Cut to the Heart

After Peter's sermon, in which he destroyed his listener's feelings of comfort in their relationship with God, we saw an amazing change of heart. Luke says that many were 'cut to the heart'. This doesn't mean that they felt bad, or were sorry for Jesus. They were so distraught at realizing that the promised Messiah had been killed, they cried out "What shall we do?"

When you hear about the death of Jesus Christ, what is your response? When you think about God, do you realize deep down that God's wrath rests upon you because of your sin? Have you sought out what it is that you should do to make things right between you and God?

Peter gives us the only right answer: Repent and be baptized. This is the same message that John the Baptist brought, but fleshed out in that we are to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, according to his death, for the remission of sins. What follows is a life of joy in God's Word and will, and a life of obedience.

If you feel God's displeasure with you, you need to repent. You need to seek God's forgiveness through the cross for your rebellious heart. If you have repented, and have not been baptized, why not? What are you waiting for? Baptism is the first step in a life of obedience to God!