Commands to Obey: The Gospel’s Call to Action

Part 3 of the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Nazareth

In Acts 2:37, the people were “cut to the heart” and asked, “What shall we do?” Conviction is good — but it’s not enough. Acts 7:54-58 shows that conviction without obedience can lead to rejection of God’s message.

The answer Peter gave was simple, direct, and urgent:
Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).

Repentance means turning away from sin and toward God — producing fruits worthy of repentance (Luke 3:8-14). It was the message of John the Baptist, of Jesus (Mark 1:14-15), and of the apostles. Without repentance, we will perish (Luke 13:3-5).

Baptism was not an afterthought. Jesus taught it (Mark 16:15-16). Peter would later write that baptism saves (1 Peter 3:20-21). The apostles didn’t soften the truth — and neither should we. Baptism is necessary to obtain forgiveness of sins.

These were commands, not suggestions. The people that day responded — about 3,000 souls were added to the church (Acts 2:41).

Next in the Series → [Promises to Enjoy: Forgiveness, Family, and Joy]