What Shall We Do?
When the Gospel Lands, People Respond
At The Crossing, we’re all about developing devoted followers of Jesus who will develop devoted followers of Jesus. That mission isn’t just a slogan; it’s the pattern we see in the book of Acts, and it’s what we long to see among us today. When the gospel is preached and received, people don’t just gain information — they are transformed.
That’s exactly what happens in Acts 2. Peter preaches Jesus: crucified, risen, and exalted as Lord and Messiah. And when the truth lands, the crowd is “cut to the heart” and asks the question that every person must eventually face: “Brothers, what shall we do?” The answer is simple: repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus Is the Only Way
The gospel always begins and ends with Jesus. He is not one option among many. He is the way, the truth, and the life. He lived the sinless life we could never live, died the death our sin deserved, rose from the grave in victory, and now reigns as Lord. [Acts 4:12, Philippians 2:9-11, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:8, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Acts 2:36]
That means the Christian message is not about self-improvement, religious performance, or trying harder to become a better version of ourselves. Those paths may sound promising, but they cannot deal with our deepest problem: sin. Only Jesus can do that. Only Jesus has done that.
When we believe that Jesus is Lord, we stop looking for another way and start trusting the One who already made the way.
Repentance Means Surrender
Peter’s first response is repentance. Repentance is more than feeling bad about sin. It is surrender. It is a change of mind that leads to a change of direction. It is the moment when we stop pretending we can fix ourselves and admit that only God can make us new.
Many people try to clean up their lives before coming to Jesus, but the gospel says we come to Him as we are. We bring our brokenness, our shame, our addiction, our regret, and our emptiness, and we hand the whole thing over to Him. Repentance says, “Jesus, I am not lord of my life. You are.”
Baptism Is the Response of Faith
Peter also says, “Be baptized.” In Scripture, baptism is the obedient response of faith. It does not save us apart from Jesus, but it is the way believers respond to the saving work of Christ. It is a picture of burial and resurrection — down into the water with Christ, up out of the water to new life.
Baptism is not a church box to check. It is not just getting wet. It is the moment a believer says, “I belong to Jesus.” In Acts 2, belief and baptism go together. The people who accepted Peter’s message were baptized that very day, and the church grew as men and women responded to the gospel.
The Promise Is for You
Peter’s words are bigger than one crowd in Jerusalem. The promise is for “you and your children and for all who are far off.” That means the gospel is for the religious and the rebellious, the church kid and the skeptic, the ashamed and the exhausted, the person who has been pretending and the person who thinks it is too late.
No one is too far gone for Jesus. His grace is greater than our sin.
The Question Is Still the Same
Acts 2 leaves us with a question that is still urgent today: what will you do with Jesus?
For followers of Jesus, the call is clear: tell your One. Share what you have heard. Tell them that Jesus lived, died, rose, and reigns — and that He is calling them to repent, believe, and follow Him.
For those who are not yet followers of Jesus, the invitation is just as clear: respond. If you
believe the gospel, do not delay. Repent. Be baptized. Step into the new life Jesus offers today.
The Door Is Open
The story of Noah reminds us that God has always provided one way of rescue. In the flood, there was one door into the ark. In Christ, there is one door into salvation. Jesus is that door. He is the way through the storm, the way into new life, the way into forgiveness, and the way into the future God has prepared.
But Scripture also reminds us that the door does not stay open forever. So, the question is not whether the invitation is real. It is. The question is whether we will respond.
If you are ready to repent and be baptized, today is the day. Jesus has already done the work. Now He invites you to come.
Next Steps
If you sense God tugging at your heart, don’t ignore it. Your next step is to turn to Jesus in faith, repent, and be baptized into him for the forgiveness of your sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). If you’re ready to talk with someone or take that step click one of the buttons below.
-Post contributed & edited by Dave, one of our amazing volunteers!