“What do I do?” This is the question that all of us must ask when hit with the fact that we “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). If we are at all concerned, as we should be, about where we will spend eternity then we will urgently want to know the answer to this question.
This particular question was asked at a very climatic point in history. Peter spoke up on the day of Pentecost and preached Jesus to the people. He spoke to them of the great signs that God worked through Jesus which revealed Him to be the Son of God (Acts 2:22). He spoke of how it was the plan and will of God that Jesus be put to death (Acts 2:23). Peter then acknowledged to them that God has raised Jesus from the dead (Acts 2:24). His closing remark was: “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2:36).
After hearing the message of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the people were cut to the heart and afraid. They asked the only thing they could at such a fearful time: “Brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37).
When we realize that we all have sinned (Romans 3:23) and that sin leads to death (Romans 6:23), we can only ask the same thing as they did nearly 2,000 years ago: “What shall I do?”
The first thing that we must do is see the grace and wonderful love of God that He reveals to us in the Gospel. God loves us so much that He was willing to send Jesus to this earth to die for us (John 3:16). “For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus came to “taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9). And so, even though we were dead in our sins and deserved to be punished, by God’s grace He sent Jesus to be our Savior (Ephesians 2:1-13).
Upon hearing of God’s great love for us and how amazing His grace is towards us, we then are to believe it. Believe that Jesus came to die for our sins. Believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. Believe that in Christ we will find forgiveness and salvation. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God” (John 3:16-18).
If we see our need for forgiveness and saving and we believe the good news of Jesus Christ then we will:
Repent of our sins. “But unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). This is to confess our sin and guilt, then make a commitment to put those things out of our lives.
Confess our faith in Jesus. For “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” (Romans 10:9-10).
The Scriptures then teach us that upon our belief and confession that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died for my sins, and is alive today, we then are to be baptized in the name of Jesus for the washing away and forgiveness of our sins.
“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38).
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:18-20).
“Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16).
“And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on His name” (Acts 22:16).
“Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to Him” (1 Peter 3:21-22).
Then we are to live out the rest of our days in joyful service to the Lord, longing for the day when we can be with Him in eternity. “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him” (Hebrews 9:27-28).
Realize the eternal consequence of sin and your need for saving. Be amazed at God’s awesome love and grace. Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and obey His Word in faith. Then give the rest of your life to the Lord. Do it before it’s too late.
A Cord of Blue 