Not a threat, a promise.

     These words of Peter's moved them deeply, and they said to him and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?"  
     And Peter replied, "Each one of you must turn from sin, return to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; then you also shall receive this gift, the Holy Spirit.  For Christ promised him to each one of you who has been called by the Lord our God, and to your children and even to those in distant lands!"  Acts 2:37-39  The Book


     Have you ever heard someone say, "It's not a threat, it's a promise?"  They mean it in a bad way.  They want to emphasize what action they will take if another person does something they don't want to happen.
     The people of Israel had already done something bad.  They had crucified Jesus.  Peter assured them that God had raised him from the dead; but that wasn't enough reassurance for the people listening.  They knew they were guilty and they felt the need to DO something to help right the wrong they had committed.  Peter told them to, "Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins;"  He told them that by doing this, they would also receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  It was a promise.
     A promise is not a threat of something bad that will happen; but, of something good.  And it is intended to be a certainty.  It is why children cry, "You promised!" when they have found out that something they were expecting is not going to happen.
     You can count on God to keep his promises.  If you repent and are baptized in the name of Jesus, your sins will be forgiven!  It was true for those people who were addressed by Peter and it is true for us today.