed that God had made Him both
Lord and Christ. About 3,000 of them responded in repentance and baptism in
the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins.
4. It is imperative that you act!
Conclusion:
1. Many hear this message and for whatever reason do not act.
2. This means that you remain in your perverse situation.
3. God has acted, and graciously so. He has given His son. He is faithful to you. Will you respond in faithfulness to Him?
4. “Be saved from this crooked and perverse generation!”
