Saying “Yes” To Jesus Christ! – Acts 2.37-42

7 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” 40 And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers (Acts 2.37-42, NRSV).[1]
 
Memory Verse – Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”– Acts 2.37

      As we begin this new year, looking back at 2020 and all the difficultly we had, we have to say to last year, “good bye.” It is time to move forward, “forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, we must press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3.13-14, ESV).[2]
      What a motto to have for 2021, letting go of the past and moving forward for the cause of Jesus Christ. This is why we have the Word of God in our hands; to study, so we can know what God wants from each one of us. We have His Word so we can know His will, but we need to be in His Word, studying it, dissecting it and doing our best to understand it. This is why God has sent the Holy Spirt to help guide us in all things.
       As Peter preached his first message after receiving the Holy Spirit, God moved through the people, touching their hearts and minds with His message. Here Luke, writes, “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart…” (vs. 37).
      This phrase ‘cut to the heart…’ or ‘pricked, pierced’ (KJV, CSB), means to experience acute emotional distress, implying both concern and regret. But what did they have regret about, what do we have regret about? For all of us the same thing, crucifying our Lord and Savior (John 1.29; Romans 6.23).
      Christ came into the world to die in our place, to make atonement for our sins, but it was not enough that He came, we had to crucify Him, deny Him, mock Him, punish Him, whip Him, spit on Him, pierce His side, and nail Him to the cross. Yes, we are as guilty as all these which Peter spoke to.
      John MacArthur said, “Stunned by their inability to evade the indictment that they were guilty of heinous behavior before God, they were overcome by grief and remorse. There were several reasons for their anguish.”[3]

   First, as already noted, was the realization that they had executed their Messiah. The One for whom they had longed for centuries, the One who was the hope of all their personal and national promises, had finally come. Instead of welcoming Him, however, they rejected Him and handed Him over to their bitter and hated enemies, the Romans, for execution.
   Second, they themselves had done it. It would have been bad enough to learn that Messiah had been killed. Far worse was the knowledge of their own complicity in the crime. That no doubt produced in them a deep sense of guilt. They could not imagine a greater sin than killing their Messiah.
   A third cause for their anguish was fear of Messiah’s wrath. Peter had announced to them in no uncertain terms that the same Jesus they had crucified was now alive (vv. 24, 31, 32). Worse still, he had quoted to them a passage from Psalm 110 that spoke of the vanquishing of Messiah’s enemies. What greater enemies of God existed than those who killed His Messiah?
   Finally, they were devastated by the understanding that what they had done could not be undone.[4]

      John is right of course, but we can take this one step further into our own lives, we are just as responsible as those people in the first century. Christ not only died for them, but us also. Peter’s words ring true in their ears, and it must ring true in ours.
      What must we do? How can we deal with such regret and remorse in our lives? So many of us carry such burdens around in our lives each and every day, it is difficult to wonder how we ever make it day by day. Yet with Christ in our lives, we have hope, love and endurance.
      However, we first must repent of our sins, turn from our wickedness and ask Jesus Christ into our lives. He must take over, be first and fore most in our lives. We must let Him have control, in the chaos which we call life, Christ must have control.
      When we ask Christ into our lives, we receive the Holy Spirit to give us guidance and direction. He is there to help us understand the Word of God, and know His will for our lives. But we have to allow Him to work in our lives and we must listen to Him. This is the Promise from Christ (John 14.26, 15.26, 16.7), to us, our children and all generations (vs. 39).
      But we have to say ‘YES’ to this free gift of God. We have to receive it, and allow God to work in our lives. We have to desire for our lives to be different and want to see change. We must continue in the teachings of God’s Word, fellowshipping with one another, and prayers (vs. 42). If you have not asked Christ into your life yet will you do it today?   
     
Application

1. If you have asked Jesus Christ into your life, please tell us about your salvation experience.
2. When was the last time God’s Word really moved you? How did it move you?
3. Deeper Thinking: Read Philippians 3.12-21 – As we look ahead to 2021, why is it important according to this passage to not look behind? What are the advantages to looking forward according to this passage? You can use scripture or other illustrations to back up your discussion.
4. Commit to learning Acts 2.37 and Witnessing to someone about what God has done for you.

 
Prayer
 
      Lord I thank You for this year, for all You allowed me to accomplish through You. I know this was a very difficult and unique year and it presented many challenges to serving You and ministering in the community. Lord, I ask for greater strength in the coming year, and boldness to serve You each and every day as I share Your gospel. Give me boldness and a fearless heart so others will hear and know who You are. This I pray in Jesus Christ’s Name, Amen.

[1] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (Ac 2:37–42). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Php 3:13–14). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
[3] MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1994). Acts (Vol. 1, pp. 71–72). Chicago: Moody Press.
[4] MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1994). Acts (Vol. 1, pp. 71–72). Chicago: Moody Press.

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