WHAT SHALL WE DO

Acts 2:37-38 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Beginning in verse 14 and continuing through verse 36, Peter, and the other eleven apostles, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God, preached the first gospel message of salvation offered by our Heavenly Father to the world through Christ Jesus, His Son. The entire message was designed to convince the Jewish nation, and eventually the entire world, that Jesus was the promised Messiah, who, being crucified on the cross of Calvary, was buried in a borrowed tomb, arose from the grave, was witnessed alive by hundreds of men and women, ascended into Heaven, and there He received His kingdom from God, and was made Lord and Christ over all things in Heaven and in earth.

By this Holy Spirit-inspired message delivered to the multitudes by Jesus' apostles, many Jewish people were convinced that, as a nation of God's people, they had rejected the Messiah that had been sent from Heaven. And, the apostles continued to tell them that, with their consent, the Savior, sent from God, was falsely accused of blasphemy, sentenced to die, and was crucified on the Hill of Golgotha. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, that is, the truths preached in their hearing on this day convicted them of this grievous sin against God's Son. And, in deep contrition and repentant sorrow, they said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do, that is to say, what can we do to find pardon in the eyes of God for these sinful acts that we have committed?

The apostle's inspired answer was, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. What a striking manifestation of God, this short, simple message brought into the world. For the first time since the beginning of the world, God revealed His terms of forgiveness that would reconcile sinful men and women of the world, to the righteous God in heaven. All that had heard God's message of salvation from the Holy Spirit-inspired apostles and, by faith, believed that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, were now told to repent, and be baptized ...in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. Repent, as it is used here, is more than sorrow. These Jews that responded to the message of the apostles had already been pricked in their heart - they were already sorry for their actions that resulted from their disbelief in God's Son. Here the necessary repentance required by God's plan of salvation was to have a complete change of heart and mind, forsaking their sinful past, and committing their selves to righteously and obediently following Jesus Christ as their Savior. The newfound faith in Christ that resulted in repentance must then be outwardly expressed by being baptized in Jesus' name, that is, in complete submission to His authority. It was by these final acts of obedience that would result in the remission of sins.

Hearing God's message of salvation, believing it, and placing their faith in Jesus, as the Savior, did not reconcile these men and women to God. This they had already done, but they were still lacking in their complete obedience to God's will, so they asked the apostles of Christ this question: what shall we do? Repentance and baptism was still necessary for forgiveness of their sins. Then, and only then, would they receive the gift of the Holy Ghost - only then would the Comforter come unto them, sent from the Father, to instill in their hearts His Holy Word, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father (See John 15:26).

This was God's message of salvation offered on this Day of Pentecost, through the Holy Spirit-inspired apostles of Christ. This was the eternal salvation promised by God from the beginning of time: For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls (Vss. 39-41 following).

What shall we do today to be saved? The same as they did on the Day of Pentecost! Hear God's Holy Spirit-inspired word, accept it, faithfully believe Jesus to be the Son of God, repent of your sinful past, be baptized for the remission of your sins, and you too will receive the promise of God through His Son, Christ Jesus - the hope of eternal salvation!