“Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
Acts 2:36-39
After Peter’s powerful, Spirit-filled message, the people were deeply convicted for their sinfulness and asked, “What shall we do?” This is the basic question to ask. It is not enough to be sorry for our sins—we must sincerely ask God to forgive them; then we must live like forgiven people. Has God spoken to you through His Word or through the words of another believer? Remember: God didn’t give His truth to merely provide information; instead, He demands and provides for total transformation. Like Peter’s audience, ask God “what shall we do;” then do what they did, obey without delay.
C. S. Lewis wrote, “Christianity tells people to repent and promises forgiveness. It therefore has nothing to say to people who do not know they have done anything to repent of, and who do not feel that they need any forgiveness. It is after one has realized that there is a real Moral Law, and a Power behind the law, and that you have broken that law and put yourself wrong with that Power—it is after all this, and not a moment sooner, that Christianity begins to talk. When you know you are sick, you will listen to the doctor.”
Have You Been So Perfect?
When was the last time that you felt the sting of conviction for a sin that you may have committed? Did the Holy Spirit gouge you in your gut when you said “that word,” or had “that hurtful attitude,” or let your “temper flare?” Have you been so perfect that you never need to repent? Remember, “those whom God loves, he corrects.” Listen to Him when He speaks. Amen.
