Cut to the Heart

In Acts 2 we find the gospel being preached completely for the first time. Jesus was preached as the one crucified, buried, and raised from the dead. Evidence was given for the resurrection and now Jesus had ascended to the Father and had become "Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36.) At this point the sermon was interrupted by the crowd as they cried out, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37.) The verse also gives the reason for the interruption and question. They were "cut to the heart."

As the gospel was preached, they realized they were responsible for killing the son of God and this cut them to the heart. They were heart-broken over what they had participated in and were convicted and condemned before God. Not wanting to live this way, they wanted to know what to do to remove the awful guilt they had. "Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" was the answer given (Acts 2:38.) Notice that they were to repent and be baptized in the name of the very one they had killed. Jesus' death on the cross was the very means by which they could be saved for in His blood the forgiveness of sins is found (Ephesians 1:7.) We are baptized into His death where the blood washes sin away (Romans 6:3.) Also notice that the apostles mentioned the remission of "sins" (plural.) Their obedience to the gospel would not just wash away the one sin of killing the son of God but all sins.

While we did not physically participate in killing Jesus, we are still responsible none the less. "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23.) Our sins put Jesus on that cross just as surely as if we drove the nails in ourselves. However, we can be saved just the same by believing in the son of God, repenting, and being baptized just as they were told in Acts 2. It was for them and it is for us today. All of our sins can be washed away if we are cut to the heart enough to respond.