Right Response

Acts 2:37-40 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”
 
REMEMBER this is the Feast of Pentecost, also called the Feast of the Harvest. God has used Peter and the apostles to prepare the Jews’ hearts to hear the truth of Jesus and of their sin to kill him. Now God moves to begin to harvest souls into his church.
   To harvest barley or wheat requires cutting the stalk and separating the grain. God cut the repentant Jews’ hearts. He removes their sinful opposition to him and replaces it with a fear that understands they have killed the Messiah. Is there any hope for them? In great distress they asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
   See how quickly God releases us from death. Even if we are guilty of the worst sin of all, we will know gracious healing when we take two soul-changing steps: 1) Repent in Jesus Christ’s name. This means you recognize that your sins “kill” Jesus’ truth in you. Believe he is Savior who forgives your sins and turn from them. 2) Be baptized in Jesus’ name. This is the outward testimony to the world that you confess Jesus is the Son of God, crucified, dead, buried, risen and ascended. 
   God’s gracious response will be to send the Holy Spirit to you. He will empower your life to live in the freedom of God’s forgiveness. With great confidence and assurance, Peter wants the Jews to know this is God’s promise to them and to their children, to all whom the LORD God will call.
   This is God’s gospel for all generations. Each generation is born into sin’s corruption. Many in each generation will be saved in the repentance of sin and the confession of Jesus as Lord. Peter ends the short, life-transforming sermon with a warning that is also a promise: “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” You don’t have to remain caught in a life that leads to death. To save yourself is to take those steps God has revealed to you. Regardless of what you’ve done or where you live, you can go to Jesus in faith to be saved.  
     God is so good to do this. In the earth’s timetable he planned for centuries to begin the harvest. The harvest will continue until Jeus returns.