What You Do

Acts 2:36-42 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 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.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
 
WHAT happened when Peter assured the Jews that Jesus is both Lord and Christ? The Jews would have heard it, “Jesus is both Yahweh and Messiah.” What stunning news! Peter had reviewed the evidence. The Spirit had anointed many of the Jews in the crowd to believe. We know this because they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Their grief was deep. To consider they had crucified Yahweh the Messiah would be unthinkable even for the most casual Jew. In a moment many Jews were convicted of their guilt. Each word of the Old Testament Law was made alive and visible before them through Jesus Christ of Nazareth. They knew they were condemned under God’s law. There would be no hope to be saved from God’s wrath. What could they do to be saved from Yahweh’s destruction?
   That’s why they asked the question all convicted sinners ask in one form or another, “What must we do?” That question opened the way for Peter to give the hope of salvation: repent and be baptized.
   This was the prophets’ message. This was John the Baptist’s message. This was Jesus’ message. And now it is the church’s message. All of us have been born into sin, and our guilt  has sent Jesus to be crucified. We all must repent – turn from our sins to point our hearts and minds away from the world, so we can turn to the Savior. We must be baptized in the Holy Spirit’s power, spiritually cleansed with Jesus’ Living Water to be born again into the Kingdom of God.
   Repentance of the heart and outward washing of baptism is God’s way for his people to be saved, forgiven of their sins, so they will become right with God.
   Then the new believers did what the church must always do. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. This fourfold response to your salvation is a must-do list for your spiritual life. Study God’s Word through the preaching and teaching of the Bible. Fellowship. Pray. Celebrate Commune. The question, “What must we do?” is God’s faith gift to you, so he will open your soul to hear his answer.